I felt somewhat conned therefore when it appeared to be very much a sales pitch for one particular product. It wasnt a question of whether you should crowdsource, it was taken for granted that you would; it was taken for granted that you would also choose this particular product to do so, with no mention given of alternatives, and we were simply presented with a hey, its this good sort of a piece.
I was therefore what might be considered the equivalent of a hostile witness (although this is entirely their fault for getting the pitch so badly wrong). This plainly wasnt what I came to LocalGovCamp for and Id certainly not like to see this sort of presentation again (although Id be quite happy for a discussion of pros and cons of crowdsourcing and different crowdsourcing methods). In short, they went about their task in completely the wrong way:- if Id wanted to listen to a supplier flogging their product, I would at least have expected to have known that this was what that session was likely to be about, so I could have attended something else.
So you might consider me hostile, yes. But the point is that despite this, Im now in a position where I want to go and have a look at the product in a little more detail. I want to find out about it, how it can be used and so on. Im not necessarily convinced its a great thing for local government (which is another reason I didnt like it I felt that it was the wrong pitch for a local government crowd), but what I am convinced about is that Id like to find out more about it personally.
Its interesting. Its possibly promising, despite their somewhat unfortunate start. But Im getting ahead of myself back to the presentation
The reasons for crowdsourcing were covered pretty briefly there are loads of clever ideas outside government, how do you engage and make sense of them?, what happens if you do engage and then get 4,000 comments?, answer is of course, use our product.
The idea behind debate graph is that rather than collating all of the comments individually and requiring each single comment to be answered, people are asked to break their items down into an issue, suggestions, and then a series of statements which either support or run contrary to those suggestions.
Therefore instead of getting the same argument stated multiple times, the desired action will only be stated once, and you will get a handful of arguments in favour (or against) it. Each of the arguments can then be rated by registered users in order to effectively work out what the crowd think are the most important issues, the most persuasive arguments and so on.
Another advantage of having all of the arguments (for and against something) on the same page is that apparently it reduces polarisation because contributing people get to read and understand the views of those on the opposing side, and generally have to be at least relatively polite to them (as dismissive arguments will generally be rated poorly, and so wont show up as worthy argument).
This sort of mapping of information can also help promote relatively neutral ideas which arent favoured by any lobby or pressure group, but might be the least unpleasant compromise which everyone is capable of settling upon. No group would put forward these ideas as their first choice, but in a situation where all groups, all views and all ideas are being compared, the more neutral, centrist views might well score more highly. Of course, the assumption was that this is automatically a good thing, but the flip side of this is that one or other of the extremists might actually be right, and this sort of mapping would tend to push you away from their views
I asked how they had addressed the issues of participation inequality (to summarise: 99% of the online output is produced by 1% or less of those online) because participation inequality might quickly need to a few active participants skewing the perception of what the public at large actually want, particularly as you need to register to take part, which is another barrier to people joining up.
A great recent example relating to participation inequality is the Daily Mails online poll. The Mail Online asked the rather loaded question: Should the NHS allow gipsies to jump the queue?. A number of twitterers objected to this and quickly vote yes, pass it on type messages were running around twitter.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:Very good
- Music:Nelly Furtado
Marketing specialists are not sleeping and trying to convince you to buy astronomically priced creams, which are supposed to do miracles. Sometimes these creams work, more often they don’t. The tips I will give you are also not going to make you look 10 years younger overnight, but they will make your skin more beautiful and much healthier in an organic, natural and inexpensive way.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:cry
- Music:Sum 41
Reiki is a form of holistic medicine.
What is Reiki and How Does it Help You Feel Better?
Reiki energy healing is a gentle non-invasive hands on (or hands over body) healing modality thathas been with us for thousands of years. It nourishes all aspects of the mind, body and spirit. When you receive Reiki you are fully clothed and usually lying down on a professional massage-type table. Reiki helps balance the human energy field; Have you ever felt angry, sad or scared and received a hug from someone with whom you felt very comfortable, safe and loved? How did you feel after being held? I often think of hugging as full-body Reiki! Reiki helps heal emotional and mental dis-ease and wounds, supports a healthy immune system and allows for the body’s innate healing abilities to function at their best.
It also supports a more powerful alignment with your highest self or what some people would call your divinity. With Reiki there may be greater peace, enhanced sleep and a blossoming of self-love and self-caring attitudes and behaviors.
I found Reiki healing to be profoundly helpful in the operating and labor and delivery room settings. It helped patients who were scared to have intravenous catheters placed move into a relaxed enough state for the successful placement of the i.v.s. It helped people who were only mildly sedated for a procedure (i.e., minor surgical procedures where local or numbing medication would be injected into the surgical site or those which could be performed with a regional anesthetic in place such as a spinal or epidural catheter) get through a surgery or cesarean section with ease.
