8 Ways to Doing Less Can Transform Your Work & Life

Do less, be happier.

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” - Antoine de Saint Exupery

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow me on Twitter.

Most productivity blogs and books will teach you how to do more, to get more done, to be more productive.

I want to teach you to do less, to get less done, to be less productive.

And while I’ve written about it before, I think it’s time we take a look at how this can really change your work life, and your life as a whole.

Doing less is not about being lazy (though being lazy is a good start) — it’s about focusing on quality rather than quantity. It’s about getting off the hamster wheel of productivity, so that you can create something great rather than just being busy.

Let’s take a few examples:

• A furniture maker can mass-produce a ton of cheap furniture that will fall apart within a year. Another craftsman might produce way fewer pieces of furniture, but make them beautifully and solidly, so that they’ll last for generations. If he makes them well enough, they might even be sought out and remembered for their great design.
• A programmer can write tens of thousands of lines of code, and produce a lot of software that works. A less productive coder can write a tenth of the lines, perhaps even editing down what she writes so that there’s less code, but they’re better written. This small program might be the most useful thing on many people’s computers, flawless code that just works.
• A writer can churn out lots of words (hundreds of thousands, if not millions), but have his work read by relatively few. Another writer can write a small but powerful blog post or ebook, and have the post be spread by thousands of people.

In each case, the person produced less, but focused on quality. The impact of the smaller work was higher, and thus the time worked was better spent.

I’d argue that by focusing on quality, you could work less and still have a higher impact. I’ve done this in my life — by cutting back on my work hours, I actually get less done but have a higher impact.

I should note: this takes courage, to do less. You have to shed all the old ideas of working harder and working more and being more productive. You have to forget about what others thing about your work habits, and instead think about the impact the work has on the world and your life. You have to change the way you do things, and that’s never easy.

But it’s worth the effort.

Here are some ways this philosophy can change your life and work:

1. Less hectic, busy schedule, less stress, more peace. Doing less leaves free to schedule less, leave more space in your schedule, work at a more human pace.
2. More ability to focus, to find Flow, to work in the moment. When you are doing too much, you are constantly switching from one task to another, constantly interrupted, constantly distracted. Do less, clear away distractions, single-task.
3. Work has more impact and spreads further and wider. When you do too much, your work is spread thinner, you have lower quality, and people won’t spread your work or give you awards for low-quality work.
4. More pride in your work, which feels good. Feels awesome, actually, to create something worth putting your name on.
5. People appreciate higher quality. Customers rave. Readers enthuse. Reviewers glow. Bosses promote.
6. More time for family and loved ones. Not a small benefit. Be sure that if you do less, you use the saved time for something important. Like quiet time for the ones you love.
7. More time for other things you enjoy. I use my time for exercise, or reading, and of course my family.
8. Free yourself up to create amazing things. Creating is hard to do when you’re busy and distracted. By doing less, you can create something great.

How to Do Less

I almost didn’t include this section, as to me it seems obvious: you just … do less. But I realize it’s not obvious to everyone, so I’ll share a few tips (many are familiar to long-time readers):

• Slowly cut back on non-essential commitments.
• Have fewer meetings.
• Say no to requests, as much as possible, so you can focus on doing something great.
• Cut out distractions, especially the Internet.
• Single-task and focus.
• Churn out a shitty first draft, then edit.
• Edit some more. Make it beautiful and minimal.
• Make it something you will be proud to claim credit for.
• When you find yourself doing busy-work, stop, put it off, find ways to cut that out of your life.
• Whatever blocks you from doing your great work, kill it.
• Set limits on how many things you do each day.
• Focus on the most important tasks first, before you get distracted.
• Set limits on your work hours.

It won’t happen overnight. Change gradually, but surely.

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage – to move in the opposite direction.” - E.F. Schumacker

45 Lessons life taught her...

This is something we should all read at least once a week

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret,you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never
blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19.. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up
to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an
answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this
matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or
didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36.. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab
ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Fresh Furniture!!!

Why is ejaculation control for men so important?

Once a man has reached the point in his sexual development where he begins to understand that just "getting off" isn't satisfying him or his partner, he craves for more. Which is a natural desire. And in his heart he knows there is more, but often doesn't know how to achieve these higher pleasures. Tantra teaches us that for a man to achieve the highest Ecstasy possible for himself and his lover, he first needs to learn ejaculation control and to direct his sexual energy up his spine to the higher centers of his brain. In Tantra  this sexual energy is known as "kundalini" energy.

When a man masters the ability to move his Kundalini energy up along his spine, he increases the pleasure for himself and his lover to levels that he might never have dreamt of. As a man learns to master the movement his Sexual Energy within his body, he will be able to control his ejaculation. At this point he is free to make love "without" feeling the pressure to ejaculate.

A man's sensitivity and awareness is profoundly heightened to the subtle and refined pleasures of lovemaking. He steps into an expanded state of consciousness, which allows him to achieve "multiple" and "full-body orgasms". The benefits of "full-body" orgasm are many. Full-body orgasm frees him from stress and tensions, heals his prostate gland, opens his heart and connects him deeper to his lover and himself. It also facilitates the man in experiencing multiple orgasms. By "multiple" is not to imply "multiple ejaculations", but rather that once a man learns to move his Kundalini energy through his body he can have orgasms and not ejaculate. This is known as a "dry orgasm" or none-ejaculatory orgasm.

