Chinese Herbal Practices

Much of China’s early material on herbal medicine came from court physicians whose very lives depended on their ability to keep the Emperor healthy. If the emperor became ill, treatments were first administered to “commoners” displaying the same symptoms. If a treatment proved successful, it was then administered to the emperor, and recorded for other physicians who might follow. While this method was often unfortunate for the “commoners” who were used as the test subjects, it has proven itself remarkably beneficial to us, who have the benefit of these thousands of years of observation and experimentation. This kind of elaborate and detailed information is unparalleled in the history of any other field of medicine. The effectiveness of these precious herbs has proven itself in actual practice through the lives of millions of people. This wealth of knowledge past on from generation to generation is probably China’s greatest gift to the world.

Over the past several years China has made astonishing progress in both western as well as Traditional Chinese Medical practices. Today modern China is a far cry from what many have supposed it to be! Dr. Anna Cummings, a member of a British medical team sent to China to observe oriental healing methods, had this to say: “They have frightfully modern pharmacies with white coated, efficient technicians who go through these old remedies with fine-toothed combs, finding out what’s in them, and then working out modern recipes that duplicate and surpass the old remedies. Their achievements in this area are absolutely remarkable”. Dr. Dean, another member of the team stated: “Chinese medicine is, in my opinion, the best in the world. In my report, I am urging that the British government send teams of specialists over there as soon as possible to learn anything they can about Chinese methods”.

Traditional Chinese herbal medicines have been helping people live longer, healthier lives for over 5,000 years. TCM’s basic modality is the promotion of “whole body wellness” through a balanced systems approach, not in the eradication of a specific disease. In the United States herbal medicine generally refers to the use of plants that are native to North America or Europe. Traditional Chinese Medicine, on the other hand, uses plants that are mainly native to China and Asia.

Chinese herbal medicine is one of the most sophisticated medical systems in the world, and It’s the world’s oldest living philosophy of healthcare, being over 3,000 years old. Its uniqueness and value lies in the fact that unlike western medicine whose practitioners seem to have a penchant for either the surgical removal of body parts or the over prescription of drugs, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a noninvasive healing modality focusing on balancing the body’s systems “naturally“. When the body’s systems are in balance, they facilitate the body’s ability to heal itself. Consequently, with TCM the focus becomes prevention rather than crisis management of a disease.

TCM treats the body as a critically unified “whole” system rather than a bunch of separate parts. Consequently, the focus becomes balancing the whole body, rather than targeting a particular disease, and attempting to eradicate it through drugs or surgery.

With western medicine, on the other hand, the public is becoming more and more aware of its many shortcomings, particularly its inherently invasive nature, as well as the abuse of antibiotics and drugs. This over prescription of drugs is leading to dangerously high levels of toxicity and some have even died.

While Western medicine separates the systems and organs of the body into separate parts, and delves deeper and deeper into the particles that comprise their individual matter, Chinese medicine views the body and further, the whole person, as a unified organic whole. Spiritual, mental, emotional and physical aspects are all seen as interrelated and interdependent. TCM is a gentle, all natural, healing modality.

We have become a society, which is making increasing demands for alternative approaches to the care of our bodies. People want to play a roll in the control of their bodies and their health, and with the use of “natural remedies” they finally have that option. We have become just too wearied from our lives being under the absolute control of the physicians. From coast to coast and around the globe, Traditional Chinese Medicine is rapidly gaining support. Fully one quarter of the world’s population now use TCM. Doctors and healthcare professionals from every nation and culture are subscribing to the use of Chinese herbal remedies. Why? … Simple, because they work!

Americans spent over $3.2 billion for herbal remedies in 1997 alone, and while some assumed that the “natural remedies” craze was just a passing fancy, records indicate that herbal consumption is actually escalating. This phenomenon is being fueled by thousands of satisfied customers who, after exhausting all traditional possibilities, have turned to these “natural” alternative remedies.

How To Get Rich Online With Internet Marketing

Here is why most people fail in an online business:

They see the possibilities immediately: You can market a digital or dropship product to the entire world, the process is almost completely automated, and you can get rich very quickly.

They then reach out and study internet marketing and try and focus on expressing their niche interest.

They reach out and start buying marketing materials and going to seminars and hanging out in forums.