Reiki helps people feel more energized, comfortable, and healthy in the body. It promotes improved sleep and deeper more refreshing sleeping experience. It decreases stress and anxiety and helps support the yogaor (oneness) of mind-body-and soul (within the person as well as more comfortably with other people). Reiki supports clarity when one is navigating challenging choicesmany of which are simply a part of daily life but certainly part of the lives of those dealing with cancer. Reiki has helped so many people with cancer at all points in the healing process: to help mitigate pre-operative anxiety and pain, to help decrease post-operative pain, bleeding, and mental-emotional trauma, and post-operative wound healing (and mental, emotional healing). Reiki has helped to minimize the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
One of the clearest ways Reiki has helped people is in supporting a state of acceptance, self-love, and appreciation for lifeeven having cancer or dying.
We know that premature infants who are held and touched tend to thrive more than those babies who are isolated, not touched or not nurtured in that loving way. I believe that human contact, offered with love and gentleness, can support physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing beyond what our minds can possibly fathom. This contact need not be touching in a romantic, sensual or sexual way. And this form of soothing touch is offered selflessly, without judgment and does not ask for anything in return.
I have consistently witnessed people finding within themselves the love and peace they thought they had lost or that they never had, or thought they had to obtain and grasp onto from some object (in the form of a person or thing) outside of themselves. They have realized they are the love they have always sought and that they are intrinsically connected with all of humanity in a very loving way. This awareness has supported healing.
A Reiki Healing
Sometimes Reiki supports healing physical dis-ease. However, sometimes the is beyond the mere physical. One client I worked with was diagnosed with end-stage metastatic cancer. She came to our first session filled with anger and was despondent. By our final session, just a few months later and not long before she died, she turned to me and with a beatific smile and state of grace said: “I am so grateful now for the cancer. I feel a sense of peace I never had before. I have come to appreciate life in a way I never did. I never thought I’d be saying or feeling this, but I am really OK and I am grateful for everything that has happened in my life.”
You may find Reiki practitioners in The Healing Springs Journal, by word of mouth at local stores like the Honest Weight Food Coop, the Delmar Health Hut, Peaceful Inspirations bookstore in Delmar, or via the internet. Go with your instincts as to who feels for you and allow yourself to be cared for (including those who are caring for people with a chronic or acute illness).
to your health and happiness,
Beth
Beth Netter, M.D. is a holistic physician, Reiki master healer and teacher and meditation facilitator. She practices at The Center for Integrative Health and Healing in Delmar, NY. www.CIHH.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:smile
- Music:Moby
A recently published study has established that above 70% of the adult population with age ranging from 50 and above is beginning to acknowledge and adopt alternative medicine Tucson. The most common alternative modalities being used extensively include acupuncture therapy Tucson, medicinal herbs and chiropractic care. What is quite surprising about the findings of this study is not really on the wide acceptance by people of alternative medicine but the obstinate response of the medical community to the results of this study.
It is quite disturbing to note how health practitioners have been adamantly subjugating the positive impact of herbal supplements over their centric medical philosophy anchored on prescription drugs. Some of these medical professionals even go to the extent of raising doubt and fear in the minds of their patients by claiming that alternative medicine may affect the efficacy of drugs and the conventional medical treatment being done. You know all to well the normal lines adopted by these advocates of mainstream medical treatments. Issues involving drug interference and adverse side effects are just some of the negative information heaped against alternative medicine and natural supplements.
Sometimes we are forced to ask ourselves why doctors and other health practitioners always challenge the relevance of this practice in conjunction with the conventional medical intervention. The doctors will always raise possibility of these herbs and treatment methods interfering with the drugs that they have prescribed and not the other way around. Can we take a different view of the contentious issue between the alternative medicine and conventional medicine? How would medical practitioner respond to claims that these synthetic drugs are affecting the performance of alternative medicine? There are herbs that are known to have beneficial effects on the immune system, support body detoxification and promote a healthy nervous system.
Conventional drugs take control of and overwhelm the biochemistry of the human body. We are familiar of typical side effects of these conventional drugs. These include lowering of blood pressure, altering the normal metabolism and affecting liver function. We are also witness to several instances of drug pull out due to documented serious side effects. Despite all of these clear downsides of taking conventional drugs, these health practitioners are all ganging up on the perceived side effects of alternative medicine.
There is now an emerging group of enlightened medical practitioners who are acknowledging the beneficial effects of alternative medicine and more people with age over 50 who are now resorting to alternative medicine and are experiencing significant improvement in their medical condition. People who are suffering from chronic pain are now finding relief from alternative medicine. Most of them have decided to change their treatment approach after failing to get significant benefits from conventional medicines, despite the side effects and risk that they have to go through while taking on the conventional medical treatment.
Quite a number of these individuals have found themselves in a worse condition after undergoing conventional therapies. Some of them reported cases of dementia, diminished sex drive, skin disorders and other serious side effects.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:smile
- Music:Limp Bizkit
Hi, Pain killers are great when used correctly, but even so have you looked at the leaflet that accompanies the meds?
They usually have various side effects life liver/kidney damage! see the leaflet.
