MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'chemicals'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:47:30 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968426&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34605&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acsh.org%2Fhealthissues%2Fnewsid.1949%2Fhealthissue_detail.asp By Gilbert Ross. A respected newspaper notes the latest toll among Europeans of a virulent strain of the bacterium E. coli, the source of which has recently been determined to be sprouts from an organic farm in Germany. In the same newspaper, a few pages distant, a credulous journalist has in essence copied and pasted another press release from the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a U.S. activist organization, warning us yet again about the traces of pesticide residues on their so-called "Dirty Dozen" list of fruits and vegetables. (Source: Health Issues) Health Issues blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968426 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4968426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4876415&cid=t_92062_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fthis-weels-happenings-on-the-alchemist.html This weel’s happenings on The Alchemist – This week, The Alchemist is looking to the sun for record-breaking power and sniffing the air to catch a whiff of blackcurrant. Testing times ahead for heavy metal in the pharmaceutical industry we learn, and logical molecules come to the for in potential biomedical and sensor applications. In child health, C&EN reports on fire retardants in baby products. And, finally, everyone's favorite gray-haired video chemist, Martyn Poliakoff, is nominated for the position of Foreign Secretary at the Royal Society. Related Posts:Alchemical happeningsNervous, Monopolar, SolventsAlchemical AnomaliesEarly Valentine’s AlchemistAlchemy bonusThis week’s happenings on The Alchemist is a post from: Sciencebase Science Blog (Source: S... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4876415 Sat, 28 May 2011 10:00:02 +0100 4876415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852924&cid=t_92062_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2F60-million-chemicals.html There are now 60 million chemicals in the CAS Registry, that’s a number equivalent to 3G users in China, the population of the Roman Empire in 70 BC, the age of the Rocky Mountains in years, the number of casualties in WWII, and the votes cast in American Idol. The last time I mentioned the CAS count was September 2009, when it reached 50 million entries. I remember it reaching the 10 million mark in 1990 (a year or so after I’d started working for the Royal Society of Chemistry, RSC). That seemed like a major achievement given that it had taken CAS 33 years to go from 0 to 10 million.     The 60-millionth substance in the CAS registry is a putative antiviral agentt and has the CAS # 1298016-92-8. It was discovered by researchers at the Institute of Materia Medica, in... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852924 Mon, 23 May 2011 19:00:53 +0100 4852924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636477&cid=t_92062_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fa-fix-of-five-fresh-science-stories.html Free complete works of H.P. Lovecraft for Nook and Kindle (and Calibre) – You can now download the complete works of HP Lovecraft as an ebook for your Kindle (or if you haven't wasted your money on that device you can read it with the Calibre software for Windows, Mac and Linux. FYI: OMG, tinfoil hat entry updated in OED, LOL – Forget the addition of FYI, LOL and OMG 2 the OED, the new entry for tinfoil hat  n. recounts how the shiny chapeau began its life with only festive connotations. However, in 1986, just over a century after its first attestation as an innocent party favour, the tinfoil hat migrated to a more sinister milieu, popularly associated with conspiracy theories suggesting that such headwear could protect the wearer from mind control or surveillance. Th... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636477 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:00:05 +0100 4636477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489886&cid=t_92062_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FiREEfhvNGe4%2F What it is: The Healthy Deodorant by Lavanila Laboratories What’s in it: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Alpha-Glucan oligosaccharide (sugar derived), carrageenan, goji berry, valerian, corn starch, and more – the full list of ingredients varies depending on the scent. What’s not in it: Aluminum, petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol, mineral oils, silicone, synthetic dyes, sulfates, or parabens. What it feels like: A little rough going on — the bar is really solid, and pressing hard to apply can be painful to sensitive or razor-burned skin — but once it’s on, you’ll be dry and happy and vanilla-scented. What it smells like: The bad news? You’re out of luck if you don’t like vanilla. The five available scents — Vanilla Passion Fruit, Vanilla ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489886 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 21:39:02 +0100 4489886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4464541&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F11%2Fthe-science-of-romance-the-love-drug%2F On the comment box of my post “The Emotional Affair,” Beyond Blue reader Michael wrote: I’m totally confused and caught up in this person. Some years go by without us speaking, but we always come back to each other. Convenience, you say, or possibly hoping for the best. I don’t now. The problem is that I’m hopelessly in love with this person and willing to give up all in every way there needs. But relationships are severely limited. You can justify anything in this world, especially the things you want most. The feeling of love is exceedingly strong and seductive, as is the feeling to be needed and to be loved. So I search spiritually, mentally … If you read all the comments on the affair post and others like “12 Ways to End Addictive Relationships... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4464541 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:40:09 +0100 4464541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436883&cid=t_92062_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FST767NYz5bE%2F Sure osteoporosis meds allegedly can reduce the risk of fractures in osteoporosis patients, but can they really add five years to your life? That’s exactly what an Australian study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism claims. The research shows that participants taking bisphosphonates (or drugs that prevent bone loss) for an average of three years had a significantly longer life span than those treating the disease with treatments such as Vitamin D and hormone therapy. According to Medical News Today, “Among younger women with osteoporotic fractures, where one might expect about 20-25% of deaths over five years, there were no deaths at all.” The study’s authors (who admittedly thought there was an error when they first saw the results) say that the extended l... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436883 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:48:41 +0100 4436883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4360976&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-a-song-can-get-you-high%2F2011.01.18 According to a new study in Nature Neuroscience, there are songs that can arouse feelings of euphoria and craving by endogenous dopamine release in the striatum: If music-induced emotional states can lead to dopamine release, as our findings indicate, it may begin to explain why musical experiences are so valued. These results further speak to why music can be effectively used in rituals, marketing or film to manipulate hedonic states. Our findings provide neurochemical evidence that intense emotional responses to music involve ancient reward circuitry and serve as a starting point for more detailed investigations of the biological substrates that underlie abstract forms of pleasure. According to study author Robert Zatorre, one of those songs is “Adagio For Strings” by DJ Tie... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4360976 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 22:00:55 +0100 4360976 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4360980&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffarm-woo-and-our-food%2F2011.01.18 Google is an amazing thing — it occasionally tosses you a link that lands you in an alternate universe of folks you’d never encounter in real life. Like cattle ranchers. I’ve just spent the good part of an hour wandering their world — reading about their concerns (water, wolves, the economy), seeing how cattle breeding has changed (you pick a sire at Bullsemen.com, then do genomic profiling on your stock — did you know that cows bred for docility have more tender meat ?), and learning that ranchers are not immune to marketing from the world of scientific woo. Check this out — it’s called SOP Life Vibration or “Serio Bio-Hygienization.” They’re selling it to farmers and ranchers in Europe and the U.S. as the latest and greatest answer to bacterial growth... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4360980 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:00:17 +0100 4360980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272360&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F19%2Fnew-brain-mechanism-discovered-for-anxiety%2F File this in the folder of new research discoveries that could lead to new, better targeted medications for one of the world’s most common mental concerns — anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 40 million American adults ages 18 and older — or nearly 1 in 5 people in this age group in a given year — have an anxiety disorder. Most people with one anxiety disorder also have another anxiety disorder. Nearly three-quarters of those with an anxiety disorder will have their first episode by age 21. Currently, the standard of care for anxiety treatment is either a short-acting psychiatric medication — most often a benzodiazepine for the treatment of things like panic disorder — and psychotherapy. All of this could... