Essential Herbs 4 Herbs For Illness Prevention Cure Libido & Ultimate Wellbeing!

The 4 herbs below have been used for centuries to help prevent, treat illness, increase feelings of wellbeing and increase libido.

Fact is, they will make you feel fitter younger and increase your overall sense of well being.

If you have not guessed them yet here is a clue - They all start with the letter G and have been use for thousands of years.

Let?s look at them.

1. Ginger

Ginger is one of 1400 species belonging to the zingiberaceae family (other members include turmeric and cardamon).

Ginger is the most popular of the family.

It is a rhizome although it is normally referred to as 'root ginger'.

More than just a spice and is widely used as a digestive aid the ginger root was originally seen as a digestive aid.

Its active constituents are gingerols, zingiberene, and shogoals in the dried form-so dried ginger is much more pungent than the fresh root.

It has the following health benefits

? For the treatment and prevention of nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, menstrual cramps, morning sickness, postoperative sickness and various digestive disorders.

? Effective in cleansing the colon.

? Can help relief the symptoms of colds, flu, and coughs.

? Acts as an effective anti-inflammatory treatment for arthritis.

? Relieves high cholesterol and blood pressure.

? Relieves headaches and toothaches.

? Reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes.

? Acts as a strong antioxidant throughout the body

2. Garlic

The preventative wonder herb

The garlic bulb has gained recognition as a medicinal remedy in Chinese culture for thousands of years and has often been referred to as a Wonder drug among all herbs.

Garlic contains allicin, destroys, or inhibits various bacteria and fungi.

When allicin is crushed it combines with the enzyme allinase, which then acts as an antibacterial agent.

Its health benefits are:

? Effective in lowering the risk of heart disease.

? Has anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties.

? Helps the resistance of the immune system.

? Protects the liver from damage induced by pollutants.

? Helps in the treatment of digestive disorders including diarrhea, and food poisoning.

? Helps in the treatment of high blood pressure, bladder infection, flu, liver and gallbladder problems.

3. Ginkgo Biloba

One of the world's most powerful herbs

The ginkgo is the oldest living tree species, records has been growing on earth for 150 - 200 million years. It is one of the most well researched herbs in the world.

Ginkgo has proven to be a particularly valuable geriatric drug because of its ability to increase blood flow to the brain and throughout the body.

It increases metabolism efficiency, regulates neurotransmitters, and boosts oxygen levels in the brain. Benefits of enhanced circulation in the brain are many and include improved memory, increased reaction time and improved mental clarity.

Health Benefits:

? Controls allergic inflammation, eczema and asthma.

? Improves blood flow in capillaries and arteries.

? Useful in the treatment of circulation-related disorders such as diabetic peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's syndrome, hemorrhoids as well as varicose veins.

? Aids in the treatment of insufficient circulation, stroke and skull injuries.

? Helps control the transformation of cholesterol to plaque associated with the hardening of arteries by relaxing constricted blood vessels.

? The herb is being investigated as a potential treatment to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs.

? Increases blood flow and may be extremely effective in treating erectile dysfunction.

? Used in the treatment of vertigo, PMS, MS (Multiple Sclerosis), depression and headaches.

? Relieves tension and anxiety and improves mental ability.

? Can be used to treat people with Alzheimer's, dementia and other symptoms of cerebral insufficiency.

? Possesses powerful antioxidant properties and is valuable for fighting age related conditions.

4. Ginseng

The world's most popular herbal tonic

Ginseng is the most popular healing herbs used in the world today.

There are several species of Ginseng but, all are considered to have similar affects as a general rejuvenator and tonic.

Ginseng contains vitamins A, B-6 and the mineral zinc, which aids in the production of thymic hormones, necessary for the functioning of the immune system and is often prescribed to ward of colds and minor illnesses.

Health Benefits:

? Helps the body cope with t stress.

? Increases estrogen levels in women and used to treat menopausal symptoms.

? Used in the treatment of diabetes, to decrease blood sugar levels.