To avoid exposure to too much of the side effects DO NOT take pain killers preemptively (i.e. the night before in anticipation of the morning pain)
It is movement that will cause the pain to worsen, so keep it as still (Immobile) as possible, be prepared to suffer some pain, it is not all bad, it will warn you of anything (movement/posture wise) that you are doing wrong, whereas if numbed by painkillers your brain will not get the message and you could do harm to the healing process.
If you are not allergic to Codeine then get yourself some painkillers that contain it, it is a great painkiller. (The soluble version works fastest)
If you are restless and hitting out in your sleep then you are probably suffering a lot of stress (is this only since your broken arm?) and perhaps you need to do something like Yoga or Tai Chi, they are great stress relievers.
In the meantime you could always move your bed awy from the wall.
Good Luck.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:smile
- Music:Limp Bizkit
Early on in the days of working with metal, most often metallurgists used simple, pure metals including silver and gold. Officially stainless steel is a metal that contains at least 11% chromium. This use of chromium makes it so that the metal no longer rusts. This was discovered somewhat by accident in the 1800s but was noted that the metal simply did not rust. Many different techniques were developed over the years to perfect the process of making stainless steel and today many flatware companies make stainless steel flatware.
Most often your flatware is made of stainless steel, but its even become common for more flatware used for special occasions to be made of stainless steel. From a practical standpoint, stainless steel is a great material for flatware. Its durable, doesnt rust and is generally safe for the dishwasher. For those that want a high quality set of flatware, but dont want to spend the time polishing silver, stainless steel flatware is perfect. Some companies that make some very good quality stainless steel flatware including Dansk and Towle to name just a few. Today, a good set of flatware just doesnt need to be sterling silver like in the past.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:More emotions
- Music:Linkin Park
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:cry
- Music:Nelly Furtado
The history of alternative medicine is a rather interesting one, and has its
origins in traditional methods of medicine. Alternative medicine has been
in existence since time immemorial. Being a primeval science, this medicinal
system has been known to man since the early days of his time on Earth. Using
natural ingredients to prevent and cure most illnesses has perhaps been man’s greatest foray into medical science. Traditional medical practitioners aimed at prevention of diseases associated with an increase in resistance of the human body. As an expert rightly pointed out, “The study of the history of alternative medicine is fascinating on a variety of levels, not just concerning other and often better ways of preserving and restoring health.”
Practised for thousands of years, alternative medicine includes systems like
Acupuncture, Ayurveda and traditional Asian medicine. Alternative medicine branches
out from the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatments and
therapies. CAM is often combined with formal, conventional medicine, integrating
both medical practices, in order to give the best results to patients. It can be said that
the earlier methods of medicine were attempted at achieving a balance between bodily
and natural energy. Energies were sought as positive and negative energies, where
positive energies were to bring in happiness and health and negative energies an
incapacitation of resistance to face any ailments. Matters of utmost importance in
deciding therapies or treatments in these earlier medical systems were factors like
one’s lifestyle, one’s habits of eating and one’s occupational pressures.
The earliest use of traditional remedies dates back to 2800 BC in China.
Practised all over the world in more than a hundred disciplines, alternative medicine
has aided medical tourism in an unprecedented manner. Using alternative medicine
and following alternative medical practices not only removes any possible additional
affects of the illness but also increases the resilience of the body. It is generally
claimed that natural remedies are not only less inimical to human physiology
but they also help in retaining body pliancy. Systems of natural, traditional
medicines use a combination of ingredients to restore the bodily constituents. In
fact, natural remedies are considered more as food, given their natural constituents.
Since alternative medicine is based on completely natural methods and there is
no usage of any chemicals, there is no danger of any interference with the organic
system. A holistic approach as opposed to looking at a set of symptoms and a
treatment that delves into the root-cause of an illness are some of the distinct and
highly acknowledged features of alternative medicine. It is also opined that
widespread use of modern medicine has deteriorated the immune system in the
human physiology and has resulted in these modern medicines becoming less
effective. It is also often said that alternative medicine is the only way to cure
some incurable diseases.
A Brief History of Alternative Medicine
The history of alternative medicine can be traced back to some 5000 years, when the Chinese and Indians discovered traditional and Ayurvedic therapies to heal the body and the mind. The real objective was to identify the deterrents in the body system which caused ailments, and
strengthened the body’s immunity. The therapies mainly incorporated self-care, lifestyle
changes and various preventive measures. The normal practices that were followed in the early stages of the history of alternative medicine include the extractions of the bark of willow trees. Many kitchen ingredients were also used for treating patients. The treatments were considered as the blessings of God, as it brought immense relief to the writhing bodies and prayer was considered as one of the strongest weapons in waging war against ailments.