Men have a tremendous capacity for pleasure and orgasm that is virtually untouched for most men. As a man masters tantric practice and higher energy movement, he begins to view his Lingam (penis) as an instrument of a deeper love connection with the woman. This deeper connection facilitates moving the woman to the highest states of Ecstasy and orgasmic pleasure that she can achieve. Allowing the man and woman to continue to build higher levels of ecstasy together.

Self Massage

There are simple massage you can do it yourself. This is a great "pick-me-up" after a hard day of work. You can also get benefits of massage by immersing yourself in a Jacuzzi with the water doing the massaging.

Many massage and wellness centers offer workshops on massages and partner massages. It may be worthwhile going for a workshop to get some familiarity with this technique.

For the exercises given below you don’t need anything other than a few tennis balls, a quiet corner and your own two hands.

Head Massage

Pressure points in your skull can relax your whole body. There are two very significant acupressure points at the base of the skull on what's called the occipital ridge. If you apply consistent pressure there, you can achieve total relaxation.

How do you find these points and apply pressure on those spots? There is a simple solution. Put two tennis balls in a sock and tie the end. Lie on your back on the floor and place the sock behind the upper neck, so that the two balls each touch the skull ridge that's right above the hollow spot. Stay like that for 20 minutes. If you like, you can listen to soothing music. The pressure on those acupressure points send messages down the spinal column to relax all the muscles and it is very effective.

Face Massage

Just touch your face. There's no need to knead it. With a very light touch, cup your cheeks and temples with your hands using no more pressure than the weight of a nickel. Hold your hands there for a minute. The warmth of the hands relaxes the muscles and connective tissue, bringing on an overall sense of relief.

Jaw Massage

Pull the sides of your ears gently straight outward, then straight up, then straight down. Or, with your index finger, press the tender spot next to your earlobe where it attaches to your head. Press and release. Now do it on the other ear. Repeat, alternating ears, 10 to 15 times.

Torso Massage

Get a quick boost by rubbing the area above your kidneys. That's at waist level where the tissue is still soft. Rub briskly with your fists in a circular motion. This energizes the whole body.

Feet Massage

Foot massage is very soothing. After you try the following techniques on one foot, switch feet and repeat.

1. Sit on a chair and place one foot on the opposite thigh. Rub some massage oil or lotion onto your foot if you like. Apply pressure with your thumbs to the sole of your foot, working from the bottom of your arch to the top near your big toe. Repeat five times.
   
2. Make a fist and press your knuckles into the bottom of your foot, moving from your heel to your toes. Repeat five times.
   
3. Massage each toe by holding it firmly and moving it from side to side. Extend each toe gently out and away from the ball of your foot. Then apply pressure to the areas between your toes.
   
4. Hold your toes in one hand and bend them backward holding them there for five to ten seconds. Then bend them in the opposite direction and hold for five to ten seconds. Repeat three times.
   
5. Press and roll your thumbs between the bones of the ball of your foot.

Digital TV conversion delayed until June 12

Television viewers who rely on sets with antennas to pick up their broadcast signals have about four extra months to get ready for the nation's switch to digital TV.
The House of Representatives voted 264 to 158 today to move back the Feb. 17 deadline to June 12, sending the fast-tracked legislation to President Obama, who has promised to sign it. The vote, largely along party lines, gives approximately 6.5 million unprepared households more time to prepare for the day when all analog TV broadcasts are turned off.

Obama mania hits the catwalks of Rome

ROME (Reuters Life!) – Mania over President Barack Obama has reached the catwalks of Rome, where a top haute couture designer showed off a kaftan emblazoned with his face and another dedicated a gown of "hope" to his wife Michelle.

"I was in Times Square when he was elected and it was like just such a beautiful emotion. I had the sensation of flying," Guillermo Mariotto, who designed the kaftan for Roman fashion house Gattinoni, told Reuters.

"He's definitely a fashion icon. He's brand new, he's a black president, and he's so handsome."

Mariotto sent an American model down the catwalk draped in the ankle-length, long-sleeved kaftan made of natural fiber. It featured a solemn-faced Obama in red and beige across its entire length and the word "Change" written across the bottom.

Neapolitan designer Fausto Sarli on Saturday dedicated the jewel of his collection -- a pinkish gown studded with crystals and lavish swirls -- to U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, saying it represented a light in the desert.

"We dedicated this as a message of hope -- that she can bring hope in the world during this period of crisis," said Sarli's spokesman Carlo Alberto Terranova. "It's a homage to the audacity of hope and youth."

(Reporting by Deepa Babington, editing by Paul Casciato)

Qigong Chi Gung: Six Healing Sounds

Are humans vegetarians or omnivores?