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272360 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:24:10 +0100 4272360 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4175806&cid=t_92062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FK2VAkKPh3F8%2F Fourth of July Fail: The smoke caused by fireworks is bad for us, especially for people who have asthma. (via Science Daily) Post from: BlissTree (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4175806 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:31:27 +0100 4175806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133869&cid=t_92062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FqbXa0m1zFC4%2F photo: Thinkstock Check out this post about potentially harmful beauty treatments by Justine van der Leun on AOL Health. People head to the salon to get gorgeous — but with overdone, badly executed or unnecessary treatments, many end up with ugly results. “I see beautiful people who are in a mess because they get suckered into ruining what they have,” says Dr. Debra Jaliman, an American Academy of Dermatology spokesperson and the author of the Skin and Hair chapter in Women’s Health for Life. Here, we run down some potentially counterproductive beauty treatments out there — and tell you how to avoid unattractive outcomes. Skin-Lightening Creams It’s not bleaching that’s the problem — it’s overbleaching. While creams can be effective ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133869 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:17:14 +0100 4133869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119038&cid=t_92062_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSciencebaseScienceBlog%2F%7E3%2F1q1O_tg2mO4%2Flatest-science-snippets.html The boiling Sun – In case you woke up today feeling important…there's a rather humbling picture that shows the scale of a plume of gas erupting from the surface of the Sun that would literally engulf the whole planet. More to the point, you could fit the Earth into the sun a million times over…and the sun isn't even a particularly big star and it's just one of billions in our galaxy and there are billions of galaxies in the "known" universe. The universe itself may simply be a tiny bubble in a even more unimaginable froth of universes…still pretty picture isn't it? Alchemist for 27th October on ChemWeb.com – In this week's issue theoretical work opens up entirely new chemical vistas hinting at the chemistry of elements beyond... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119038 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:05:36 +0100 4119038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105765&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F10%2F25%2Flove-in-the-brain%2F Ahh, what researchers won’t study. Is nothing sacred, even the most spiritual of matters of the heart, such as love? Now research out of Syracuse University by Stephanie Ortigue (that’s her, pictured), suggests that there are measurable brain changes when a person falls in love. She gathers this idea from a review of the research literature of neuroimaging studies (studies that primarily used something called functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI) that have examined people in love. She found that all of the fMRI studies of love point to “subcortical dopaminergic reward-related brain systems (involving dopamine and oxytocin receptors).” These are similar to the rewards a person feels when taking cocaine. The study’s new findings are that there are 12 s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105765 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:28:42 +0100 4105765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4031190&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fshocking-news-carcinogens-multiply-in-gulf-after-oil-spill%2F photo via AOL Health Check out this post from Catherine Donaldson-Evans on AOL Health. Carcinogens have spread rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico since the region was devastated by the BP oil spill in April, according to researchers. A report released by scientists at Oregon State University found that cancer-causing oil compounds increased by 40 times between May and June of 2010 in the waters bordering Louisiana. “It’s an incredibly huge jump in concentration in a natural environment,” Oregon State toxicology professor Kim Anderson, who led the study, told the Los Angeles Times. Among the dangerous agents detected are carcinogens called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. Keep reading at AOL Health. Post from: BlissTree Shocking News: Carcinogens Multiply In Gulf Af... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4031190 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:57:37 +0100 4031190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018177&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Faspartame-facts-vs-fiction%2F2010.09.30 If you believe everything you read on the Internet, then is seems that a chemical found in thousands of products is causing an epidemic of severe neurological and systemic diseases, like multiple sclerosis and lupus. The FDA, the companies that make the product, and the “medical industrial complex” all know about the dangers of this chemical, but are hiding the truth from the public in order to protect corporate profits and avoid the pesky paper work that would accompany the truth being revealed. The only glimmer of hope is a dedicated band of bloggers and anonymous email chain letter authors who aren’t afraid to speak the truth. Armed with the latest anecdotal evidence, unverified speculation, and scientifically implausible claims, they have been tirelessly ranting about the evils o... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018177 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:00:22 +0100 4018177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976464&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34605&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acsh.org%2Fhealthissues%2Fnewsid.1909%2Fhealthissue_detail.asp By Dr. Elizabeth M. Whelan. A remarkable new documentary tells the story of how political and ideological forces combined to ban a widely and safely used chemical, DDT, leading to a surge of malaria deaths in developing countries like Kenya, Indonesia, and India. (Source: Health Issues) Health Issues blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976464 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3976464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911670&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F197411%2F You Go, Canada. Our neighbors to the north just moved to ban BPA. (via Inhabitat) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911670 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:55:55 +0100 3911670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3880808&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fnot-so-eco-friendly-living-san-franciscos-organic-compost-is-full-of-chemicals%2F photo: Thinkstock San Francisco’s Public Utilities Commission gives out free composting soil to their residents, schools, and businesses, to make composting easier. Pretty cool, right? In theory, yes, but test results show that the supposedly organic soil is full of endocrine-disrupting chemicals like PBDE, flame retardants, triclosan, detergent breakdown components, and antibacterial agents, among other chemicals. Where is this tainted soil coming from, you ask? Oh, just sewage sludge. Yes — the Public Utilities Commission has been collecting soil from the sewer, and handing it out to school children. Why is anyone surprised that the soil would be crawling with chemicals? via Natural News Post from: BlissTree (Not So) Eco-Friendly Living: San Francisco's "Organic" Compost is Full ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3880808 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:14:17 +0100 3880808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3861982&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fmen-would-rather-smell-pie-than-obsession%2F photo: Thinkstock Remember those toxic chemicals lurking in your designer perfume? We’ve got some good news. If you’re trying to appeal to a potential or current romantic interest with perfume, it’s not doing any good. We understand not wanting to smell plain (or, worse, bad), so spritzing a bit of perfume before a date makes sense. But your date would rather you smeared a little frosting on your wrists instead. Recent research shows that men are more attracted to food smells than perfume. The combination that’s most enticing to men? Pumpkin pie and lavender. Together. And women? We like Good & Plenty and cucumber; Good & Plenty and pumpkin pie; lavender and pumpkin pie; and baby powder and chocolate. That last one is pretty gross. So just walk through a bak... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3861982 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:58:16 +0100 3861982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3822962&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F08%2F04%2Fhow-swimming-reduces-depression%2F I’ve always known that I climb out of any pool a lot happier than when I dove in. Yes, I know any kind of aerobic exercise relieves depression. For starters, it stimulates brain chemicals that foster the growth of nerve cells; exercise also affects neurotransmitters such as serotonin that influence mood and produces ANP, a stress-reducing hormone, which helps control the brain’s response to stress and anxiety. But swimming, for me, seems to zap a bad mood more efficiently than even running. Swimming a good 3000 meters for me can, in the midst of a depressive cycle, hush the dead thoughts for up to two hours. It’s like taking a Tylenol for a headache! It was with interest, then, that I read an article in “Swimmer” magazine about why, in fact, that’s the c... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3822962 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:00:27 +0100 3822962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3807396&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffood-and-pesticides-the-dirty-dozen%2F2010.07.31 The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit focused on public health. We know that the long-term consequences of eating chemicals from pesticides used on our foods is damaging to our health. The EWG analyzed data from the FDA and found that people who eat five fruits and vegetables a day from the “Dirty Dozen” are eating 10 pesticides a day. We want people to eat more fruits and vegetables, but NOT to ingest more chemicals. Rinsing reduces but does not eliminate pesticides. So what’s the answer? Rinse completely and buy the “Dirty Dozen” foods organic whenever possible. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3807396 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100 3807396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3794748&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fbpa-found-in-receipts-now-we-really-hate-tracking-our-spending%2F photo: Thinkstock If you know us, you know we like to freak out about BPA. But our freakouts aren’t unwarranted: BPA is an endocrine disrupter that is linked to health issues in men, women, and babies. Plus, the stuff is hard to avoid: it’s in pretty much all canned foods and many plastic bottles and containers. And according to a new study, BPA was even present on 40% of receipts collected from supermarkets, ATMs, gas stations, and retail chains. In some cases, the levels of BPA found were 1,000 times greater than the BPA found in the lining of canned foods. Ugh. We throw our receipts all over the place. They rub all over our groceries on the way home from the market and we keep them in our purse for months, right up against our lip gloss. While it’s not clear if the BPA... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3794748 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:15:25 +0100 3794748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3757801&cid=t_92062_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Famerican-cancer-society-releases-list-19-chemicals-avoided%2F The American Cancer Society has named a list of 19 chemicals and shift work as things that may very likely signficantly increase the risk of cancer. Chemicals on the list included chloroform, formaldehyde, carbon black, titanium dioxide, indium phosphide, and cobalt tungsten carbide. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3757801 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:05:18 +0100 3757801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750025&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F188385%2F BP Whistleblower: Check out an interview with the former BP employee who lost his job after taking photos of the dangerous chemicals being used to break up the oil. (via Planet Green) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750025 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:33:38 +0100 3750025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3750028&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Feco-friendly-fashion-the-truth-about-bamboo%2F photo: Thinkstock Even Walmart is selling bamboo clothing and textiles, which touts them as an easy, inexpensive way to buy green. Bamboo is the fastest growing wood-ish plant in the world, and most of it is grown organically without using fertilizers or irrigation. This all sounds very eco-friendly, until it comes time to actually make the bamboo into fabric. Most bamboo fabrics are basically rayon. The process most widely used to create bamboo fabric (and rayon) is called viscose, which involves taking the fiber (in this case, bamboo), and dissolving it in a strong solvent to make a thick, gummy solution. Then, that’s shoved through a spinneret and into a quenching solution that solidifies the goop into a fiber. Unfortunately, the solvent used in this process is a toxic chemical ca... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3750028 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:02:01 +0100 3750028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3747007&cid=t_92062_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F217%2Fdiscover-a-natural-skin-care-product-with-functional-keratin%2F I thought you might be interested in a natural skin care product with anti-aging activity.  One of the most recent discoveries is that a protein complex called Functional Keratin will provide many anti-aging benefits. In some circles, it is being hailed as something of an anti-aging miracle.  Here’s what it can do. First of all, it is the same as the protein that makes up the majority of the cells in the skin’s outer layers.  Inactive or dysfunctional keratin has been included in moisturizers for many years. The benefits were minimal, because the skin’s cells could not pick it up and use it.  The harsh chemicals and high heat used to soften it made it unusable. The same is true of the collagen and elastin proteins found in anti-aging products.  The skin’s cells cannot use them... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3747007 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:27:45 +0100 3747007 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3740785&cid=t_92062_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbreast-cancer-hasnt-changed-my-love-of-lipstick%2F This week, NBC Nightly News reported on an expert panel in San Francisco looking into the connection between environment and breast cancer risk. Things like pesticides and chemicals in water bottles are a concern, but to date there is no concrete evidence linking the incidence of cancer to the environment. Fortunately, experts are not about to give up — they will continue to research all aspects of environmental risks and breast cancer development. The news report also included a brief discussion about the chemicals in makeup. I love wearing makeup. By age 14, my friends and I were really into makeup. My mom is one of those women who never left the house without her hair and face done, so it was inevitable that she would influence me to have a love of lipstick, blush, and eye shadow. Alm... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3740785 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:53:54 +0100 3740785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718361&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F186699%2F Think organic farming is simple and straightforward? Think again, according to this post on today’s Grist.org: Battling the bugs – and the temptation to use chemical WMDs. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718361 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:37:57 +0100 3718361 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3707030&cid=t_92062_167_f&fid=36994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition-news.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F06%2Ffree-eco-laundry-wash.html method laundry: You may remember an earlier post about 'Toxins in the home''In short, every room in almost every house in the United States is likely to contain at least one of these chemicals, many of which did not exist a century ago.'Here's a chance to try out a free sample of a new laundry washing clothes wash liquid that ticks all the boxes on your environmentally friendly kinder to the planet and your health wish list.A very easy way to cut out some of the unecessary chemicals in your home that you keep close to your skin.Grab one now - see top right flash - Free ProductsNutritionists London (Source: Healthy Eating and Nutrition News) Healthy Eating and Nutrition News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3707030 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 09:26:00 +0100 3707030 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699463&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F185262%2F Ready, Set, Comment: This week, to celebrate our new super-easy commenting system, we’re giving away five prizes to the authors of our five favorite comments of the week. So just put your best comment faces on and have at it! Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699463 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:44:39 +0100 3699463 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695530&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Frats-eco-friendly-pest-control%2F We love talking about natural ways to do household chores, because this means our home is one less place where we need to use toxic chemicals. (It does not mean we like to do household chores, however.) And if we can extend that lack of toxins to our garden, well, even better. Check out this video for tips on natural pest control: Use Store Bought Sprays for Natural Pest Control via The Huffington Post Post from: BlissTree Rats! Eco-Friendly Pest Control (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695530 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:56:41 +0100 3695530 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695531&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F185044%2F Get Carried Away Commenting: If you leave some awesome, funny, or insightful comments on Blisstree this week, you’ll have a chance to win one of five sweet prizes! We’re choosing our five favorite comments on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET, so you’d better get typing. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695531 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:53:48 +0100 3695531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695831&cid=t_92062_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F195%2Fall-natural-skin-care-products-with-wakame%2F A major ingredient in the all natural skin care products on the market is grape seed oil.  It is valuable as a moisturizer and a shaving lubricant.  It is healing and soothing when used on bags under the eyes. The antioxidants it contains can help prevent free radical damage, one of the primary causes of wrinkles.  But, grape seed oil is not the only natural ingredient that works. Recent research has focused on proactively preventing the aging of the skin.   The grounds for the focused research is obvious.   Billions of customers are interested in anti-aging solutions. Antioxidants are some of the most important ingredients to look for.   Refined protein complexes like Functional Keratin and protein peptides are also promising.  Extracts from plants like the avocado and certain ... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695831 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:34:14 +0100 3695831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3690808&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F184718%2F Easiest Contest Ever: You could win one of five awesome prizes just by leaving a comment on any of our posts this week! We’ll choose our five favorite comments on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3690808 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:52:16 +0100 3690808 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3691124&cid=t_92062_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F181%2Fcan-an-anti-aging-diet-really-reverse-wrinkles%2F Can an anti aging diet reverse wrinkles?  At least one dermatologist seems to think so.  It might work for some people.  It really depends on what they were eating before. Trying to eat right is well worth your while.  It’s not just about how you look.  It’s also about developing the so-called age-related diseases.  The latest research indicates that many of those diseases are preventable if people eat right and have a healthy lifestyle. Advice about eating right has changed over the years and continues to do so.  There are the high protein diets, the high carb diets, the low fat diets and others.  The proponents of each of those diets claim to have found the key to weight maintenance and good health. Here’s my advice.  Avoid packaged, processed and prepared foods.  Eat at ... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3691124 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:03:06 +0100 3691124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687064&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F184566%2F Something smell funny to you? Check out 10 Things You Should Know About Fragrance from GOOD. We may opt for our own natural brand of sweat cologne from now on. (via GOOD) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687064 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:30:57 +0100 3687064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687071&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fnatural-pools-we-want%2F Every summer, we spend hours dreaming of the massive, crystal-clear swimming pool we’d lounge at for hours a day, if only we could get that winning Lotto ticket. But this summer, our daydreams have taken a more eco-friendly route. Instead of lusting after chemical-filled traditional swimming pools, we’re drooling over natural swimming pools. Natural swimming pools require no chemicals, and they’re self-cleaning. Different installation companies use different methods to ensure cleanliness, like aquatic vegetation, UV filters, or waterfalls. The pools even ward off mosquitoes, because the water is constantly moving. We’ll be using the gorgeous pool below to fulfill our fantasies, but you can browse a full slideshow of inspired natural pools at The Daily Green. photo v... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687071 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:04:58 +0100 3687071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683589&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fblisstree-reader-special-giveaway-comment-and-win%2F We’re not sure if you’ve noticed (nudge, nudge), but we recently revamped our comments section. You don’t have to register and get a password or anything like that anymore – you can just comment. To celebrate, we’re giving away five prizes to the five best comments of this week. Yes, you read that right – five readers will win just by leaving a comment. We must be crazy! We are, but in a good way. We hate to point out the obvious, but the more awesome the comment, the better chance you have of winning. Leave your best comment below by 6 p.m. EST this Sunday, June 27, 2010, and you could win: 25 Packets of EBOOST An all-natural, delicious, sugar-free alternative to all the high-calorie, chemical-filled energy drinks out there. Carol’s Daughter Love Butter... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683589 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:00:19 +0100 3683589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662642&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fartificial-sweeteners-vs-sugar-more-risk-than-reward%2F photo: Thinkstock If you check out the candy aisle in any grocery store, chances are you’ll see a growing number of sugar-free sweets. While this may seem like the perfect solution to reconcile a sweet tooth with good nutrition, eating foods that are artificially sweetened may be worse for you than the real thing. First of all, removing sugar from something doesn’t remove any of its other unhealthy substances like fat or refined carbohydrates. And the process of artificially sweetening may actually introduce chemicals into a food, which could lead to upset stomach and diarrhea. Plus, artificial sweeteners also may make you crave more food. We know – pretty confusing. So we’re just going to keep eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, and then when we i... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662642 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:13:04 +0100 3662642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3659180&cid=t_92062_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F06%2F14%2Fcancer-panel-sets-sights-on-food%2F Carlene Helble-Elite Nutrition Intern The President’s cancer panel for the first time in its history is releasing a report that advises Americans to be more vigorous with chemical regulation and supports the organic food movement. Since its establishment in 1971,this panel of experts has suggested that cancer risk be reduced through self-exams, screenings like mammograms, and doctor’s visits. A great source of information on cancer risk can be found on the American Cancer Society website. But the newly released report cites weak laws, enforcement, and the ‘presumption that chemicals are safe unless strong evidence emerges to the contrary’ as a reason to focus cancer prevention strategies on food. Such controversial chemicals include bisphenol-A or BPA, found in food and beverage co... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3659180 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:32:09 +0100 3659180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652388&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fmake-your-own-green-perfume%2F photo: Thinkstock If you’ve  been keeping up with Blisstree, you know that we’re not fans of the “fragrance” ingredient found in many perfumes and soaps. If you haven’t been keeping up with us, please leave now. Just kidding – we’ll bring you up to speed. When you see “fragrance” on the back of your perfume bottle, you are spraying chemicals on yourself that are linked to hormone disruptions and allergic reactions. Are conscientious consumers destined to an odorless existence? A recent New York Times article, “Making Flowers Into Perfume,” shared the secret of natural, DIY perfumers, with instructions for making your own non-toxic perfume: What you need: Your fave flowers or herbs Alcohol, preferably Organic Neutral Grape Alcoh... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652388 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:07:33 +0100 3652388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635983&cid=t_92062_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fbeing-proactive-about-a-healthier-environment%2F As part of my healthy life makeover, I am learning about potentially harmful toxins and chemicals in my home and my environment. I watched Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s special report Toxic America on CNN and was surprised to learn that there are over 80,000 chemicals in use in America, but only 200 have been tested. I was further shocked to hear that carcinogenic chemicals in mascara, nail polish, and other cosmetics that have banned from use in Europe are still being used in cosmetics sold in this country. Having the BRCA gene mutation means that the gene that stabilizes DNA and prevents cells from growing out of control is not functioning properly. Without this mechanism, there is a greater chance of developing a breast cancer tumor. This started me thinking that maybe there is something externa... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635983 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:14:47 +0100 3635983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635718&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F181434%2F Erin Brockovich to Visit Southern Louisiana: The real life environmental and consumer advocate will visit people who have been sickened by the chemical dispersants used to break up the oil spill today. (via Huffington Post) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635718 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:58:24 +0100 3635718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3610311&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fpet-friendly-green-living-for-dogs-and-cats%2F photo: Thinkstock Many of us try to be as eco-friendly as our budgets allow. Green thinking probably has spread to a variety of areas in your life – shopping, eating, cleaning habits. But what about Fido or Mittens? Check out these tips on how to make your pet’s life more eco-friendly. 1. Check out what type of cat litter you buy; if it’s lumping clay, it could expose you to carcinogenic silica dust. Switch to one made from pine, wheat, or newspaper, like Swheat Scoop. 2. Make sure the flea or tick treatments you use aren’t toxic. They could contain pesticides that leave residue on your pet’s fur, and cause them to have brain or nervous system damage. Check out some natural treatments for animals here. 3. Reconsider what your pet eats. Some pet foods contain chemi... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3610311 Fri, 28 May 2010 21:41:47 +0100 3610311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595901&cid=t_92062_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F23hT6UTUROU%2F As stated in our third tradition, the only requirement for membership in Marijuana Anonymous is a desire to stop using marijuana. There is no mention of any other drugs or alcohol. This is to adhere to the "singleness of purpose" concept, but many of us have found that the only way that we can keep our sobriety is to abstain from all mind and mood altering chemicals, including alcohol. When we give up the drug of our choice, a void is created. The initial struggle to abstain from marijuana use often leaves us vulnerable. To fill this void we may start to use, or increase the use of, other substances such as alcohol, cocaine, pills, or other self-prescribed drugs. Although we may not now be addicted to these substances, their use can lower our inhibitions, leaving us open to repea... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595901 Tue, 25 May 2010 15:10:00 +0100 3595901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3585671&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F20%2Fneither-blame-nor-indulge%2F Andrew Solomon offers this brilliant paragraph in his classic, “The Noonday Demon” about the relationship between medication and therapy, when we should make Herculean efforts to break free from depression or rather lie listless on our beds as victims of a loathsome illness: The conflict between psychodynamic therapy and medication is ultimately a conflict on moral grounds; we tend categorically to assume that if the problem is responsive to psychotherapeutic dialogue, it is a problem you should be able to overcome with simple rigor, while a problem responsive to the ingestion of chemicals is not your fault and requires no rigor of you. It is true both that very little depression is entirely the fault of the sufferer, and that almost all depression can be ameliorated with rigo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3585671 Thu, 20 May 2010 16:56:02 +0100 3585671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976465&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34605&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acsh.org%2Fhealthissues%2Fnewsid.1891%2Fhealthissue_detail.asp By Dr. Elizabeth Whelan. The President's Cancer Panel's recent report on the "environmental" causes of cancer is a scientific travesty constructed on a number of false premises. (Source: Health Issues) Health Issues blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976465 Thu, 13 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3976465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3560455&cid=t_92062_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F05%2F12%2Fcancer-panel-chemicals-grossly-underestimated-as-carcinogens%2F My new post on Politics Daily / Woman Up. Cancer Panel: Chemicals ‘Grossly Underestimated’ as Carcinogens. Just as we’re once again treated to the sight of volunteers scrubbing oil off wildfowl (ah, memories), along comes the President’s Cancer Panel report that says we’re being polluted to death. And I quote: The “true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated.” According to the report, “more than 80,000 chemicals are in use, and 1,000-2,000 new chemicals are created and introduced into the environment each year.” Only a few hundred have been tested for safety. Says The Washington Post, “The current system places the burden on the government to prove that a chemical is unsafe before it can be remove... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3560455 Thu, 13 May 2010 03:35:39 +0100 3560455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538406&cid=t_92062_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F50%2Fliposuction-replaced-by-mesotherapy-lipodissolve%2F For a long time, liposuction had been the most popular method for contouring the body.  Today it has been largely replaced by mesotherapy probably because it’s less expensive, less painful, less complicated. Mesotherapy is a process in which a cocktail of chemicals, vitamins and minerals is injected into the targeted area. Usually a series of sessions is required but some patients note a decrease in girth even with just one. There may be some bruising after the procedure but this usually disappears in a few days. I haven’t come across any reports of adverse reactions with mesotherapy although many doctors are skeptical about the safety of these drugs. No conclusive studies have been made in order to determine where exactly the fat goes after it dissolves.  Also in question is whether... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538406 Wed, 05 May 2010 17:37:07 +0100 3538406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3358965&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D435 BPA, or Bisphenol-A, is an industrial chemical  used to manufacture a range of plastic products, including water bottles and the lining of food and beverage cans and, yes, sippy cups. The chemical is now also found in an overwhelming majority of Americans, and a recent study found traces of it in 90 percent of infant cord blood. BPA exposure has been linkedto disruptions in the endocrine system, an issue that can cause reproductive, neurological, and behavioral problems. But he federal government has yet to make a final decision on whether low level exposure to the chemical is a threat to public health. The government is plannig to spend $30 million to investigate the risks associated to exposure to BPA, but since the feds are taking so long to rule its safety, states such as Wisconsin an... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3358965 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:54:21 +0100 3358965 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3036972&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F29%2F4-kinds-of-brain-stimulating-techniques%2F Here is a concise summary of four brain-stimulating techniques being used today to treat severe chronic depression. The summary appeared in the Fall 2006 Issue of the Johns Hopkins’s Bulletin. 1. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the oldest and the best known and, in fact, is still recognized as the most effective treatment for severe depression. It involves the application of brief electrical pulses to the scalp to induce seizures throughout the brain. The seizures appear to relieve depression by increasing the release of brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, but some other unknown mechanism may also be at play. 2. Another technique, rapid transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), involves the placement of an electromagnetic coil on the scalp. The coil is not implanted, s... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3036972 Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:54:58 +0100 3036972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2807641&cid=t_92062_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Forganic-gardening.html It may come as a shock to anyone thinking of taking up gardening as a hobby or as a way to beat back the credit crunch by doing a little grow-your-own that gardening is based entirely on chemistry. There is no escaping this simple truth. Chemicals grow in the garden. There is no such thing as chemical-free gardening. Now I’m not talking about the manufactured pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers that your local garden centre stocks in abundance, whether those are labelled organic, all-natural, or otherwise, those are all chemicals, and some of them are essential for success. Incidentally, even all-natural pesticides are made from chemicals shock, horror. No, I’m talking fundamentals from the humus that brings life to soil to the best initiator you can add to your compost hea... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2807641 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:45 +0100 2807641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2709420&cid=t_92062_167_f&fid=36994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition-news.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fpesticides-in-your-peaches.html : Tribune and USDA studies find pesticides, some in excess of EPA rules, in the fragrant fruit -- chicagotribune.com: Yet more evidence supporting the logic in extra costs of Organic producePreliminary 2008 U.S. Department of Agriculture tests obtained by the Chicago Tribune show that more than 50 pesticide compounds showed up on domestic and imported peaches headed for U.S. stores. Five of the compounds exceeded the limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and six of the pesticide compounds present are not approved for use on peaches in the United States.These are the types of findings that have landed peaches on one environmental group's "Dirty Dozen" list -- 12 fruits and vegetables that retain the highest levels of pesticide residues -- and give many consumers pause as they s... Healthy Eating & Nutrition News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2709420 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:20:00 +0100 2709420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2674252&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fthe-air-that-we-breathe%2F Think that the air inside your house is safer to breathe than the air outside ? Better think again. According to this fascinating, yet scary report by WebMD, the air in our houses probably isn’t any better for us than the air out in the community. In particular, they point out that a typical American home has over 500 chemicals floating around in the air. The number is based on a recent study done on indoor airborne contaminants in homes in Arizona.  That’s a huge number of chemicals. But what’s worse, as the WebMD articles points out, is that the scientists were unable to even identify 120 of these chemicals. I don’t know about you, but I find that very concerning. But wait. It get’s worse.  The article goes on to state that babies are at more risk of contamination than adul... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2674252 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:10:50 +0100 2674252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2576649&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F07%2Fdepression-theres-a-person-underneath-the-illness%2F I think one of the most consoling things a fellow manic depressive ever told me was that I (the person known as Therese) never disappeared during my severe depression. It felt like I did, of course. Because I could barely recognize myself. I would stare into a mirror and question the identity of the ugly chick staring back. People couldn’t recognize me … especially from the back, since I had dropped a few pant sizes. But my friend reassured me that I was there all along. In a letter dated around May of 2006, just as I was starting to ascend from the Black Hole, she wrote me this: Once one walks in the door of a good psychiatrist, the scientist, and finds a good therapist as well as cognitive-thinking help, she realizes how alone she has been most of her life. Your success is ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2576649 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:03:59 +0100 2576649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556217&cid=t_92062_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fwhy-did-the-jackson-family-ask-for-a-second-autopsy%2F On Friday morning, before the first autopsy on Michael Jackson had been completed, I wrote an article in these pages to explain just what an autopsy is, why it’s done, and what we could expect from it  (I’m a former medical examiner and a board-certified forensic pathologist). As I predicted, the initial examination of his body with the naked eye, which is called the “gross” examination, was inconclusive, in part because further tests, which take days to complete under any circumstances, were required. These tests include the microscopic examination of small samples of each of the organs as well as toxicology tests of the stomach contents, blood, bile and urine. The toxicology tests look for the presence or absence any chemicals including prescription drugs, recrea... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556217 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:43:34 +0100 2556217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364977&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fbook-review-super-natural-home%2F Our home is our castle. A place to feel secure and safe. But after reading Beth Greer’s book Super Natural Home, I have to say, I’m starting to wonder exactly how safe my house really is. According to Beth Greer, probably not all that safe, especially if you start taking into account all the dangerous chemicals that we invite in and have around our house at all times. Beth used to be just like you and me, living what she considered a healthy but busy lifestyle. But when a medical crisis (a 5-centimeter tumour in her chest) caused her to re-evaluate her lifestyle, she discovered that maybe her lifestyle wasn’t as healthy as she thought. In fact, she discovered instead of being healthy, it was downright toxic. So she spent six months cleaning up ‘her act’, eating an all-organic die... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364977 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:45:25 +0100 2364977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947737&cid=t_92062_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fplastic-bottles-and-cancerdeciding-if-plastic-water-bottles-are-safe%2F Sister bought me an aluminum water bottle to use this summer and made me promise to never buy water in plastic bottles. Her concern was over the press about the estrogen and carcinogens people were exposed to from the plastic in the bottles leaching into the water. We use a pitcher with a filter for tap water at home. I found it all very confusing and stopped buying bottled water, (except for my son’s energy water) to appease sister but mostly because I believe we should be somewhat sensitive to the environment. Those ads about water bottles piling up at the dump got to me. I make the Big Guy take his energy water bottles to the recycling center and was relieved to find that the plastic PepsiCo uses is safe. Lately there has been some real clear-headed info about which bottles are sa... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947737 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:23:11 +0100 1947737 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1945422&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F446779537%2Fthe_opposite_of_regret_is.html More and more people express regrets for failed finances. They regret they started late, worked too little, spent too much, failed to plan, or trusted the wrong people. How do you let go of regret? Not much I hope. Why so? Research shows how regret stops mental growth,  triggers potentially dangerous chemicals and shuts out any new shoots of opportunity that could be yours. Think of regret as the dam for fresh flowing waters finances, or sudden roadblocks across well travelled highways opportunities. Can you see regret now from your brain’s perspective? The opposite of regret that stops your progress, is ... that begins to rejuvenate your situation.   Because of our unique mix of intelligences, answers differ for different people, but your brain can transform regret int... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1945422 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:54:30 +0100 1945422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829116&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F09%2F25%2Fhow-many-chemicals-are-in-your-body%2F How many chemicals do you think are in your body and do you really want to know? I’m not sure I’d want to know. Sometimes I feel that ignorance is bliss. Nena Baker obviously doesn’t live by this philosophy. She got her blood tested and found out she’s positive for more than three dozen substances—including DDT which was supposedly banned over 35 years ago. Nena wrote about why she got herself tested and what she did with this information in her book “The Body Toxic: How the Hazardous Chemistry of Everyday Things Threatens Our Health and Well-Being.” I haven’t had a chance to read her book, but apparently it’s an eye opening account of why we need to question the safety of everything we use to store food in, drink from, walk on, wear, drive... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829116 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:21:44 +0100 1829116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1714163&cid=t_92062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F368965093%2F Nice to see you again. As we ease back into our routine after a long-needed and enjoyable vacation, we are struck by the ongoing pace of events. For those who missed it yesterday evening, please scroll down to read the latest report in the Annals of Internal Medicine about a Vioxx ’seeding’ study. Meanwhile, we are readying ourselves for another day. Hope yours goes well… Appeals Court To Hear Accutane Lawsuit (Associated Press) Novo: No Rise In Pancreatitis From Experimental Drug (Reuters) Medco And FDA To Study Genetics In Prescribing (The Wall Street Journal) Dishman To Supply Bulk Drugs To Merck & AstraZeneca (Reuters) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1714163 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:41:19 +0100 1714163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1583019&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F328180639%2Fwiring_against_your_firms_brai.html Believe it or not … your company’s brainpower may be poorly suited to innovations that could keep you competitive. More surprisingly … this problem is less related to age and more to daily practices that wire… re-wire … and unwire dendrite brain cells.The brain's wiring works against firms that mandate rigid routines.  It also fails companies  that neglect creative approaches initiated by talented workers who reach high standards by using their unique mix of intelligences.  How so? Some parts of healthy brains work without much help. That’s why people breathe … hearts beat … and body temp holds constant.Other parts, though, connect to chemical and electrical roles … tied ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1583019 Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:07:53 +0100 1583019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1522229&cid=t_92062_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F312083569%2F Speculation is rife about the environment, pollution, chemicals, etc., etc., etc., and the risk of autism—but could it all just be the effect of too much green noise (greening even the vaccines)? Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, chemicals, disabilities blog, Environment, Family, family blog, green, kids, kids blog, Parenting, pdd-nos, pollution, TreatmentShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1522229 Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:15:38 +0100 1522229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879654&cid=t_92062_123_f&fid=39040&url=http%3A%2F%2Fparentingsense.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fchemicals-in-balance.html Have you heard a lot of recent press about potentially dangerous chemicals in plastic products? How are you balancing concerns about these possible toxins with practicality and common sense? Are you pushing the plastics out of your life or waiting for more information about whether or not these products are harmful to humans?Long story short, phthalates ("plasticizers" which make products softer and are found in plastics as well as cosmetic goods including some baby shampoos, lotions and powders) and BPAs (bisphenyl A compounds, which are found in some clear, hard plastic products) have been found to cause problems with the reproductive systems in animals. These problems include early breast development, male infertility, birth defects and cancer.No one knows what level of these chemicals ... Dr. Shu Says blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879654 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:14:00 +0100 2879654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1454885&cid=t_92062_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F294196026%2F The well known major risk factors for developing bladder cancer are prolonged exposure to certain environmental pollutants and chemicals. As the body absorbs carcinogenic chemicals, such as cigarette smoke, the chemicals are transferred to the blood, filtered out by the kidneys and expelled from the body through the urine. Greater concentrations of chemicals in the urine can damage the endothelial lining of the bladder and increase a patient’s odds of developing transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). One group of people that are regularly exposed to smoke and chemical fumes are firefighters – more than any other group. Now, University of California –San Francisco reported at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA), research findings suggesting that... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1454885 Tue, 20 May 2008 11:21:14 +0100 1454885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1450327&cid=t_92062_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F292354383%2F Regular reports are coming in about the vaccine court (here’s Left Brain/Right Brain on some expert witnesses and, if you’re in the mood for some Swiftian “monkey business” about what some proponents of a vaccine-autism link consider newsworthy research, go here). And, courtesy of the National Law Journal, here’s some background about some of the lawyers representing families in “vaccine court.” The small Boston-based firm of Conway, Homer & Chin-Caplan has 1200 cases alleging that vaccines cause autism and some 200 other vaccine-injury cases. The five-lawyer firm has “transformed itself from the products liability firm” that once housed Jan Schlichtmann’s toxic tort case immortalized in the movie “A Civil Action“;... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1450327 Sat, 17 May 2008 16:00:38 +0100 1450327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1446405&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F291361417%2Ffrom_brainpower_to_support_at.html A shocking 75% of workers dislike their jobs … while others find support to help them advance in their career goals. Have you noticed that in your organization? More importantly … have you wondered why some grow in the same settings that take others out? It comes down to using your brain at work as both a tool to reduce toxic barriers … and a map to locate the support you deserve. Regardless of how you feel … simply do a few things differently … and watch the brain’s plasticity propel you to new peaks. When relationship problems surface … for instance … people win support by building goodwill … even with those who disagree. How so? Try discussing the opposite of your ideas in tone that welcomes others’ perspectives. In tha... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1446405 Fri, 16 May 2008 03:34:02 +0100 1446405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1418614&cid=t_92062_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2F282664479%2F Women that are exposure to chemical weed killers - pesticides and herbicides - may have a higher-than-normal risk of developing a particular form of brain cancer called meningioma as compared to women who weren’t exposed. Meningiomas are slow-growing tumors that arise in the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. They are one of the most common forms of brain tumor, and occur most frequently in middle-aged women. Such were what a U.S. study result suggests as published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Researchers found that among more than 1,400 U.S. adults with and without brain cancer, there was no overall link between the disease and on-the-job exposure to pesticides or herbicides — chemicals used to kill plants, usually weeds. However, a closer look at the data ... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1418614 Sat, 03 May 2008 10:03:31 +0100 1418614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1265269&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F242833255%2Fbrain_chemicals_newly_spotted.html New images of the brainstem show chemical pools that drive winning or losing reactions you’ll bring to work today. It's often the difference between packing a punch at work ... or getting punched out of a winner's circle. Been there? News is out about pools of natural chemicals ... that lead you toward self-control or addiction. What’s new about this discovery? Scientists for some time now … assure us that work tends to go well … when chemicals fuel your mental energy for adventure. In contrast, the brain’s flame can get doused by floods of chemicals that work against well being. Yet chemical storage areas appeared obscured in former imaging techniques. It’s a new look deep into the brain’s treasury. How so? Researchers at Princeton ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1265269 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:27:50 +0100 1265269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1261816&cid=t_92062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F242079665%2F Welcome back. The middle of the week can mean only one thing - work is piling up. Meetings will drag on torturously. Deadlines will suddenly appear. Well, hopefully we exaggerate. But there is much to do, yes? So let’s get started. This will be a busy day in Washington - there will be hearings on drug safety and payments to doc by device makers. Meanwhile, here are a few items to help you catch up… Jarvik Defends His Lipitor Ads (Bloomberg News) India’s Shasun Chemicals To Supply APIs To Merck (The Economic Times) Nevada Women Accept Lower Damages In Prempro Suit (Reno Gazette-Journal) Novartis’ Vericore Will Cut 30 Jobs In The UK (BBC) Colorado Authorizes Grants To Boost Biotech (Denver Business Journal) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1261816 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:48:47 +0100 1261816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1250430&cid=t_92062_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F239386586%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs being announced each month. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? Wyeth Consumer Healthcare named Isma Benattia exec vp, global R&D; AstraZeneca named Jean-Philippe Courtois as a non-executive director; Lilly added Michael Eskew, former United Parcel Service ceo, to its board; Shasun Chemicals & Drugs appointed Norbert Dieterich president of its UK subsidiary; WeissComm Partners hired Tom Jones, former... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1250430 Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:55:09 +0100 1250430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1233279&cid=t_92062_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F235305006%2F Self-cleaning clothes, made from wool and silk, no less? Can’t even begin to imagine the possibility of spending less time with the washing machine, and the Shout, and the ketchup and soy sauce stains……. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism spectrum disorder, chemicals, children, clothes, pdd-nos, Psychology, red wine, self-cleaning, silk, washing machine, woolShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1233279 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:40:52 +0100 1233279 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1165380&cid=t_92062_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F220080847%2F Now I have to be honest, I have not heard a heck of a lot about this but I did find it interesting. Heart failure and your immune system… In some cases of heart failure, it is thought to be linked to ones own immune system in that it causes damaging inflammation to its own tissue. This then weakens the heart even further and inhibits its contractility and efficiency. The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas has completed a study on over 1000 participants. They have attempted to reduce inflammation by “damping down” ones immune system. The method involved taking blood from the patients, and exposing it to chemicals designed to change some of the body’s own immune signals, and boost anti-inflammatory signals. This kind of approach is called “immunomodulation&#82... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1165380 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:49:55 +0100 1165380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1124489&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F209652803%2Fgolf_links_to_business_brains.html It doesn’t surprise me that golf benefits a business brain … or that in winter I miss even those annoying challenges out on the back nine. Did you know, however, that golf can literally raise your business IQ? My kids gave me a box of my favorite blue golf balls for Christmas … while just outside the window … we watched New York relentlessly impose her anti-golf January chills.  That's why I find myself stoking the fireplace today and at the same time … visualizing my next shot from the tee.  Regardless of how busy we are … as soon as the snow melts … I plan another brisk round of golf. Aside from the game’s sheer adventure … golf’s a mental tonic at work. How so? From that first shot off the tee …... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1124489 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:28:42 +0100 1124489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1122200&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F208548528%2Ffuel_for_new_year_plans.html We often see resistance strike down new plans at work.  But have you noticed how people who muster up enthusiasm tend to succeed at work far beyond brains under pressure?To the human brain enthusiasm buffers the storms and provides space for a new start.  It’s an umbrella against downpours that kill innovation. To pioneer a novel idea is to act  vulnerability to beliefs on both sides. Through enthusiasm … the brain releases serotonin … a chemical that increases solutions, cooperation and adds well being beyond frustration that can deluge pioneers.Enthusiasm’s magic creates the sunshine that allows human brains to adapt to change. It stems the flow of cortisol that causes people to lash out… strike back… or give up…. Enthusiasm s... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1122200 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:15:06 +0100 1122200 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1112686&cid=t_92062_136_f&fid=35300&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmetastaticlivercancer.org%2F2007-12-22-cancer-treatment%2Fangiosarcoma-of-the-liver%2F Terese for Pammy and the rest of us(pammy’s liver cancer story please give your hugs) I am reading this. My husband,45, has Angiosarcoma of the liver.He never smoked, took drugs or worked in a factory that emitted chemicals. We have two children,13 and 9, and we just found out that the chemo that they are using is not working so they have switched him to a new drug. He just came home from the hospital and doesn’t have enough energy to make it up the stairs. I can’t stand to see him in this state and I fear he doesn’t have much time left. We just found out on Oct 31 that he has a liver mass so it has only been 8 weeks and already I can see how cancer causes such pain, pain that no person should have to endure. Keep us in your prayers. Terese  Dear Terese, All our prayers a... Metastatic liver cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1112686 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 02:51:10 +0100 1112686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1097777&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F201276830%2Fcutting_edge_or_ruts_surprisin.html Successful entrepreneurs leave ruts behind by building neuron pathways at two levels. On one level      they hold onto but enliven what’s working well … On another level      they move past old socks who stick with old … and rekindle sparks for a completely new approach … Do ruts come with age as many tell us? While ruts likely have less to do with age, then attitudes … nevertheless 43% see older people as stuck in their ways. I do know that people who rebound from ruts when young, invigorate their brains for discoveries and inventions later on in life. Have you seen it happen? Ruts are wired or unwired into neurons, simply by what you do in a day. How so? Deliberately go after entrepreneurial success and watch your ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1097777 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:24:52 +0100 1097777 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=980662&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F175184302%2Fbusiness_driven_by_fear.html Because fear plagues us daily through perceived lack of security … Bruce Schneier, author and world leader on computer security ...  argues we often stop thinking sensibly about real security … or about how to create genuine safety. Does your business operate on fear?Brain specialists tell us that lasting success thrives more on what elevates us ... than what scares us. How so? Driven by fear … 1. We fail to take risks for progress and tend to follow steps toward false security. It’s much the same as US policy where war and violence seem fueled by fear.2. We make poor decisions … based more on over-charged emotions than on rational wisdom.3. We waste resources  trying to avert short term fear factors … and the... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=980662 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:57:08 +0100 980662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=908757&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F162025932%2Fbrains_under_pressure.html A fine colleague of mine just resigned from several boards ... and cut back on work hours. His doctor warned that stress has spiked his blood pressure to life threatening levels. Have you seen it happen? Long boring meetings … dysfunctional supervisors … demanding workloads … poor pay … workplace bullies ... too few staff … or workplace politics. Some people keep their cool as if candid cameras followed them around the workplace … while mental pressure cookers steam inside for others. What determines your panicked or  peaceful reactions?Or, why do you counter problems with wit and wisdom one day, but respond with fire and brimstone the next? Interestingly … your brain’s fueled by chemicals that influence how you cope with &he... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=908757 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:03:36 +0100 908757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=891710&cid=t_92062_151_f&fid=35823&url=http%3A%2F%2Faddiction-dirkh.