? Acts as an appetite stimulant to help diets.

? Believed to Possess cancer fighting agents.

? Aids sleep and rest.

? Enhances endurance, stamina, performance and overall wellbeing.

? Boosts the immune system.

? Relieves tension and anxiety.

? Normalizes blood pressure and increase blood circulation, the latter is seen as sexual stimulator.

? Reduces the risk of heart disease.

? Improves memory, concentration.

These four herbs have been used by countless billions of Chinese people for thousands of years and if you use them to you will soon feel the benefits.

If you are looking for four great essential herbs they all begin with G and they will help you feel better ward of disease illness and infection as well as increase your mood and your libido.

If you have not tried them you should!

FOR MORE FREE INFO on essential herbs for health and all aspects of health and nutrition visit our website for articles, features and downloads and lead a more fullfilling life today at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html

RVUs Whose Value Is It Anyway?

As I discuss career options with a group of third year medical students, I imagine a marketing brochure for psychiatry residencies in a world of mental health parity:

The brain is undeniably the most complex organ of the human body. Treatments for diseases of the mind and brain require the intricate understanding of chemistry, physiology, and anatomy common to all branches of medicine, as well as the ability to step outside of oneself to objectively observe personality and emotion. The psychiatrist must tolerate the unsettling awareness of the mysterious relationship between mind and matter, and must help others find their own answers to the mysteries of the human condition. No wonder that the masters of medicine-those who work in the vast field of interventional psychiatry-are so valued by society.

The time has come for my transition from psychiatric residency to psychiatric practice. The prospect of six-figure incomes suggests reward, at last, for years of work and debt. For the employers, under the guarantee of income and benefits lies the expectation of productivity. This productivity is not measured by patient satisfaction, symptom improvement, or reduced morbidity. Rather the name of the game is the RVU, and the way to get more RVUs is to see more patients in whatever time is available. I am grateful for the opportunity to earn good money in the service of a challenging and rewarding career. But I am also aware of the striking difference between the salaries of psychiatrists and the salaries of many other physicians. As a former practitioner of one of medicine's more lucrative specialties, I find myself comparing my apparent value now with my value then. Why is my work now worth less than half as much as my work as an anesthesiologist?

At the end of a night in the crisis service last week I walked past a group of patients huddled in the cold, waiting for the doors of the walk-in clinic to open. As I looked at their tired faces, I realized the desperation they must feel to leave homes or homeless shelters at such a cold and early hour, and make the trek to the clinic by foot or by bus. Their pains were certainly as great as the pains of any of my patients presenting for surgery. But for some reason there is less outrage over their lack of care than would be the case for a group of patients with untreated diabetes, appendicitis, or heart disease standing outside a hospital. I realized that like many in society, I had unwittingly accepted the scene before me as adequate care for the mentally ill.

The RBRVS, or resource-based relative value scale, was instituted by Medicare in 1992 in an attempt to standardize payments for physician services. Relative value units, or RVU's, are assigned to physician services based on three main factors: physician work, practice expenses, and the cost of liability insurance. Physician work is determined by several factors including time required for the service, the technical skill and physical effort, the mental effort and judgment, and the amount of stress experienced by the physician due to the risk to the patient. To arrive at the ?fair value' of services, the number of relative value units is multiplied by a universal dollar value, and adjusted slightly for practice location according to regional cost of living indices.

In theory, this approach to payment provides a level playing field for physicians. Payments for a cholecystectomy, for example, reflect the fortitude one must have to cut into someone's body and the time required for surgery and postoperative care. Medicare strictly adheres to this formula, but in the world of private insurance some physicians' relative value units are more valuable than others. In my region, for example, Medicare has decided that the relative value of a unit of physician work is about $38. The largest third-party payer in the area will pay psychiatrists, pediatricians, or family physicians about $50 per value unit. But orthopedists and radiologists, or podiatrists providing orthopedic services, are paid $100 per value unit.