Thomas M. Greiner, Assistant Professor of Anatomy / Physical Anthropology

Those terms are not strict biological designations, and so the question
needs to be rephrased a bit before it can be answered. The confusion stems
from the use of the word "carnivore" to mean "meat eater" - instead the
word carnivorous should be used. To be biologically strict here, a
carnivore is an order of mammal (recognized by the presence of the
carnassial tooth, among other things) that includes cats (felids), dogs
(canids), bears (ursids), and a number of other mammalian families.
Carnivores are not strictly meat eaters - most will eat some type of plants
as a part (sometimes even the main part) of their diet.

The term "vegetarian" is strictly a human construct. Vegetarians shun
animal products for food, usually for religious or ethical reasons. Even
still, there are degrees of vegetarian. Some vegetarians will never
consciously eat any food that comes from an animal. Other will consume
dairy products (an animal food even though it isn't meat). Others will
allow themselves to eat eggs (the pre-chicken, so to speak), or fish.
Vegetarianism is more of a dietary philosophy then an ecological food
preference, so it's hard to speak of it in biological terms.

Biologists rarely (never in my experience) categorize non-carnivorous
animals into one "plant eating" group. That is because different dietary
specializations are required to eat different types of plants. Thus, you
will hear of herbivores (specialized to eat shoots and growing tips),
folivores (specialized to eat leaves) and frugivores (specialized to eat
fruit) among other adaptations. Even within these broad groupings there are
further specializations, such as grazers that eat grass and browsers that
eat shrubs (both are types of herbivore). And even among the "plant eating"
animals there is no animal that I am aware of that will not consume some
type of animal protein when given the opportunity.

An omnivore is an animal that will draw its food from all aspects of the
ecosystem (plants, animals - whatever). As I've already pointed out, you
could claim that nearly every animal is omnivorous since a purely meat
eater or purely plant eater is very rare. Nonetheless, you can look at the
animal's anatomy to look at how they are adapted to process food.

First you can look at the teeth.

Molars are broad flat teeth that are useful in grinding up tough fibrous
material - such as plants. Animals that are primarily plant eaters have
very large molars with six pairs (three uppers and three lowers) on each
side. Animals that do not specialize in eating plants tend to have a
reduced number of molars. Humans are equipped with six pairs of molars.
Although they are not very large, this would suggest that humans have the
ability to process fibrous plant food.

Premolars (bicuspids) are the slicing teeth. Mammals originally had eight
pairs of premolars, although most mammals alive today have fewer. Premolars
are the primary teeth used by meat eating specialists, and are frequently
missing in animals that specialize in plant foods. Humans have four pairs
of premolars, which suggests that humans have the ability to process animal
food.

Incisors are grasping teeth, that change shape depending upon how they are
used. The broad flat surfaces of human incisors is most associated with
animals that specialize in eating fruit.

So, if we just look at our teeth - humans are clearly built to be
omnivorous. But, of course there is more data. We can look at how nutrients
are processes and absorbed in the body.

Meat and fruit are high quality foods that are not difficult to assimilate.
Animals that specialize in these types of food tend to have a short
digestive tract, with a very short large intestine. Plant foods can be
nutritious, but take longer to absorb. Therefore, animals that specialize
in plant eating tend to have long and elaborate digestive tracts. Humans
are clearly intermediate here. We have a long large intestine (more common
in plant eaters), but we lack the elaborations that would allow us to
digest and assimilate nutrients from high fiber plant foods (such as
grass or leaves). So, again, the human digestive tract can be used to argue
that we are omnivorous.

Finally, you need to look at nutritional requirements. There are some
B-complex vitamins that are available only by eating other animals. The
human body requires this nutrient, but does not synthesize it the way some
other animals do. Therefore, if humans truly ate no animal foods, and had
no artificial vitamin supplements, they would sicken and die. In nature,
there are no true "human vegetarians."

Humans are omnivores. The order of mammals that includes humans (the
primates) are all omnivores. To be sure, the modern American diet includes
a lot more meat than is healthy. And the human animal can be very healthy
by being a lot more vegetarian. But to never eat meat is both unnatural and
unhealthy.

Finally, you ask about my credentials to answer this question. Well, I am
employed as an anatomy professor (and am therefore a specialist in human
anatomy). I teach at a college that specializes in training health care
workers (so I am familiar with issues of human health an nutrition).
Finally, I earned by Ph.D. in Physical Anthropology (which sort of makes me
an expert in how humans adapt both biologically and culturally to the
environment).

Some References relevant to this questions:

Harding, RSO & Teleki, G (1981) Omnivorous Primates. Columbia University
Press: New York.

Romer, AS & Parsons, TS (1986) The Vertebrate Body. Saunders College
Publishing: New York

Oxnard, C. (1987) Fossils, Teeth and Sex. University of Washington Press:
Seattle

Vegetarian...

I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals. I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants.

A. Whitney Brown

Sexy surprise...

Octuplets' mum already has six children

AN ethical debate erupted Friday after it was learned that the Southern California woman who gave birth to octuplets this week had six children already.

Large multiple births "are presented on TV shows as a 'Brady Bunch' moment. They're not," fumed Arthur Caplan, bioethics chairman at the University of Pennsylvania. He noted the serious and sometimes lethal complications and crushing medical costs that often come with high-multiple births. 

But Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, who has fertility clinics in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, countered: "Who am I to say that six is the limit? There are people who like to have big families." 

Kaiser Permanente announced the mega-delivery Monday, with delighted doctors saying they had initially expected seven babies and were surprised when the cesarean section yielded an eighth. 

Multiple births this big are considered impossible without fertility treatment, but the doctors who delivered the babies would not say whether the 33-year-old woman had used fertility drugs or had embryos implanted in her womb. 

However, the children's grandmother, Angela Suleman, was quoted as telling the Los Angeles Times that her daughter had embryos implanted last year, and never intended to give birth to eight, but "they all happened to take." Suleman said her daughter rejected an offer from doctors to abort some of the embryos. 

More common among younger women is the use of fertility drugs that stimulate egg production; doctors are supposed to monitor budding eggs and stop the drugs if too many develop. 

Some medical experts were disturbed to hear that the woman was offered fertility treatment, and troubled by the possibility that she was implanted with so many embryos. 

Dr. David Adamson, former president of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, said he was bracing for some backlash against his specialty. 

In 30 years of practice, "I have never provided fertility treatment to a woman with six children," or ever heard of a similar case, said Adamson, director of Fertility Physicians of Northern California. 

Women seeking fertility treatment are routinely asked to give a detailed history of prior pregnancies and births, and "it's a very realistic question to ask about someone who has six children: How does this fit into the concept of requiring fertility treatment?" Adamson said. 

The woman's fertility doctor has not been identified. The hospital has not released the mother's name, citing her desire for privacy. There was no immediate information on whether she is married or who the father of the babies is. Her six other children range in age from 2 to 7. 

Records show that she held a psychiatric technician's license from 1997 to 2002. It was unclear whether she is now employed.

It was only the second time in U.S. history that eight babies survived more than a few hours after birth. The six boys and two girls were said to be in remarkably good condition but were expected to remain in the hospital for several more weeks. 

The mother of the octuplets lives with her parents in a modest, single-story home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Whittier, a Los Angeles suburb of about 85,000. Children's bicycles, a pink car and a wagon were scattered in the yard and driveway. 

On Thursday night, the children's grandfather came to the door and angrily told reporters to leave the property. 

Court records show Angela Suleman filed for bankruptcy last March, but after she failed to make required payments and appear at a creditors' meeting, the case was dismissed. She reported liabilities of $981,371, mostly money owed on two houses she owns in Whittier. 

The births were a hot topic of conversation on the Internet, with many people incredulous that a woman with six children would try to have more — and that a doctor would help her do so. Some criticized the doctor and suggested that the mother would be overwhelmed trying to raise her brood and would end up relying on public support. 

Jessica Zepeda, who identified herself as a friend of the mother, said the woman and family would have enough money to raise 14 children. "She is not on welfare," Zepeda said. "She is an awesome mom, and will be able to take care of her babies." 

Several doctors said it is not their role to dictate family size. 

"I am not a policeman for reproduction in the United States. My role is to educate patients," said Dr. James Grifo, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the New York University School of Medicine. 

But Caplan said not enough attention is paid to the well-being of the children in high-multiple births. Such babies are often premature and underdeveloped, and are almost always found to have some health problem. 

Caplan said everyone has a stake in mega-multiple births because they cause insurance premiums to rise when hospitals cannot get reimbursed for the huge costs such babies incur, and because those with disabilities typically require social services. 

"To say all you need is cash and the will to have more kids should not be a sufficient standard to access services," he said. "It is insufficient for adoption. It isn't sufficient to be a foster parent. Why would it be sufficient to run down to the fertility clinic to get embryos transplanted or super-ovulated?" 

A few years ago, Caplan and others did a survey of U.S. fertility clinics. They found few had policies for deciding whether to help a woman get pregnant. Most clinics said they had patients meet with financial coordinators, but only 18 percent had them see a social worker or psychologist. 

With in vitro fertilization, doctors frequently implant more than one embryo to improve the odds that one will take. Mothers-to-be who are found to be pregnant with several babies are given the option of aborting some of them to increase the chances the others will survive. 

The U.S. fertility industry has guidelines on how many embryos doctors can implant, with the number varying by age and other factors. The guidelines call for no more than one or two for a generally healthy woman under 35, and no more than three to five, depending on the embryos' maturity, for women over 40. 

If eight embryos were implanted at once, that is "well beyond our guidelines," Dr. R. Dale McClure, president of the reproductive medicine society, said in a statement. 

Clinics that clearly violate guidelines can be kicked out of another group, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, which in turn affects whether insurance covers their services. But the guidelines do not have the force of law. 

                                                                              Article from: 

Waltz with Bashir.

Fresh movie, winner of the Golden globe for "Best foreign film" and nominated for oscars as well, u gotta check this one out, very artsy and powerful.

Slavery...

Everywhere I saw slavery being carried in processions toward the alters and being called "GOD".

They poured libations of wine and perfume at its feet and called it "ANGEL".

They burned incense before its image and called it "PROPHET".