Source: “A Brief History of Alternative Medicine”, http://www.med-help.net/med-history-of-a
html
Alternative Medicine and Medical Tourism
Today, alternative medicine holds out immense potential in attracting medical
tourists. For example, India is likely to become a major hub for medical tourism,
with revenues from the industry estimated to grow from US$333 million in 2007
to US$2.2 billion by 2012, says a study by the Confederation of Indian Industry
(CII) and McKinsey.3 The major competitive advantages that India faces are cost
effectiveness and traditional medical systems like Ayurveda and Naturopathy.
The world has witnessed the development of many traditional as well as modern
systems of medicine in the 20th century. Path-breaking discoveries like penicillin,
technological advancements in modern surgery, major research advancement in stem
cell research and genetic structure, and the development of traditional medical systems
like traditional Chinese system of medicine, Acupuncture, Osteopathy, Homeopathy,
Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and others have all been a part of developments in the
omnipotent territory of global medicine. The major competitive advantages that India
has are cost effectiveness and traditional medical systems like Ayurveda and Naturopathy.
The last few years have seen countries with their own individual expertise attracting
tourists from all over the world and promoting medical tourism like never before.
India
In India, medical tourism in alternative medicine has its ancestry in South India
and some places in North-Eastern India. Internationally famed for its natural remedies and therapies, Kerala’s schools of medicine have embraced Siddha,
Naturopathy and Ayurveda in treating their patients. These traditional medical
practices are estimated to attract high-end medical tourists from Europe and
Middle Eastern countries. The vital advantages that a country like India faces
with regard to medical tourism are its traditional therapies like yoga and Ayurveda
combined with tourist attractions in states like Kerala and north-eastern states.
Naturopathy, a therapeutic system based on natural remedies, trusts natural
elements like air, water and sunlight, combined with therapeutic massages and
conditioning and toning of the human body. Naturopathy believes that the human
body has the capacity to heal on its own, provided it is in a healthy environment.
With a holistic approach to well-being, Naturopathy believes that the three
physical entities – the physical body, the supernatural soul and the mind – must
be integrated through natural energies. “A recent survey shows that 76% of global
drugs are consumed by USA and European countries. We believe that freedom
from diseases and drugs can only be achieved by living a natural life style.”4
Ayurveda, the most ancient health care system, takes its ingredients from nature.
The use of herbs, materials like gold and mercury and many household ingredients
make this science easily accessible to common man. Ayurveda claims to cure diseases
like diabetes with the aid of nature. The Siddha medical system, which is a part of
Ayurveda, employs herbs, minerals and advanced scientific techniques under ancient
principles of medical science to cure many chronic diseases. It is named as one of
the most complicated and intricate forms of medicine. Siddha considers nature
and man as one essential entity. It claims that physiological characteristics like
human aging can itself be arrested with natural remedies.
Naturopathy has evolved medical tourism in India in more than one ways.
With its systems of medication using all natural ingredients to restore the holistic
disease-fighting nature of the human body, the medicine has created increased
chances of its own survival through tourists from all parts of the world visiting
India to reap its benefits. As Vitthal Kamat of the Kamat Group of Hotels says,
“With Naturopathy and Ayurveda along with the world renowned tourist attractions
and heritage places, the tourism sector can grow in leaps and bounds.”5 Naturopathy
in “KayaKalp”, a naturopathy centre in Himachal Pradesh, run by the Vivekananda Medical Research Trust in India has served medical tourists in detoxifying, immunizing and rejuvenating through Yoga, Pranayama, Panchkarma, Meditation and Naturopathy. Its therapies are claimed to be drug-less and extremely natural. Naturopathy takes the help of Ayurvedic preparations for healing processes like Panchkarma and improvement of blood circulation.
India’s pioneer in alternative therapy – medical tourism, Kerala, has visitors
from all over the world in the months of June, July and August. These months are
looked upon as the best period for cure of bodily ailments through Ayurveda.
High quality medical facilities provided at low prices are the main tourist attraction
in Kerala. Mr. M Narayanan, head of Poovar Island Resort says that there are
tourists from countries like Australia, Europe and Germany. The packages offered
in these Ayurvedic spas include services like Ayurvedic oil massages, powder
massages, vegetarian diets, detoxification programs and a lifestyle change. In fact
it is little known that Ayurveda includes not just massages, but a whole gamut of
services like herbal and natural diet plans, natural healing therapies, and therefore
a full-fledged medical system.
Ayurveda Gram, a unique Ayurvedic Institution in Bangalore offers Ayurveda
in its wellness form to medical tourists. It offers services like Customized Yoga,
Pranayama, Meditation, and a vegetarian diet to boost metabolism. Its sprawling
campus full of medicinal herbs and natural surrounds helps in the processes of
cure for specific ailments like Arthiritis, Spondilytis, Cholesterol, Sinusitis, Peptic
Ulcer and Obesity. Other therapies by Ayurveda Gram include Stress Management
therapies, Panchkarma and rejuvenation therapies.
AYUSH, the department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha
and Homeopathy was formed under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act,
1970. One of the most recent awareness activities undertaken by AYUSH was a
health fair organized in parts of Hyderabad, Chennai, Indore and New Delhi.