Often the get into debt in the process and sometimes their relationships fall apart as their significant other consider them short off dementia, but they are goaded on by this vision that they see as possible. A lot of stress happens when you suddenly become single-minded. Intense focus is both the secret of greatness and the root cause of burnout.

Finally, they get overwhelmed by the amount of information that is out there on this subject, spin their wheels, suffer from information indigestion, experience failure, and then quit.

Yet, remarkably, some people do amazingly well. They go through the same cycles but they come out winners. At this point, they start making in a day what took them a year in their previous dead-end jobs to make.

While this is a complex topic, there are two critical elements that a netpreneur has to sort through. How he or she sorts through them determines whether they stay in the game and win big or drop out and fail, going back to the dismal jobs and unfulfilling lives that they hoped to escape.

The first element to failing online is poor study skills.

It's easy enough to whip out a credit card and download an e-book or a software program that promises the end to the search. Suddenly, they see an end to poverty and the beginning of riches. Suddenly, they envision the death of pain and the birth of pleasure.

Unfortunately, they then have to actually read, study, and apply the information.

Most people don't get this far. It's easier to just get the next information package.

Often enough, they consider the information to be at fault; even if the person selling the information happens to have a fabulous track record, with lots of social and statistical proof.

They conclude that either (a) they got scammed or (b) some vital information was withheld from them. They become guru-haters.

The real culprit, however, is their own impatience, poor study skills, getting discouraged when there isn't instant comprehension, and failing to test the strategies out.

The short attention cultivated by surfing may help them process large amounts of information quickly, but there is also a time when they need to spend a large amount of time processing information slowly to comprehend and use it.

An e-book is just an e-book and a software program is just a software program”-until the information is read, studied, comprehended, and applied.

The second element to failing online is not understanding the learning loop.

Failure is a bitter experience. Most of us shy away from it. Yet in our reluctance to go through it, we fail to get to the other side, which is success.

You have to fail first before you can succeed.

Failure is the process of trying something out, learning about it, improving your performance, eliminating what does not work, and finally arriving at a formula for success.

Once you have this formula, then you can replicate that success over and over again.

What's more, when you refine that success, it gets even bigger.

Mastery consists of three phases: learning, applying, and responding to feedback.

It's a cybernetic loop.

If you focus on the feedback as feedback, you will go through cycles of failing that will then lead you to cycles of succeeding.

Unfortunately, most people don't let the loop run itself out. They respond to negative feedback as failure and stop dead in their tracks, discouraged, disillusioned, and upset. They only want positive feedback.

Yet the feedback loop is always both positive and negative. Some things that you try out work and others that you try out don't work. You will never know what works and what does not work until you try different things out.

Source:www.selfseo.com

What is a home equity line of credit?

A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit in which your home serves as collateral. Because the home is likely to be a consumer's largest asset, many homeowners use their credit lines only for major items such as education, home improvements, or medical bills and not for day-to-day expenses.

With a home equity line, you will be approved for a specific amount of credit--your credit limit, the maximum amount you may borrow at any one time under the plan. Many lenders set the credit limit on a home equity line by taking a percentage (say, 75 percent) of the home's appraised value and subtracting from that the balance owed on the existing mortgage.

In determining your actual credit limit, the lender will also consider your ability to repay, by looking at your income, debts, and other financial obligations as well as your credit history.
Many home equity plans set a fixed period during which you can borrow money, such as 10 years. At the end of this "draw period," you may be allowed to renew the credit line. If your plan does not allow renewals, you will not be able to borrow additional money once the period has ended. Some plans may call for payment in full of any outstanding balance at the end of the period. Others may allow repayment over a fixed period (the "repayment period"), for example, 10 years.

Once approved for a home equity line of credit, you will most likely be able to borrow up to your credit limit whenever you want. Typically, you will use special checks to draw on your line. Under some plans, borrowers can use a credit card or other means to draw on the line.

There may be limitations on how you use the line. Some plans may require you to borrow a minimum amount each time you draw on the line (for example, $300) and to keep a minimum amount outstanding. Some plans may also require that you take an initial advance when the line is set up.


What should you look for when shopping for a plan?

If you decide to apply for a home equity line of credit, look for the plan that best meets your particular needs. Read the credit agreement carefully, and examine the terms and conditions of various plans, including the annual percentage rate (APR) and the costs of establishing the plan. The APR for a home equity line is based on the interest rate alone and will not reflect the closing costs and other fees and charges, so you'll need to compare these costs, as well as the APRs, among lenders.