They fell down prostrate before it and call it "THE HOLY LAW".

They fought and killed for it and called it "PATRIOTISM".

They submitted to its will and called it "THE SHADOW OF GOD ON EARTH"

They burned their houses and razed their buildings at its will and called it "FRATERNITY and EQUALITY".

They strove then and made every effort for it, calling it "WEALTH and TRADE". 

Indeed, it has many names and but one reality, many manifestations of a single substance. it is a single disease, eternal without beginning, without end,appearing with many contradictory symptoms and differing sores, inherited from the fathers by the sons as they inherit the breath of life. The ages receive its seeds in the soil of the ages, just as the seasons reap what the seasons have sown.

Hunchbacked slavery, slavery that makes a people subject to the laws of other people.

Mangy slavery, slavery by which the sons of kings are crowned kings.

Dark slavery, slavery by which the innocent children of criminals are branded with shame.

Slavery to slavery itself, the power by which it continues.

Seven Deadly Sins As per Gandhiji

Mahatma Gandhi said that seven things will destroy us. Notice that all of them have to do with social and political conditions. Note also that the antidote of each of these "deadly sins" is an explicit external standard or something that is based on natural principles and laws, not on social values. (click on them and read on...)

Wealth Without Work

Pleasure Without Conscience

Knowledge Without Character

Commerce (Business) Without Morality (Ethics)

Science Without Humanity

Religion Without Sacrifice

Politics Without Principle

Japanese way of folding T-shirts!

this is cool

JIMI HENDRIX quotes...

these are some of my favorite Jimi quotes. not only was Jimi one of the best musicians of all time, he was also a powerful writer and a philosopher,  Enjoy...

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. 

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me. I take my spirit and I crash my mirrors, now the whole world is here for me to see. 

It's funny how most people love the dead, once you're dead your made for life.

My nature just changes.

The story of life is quicker then the blink of an eye, the story of love is hello, goodbye. 

When we go to play, you flip around and flash around and everything, and then they're not gonna see nothin' but what their eyes see. Forget about their ears.

White collar conservative flashin down the street, pointing that plastic finger at me, they all assume my kind will drop and die, but I'm gonna wave my freak flag high.

Herbal Remedies for the common COLD and the "FLU"

ok well, since this is the season for catching the common cold or the flu, i thought maybe i should introduce some of you to some of my favorite herbal remedies, and yes these are just SOME, the list is too big,  but these ingredients are available just about anywhere in the world - nothing too exotic - so read on...

                                                           Herbal Remedies for Cold

Taken at the first sign of symptoms, echinacea can reduce a cold's intensity and duration, often even preventing it from becoming a full-fledged infection.

Goldenseal helps clear mucus from the throat. It also contains the natural antibiotic berberine, which can help prevent bacterial infections that often follow colds.

One of the Best Cold Remedy

For a good "cold tea," combine equal parts of elder (Sambucus nigra), peppermint (Mentha piperita), and yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and steep 1 to 2 tsp of the mixture in 1 cup hot water. Take it hot just before going to bed. This will induce a sweat, and if the cold is caught early enough, may stop it altogether. Even if it is too late for this it will still be very useful. This tea can help the body handle fever and reduce achiness, congestion, and inflammation. They may be taken with a pinch of mixed spice and a little honey to soothe a painful throat. 

Other herbs that may be added to the infusion include:

	Cayenne (Capsicum minimum): a favorite North American Indian remedy: use 1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) of the powder to really stimulate the circulation.
	Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): use a cinnamon stick, and break it into the mixture of herbs, for a gentle, warming and sweat-inducing effect.
	Ginger (Zingiber officinalis): grate a small piece of fresh root ginger into the mixture for extra heat.

Caution: Peppermint tea may interfere with the beneficial action of homoeopathic remedies.

Herbal Fever Remedy

1 ounce dried Elder Flowers
1 ounce dried Peppermint Leaves
½ pint distilled water

Mix the herbs. Place in a quart saucepan. Pour 1/2 pints of distilled boiling water over it. Cover and allow to steep in a hot place for 10 to 15 minutes (do not boil). When ready, strain into another saucepan. Sweeten with honey if desired.

This remedy drops high temperature associated with flu quite effectively. In some cases, the temperature has been reduced from 104 to 99 degrees within two hours!! According to Dr. Dr. Edward E. Shook, well known herbalist, "there is no remedy for colds and fevers of any description equal to this simple life-saving formula." More Information.

Ginger Tea
Best Remedy from the Orient

In both ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, ginger is considered the best home remedy for colds. Drink a cup of ginger tea several times (at least 3 times) a day.  Ginger contains a dozen antiviral compounds. And it tastes good. To make a tea, add 1 heaping teaspoon of grated fresh gingerroot to 1 cup of boiled water. Allow to steep for 10 minutes. If you use dried ginger powder use 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger per cup.