What accounts for the difference in payment? If not due to stress, physical or mental effort, risk, technical proficiency, or practice cost, where does the difference come from? Certainly not from supply and demand, as in my area it is much easier to see an orthopedist this week than to see a psychiatrist within the next month. Does the lower reimbursement reflect decades of poor negotiating? Are psychiatrists more likely to succumb to modesty and self-effacement? Do psychiatrists have so great a level of job satisfaction that they don't worry about money? I wonder if the difference reflects a much larger problem-- that psychiatrists have bought into a societal impression that mental health is less valuable than physical health.

Support for this last concern can be found when one looks at the funding of mental health services in general, and the tacit acceptance of the funding situation by psychiatrists and other mental health caregivers. My insurer is required by statute to provide coverage for mental health services up to about $2000 per year. On the other hand, there is no limit on payment for orthopedic injuries. The insured alcoholic is covered for the $1800 surgeon's fee for a fractured kneecap- and more for the incidental hospital bill and the bills for physical therapy. If the alcoholic strikes his head, the radiologist receives $1200 to look at the MRI. And if he abruptly stops drinking for a week, the hospital is paid tens of thousands of dollars to help him through withdrawal-- only to turn him out to drink again. Yet to treat the primary alcoholism, the insurer will pay?$2000. And if the patient has spent $2000 for treatment of depression earlier in the year, the insurer will continue to pay for kneecap fractures and MRIs, but not for treatment of the underlying cause of these injuries-alcoholism. And other comparisons are equally dramatic. My insurer will pay $70,000 or more for cardiac bypass to reduce a person's risk of a heart attack, but only $2000 per year for treatment of the same person's depression, to reduce risk of suicide. The narcotic addict is allowed $2000 for treatment of heroin addiction, vs. hundreds of thousands of dollars for a secondary HIV infection.

The relatively low payments received by psychiatrists can be blamed to some extent on psychiatrists themselves. They accept their own devaluation when they sign for lower salaries or when they accept limitations on their ability to practice psychotherapy. They allow administrators and others without medical training to dictate treatment plans. I am reminded of the late 1980's when anesthesia was becoming perceived as a technical trade, and was challenged by the expanding statutory roles of nurse anesthetists. Rather than narrowing anesthesiology, the answer to devaluation was found by moving into critical care and pain medicine and asserting the roles of anesthesiologists as physicians. Similarly, cardiologists did themselves and their patients well when they laid claim to angioplasty, and called themselves ?interventional'. The new technology brought public respect and money, which then yielded an explosion of new treatments. I don't know what the parallel path for psychiatrists will be, but it is vital that as insights develop into brain function, psychiatrists lay claim to them, grasp them, and never let them go. There is nothing like a brain procedure to grab society's interest and respect. In fact, I posit that the simple adoption of the term ?Interventional Psychiatry' would increase the funding of psychiatrists and psychiatric research by 20%.

The low priority of mental health services to society is, of course, a complex issue. Stigma, lack of lobbying resources, and denial of the impact of mental illness certainly play roles in the lack of public interest and investment in mental health. Resources are thin for the unemployed and uninsured mentally ill, and the field of psychiatry deserves kudos for attempting to meet the needs of this population in return for little financial gain. But for patients with resources, we must recognize and advocate that mental health care is as important as treatment for a torn ACL, and deserves equitable reimbursement. The abilities to laugh, to work, and to love are as vital as the ability to return to beach volleyball. Psychiatrists must realize that at some point, expectations of relatively low reimbursements and medical standing become self-fulfilling prophecies, as our society tends to value those most who value themselves. The correction of societal bias and the resultant devaluation of our services will require constant efforts to educate, negotiate, and assert the value of mental health care in a healthy society. And psychiatrists, as the voices, faces, and business representatives of mental health, will raise the status and treatment of their patients as they work to raise the scientific, and yes, economic, status of themselves as physicians.