Interest rate charges and related plan features
Home equity lines of credit typically involve variable rather than fixed interest rates. The variable rate must be based on a publicly available index (such as the prime rate published in some major daily newspapers or a U.S. Treasury bill rate); the interest rate for borrowing under the home equity line changes, mirroring fluctuations in the value of the index. Most lenders cite the interest rate you will pay as the value of the index at a particular time plus a "margin," such as 2 percentage points. Because the cost of borrowing is tied directly to the value of the index, it is important to find out which index is used, how often the value of the index changes, and how high it has risen in the past as well as the amount of the margin.

Lenders sometimes offer a temporarily discounted interest rate for home equity lines--a rate that is unusually low and may last for only an introductory period, such as 6 months.

Variable-rate plans secured by a dwelling must, by law, have a ceiling (or cap) on how much your interest rate may increase over the life of the plan. Some variable-rate plans limit how much your payment may increase and how low your interest rate may fall if interest rates drop.

Some lenders allow you to convert from a variable interest rate to a fixed rate during the life of the plan, or to convert all or a portion of your line to a fixed-term installment loan.

Plans generally permit the lender to freeze or reduce your credit line under certain circumstances. For example, some variable-rate plans may not allow you to draw additional funds during a period in which the interest rate reaches the cap.

Costs of establishing and maintaining a home equity line
Many of the costs of setting up a home equity line of credit are similar to those you pay when you buy a home.

In addition, you may be subject to certain fees during the plan period, such as annual membership or maintenance fees and a transaction fee every time you draw on the credit line.

You could find yourself paying hundreds of dollars to establish the plan. If you were to draw only a small amount against your credit line, those initial charges would substantially increase the cost of the funds borrowed. On the other hand, because the lender's risk is lower than for other forms of credit, as your home serves as collateral, annual percentage rates for home equity lines are generally lower than rates for other types of credit. The interest you save could offset the costs of establishing and maintaining the line. Moreover, some lenders waive some or all of the closing costs.

How will you repay your home equity plan?

Before entering into a plan, consider how you will pay back the money you borrow. Some plans set minimum payments that cover a portion of the principal (the amount you borrow) plus accrued interest. But (unlike with the typical installment loan) the portion that goes toward principal may not be enough to repay the principal by the end of the term. Other plans may allow payment of interest alone during the life of the plan, which means that you pay nothing toward the principal. If you borrow $10,000, you will owe that amount when the plan ends.

Regardless of the minimum required payment, you may choose to pay more, and many lenders offer a choice of payment options. Many consumers choose to pay down the principal regularly as they do with other loans. For example, if you use your line to buy a boat, you may want to pay it off as you would a typical boat loan.

Whatever your payment arrangements during the life of the plan--whether you pay some, a little, or none of the principal amount of the loan--when the plan ends you may have to pay the entire balance owed, all at once. You must be prepared to make this "balloon payment" by refinancing it with the lender, by obtaining a loan from another lender, or by some other means. If you are unable to make the balloon payment, you could lose your home.

If your plan has a variable interest rate, your monthly payments may change. Assume, for example, that you borrow $10,000 under a plan that calls for interest-only payments. At a 10 percent interest rate, your monthly payments would be $83. If the rate rises over time to 15 percent, your monthly payments will increase to $125. Similarly, if you are making payments that cover interest plus some portion of the principal, your monthly payments may increase, unless your agreement calls for keeping payments the same throughout the plan period.

If you sell your home, you will probably be required to pay off your home equity line in full immediately. If you are likely to sell your home in the near future, consider whether it makes sense to pay the up-front costs of setting up a line of credit. Also keep in mind that renting your home may be prohibited under the terms of your agreement.

Lines of credit vs. traditional second mortgage loans

If you are thinking about a home equity line of credit, you might also want to consider a traditional second mortgage loan. A second mortgage provides you with a fixed amount of money repayable over a fixed period. In most cases the payment schedule calls for equal payments that will pay off the entire loan within the loan period. You might consider a second mortgage instead of a home equity line if, for example, you need a set amount for a specific purpose, such as an addition to your home.