AYUSH ensured that the major Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha manufacturers in
India participated in this health fair.
Another famous Ayurvedic centre in India is the C V N Kalari Centre for
Ayurveda. Kalari is one of the approved Ayurvedic centres recognized by the
Kerala Tourism Department.6 Kalari has its customers from many foreign countries. The centre specializes in Marma Chikitsa (the application of pressure on specific
nerve points) and other special practices of healing. Having both therapeutic and
rejuvenative aspects in them, these specialized healing procedures take extensive help
of Ayurveda to treat the ailing.
Some Ayurvedic resorts have formulated Ayurvedic kitchens that help improve
the effectiveness of oil treatments. Diet regimens, detoxification programs and other
processes that give a glowing skin to the customer are very popular. Some of these
Ayurvedic resorts also arrange for cooking classes to help their customers acquire
and maintain the lifestyle that they are introduced to in these spas and resorts.
Ananda, an Ayurvedic Spa in the Himalayas is one of the most famous destination
resorts in India. It offers specialty Ayurvedic packages like Aroma therapy massages,
reflexology programs for rejuvenation, stress release programs, personalized Yoga
sessions, body composition analysis and weight reduction programs through Yoga
and Ayurveda. Ananda claims that its packages and therapies cure many ailments
like headaches, nausea, climatic disorders, facial paralysis, insomnia, asthma, neuralgia
and does general improvement of metabolism.
China
The 3000 year-old method of traditional medicine in China has gained popularity
as the world’s most popular medicine, being used by more than a quarter of the
world in treating even chronic diseases like cancer, AIDS, allergies and heart diseases.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses medicinal herbs, therapeutic exercises
and acupuncture to cure ailments. TCM diagnoses illnesses based on the five elements
theory and the yin-yang theory. The five elements theory base their evaluation on the
five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water to establish a connection between
human physiology and pathology and the natural environment.7 The movement of
these five elements constantly rules the functioning of the human body and thus
establishes the interdependence of both.
The yin-yang theory calls for comprehending the bright and dark sides of
the universe, in other words, the opposite properties of the universe.8 The relative
nature of yin and yang represents the interrelationship between substance and function. As traditional chinese medical practitioners say “Only with ample
substance can the human body function in a healthy way; and only when the
functional processes are in good condition, can the essential substances be
appropriately refreshed.”
Chinese herbal medicine is more known as Chinese materia medica. This includes
Chinese crude medicine, prepared drugs in pieces, traditional Chinese patented
medicines and simplified Chinese medicinal preparations. Chinese herbology, a major
aspect of TCM addresses the art of combining medicinal herbs.10 It visualizes the
entire human body’s balance of energies and spirit to treat a medical condition.
Herbs are combined into different potions of various characteristics for the sake of
different individuals being treated by TCM practitioners. Herbs like Astragalus,
Ginkgo, Ginger, Green Tea, Siberian Ginseng and Garlic are used to treat several
ailments. Around 300 mineral and animal extracts and 400 formulae are used to
cure diseases, in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Acupuncture, as part of TCM is used to unblock the flow of vital energy through
the human body.11 One of the oldest healing techniques in the world, this traditional
method aims at “restoring health through simulation of specific points on the body.”12
Ailments like nausea, addictions and some kinds of pains are claimed to be treated
with the help of acupuncture.
Taking advantage of its abundant human resources, China is luring medical tourists
into its web of alternative medical therapies. Wellness packages in China come at
low costs and without any side-effects, thanks to proliferated Traditional Chinese
Medicine. Several massages and spas have been set up in recent times that provide
mental health and physical well-being to medical tourists with the help of Chinese
medicinal herbs. Wellness apartments are established for the purpose of serving
senior medical tourists. These wellness apartments facilitate these tourists in
practising their own hobbies and also conducting medical activities like Taiji.
Germany
Germany’s alternative medical practices have their origins in Homeopathy, a
medical system that was developed by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician.
Homeopathy considers symptoms as disturbances of vital forces that have
connection with the human body. Homeopathic advocators believe that this
medical system has the ability to cure acute diseases like flu, cold, pains, depression
and fatigue, constipation, irritability other than chronic diseases. It is claimed to
cure allergies and allergic disorders like Eczema and Asthma. Moreover, this
medical system is child friendly, in the sense, that the medication given by
homeopaths is sweet to the tooth and therefore acceptable. Homeopaths are known
for debonair and their hands free treatment of patients. They concentrate more
on the patient’s state of mind and attitude towards life. The preparation of different
potions in Homeopathy is done mostly with the help of herbs, minerals and
animal extracts. Also, it is often reasoned that since the dosage that homeopaths
prescribe is in such minute constitutions and because they come in dilutions of
substances like water and alcohol there is no chance of any side-effects.
Germany also stands famous for its herbal remedies. Regulated by Commission
E14 on the purity and pharmaceutical activity, these herbal medicines in Germany
have come a long way in preventing and curing many diseases like cancer, AIDS and
other serious ailments. Most physicians in Germany are required to be educated in
Alternative therapies, so that it serves complimentary to modern medical treatments.