Children's Herbal Antibiotic Formula

2 cups water
½ teaspoon echinacea root
½ teaspoon licorice root and 
½ teaspoon barberry bark (or Oregon grape root)

Place water and herbs in a saucepan. Simmer for 2 minutes, then remove from heat and steep for about 20 minutes. Strain out herbs. For a 50-pound child, give 1 cup of tea or half a dropperful (30 drops) of tincture daily. To improve the flavor, the tea can be mixed with an equal amount of juice. In fact, homemade apple and grape juice, unlike bottled juices, contain strong antiviral agents that fight colds and flu. 

Other Herbal Remedies

Use inhalations of chamomile, eucalyptus or thyme to help loosen mucus and heals the throat, nasal passages and bronchial tubes. Horsetail inhalations reduce swelling of mucous membranes. Onion or nasturtium inhalations disinfect. Ginkgo biloba leaf inhalations kill bacteria and heal the cells of the damaged mucous membranes almost immediately. 

Inhale steam for fifteen minutes three times daily in acute stage; when the condition is improving.

Inhale steam in the evening before retiring for a week or so to help heat the bronchial passages.

Boneset and sage help to break up congestion and bring down a fever. Take a cup of sage and boneset tea up to three times daily for three to five days.

At the onset of a cold, add 1/2 teaspoon each of cinnamon and ginger to 1 cup of scalded milk. Add 1 tablespoon of honey and drink while hot. This remedy is very soothing and stimulating. 

Hyssop Tea may prevent Colds and Infections.

Traditional Peppermint Cure for Fever helps to break a fever by causing the recipient to perspire.

Comfrey - Elderberry Cold and Fever Remedy also reduces fever associated with cold by inducing perspiration.

Royal Herbal Tea For Severe Colds is useful to treat severe cold symptoms.

Delicious Cold Remedy: This delicious cold remedy will get rid of symptoms of cold pretty fast. It will also clean your system.

Take a cup of chamomile tea twice daily, as needed to help yourself rest and relax.

Mullein flower tea has a pleasant taste and is good to soothe inflamed conditions of the mucous membrane lining the throat. Also relieves coughing. Put a small handful of the mullein flowers in 1 pint of boiling water. Allow to steep 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey.

Take a soothing herbal bath with chamomile, calendula, rosemary, and/ or lavender if you are restless and irritable, . Keep the water comfortably warm and treat yourself to a long, lazy soak.

Put 1/2 pound of dried mustard in 2 quarts of boiling water and boil for 10 minutes. Add this liquid to foot bath to treat colds and respiratory problems.

Basil tea, made from the fresh or dried herb, may be used to encourage a slight sweat in the early stages of a cold, thus reducing feverishness. A pinch of ground cloves may also be added for flavor and encourage reduction of fever.

Elderberry may help to reduce both the severity and the duration of colds. Choose an extract standardized to contain 5 percent total flavonoids and take 500 milligrams three times daily.

Garlic (Allium sativum) appears to shorten a cold's duration and severity. Any form seems to work: capsules or tablets, oil rubbed on the skin, or whole garlic roasted or cooked in other foods. If you elect capsules, take three of them, three times daily, until the cold is over.

Important Herbs for Cold

Echinacea

Echinacea is believed to reduce the symptoms of Cold and Flu and helps in the recovery.

There are three main species of echinacea: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida. E. purpurea is the most widely used. It isn't clear if any one type is better than the others.

In Germany, echinacea is the main remedy for minor respiratory infections.

Echinacea is considered to be an immune stimulant. It appears to activate the body's infection-fighting capacity. 

There are some evidence that, when taken at the onset of a cold or flu, echinacea can help you get better faster and reduce your symptoms while you are sick. For example, echinacea significantly reduced symptoms such as headache, lethargy, cough, and aching limbs^1,4 when administered to people with flu-like illnesses; echinacea administration to people immediately after they have started showing signs of getting a cold,³ resulted in them showing improvement in cold symptoms much sooner than in the placebo group (4 days instead of 8 days). In another clinical trial, echinacea was found to reduce the length of colds by about 30%,⁵ (the length of illness was reduced from 13 days to about 9.5 days, when echinacea was administered instead of placebo. 

Interestingly, the dosage used is important for effectiveness. In a double-blind study involving 180 people with flu-like illnesses, participants were given either placebo or 450 mg or 900 mg of E. purpurea daily.² By about the third day, those participants receiving the higher dose of echinacea (900 mg) showed noticeable relief in the severity of symptoms. There was no real benefit in the placebo or low-dose echinacea group.

Investigators also tried to determine whether echinacea can prevent colds from occurring. The answer seems to be in the negative. In most studies reported so far, the regular use of echinacea failed to significantly reduce the incidence of colds.^6–9 In fact, in one study, echinacea was found to actually increase your risk slightly.¹⁰  

The constituents found in echinacea was found to increase antibody production, raise white blood cell counts, and stimulate the activity of key white blood cells.^11–17

Recommended Dosage

Powdered extract - 300 mg 3 times daily. 

Alcohol tincture (1:5) - 3 to 4 ml 3 times daily.

Echinacea juice - 2 to 3 ml 3 times daily.

Whole dried root - 1 to 2 g 3 times daily. 