The author, Jeffrey T. Junig MD, PhD, has worked as an anesthesiologist, as a pain specialist, and as a psychiatrist. He teaches medical students and medical residents, and has written a number of scientific and educational articles. He enjoys consulting for businesses, legal firms, and individuals to translate medical records and jargon into usable information. He can be reached through his web site at http://explainmedical.com

Breast Augmentation Beauty or Beastly?

Breast augmentation surgery / breast enhancement surgery / breast mammoplasty / breast enlargement surgery / boob job -whatever name you use - it is a surgical procedure to enlarge small breasts or breasts that have lost their fullness. It may be undertaken to enhance the body shape if breasts are considered too small; to correct a reduction in
breast size after pregnancy; to correct a difference in breast size; or breast reconstruction after breast surgery.

Breast augmentation has been available in the United States for over 40 years. However the surgical techniques and implants themselves are constantly being refined, increasing the safety and reliability of the procedure. At this time over two million women have breast implants.

A breast implant is a silicone shell filled with either silicone gell or saline (salt water). There is however some restrictions on the silicone filled variety.
Silicone shells filled with saline solution are implanted either directly under the breast tissue or beneath the chest wall muscle, thus giving breasts a fuller and more natural contour.
Incisions are made where they can least be seen - usually the armpit, around the areola (nipple area), or under the breast itself.

There are 2 surgical techniques of placing the implants. The first is where the implant is placed under the breast tissue and over the chest muscle (subglandular placement).
The second method is where the implant is placed under the chest muscle and breast tissue. (submuscular or subpectoral placement).
The procedure is usually done under general anesthesia.
The surgery takes 1 to 1.5 hour and a bandage is then applied over the new breasts to help with healing for two days postoperatively. You would then attend a follow up appointment where you are given instructions regarding care and activity. After a post-surgical recovery period of 24 to 48 hours and an additional reduced-activity period of a few days, patients will likely experience soreness and swelling for a few weeks. Exercise and normal activity can resume at the direction of the surgeon.

Breast augmentation recovery is not a simple process. In most cases, the breasts that you see immediately after breast implant surgery are not indicative of the final results.

It is not until after six to eight weeks of breast implant recovery that the breasts finally take a shape of their own. Recovery continues until each person feels comfortable with their new breasts.
There are several different stages of the breast implant recovery process. Initially discomfort is to be expected. This discomfort can range from mild to severe, and can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks or more. The stitches that the surgeon uses to close the pocket around the implant will either dissolve on their own within a week of recovery or they will need to be removed by the surgeon seven to 10 days after surgery. Compression bandages or a compression bra are used immediately after surgery to prevent blood and fluid accumulation, speed healing and keep the implants in place during the early stages of recovery. If bandages are applied, they are usually removed within a day or two and replaced with a compression bra. This bra is usually worn for the first two weeks or more of recovery.
During recovery from breast implant surgery, it is common for some women to experience minor drainage, swelling, bruising and tenderness. To control swelling, it is often helpful to use cold packs and sleep with the torso elevated. Pain medication is often prescribed to reduce pain, and limiting activity during recovery will help reduce the risk of bruising.
For most women, the full recovery from breast implant surgery usually takes a few months. Everyday activities can usually be resumed with two weeks. However, as with all surgeries, recovery time is different for each patient.

Complications. Like any surgery some complications can occur. The most common problem - capsular contracture - occurs if the scar or capsule around the implant begins to tighten. This squeezing of the soft implant can cause the breast to feel hard - this can be treated - either by removal or 'scoring' of the scar tissue, or perhaps removal and replacement of the implant. Excessive bleeding after the operation may cause some swelling and pain - occasionally women develop an infection around the implant - some
reports of nipples becoming oversensitive, undersensitive, or even numb. Occasionally breast implants may break or leak.