As Mark Blumenthal, chairman of the American Botanical Council points out, “Most
of the clinical research that’s conducted on the leading herbal medicines in the United
States comes from Germany.”15
With more than 300 spa towns, Germany has become the premier destination
for health and wellness in Europe.16 One of the most famous resorts in Germany
is the Baltic Spa Resort in Warnemunde. Situated on the shore of the Baltic Sea,
it idealizes the sea as a “homeopathic pharmacy” and claims that “it contains all
important trace elements and has a similar composition to human blood”17 Sea water is said to have revitalizing effects in treating bodily ailments like respiratory
illnesses, sleep disorders and obesity. Other than these, mental disorders like
depression, anxiety and agony are claimed to be cured with the help of the sea.
Sea breeze is said to be specifically effective in treating cardio-vascular as well as
dermatological conditions. Major advantages that Germany faces are in terms of
both cost and quality. As Axel Steller, the CEO of the Arab German Health
Foundation points out, “In the US, operations are four to five times more expensive
as they are in Germany”.
Japan
Japanese medicine is known as Kanpo or Kampo, a herbal medicine that forms part
of well-researched modern clinical methods and also traditional methods of
medicine. A Japanese variant of the traditional Chinese medicine or the Oriental
medicine, Kanpo adheres to the body’s natural instincts and natural mechanism
of healing. For this purpose, medical treatment involves diagnosis of the tongue,
abdomen and pulse. At each stage of the treatment, different formulae that are
necessary to bring the body back to normalcy, are prepared by the physician.
These herbal medicines are regulated by the Japanese Government. Kanpo
medicine is used to cure many acute and chronic ailments like cardio-vascular,
respiratory, digestive, reproductive and dermatological conditions and immune
system corrections and even disorders like bedwetting, high cholesterol and
hepatitis. Though Kanpo therapies take longer than usual to work, this medical
system uses some very natural diagnosis and treatment methods and concepts
like water, blood and air to identify bodily symptoms. Also, it is claimed that
these herbal medicines produce no side-effects because of their natural
compositions. Japanese therapists of Anma visit countries like India and Singapore
to help in promotion of health tourism. Anma, a traditional Japanese massage, is
said to be a complete form of Shiastu19 that treats the body to release blood flow
in a proper manner to rejuvenate the body.
Apart from attracting tourists for its natural herbal medical treatments, Medical
tourism in Japan has become popular thanks to its volcanic areas that have allowed
the formation of some hot mineral water springs called Onsen. Japanese Onsen serve as places where the ailing can get alternative treatments to modern medical
practices. These have medicinal properties that heal wounds, alleviate pains and
replenish energy levels. Senior tourists and people suffering from many kinds of
aches and pains come flocking to these mineral water springs. The healing
properties of these springs are accentuated by the surrounding volcanic soil that
is composed of many minerals and curative elements.
Outlook of Medical Tourism in Alternative Medicine
Alternative medicine is here to stay, claim some traditional medical practitioners.
Given its perceived advantages over the modern medical techniques and the expensive
western medicines, alternative medical therapy is gaining ground in many developing
as well as developed countries. Practices like Ayurveda and Homeopathy claim that
surgery may always be the last option in case of treatment of an ailment. Natural
medicines like herbs and minerals can all be partaken as food and not medicines as
such, since their composition is all natural. Alternative medicine is used in conjunction
with modern medicine to treat many chronic ailments like diabetes and AIDS. This
helps modern medical practitioners to evolve a closer relationship with the patient
and cure him to a greater extent, thus giving him a new perspective to life. It follows
that one should never overlook the disposition of the traditional cures suggested by
our ancestors. These provide a standpoint from where one can comprehend the
profundity of traditional and alternative medicine, and gauge the tremendous potential
of alternative medicine in medical tourism.
Please seek authors permission for reprint. Send a reprint request to kirrti82@gmail.com.
References
1. www.hinduonnet.com
2. “Kerala”, www.takekerala.com
3. “Prospects of Medical Tourism in India”, www.mpiweb.org
4. “Medical Tourism push for Penang and Langkawi”, http://thestar.com.my
5. www.wikipedia.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:smile
- Music:Robbie Williams
Dear Dr. Federman:
I have had an opportunity to review Dr. Kimball Atwoods characterizations of the role Dr. David Eisenberg played as an advisor and designee of the Department of Public Health (DPH) and I am writing to clarify several misrepresentations of that role. As you may know, I personally selected Dr. Eisenberg as my designee for the Massachusetts Special Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medical Practitioners based on his high level of scientific and clinical expertise in the field, as well as his international reputation for evidence-based research. I felt at that time, as I do now, that he was the appropriate choice to represent the Department and I am extremely grateful for his advice and his integrity during this most contentious process.