In deciding which type of loan best suits your needs, consider the costs under the two alternatives. Look at both the APR and other charges. Do not, however, simply compare the APRs, because the APRs on the two types of loans are figured differently:

The APR for a traditional second mortgage loan takes into account the interest rate charged plus points and other finance charges.
The APR for a home equity line of credit is based on the periodic interest rate alone. It does not include points or other charges.

Disclosures from lenders

The federal Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to disclose the important terms and costs of their home equity plans, including the APR, miscellaneous charges, the payment terms, and information about any variable-rate feature. And in general, neither the lender nor anyone else may charge a fee until after you have received this information. You usually get these disclosures when you receive an application form, and you will get additional disclosures before the plan is opened. If any term (other than a variable-rate feature) changes before the plan is opened, the lender must return all fees if you decide not to enter into the plan because of the change.

When you open a home equity line, the transaction puts your home at risk. If the home involved is your principal dwelling, the Truth in Lending Act gives you 3 days from the day the account was opened to cancel the credit line. This right allows you to change your mind for any reason. You simply inform the lender in writing within the 3-day period. The lender must then cancel its security interest in your home and return all fees--including any application and appraisal fees--paid to open the account.

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The material on this site is adapted from the brochure "When Your Home Is on the Line." Single or multiple copies of the brochure are available without charge. Order the brochure by telephone, mail, or fax. Order on line.

What should people know about breast cancer?

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in New York State.

Each year, about 13,800 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and over 3,000 women die from the disease in New York State. It is estimated that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime during her life.

Men also get breast cancer, but it is very rare. About 150 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in New York State.
Who gets breast cancer?

Breast cancer is more common among older women. The risk for getting breast cancer increases with age. More than three-quarters of women who get breast cancer are over the age of fifty. White women are more likely to get breast cancer than Black women. Also, women with high socioeconomic status (those whose family income is above average) are more likely to get breast cancer. Scientists believe this may be related to having their first child at an older age, fewer pregnancies, diet and possibly other factors shared by women in higher income groups.
What causes breast cancer?

At this time, scientists do not know exactly what causes breast cancer. We do know that certain personal characteristics increase a woman's chance of developing breast cancer. These risk factors include:

* increasing age – as women get older their risk of developing breast cancer increases.
* family history of breast cancer – women whose relatives have had breast cancer (especially at an early age) are more likely to get breast cancer.
* breast cancer genes – about 5% to 10% of breast cancers are believed to be inherited.
* personal history of breast cancer – a woman who has had cancer in one breast is more likely to develop it in the other breast or in remaining breast tissue.
* history of benign breast disease – women who have a history of certain types of non-cancerous tumors and cysts in their breasts are more likely to develop breast cancer.
* hormonal factors – women who start their periods at a young age, start menopause at a late age, have their first child later in life, and have no full-term pregnancies may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.

Studies also show that exposure to high doses of x-rays increases a woman's risk of getting breast cancer. Although scientists are not sure, other studies indicate that taking birth control pills, exposure to certain chemicals in the environment, long-term use of hormone replacement therapy, use of alcoholic beverages, obesity and lack of physical activity may be associated with increased breast cancer risk.

Research has also shown that use of underarm deodorant or antiperspirants, underwire bras, induced abortions and silicone breast implants do not increase the risk of getting breast cancer.
What can I do to reduce my chances of getting breast cancer?

Most women who develop breast cancer have no risk factors. Among women with average risk, breast cancer cannot be prevented. Mammograms, breast self-examination, and examination of your breasts by your health care provider increase the chances that breast cancer will be diagnosed early. Among women who have higher than average risk, certain drugs may be useful in preventing breast cancer. All women should discuss their risk and screening or prevention options with their health care provider.

Source : health.state.ny.us

NVIDIA GeForce 9900 GTX Card Design Exposed

While there's still enough time until the GeForce 9900 series shows up, hardware enthusiasts are trying to chop up every bit of information they can find. Today a few 3D sketches were leaked, showing a GT200 based card in computer 3D environment. The GT200 based card has a total of 16 memory chips onboard (8 chips are on the back side of the PCB), and will probably feature 1GB of GDDR3 memory. The card will be 10.5-inch long and come with a dual slot cooler manufactured by Cooler Master (model TM71). Other details are still a bit washed out, so I won't report them here. If you want to read them anyways, please be sure to check this page.

Source: VR-Zone