Male breast implants. There are no significant physiological differences between male and female breast tissue other than the initial volume. The surgical procedure for male breast augmentation is identical. Through inserting an implant behind each breast, surgeons are able to enlarge a man's bustline by a cup size. Because men usually have less skin in that area it is recommended that they start with the smaller implant so that the body can get used to the new shape and stretch over the area.
Male breast implants, also known as pectoral implants, serve a separate purpose from transgender implants. Usually, male breast implants are designed to help sculpt the chest area and provide definition. Patients who opt for male breast implants often have experienced difficulty gaining their desired muscle definition through exercise alone.

Other candidates use male breast implants to mask problems caused by injury or growth defects affecting the pectoral muscles. Like liposuction, male breast implants can provide results that are otherwise impossible for certain individuals.
Unlike female breast implants, the male breast implants are made of solid silicone, which is inserted under the muscle tissue. During a male breast implant surgery, the surgeon will make small underarm incisions, creates pockets under the muscle tissue, and inserts male breast implants under the pectoral muscles. The surgery takes between one and two hours, and surgery for male breast implants is carried out on an outpatient basis, allowing the patient to return home the day that male breast implants are received. Recovery can take as long as six weeks, but most patients getting male breast implants are able to resume all activities within a month. Secondary surgery is rarely needed, and male breast implants are designed to last a lifetime.

Breast augmentation prices vary - but seem to range from $4,000 - $10,000. Finance is available for breast augmentation. There are 100% patient finance programs available - affordable, low-interest payment programs. And yes - you can: choose your own surgeon; pay affordable monthly low-interest payments; and make payments over a
period of 12 - 60 months!

Breast augmentation alternatives - are there any? There are some herbal supplements for breast enlargement around that offer outstanding benefits and results - without the scars and depleted bank accounts. In addition, herbal side effects, if any, generally demonstrate a beneficial nature as opposed to those suffered from surgery.
Most breast enlargement herbs work on the glandular tissue in the breast. Fat tissue in the breasts will vary and is primarily dependent upon the fluctuations in the weight of the woman's body. Women report that they can lose weight, but their breasts do not shrink when they take breast enlargement herbs.

So - worth checking out before undergoing surgery??

About the Author

Gay Redmile is the webmaster of several health and wellbeing sites. For further important plastic surgery information and resources visit her site at http://www.plasticsurgeryinfosite.com or visit one of her other wellbeing sites at http://www.newliposuctioninfo.com; http://www.botoxsite.net;
http://www.getatummytuck.com; http://www.detoxinfosite.com

Breast Enhancement in an Hour

Feminism might be on the rise but you just cannot beat the fact that the obsession with an hourglass figure is equally pervasive in female minds. It is thus no wonder that more and more women are submitting themselves under the surgeon's scalpel and amongst the plethora of cosmetic cures, breast enhancement rules the roost. Breast enhancement involves the enlargement of the breast via surgery or various other non surgical modes.

The enhancement of the breast via surgery involves implanting saline, silicone gel or hydrogel either beneath the breast, or through the areola or axilla. The surgery is over within an hour and fifteen minutes and you can return home the same day.

Postoperative care is simple enough. You only need to take cold packs to lessen the swelling and if required, some drugs to abate the uneasiness. The scars lighten gradually and you can resume your normal routine within 3-4 weeks. Breast implants are safe for lactating mothers as well. However there have been cases of leakages, hardening of the breast, infection and loss of nipple sensation following breast implants.

Though not proven to cause breast cancer, surgical breast enhancement technique has its vehement protestors. Not wanting to go through the rigors of a surgery and desiring an alternative to the artificial look and feel of a breast implant, more and more women are turning towards non surgical breast enhancement methods like the pill, pump, cream or a special brassiere.

Amongst these, natural breast enhancement modes like the herbal pill are fast gaining appeal. The pill, should however be taken with extreme caution for the market and the Internet is flooded with cons which actually do more harm than good. After you spot the right pill, you need to follow certain lifestyle guidelines to ensure prompt results.

While you are on the pill, avoid caffeine and carbohydrates. A protein-rich diet is known to catalyze the effects of the breast enlargement pill. Do not go on a pill popping spree. Religiously adhere to the dosage prescribed by the medical practitioner. It is said that the pill in combination with a breast enhancement cream or gel always produces a synergistic effect.