During the course of the Commission, Dr. Eisenberg brought to my attention some of the conflicts that had arisen among the members, despite his attempts to diffuse the hostility and to engage the members in collegial debate. In an effort to overcome these difficulties and deflect unwarranted criticism, Nancy Ridley, Assistant Commissioner for Health Quality Management, attended the meetings over the last six months as the DPH voting designee, with Dr. Eisenberg as an advisor. She also organized a DPH workgroup of the Commission in an attempt to bring consensus and closure to what had become a very polarized and highly personalized process.
I need to state emphatically that the approval of the final Commission report is my responsibility, and is largely a product of the DPH workgroup that Assistant Commissioner Ridley chaired. Dr. Eisenberg had actually not been supportive of either the or reports that were originally presented, and neither was Ms. Ridley. She attempted to address as many of Dr. Eisenbergs concerns as possible but knew he still had issues with the final document. She feels very strongly that there needs to be regulatory oversight of non-physician practitioners of complementary and alternative naturopathic practice. Assistant Commissioner Ridley, on behalf of the Department and with my consent, signed the report that included a significant number of revisions which narrowed the scope of practice, ensured collaborative relationships between physician and non-physician practitioners, and broadened the scope of any proposed regulatory oversight required. Dr. Eisenbergs advice to DPH was delivered in a fair and balanced manner based his outstanding experience as a clinician and scientist.
I believe that one of the contributing factors for the polarization within the Commission had little to do with Dr. Eisenbergs participation rather than that of his staffperson, Michael Cohen, who attended Commission meetings in his absence. Mr. Cohen was repeatedly characterized as the alternate DPH designee, which he was not.
In summary, Dr. Eisenbergs expertise and professionalism throughout this difficult process have been greatly appreciated by the Department. DPH was truly fortunate to be represented and advised by a person of Dr. Eisenbergs stature and character. I would be more that pleased to speak to you or Dean Martin on his behalf. Please feel free to contact me at xxx.xxx.xxxx if you need any additional information.
Sincerely,
Howard K.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:normal
- Music:Backstreet Boys
[U.S. Silica CEO John A.] Ulizio shares a memo that plaintiffs lawyer Joe Gibson sent to silica defendants in 2004 with a blunt offer: Settle our 9,000 cases for $900 million, or pay $1.5 billion in pretrial discovery alone, plus an even bigger verdict. s the genius of the economics of litigation from the plaintiffs perspective. Sue a lot of people, sue on behalf of a lot of plaintiffs, get into an adverse jurisdiction, and then dont make too big of a demand, so you can settle it for a relatively small percentage of the cost of defending the case, Mr. Ulizio says.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:cry
- Music:Craig David
I just wanted to ask what medicine do you MS patients have? My brother said Mitt Romneys wife has it and hers have went into remission after she started taking medication. I dont know if thats true or not. If someone that has MS can tell me what type of medicine there doctor has them using and after what time period did they start seeing results? Please ONLY MS patients need reply
If you have a story on how you overcame it or how a treatment effected your MS in a good way, please share your story. Your reply would be appreciated! Thanks.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:lol
- Music:Ricky Marti
The biggest questions people have about alopecia hair loss are answered below:
Whats a good definition of alopecia hair loss?
First lets get the pronunciation right. The four syllables are pronounced al-oh-PEE-shah with emphasis on the third syllable PEE. A simple definition of alopecia is: partial or complete hair loss. The condition is commonly referred to by its full title: alopecia areata with additional words describing the severity or area affected:
Multilocularis: A number of bald spots on the head
Barbae: Bald patches only on the beard
Totalis: Hair loss affecting the head and scalp completely
Universalis: Total loss of all body hair
How does an individual develop Alopecia hair loss?
This condition can affect anyone - male, female, old, young, from all races. There is an indication that heredity can play a part as about one in five who have the condition have relatives who also suffer with it.
However, statistics show that the majority of children with alopecia hair loss did not have parents who suffered with it. Conversely, the majority of parents with the condition did not have children who suffered with it.
Alopecia hair loss is not contagious. It is classified as an autoimmune diseases meaning the bodys natural defences can turn on itself. In this case, a virus or some other environmental factor, can trigger off the sequence of events which causes white blood cells to attack the cells in the hair follicle which cause hair to grow.
The question on most sufferers mind it Will hair ever grow backs different in each case. Here is an overview of how a person might be affected:
Hair regrows but falls out again
The hair loss only affects a few patches, and then grows again for good
The hair may regrow but then fall out again repeating this cycle over a period of years
In the majority of cases, the hair that regrows is the same color as the hair that was lost
For a minority, the hair that comes back is white in color but then slowly returns to the original color
So how can alopecia hair loss be remedied?
