1 December 2008 - World Aids Day

More people than ever before are living with HIV in the UK and new infections continue. HIV is a serious long-term condition and people living with HIV often face discrimination. Whatever your HIV status, there is a role you can play in ending HIV prejudice and stopping the spread of HIV.

The UK theme for World AIDS Day 2008, "Respect & Protect", is inspired by the UNAIDS and World AIDS Campaign ongoing international theme, 'Leadership'. The international theme is developed as an overall theme which each country is encouraged to adapt to suit more specific issues around the epidemic in their region.

For more information go to World Aids Day

10 things fungi have done for us

BBC News

Mycologists are a rare breed, and scientists worry the UK will miss out lucrative fungi-based discoveries. Like what?

Mushroom risotto. And umbrellas for fairies. Obviously fry-ups, which go without saying. But apart from these, what have fungi ever given us?

All manner of discoveries, says Peter Roberts, of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, such as:
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Kiwifruit Ranked Among Highest in Antioxidants

Natural News

The antioxidants found in kiwifruit are absorbed by the body more effectively than those from other antioxidant-rich fruits, according to a study conducted by researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock, and published in
the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
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Meditation May Protect Your Brain

AlterNet

For thousands of years, Buddhist meditators have claimed that the simple act of sitting down and following their breath while letting go of intrusive thoughts can free one from the entanglements of neurotic suffering.

Now, scientists are using cutting-edge scanning technology to watch the meditating mind at work. They are finding that regular meditation has a measurable effect on a variety of brain structures related to attention -- an example of what is known as neuroplasticity, where the brain physically changes in response to an intentional exercise.
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Lettuce drink to health

theage.com

Forget salads. Leafy greens as beverages are the health-kick du jour.

It sounds like something superheroes might drink but the "green smoothie" is gathering a growing - and, if the hype is to be believed, glowing - following.

Fans of this home-blended fruit and vegetable drink say a regular dose will do everything from improve your sleep to amp up energy levels, eradicate skin conditions and basically make you feel great.
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'Anti-gravity yoga' to take off in British gyms

Daily Telegraph

A new craze could sweep British gyms over the coming months - upside-down yoga.

As unlikely as it sounds, converts of 'AntiGravity Yoga' say the technique enables them to reach positions other exercises can't reach, leading to a better all-round work-out.

Participants use a hammock suspended from the ceiling to carry out yoga, pilates and dance moves while defying gravity.
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Peppermint oil 'the most effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome'

Daily Mail

Peppermint oil is the most effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, doctors said last night.

The oil, which can be bought cheaply and without prescription, is better than muscle-relaxants or fibre for easing the condition which afflicts up to one in five Britons, research suggests.
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Healing Power Of Reiki

Daily Record

Scot Suzanne Hasn't Looked Back Since Quitting Manager's Role To Take Up The Japanese Technique

IT may seem an unlikely spot, but the small village of Ayton on the eastern side of the Borders is the hub of a little known Japanese healing technique.

From a house which was once an isolation hospital, Suzanne Manning not only practises the art of Reiki but also trains others to use it too.

In the 10 years since she moved into her 18th century home, she has trained over 300 people and has also helped patients with a host of ailments, from migraines to arthritis.
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Pets are good for your health...

Guardian Online

American researchers have discovered that owning a pet can significantly reduce your risk of a common cancer. And that's not all, says Emine Saner

The body of evidence supporting the notion that pet ownership is good for your health grew even fatter this month. A new study, published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, found that keeping animals can cut the risk of developing the relatively common cancer of the immune system, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, by almost one third.

"The idea that pets and good health are associated goes back 20 years or more," says Dr June McNicholas, a psychologist who has researched the relationship between people and their pets. The catalogue of health plusses can't all be attributed to regular dogwalking however. When a study suggested that people who own pets have better cardiac health, says McNicholas, "one of the significant factors in people recovering well from a heart attack was owning a pet, but it wasn't just dogs. It applied equally to cats." Here are some of the many ways in which pets have been found to strengthen our constitutions.
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Coffee and chocolate are the key to long life

The Telegraph

Chocolate, coffee and tea are among the key foods and drinks needed to live a long and healthy life, according to a leading nutritional scientist.