Many herbalists feel that liquid forms of echinacea are more effective than tablets or capsules because they believe that part of echinacea's benefit is due to direct contact with the tonsils and other lymphatic tissues at the back of the throat.¹⁸

Take echinacea at the first sign of a cold and continue for 7 to 14 days. Long-term use may not be helpful.

Andrographis

Andrographis is a shrub found throughout India and other Asian countries. It is sometimes called "Indian echinacea" because it is believed to provide much the same benefits as echinacea.

In fact, andrographis was found to both reduce the symptoms and shorten the duration of colds in clinical trials.

Those who were given andrographis¹⁹ reported that their colds were less intense than usual, reported less sick leave, they got well sooner.

Andrographis also reduced the cold symptoms such as fatigue, sore throat, sore muscles, runny nose, headache, and lymph node swelling.²⁰

As in the case of echinacea, the dosage used is important for its effectiveness. In a double-blind study involving 152 adults compared the effectiveness of andrographis (at either 3 g per day or 6 g per day) versus acetaminophen for sore throat and fever.²¹ The higher dose of andrographis (6 g) decreased symptoms of fever and throat pain, as did acetaminophen, while the lower dose of andrographis (3 g) did not. There were no significant side effects in either group.

Recommended Dosage

Take 400 mg 3 times daily with lots of liquids at mealtimes. 

Andrographis is typically standardized to its andrographolide content, usually 4 to 6% in many commercial products.

Safety

No significant adverse effects have been reported in human studies of andrographis. .²²

However, it is not recommended for young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease. There are some concerns from animal studies that andrographis may impair fertility.

Ginseng

In Eastern Europe, ginseng is widely believed to improve overall immunity to illness. It appears that regular use of ginseng may prevent colds.

There are actually three different herbs commonly called ginseng: Asian or Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), and Siberian "ginseng" (Eleutherococcus senticosus).

A double-blind placebo-controlled study looked at the potential immune-stimulating effects of Panax ginseng when taken by mouth.²³ This trial involved 227 individuals at three medical offices in Milan, Italy. Half were given ginseng at a dose of 100 mg daily, and the other half took placebo. Four weeks into the study, all participants received influenza vaccine.

The results showed a significant decline in the frequency of colds and flus in the treated group compared to the placebo group (15 versus 42 cases). Also, antibody measurements in response to the vaccination rose higher in the treated group than in the placebo group.

So finally we may have a herb that will prevent us from getting the cold afterall!

Recommended Dosage

Panax ginseng: 1 to 2 g of raw herb, or 200 mg daily of an extract standardized to contain 4 to 7% ginsenosides. 

Eleutherococcus: 2 to 3 g whole herb or 300 to 400 mg of extract daily.

A 2- to 3-week period of using ginseng is recommended, followed by a 1- to 2-week "rest" period. 

Russian herbal tradition suggests that ginseng should not be used by those under 40 years old.

Safety

The various forms of ginseng appear to be nontoxic, both in the short and long term, in animal studies. Ginseng also does not seem to be carcinogenic.^24-26

Side effects are rare. Occasionally women report menstrual abnormalities and/or breast tenderness when they take ginseng along with overstimulation and insomnia. Highly excessive dosages of ginseng can raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, and possibly cause other significant effects. Ginseng allergy can also occur.

Some herbalists believe that ginseng can interfere with drug metabolism, specifically drugs processed by an enzyme called "CYP 3A4." Ask your physician or pharmacist whether you are taking any medications of this type. Other reports showed ginseng interacting with MAO inhibitor drugs and digitalis. It is possible that some of these interactions are because of contamination in ginseng and may not have anything to do with the herb itself.

Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease has not been established. Chinese herbalists recommend that ginseng should not be used during pregnancy or lactation.

Ginger

Ginger contains nearly a dozen antiviral compounds. Scientists have isolated several chemicals (sesquiterpenes) in ginger that have specific effects against the most common family of cold viruses, the rhinoviruses. Some of these chemicals are remarkably potent in their anti-rhinovirus effects.

Other constituents in ginger, gingerols and shogaols, help relieve cold symptoms because they reduce pain and fever, suppress coughing and have a mild sedative effect that encourages rest.

Onion

Onion is a close to garlic biologically and contains many similar antiviral chemicals. 

Steep raw onion slices overnight in honey. Take the resulting mixture at intervals like a cough syrup. You can also use more onions in cooking whenever you have a cold.

Anise

Commission E in Germany recommended aniseed as an expectorant for getting rid of phlegm. In large doses, it also has some antiviral benefits.

Make a tea by steeping one to two teaspoons of crushed aniseed in a cup or two of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Then strain it. Anise is often chewed by Asian Indians after their meals. It is also one of the ingredients used in "Indian Chai."

Suggested dose: one cup of tea, morning and/or night. This should help you cough up whatever's loose and also help you fight the cold.

Goldenseal

Goldenseal increases the blood supply to the spleen, an organ that's the staging area for the fighting cells of your immune system. It is antiseptic and immune stimulating.

The major healing component in goldenseal, berberine, activates special white blood cells (macrophages) that are responsible for destroying bacteria, fungi, viruses and tumor cells. Several related chemicals in the herb appear to help the berberine do its job.