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fserotonin-and-dopamine-primer.html The Molecules of Reward Serotonin and dopamine are part of a group of compounds called biogenic amines. In addition to serotonin and dopamine, the amines include noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and histamine. This class of chemical messengers is produced, in turn, from basic amino acids like tyrosine, tryptophan, and choline. The amines are of great interest, because both mood-altering drugs and addictive drugs show a very straightforward affinity for receptors sites designed for endogenous amines.Addictive drugs have molecules that are the right shape for the amine receptors. Drugs like LSD and Ecstasy target serotonin systems. Serotonin systems control feeding and sleeping behaviors in living creatures from slugs to chimps. Serotonin, also known as 5-HT, occurs in nuts, fruit, and snake ve... Addiction Inbox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=891710 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:45:00 +0100 891710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=872362&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F156455526%2F10_steps_to_more_mind_power_at.html People who work with the brain in mind tend to capitalize on more of its wonders. How so? 1. Avoid groggy backlash that comes to those who awaken their brain during its deeper sleep cycles. Rhythmic patterns last for 90 minutes and don’t do well when they are broken or interrupted.2.  Draw on rote memory strengths in the morning – when your brain’s at its sharpest. Take advantage and list three key questions to toss out at the meeting later that day. Get others talking because most workplace meetings literally kill brain cells. 3. Relax your brain waves  over a morning walk, and plan an approach to draw from multiple intelligences for new answers to old questions. Pique your curiosity by asking …”What if…” to solve a prob... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=872362 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:00:43 +0100 872362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=830937&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F30%2Fyour-couch-might-be-killing-you%2F Filed under: Daily newsIt seems these days like killer toxins are lurking in every corner of your home, office or school. Here's another finding to fuel your paranoia -- a fire retardant used in many couches called PBDE has been linked to lots of problems, including cancer and autism in children. While PBDEs aren't used in sofas any more, chances are you have an older sofa in your house -- I know I do. What's more, a different fire retardant chemical, called Tris, is replacing PBDEs in furniture, and it's been shown to be just as deadly. What can we do, aside from building our own furniture, to escape the onslaught of harmful toxins in our home? Or is it something we should even be concerned about in the first place?Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking&nbsp... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=830937 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 830937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=770750&cid=t_92062_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F139237831%2F Yesterday, the day that the news was full of reports about a California study that links autism to pesticide exposure based on a study of 29 women who lived near fields sprayed with organochlorine pesticides, 8 of whom have children with autism—–on a day that began with me finding myself watching a documentary about global warming (a special presentation for the summer school program that I am teaching in)—-on a day when I heard various parents voice their concerns about the chemicals in swimming pools—— On this day, something happened in the big pool at the YMCA and it was closed for maintenance. But: Someone forgot to lock the door and, at the end of a good swim, Charlie ran to the pool and through the door with two pool managers and a lifeguard and me calli... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=770750 Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:12:54 +0100 770750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=764466&cid=t_92062_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F138288875%2Fchemicals_to_refuel_when_work.html You’ve been there. "I love my job and cannot believe I can paid for what I’d do anyway." Then – out of the blue – you wake up bored with people and projects all around you.On a good day you may feel a bit lucky to still work where you do, but for the most part you arrive later and leave earlier. That zip’s gone. The flame’s been doused with reality and the thrill of getting a job done well vanishedShould you quit? Adopt a career change?Not necessarily. Whether your work flame fizzles or reignites depends more on your ability to ratchet up neurochemicals of more adventure in what you do.Researchers can now  scan the human brain to observe unique systems within our ability to handle realities at work and to add better fuels for improved... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=764466 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 16:29:23 +0100 764466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=763643&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F28%2Fworthy-wisdom-clean-eating-may-fend-off-cancer%2F Filed under: Diets, Non-toxic alternatives, Cancer prevention foods, Worthy WisdomAre we living in a toxic environment? The experts at Canyon Ranch ask us to consider these facts: The EPA estimates that 4.7 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released into the environment annually. It's likely that 25 percent of the U.S. population suffers from some level of heavy metal poisoning. Fourteen pounds of food colorings, additives, preservatives, emulsifiers, and flavorings are consumed per person each year. Toxic? Maybe. At minimum, though, we are living in a world filled with chemicals, pesticides, additives, preservatives, antibiotic and hormone residues, and heavy metals. Whether consumed, inhaled, or absorbed, our bodies soak this stuff up. In order to reduce the load, and the tol... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=763643 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 763643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=658833&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F05%2Ftoxins-and-stress-create-disease%2F Filed under: Alternative Therapies, Prevention, All Cancers, Opinion, Diets, Stress Reduction, Exercise, Nutrition, Cancer prevention foods, Vitamins and nutrientsKeeping cancer and other diseases like diabetes, heart disease, obesity and more might be as simple as the choice we make in keeping toxins out of our bodies and stress out of our minds. Think about all of the money poured into medicines, which are chemicals, that only treat certain symptoms. And most of the time create other side effects that we have to take more medicines for that in turn create more side effects, and on and on. You see where I am going.What if only a part of the millions and millions of dollars poured into research on medicines, was put to use in educating the public on the right choices of foods and nutrition... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=658833 Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 658833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=623481&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F05%2F18%2Fchemicals-to-blame-for-majority-of-breast-cancer-cases%2F Filed under: Breast Cancer, Research, Environment, Products, Daily newsA bundle of scientific reports indicate more than 200 chemicals, found in the air and in consumer products, cause breast cancer in animal tests. Researchers report in an American Cancer Society publication that reducing exposure to such compounds could prevent many women from developing the disease. Family history and genetic make-up are responsible for only a small percentage of breast cancer cases. Environmental and lifestyle factors, such as diet, are most likely involved in the majority of cases, say experts.These finding are too incomplete to make widespread conclusions, but still, they are considered "the most comprehensive compilation to date of chemicals identified as mammary carcinogens" and are so convincing t... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=623481 Fri, 18 May 2007 04:00:00 +0100 623481 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=612030&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Foil-seed-rape-fashionable-demon-or-time.html This reported attitude is rather more indicative of the pitchforks and torches approach than the scientific approach that one might expect from somebody representing "the leading medical charity for people with allergy". Oh misery me! mecum omnes plangite! (Source: Breath Spa for Kids) Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=612030 Mon, 14 May 2007 13:18:00 +0100 612030 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=570273&cid=t_92062_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F111948004%2F Due to the attention being paid to the environment and autism, it is not surprising to read about a study linking PCBs, polychlorinated biphenyls, to autism. The study is to be published this week in his week’s online Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences; its senior author is neuroscientist Michael M. Merzenich of UCSF’s W.M. Keck Foundation Center for Integrative Neuroscience. Under study were not humans but newborn rats. It is abnormalities in the brain’s response to sounds in particular that connects this study to autism (that is to say, the rats in the study are said to have an “autism-like condition”—they are not autistic rat pups): The scientists compared the auditory cortex and nerve signals of unexposed rat pups to pups exposed to one ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=570273 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:55:06 +0100 570273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=503968&cid=t_92062_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F03%2F27%2Fsunscreens-themselves-may-cause-skin-cancer%2F Filed under: Skin Cancer, Research, Daily newsThe skin cancer we so desperately try to avoid may be caused, in part, by the very thing we use to prevent the disease -- sunscreen.Scientists at the University of California report in the journal Free Radical Biology & Medicine that some of the chemicals found in sunscreen products can become cancer-causing agents once they are absorbed into the skin.And perhaps this is why more and more people are developing skin cancer, despite the increasing use of sun lotions."Sunscreens may be doing more harm than good," says lead researcher Dr. Kerry Hanson. May is the important word here. Sunscreens may contribute in some way to the incidence of skin cancer. But the jury is still out. And experts are not sure right now how significant this research ... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=503968 Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:00:00 +0100 503968