Amongst the other non surgical breast augmentation modes, the pump has created quite a stir with some women claiming increase in their breast size by as much as two cups. The pump works by a suction method wherein the breast is pulled outwards. Regular use of the pump brings about cellular growth, thereby increasing the breast size.

Detractors however claim that the pump has only a temporary effect and is prone to cause damage to the soft breast tissue.

The non surgical methods of breast enlargement are safer and convenient than surgery. However, you need to guard against fakes and tall claims of the manufacturers. It is best to research thoroughly, consult the physician before embarking on a breast enhancement regime. The proper procedure will have the gawky plain Jane blossom out into a woman of rare appeal and beauty.
About the Author

David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com

Morphine Compared to Tramadol

Continuous use of morphine is known to be highly addictive. It is because of this that physicians may choose to recommend Tramadol in cases of severe and moderate pain. Pain of a continuous nature is usually controlled through regular use of painkillers. These include postoperative, back, joint and cancer-related pain. Regular uses of morphine over long periods of time to control these aches will almost always result in patient dependency on the drug.



Consuming morphine as compared to Tramadol, is known to induce histamine, which is released as a neurotransmitter. Constant histamine release may cause anxiety, agitation and restlessness. Since both these drugs can be used to combat continual pain, it is important to study side effects and patient types before medication is recommended.



Morphine is useful for controlling postoperative pain. However, in comparison to Tramadol, morphine does not have the ability to induce improved postoperative immuno-suppression. This is an important factor that makes physicians select Tramadol over morphine. Use of morphine in cases of patients being on ventilators has confirmed a depressive effect whereas Tramadol patients do not exhibit these tendencies.



In cases of chronic pancreatic pain, both Tramadol and morphine have been tested on patients. These tests are conducted to check the interaction of these medicines with gut motor function. During the observation period, side effects, bowel function, resting pressure, rectal distension and other important functions were considered. Both medicines were confirmed to reduce pain. However, it was observed that Tramadol interfered less with gastrointestinal function and at times proved to be a better pain reliever.



Both the drugs have been tested upon clinical rats and it is found to cause red neuron degeneration. This could lead to cerebral dysfunction. Irrespective of these findings more and more people are being prescribed to use Tramadol in comparison to morphine. It is important to consume this drug in its recommended dosage and only when suggested by a physician. However, people should realize that even though Tramadol is considered to be less addictive, when someone suddenly stops taking the drug, it is known to cause withdrawals.

Barbara's Ovarian Cancer Story Part III

Happy Thanksgiving 2006

Barbara's continued Ovarian Cancer Story:

It?s been two years since my last article and I have a lot to share with you. Presently, I?m sitting in my cozy little office/guest room, in my cozy house on Whidbey Island, Washington. Rosie-the-cat is reclining on the windowsill and we?re both staring out at the wind-whipped trees and billowing, dark clouds being blown across the sky. It?s very beautiful and I?m very grateful to be here!

At my last writing, I had just completed eight cycles of heavy-duty chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer and was in remission, ready to celebrate a very special Thanksgiving with my family. (See articles 1 and 2 on the ?articles? page at www.dstress.com.) Those holidays were wonderful. I felt healthy, had hair, was working and exercising and planning my retirement date, (September 2005), and subsequent move to our home in Washington. Being an inveterate planner/list-maker and worrier, I organized the retirement and move to within an inch of its life. I knew when my last day of work would be; how much vacation time I had on the books and what day we?d be packing up. John made his plans to close his office and relocate his business. We were done with cancer and ready to move on! Well, as we all know, life has a way of not always going according to plan. We were about to be thrown a real curve-ball.

In March, we took a great trip to Arizona to celebrate my birthday. On the drive from Phoenix to Bisbee to visit friends, we marveled at the lush green desert, abloom with flowers after recent rains. Locals told us that this beauty lasted about two weeks before fading to gold and brown, and people had learned not to take it for granted. Well, that?s true about anything, isn?t it?