Professor Gary Williamson, from the department of food science at Leeds University, has produced a list of 20 "lifespan essential" foodstuffs.

All are rich in naturally occurring chemicals, known as polyphenols, which have been linked to a variety of health benefits including protection against heart disease.

He said that foodstuffs on the list, which is dominated by fruits and vegetables, can also help to slow down the ageing process by helping to protect cells from the natural damage that occurs over time.
Full Article

The Harmony of Chinese Medicine

Epoch TImes

It speaks in a language that is foreign to our ear and conjures up images of peculiar herbal concoctions, but there is a lot more to Chinese medicine than meets the eye. Developed over several thousand years, Chinese medicine is a holistic, individualized approach aimed at preventing, identifying, and treating the root cause of illness, rather than treating the symptoms alone.

Chinese medicine follows the principle of “heaven, human beings, and the universe.” According to its theory, the human body is considered a small universe with an intricate set of systems that connect with each other and the environment.

The best way to maintain health is to nurture the mind and body and have a relaxed, gentle lifestyle. When balance and harmony are achieved in all aspects of life, the human body will be in a state of balance.

If a sick person is healed by a doctor, yet afterwards goes on losing his temper and pursuing self-interest, how could his illness not recur? Chinese medicine links every part of the patient’s nature.

Ironically, many people in the modern age reject all things that are “unconventional.” But a system that has existed for thousands of years is still continuing to treat over one quarter of the world’s population. The practice of Chinese medicine can provide us with a fresh insight into many health issues.
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Understanding the power of music - Science shows that music really does kill pain and reduce stress

MSNBC

More than 7,000 runners who raced earlier this month in a half-marathon in London were under the influence of a scientifically derived and powerful performance-enhancing stimulant — pop music.

The dance-able, upbeat music at London's "Run to the Beat" race was selected on the basis of the research and consultation of sport psychologist Costas Karageorghis of Brunel University in England. He has learned how to devise soundtracks that are just as powerful, if not more so, as some of the not-so-legal substances that athletes commonly take to excel.

"Music is a great way to regulate mood both before and during physical activity. A lot of athletes use music as if it's a legal drug," Karageorghis told LiveScience. "They can use it as a stimulant or as a sedative. Generally speaking, loud upbeat music has a stimulating effect and slow music reduces arousal."
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To sleep, perchance to dream...

Mail Online

Sweet dreams are made of flowers, according to researchers.

Scientists say tests have shown that sleeping with roses in your bedroom may provoke pleasant dreams.

During a study, the scent of the blooms were pumped under the noses of 15 sleeping women for ten seconds over 30 nights.

The volunteers were then woken up and asked to record their dreams - which proved to be more pleasant than normal.

Further analysis showed that the smells had an affect on the emotions of the dreams but did not become part of the dream as women exposed to roses did not dream about roses.

Similar tests showed that the rancid smell of rotten eggs provoked negative feelings in their dreams.
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Recommended Publication

Aromatherapy for Dummies by Kathi Keville

Kathi Keville is a nationally-known herbalist and aromatherapist with over 30 years experience. In this book she provides clear, concise, scientifically informed explanations of how plant essences can support body, mind, and spirit.

Whether it’s the tang of ozone in the air just before a rainstorm, the homey smell of freshly baked bread, or the inspiring scent of roses, natural aromas are everywhere with us, influencing our moods, and informing our perceptions. But natural aromas are capable of much more. Science is just beginning to reveal how aromas affect our bodies as well as our spirits, and what once seemed far–fetched–that you can treat many common ailments with nothing more than a pleasing smell–is now being taken seriously by many in the medical community.

This down–to–earth guide takes the mystery out of essential oils and other aromatherapy tools, and shows you how pleasing scents can cure what ails you and enhance your life at home and at work.

OfSpirit.com Holistic, Spiritual & Self-Improvement Articles, Interviews, Links & Online Magazine - excellent site from which the two articles below came from:

A Brief History of Incense by Margaret McGoverne
The Rose: Love, Healing, Symbolism And Alchemy by by Anja Heij