Take 10 to 15 drops of goldenseal in an alcohol-free form, known as glycerite tincture, two to three times a day for seven to 10 days. 

Licorice

Licorice contains antiviral compounds that induce the release of interferons, the body's own antiviral constituents.

Marsh mallow and other mallows

Marsh mallow has been used for thousands of years as a soothing herb for cold-related cough and sore throat and other respiratory conditions. Marsh mallow roots contain a spongy material called mucilage that soothes inflamed mucous membranes.

Most members of the mallow family, including okra and roselle, contain soothing mucilage. One way to take advantage of this is by adding a lot of okra to your chicken soup.

Seneca snakeroot

Seneca snakeroot is used as an expectorant for reducing upper respiratory phlegm in Germany. To make a tea, use about one teaspoon per cup of boiling water. (This herb is also recommended for treatment of bronchitis and emphysema.)

Slippery elm

Slippery elm bark contains large quantities of a mucilage that acts as an effective throat soother and cough suppressant.

Watercress

Use two to three teaspoons of dry watercress to make a tea for treating cold-related runny nose and cough. Or try an ounce of fresh watercress--it makes a great addition to a salad.

Other Herbs

Various herbs are said to work like ginseng and enhance immunity over the long term, including ashwagandha, astragalus, garlic, suma, reishi, and maitake.

Several herbs, including osha, yarrow, kudzu, and ginger, are said to help avert colds when taken at the first sign of infection. Other herbs sometimes recommended to reduce cold symptoms include mullein, marshmallow, and peppermint.

See Also:

Chinese Medicine for Cold

Herbal Medicine for Flu

More Information:

Herbal Medicine Infocenter in Holisticonline.com for more information on herbal medicine and properties of individual herbs including the safety.

Natural Antibiotic Herbs for Immunity

Hang Drum Solo

this is kinda rediculous, he's a one man band.

A Hang [haŋ] (pronunciation between the vowel sounds in the word 'Hot' and 'Hungry') is a melodious percussive steel musical instrument created in Switzerland. It uses some of the same physical principles as a steelpan. That being said, there has been much metallurgical and acoustic research by the makers which have led to significant changes in structure, design, and process. It was the result of many years of research on the steelpan as well as the study of a diverse collection of instruments from around the world; such as gongs, gamelan, ghatam, drums, bells, etc. Udu-like sounds can be produced with the Helmholtz resonance that can occur within the clamped shallow shells. It also has the capacity to ring like a singing bowl. The instrument has sometimes been referred to by owners and others as a hang drum, because it is often played like a drum, its relation to the steel drum, and its popularity with hand drummers. While this is true, there are other ways to coax sound out of a Hang that do not involve 'drumming'.

Books of the week (jan 26th - feb 1st) 2009

The Storm by Khalil Gibran

First Published In: 1993.
This work contains 14 short stories and poems, that express many of Gibran's key themes: the injustice meted out to the poor and the weak; the beauties of nature needlessly destroyed by man; and the innocent purity of young love, so often crushed underfoot by society.
it is a very rich read, full of sentences that will stay with you forever.
although khalil Gibran wrote these stories in arabic, critics agree that this is one of the best translations there is. enjoy.

The life of Milarepa by Lobsang P. Lhalungpa,Gtsan-Smyon He-Ru-Ka

First published In: 1995.
Now recognized as the standard translation of one of the most beloved stories of the Tibetan people, "The Life of Milarepa" is both a portrait of the greatest Tibetan Buddhist saint and folk hero and a profoundly detailed guidebook to the search for consciousness. enjoy

Megastar Grammy Lineup

New acts have been added to the performance roster for the 51st annual Grammy Awards, and they are major.

Paul McCartney, Radiohead, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I. and Kanye West will be heard as well as seen on the February 8 show being broadcast from the Los Angeles' Staples Center, according to Billboard.

McCartney will be backed by Dave Grohl -- of Foo Fighters -- on drums. And this will be the first live Radiohead TV performance in over 8 years.

Jay-Z, Wayne, T.I. and West will perform together on "Swagga Like Us."

As RadarOnline.com has previously reported, other performers include Jennifer Hudson, Kenny Chesney, Coldplay, The Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry and Carrie Underwood.

obama ...

Livestation (world news live on your computer)

ok, so this is a perfect way to stay updated with world news, and hear different sides of everystory, please download this program, it is basically a live TV on your computer, and it has some of the best channels in the news world, like BBC, AL JAZEERA, FRANCE24, and a few others. and the best of all...it's free.

I met the walrus

In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. 38 years later, Jerry has produced a film about it. Using the original interview recording as the soundtrack, director Josh Raskin has woven a visual narrative which tenderly romances Lennon's every word in a cascading flood of multipronged animation. Raskin marries the terrifyingly genius pen work of James Braithwaite with masterful digital illustration by Alex Kurina, resulting in a spell-binding vessel for Lennon's boundless wit, and timeless message.

The Noble Bird

"the bird has a nobility that man has not, for man lives in the shadow of laws and customs that he has devised for himself, but the birds live in accordance with the universal and absolute laws that drive the earth around the sun."
the soul, by Khalil Gibran