The day after we returned from our vacation, a message on the answering machine said a new suspicious mass had been found on my most recent CT scan, the one I had done before we left for Arizona. I was devastated and furious and terrified! I ranted and I raved and I screamed, scaring John and the cat. What about my plans? My retirement? Moving to my new home? What about my life? I don?t want more surgery, more chemo! I don?t want to lose my hair again! I feel fine and healthy- how can this be happening AGAIN? I had taken for granted that the first surgery and chemo had worked and I was cured. But in fact, 70-90% of people have recurrence at some point in time. I just didn?t think I would be one of them. I had to completely let go of my carefully orchestrated master-plan and face this challenge head on.

June found me back at UCSF for major surgery for removal of a tumor that was very close, but not on, the liver. Because ovarian cancer cells tend to migrate to the spleen and gallbladder, they also removed those organs. I was lucky to have access to one of the best surgeons in the country and post-op reports stated that they had completely removed all the cancer! I used all the same tools to prepare pre op and postoperatively as I had for my first surgery and my recovery was good. I was home in five days and back to work in five weeks. I started chemo in July.

On December 1, 2005, I had my last chemo cycle. Other than a very low blood count (I was very anemic and my white count was very low), I tolerated the treatments fairly well. Acupuncture, visualization, exercise and supplements all played an important part in my work to stay as strong and healthy as possible. My hair thinned considerably, but I didn?t have to wear wigs or cover-ups. With the particular drug regimen I was on, there is a 60% chance of hair loss. Before treatments started, I researched the web for any products that might minimize this side effect. I found a product called E.V.P.3 Chemaid. The website is:www.evp3.com. It provides good information and research so I decided to give it a try. I don?t know if it was the chemaid, the different type of drugs regimen and dosage, supplements or all of the above, but I kept the majority of my hair. Seems like such a minor thing when you are fighting for your life. Yet sometimes those small things make a difference in quality of life. I felt that I looked healthier and ?normal? and that translated into not feeling like a cancer patient.

The new year brought new resolution to finally make our plans to retire and move. My labs were good, my scans were clear and we moved to Whidbey Island in May. We?ve been involved in projects ever since.

First on the agenda was painting the inside and the outside of the house. Just as John and I have been a good team in my healing process, we?ve made a good team in working on our home. And it?s been fun! We dug a garden using picks and shovels. We built planter boxes and created a Zen rock garden; we yanked out a huge juniper bush and planted roses and dahlias. At the end of the day we collapsed into recliners with such a good feeling of accomplishment. I?ve never used my muscles like that before. I?d be exhausted by 8pm-it was such a good kind of tired. One of my favorite activities was sitting in the dirt, pulling weeds. The sun on my shoulders, eagles soaring overhead, the smell of earth and flowers and growing things became a huge part of my healing process. I visualized my immune system plucking out and ?disappearing? any unhealthy cells from my body with each weed I pulled. Working in the garden has become a wonderful meditation for me. I clear my mind and totally focus on the task at hand. Learning how to live in the moment is an ongoing lesson, and I have to continually find a balance between artful planning and my natural tendency to organize the future. I?ve learned a greater appreciation of each sunrise and sunset. I notice the rhythm of my breathing and muscle movement when I walk and hike. I take time to pick up interesting bits of wood from the beach and decorate my garden with them. I revel in the love of my family and dear friends. I consciously practice NOT taking anything for granted and I try to live each moment joyfully. I have a favorite mantra that I recite to myself on my daily walks. ?thank you for all the blessings I enjoy; thank you for my health today; thank you for my family and friends; thank you for allowing me to spend time in this beautiful place; thank you for the gift of life! And wouldn?t it be very, very nice if abundance cascades into my life and into those I love-abundance of health-physical, emotional and spiritual; and financial abundance.

I wish I could say that with all the meditation and mantras, I now lead a joyful, positive life. The truth is that I have my ups and downs; my incredibly joyful moments along with times of fear, sadness and anger. I go into worry-mode when it?s time for lab work and waiting for results. I get fearful about any new ache or pain (does this mean the cancer is back?) I vacillate between should I go ahead and spend money on redoing the kitchen now or keep that money in savings a little longer. Sometimes I feel caught between living in the moment and wanting to plan future projects for next year, two years from now, five years from now. And I still get angry that this happened to me, even though I?ve learned many lessons in the past few years. One of the main lessons I?m starting to grasp is that life is an act of faith. When I was planting the garden, I mostly put in vegetables and flowers that would reward me with bouquets and crops right away. My act of faith in the future was planting a cherry tree. My daily prayer is that I?ll be around to enjoy the blossoms and pluck the cherries.

This year we will celebrate Thanksgiving in our new home. We?ll share our gratitude with friends and family; we?ll feast and watch football; and we?ll toast to health, happiness and prosperity. The garden hibernates now beneath a blanket of red and gold leaves. The tulips, daffodils and hyacinths I planted last week rest and wait until it?s their time to burst forth into colorful splendor. And I rest, write, clean closets and enjoy indoor projects as I wait for spring, when I?ll burst out to nurture and be nurtured in my garden.

Here?s to rainy days and warm fires NOW and digging in the dirt in the FUTURE.

Happy Thanksgiving

Barbara Ehlers-Mason Whidbey Island, WA

L. John Mason, Ph.D. is the author of the best selling Guide to Stress Reduction. Since 1977, he has offered Executive Coaching and Training.

Please visit the Stress Education Center's website at http://www.dstress.com for articles, free ezine signup, and learn about the new telecourses that are available. If you would like information or a targeted proposal for training or coaching, please contact us at (360) 593-3833.

If you are looking to improve the quality of your life, visit our website. Be well!!!

Types Of Laser Surgery

A laser is a high-energy beam of light that can selectively transfer energy into tissue to treat the skin. Many surgical procedures are performed using lasers. General surgeons use a variety of laser wavelengths and laser delivery systems to cut, coagulate, vaporize or remove tissue. Some common surgical procedures use includes breast surgery, removal of the gallbladder, hernia repair, bowel resection, hemorrhoidectomy, solid organ surgery and treatment of pilonidal cyst. The advantages of using lasers are reduction of blood loss, decrease in postoperative discomfort, reduction of wound infection, decrease in spreading of certain cancers and better wound healing. Nowadays laser surgery is widely used in different areas of specialization such as dermatology, dentistry, head and neck surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, podiatry, urology and in the treatment of certain cancers.

In the field of skin care, lasers have proven to be big blessing. Lasers can be used to reduce wrinkles around the lips or eyes and sometimes the entire face. The laser softens fine wrinkles and removes certain blemishes on the face. Certain types of birthmarks respond remarkably well to laser treatment. The laser effects a reduction in the size of abnormal blood vessels that cause these birthmarks. This in turn promotes a lightening in the color of the birthmark. Skin growths, facial 'spider veins,' warts, and some tattoos can also be removed by laser surgery. Another procedure that uses lasers is hair transplant. Lasers are used to prepare the area where the hair transplants will be placed.

The most common laser treatments used in dental surgery are carbon dioxides. This is used commonly for surgery of the gingival or gum tissues. Treatment of small cavities is done with the help of lasers that drill into the enamel without much noise or vibration.

Microsurgical lasers are used for precision cutting. They make incisions into the brain and spinal cord. Lasers are used frequently in vaporization and coagulation of tumors, especially those that are deep within the brain and underneath the brain. Lasers have made a huge difference in the field of medical science, especially in the branch of surgery.

Laser Surgery provides detailed information on Laser Surgery, Laser Eye Surgery, Cosmetic Laser Surgery, Laser Surgery For Stretch Marks and more. Laser Surgery is affiliated with Corrective Laser Eye Surgeries.