Scientists are still trying to find a better solution but for now there are some drugs on the market which can definitely help in promoting hair growth. Included in these are:
Minoxidil, also known as Rogaine, is an FDA approved drug which helps combat pattern hair loss in men and women
Corticosteroids - strong drugs used to suppress the immune system
There are various ways of coping with the changes in appearance, depending of course on how severe alopecia hair loss is for an individual. These include using scarves, hats, jewelry, clothing, and cosmetics to camouflage the effects of alopecia hair loss. Additionally, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (alopeciaareata.com) has a network and message board system putting sufferers in touch with each other where they can exchange ideas and suggestions.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:hangry
- Music:Tokio Hotel
Prescription stimulant medications are formulated to boost the amount of dopamine or norepinephrine (or both) being released into the synapses. Examples of stimulant medications are:
Ritalin: Last year an estimated 2,000,000 children were prescribed this medication. It is still the most widely used ADHD medication. Perhaps it has retained its popularity due to the release of a generic version.
Dexedrine: If may come as a surprise that Dexedrine is the oldest medication used for ADHD and is still one of the most popular. It is currently available in both short and long term (taken once a day) varieties.
Adderall: This medication has been compared to Dexedrine but contains both left and right handed forms of stimulant, so it is supposed to work a little more on norepinephrine containing neurons than Dexedrine. Both short and long term varieties are currently available.
Desoxyn: Amazingly this is the same as methamphetamine causing havoc in so many of our communities today. As a prescription medication it is reasonably inexpensive. Desoxyn works for some ADHD patients. It is only available in short term form.
Cylert: This medication is of the feel good variety, releasing only dopamine. If you are prescribed this drug you should be aware that it can cause damage to the liver
Provigil: This prescription med for ADHD is primarily used for sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. Provigil works differently than the other stimulant drugs listed above. Currently in research trials, Provigil seems to be showing positive results in expanding its accepted treatment status to include ADHD.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:More emotions
- Music:Bob Sinclar
I recently had a bone marrow aspiration. The written instructions said not to eat or drink for 6 hours before the procedure, to bring someone to drive me home, and to expect an IV. I suspected from these instructions that they were planning to use IV sedation, and I was right.
I questioned the need for sedation. I am prejudiced about bone marrow aspirations. I observed several and did one myself during my internship. When I had finished, the patient asked me when I was going to start. We did the procedure at the patient’s bedside in a multi-bed ward with no sedation, only local anesthesia. So my prejudice was that the procedure was no big deal and was not terribly painful.
I can imagine that some patients may be terrified by the idea of a needle going into their bone and may want to be sedated and not remember the experience. But I was not anxious about it, and I saw no need for the fentanyl and Versed they wanted to give me. I figured it would only prolong my time in the hospital, produce amnesia, expose me to a small risk of adverse effects, and leave me groggy; so I asked to opt out. They readily agreed - although they did keep asking me if I was really sure I didn’t want it. They would not have offered the option of no sedation if I had not known to ask.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:hangry
- Music:Christina Aguilera
Dr Mariusz Gajewski has dedicated his career to medicine and the art of Cosmetic Procedures.
He graduated from the University of Sydney in 1995. Completing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.
Being a qualified doctor, his professional career includes extensive work in hospitals, specialising in Intensive Care. Being one of his passions, he still currently pursues ICU work at Westmead Private Hospital and at the SAN in Wahroonga, Sydney Australia. His interest in cosmetic practices has led him to undergo certified advanced training with Allergan, Ipsen and Q-MED in the uses of various injectable muscle relaxants and dermal fillers.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:bad
- Music:Tokio Hotel
Why wouldn't it matter that you lost the weight later? Researchers explained that weight loss later in life is often involuntary and related to an underlying medical problem. Researchers defined mobility limitation as difficulty walking a quarter-mile or climbing 10 steps. They pointed out that, according to the study, women who were overweight or obese from their mid-20s to their 70s had nearly 3 times the mobility limitations than women of normal weight. The risk dropped slightly for men -- they were 1.6 times more likely to develop mobility limitations than normal weight men.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:More emotions
- Music:Moby
Start reading to get the top weight loss secrets.
Id like to start a little discussion today about carbohydrates and in particular, white foods as well as potatoes. One reason I wanted to mention this is because so many health and fitness professionals trash talk potatoes about being a bad carbohydrate choice because of the high glycemic index. Some even say such ridiculous things as avoid any and all white carbohydrates.
Ok, now while I certainly agree that white bread and refined white sugar are two of the worst things we can be feeding our bodies, I definately dont agree with avoiding any and all white carbohydrates. Now I know all of the buzz lately has been about colorful foods and the protective antioxidants that they contain. They tell you to focus on colors and stay away from white.
fat loss
Its true that colorful foods are great, but it is a big mistake to specifically avoid white foods! There are plenty of white foods that have specific nutrients that are hard to find elsewhere. Lets look at a few examples
Onions Garlic
What about onions and garlic? They are both white and they are chock full of protective phytonutrients, vitamins, and trace minerals that arent easy to find elsewhere in a normal diet such nutrients as allicin, quercetin (an important flavonoid), chromium, and other unique anti-inflammatory nutrients.
Cauliflower
Another example of something white that is great for you is cauliflower. Cauliflower is loaded with vitamin C, fiber, minerals, and special compounds such as glucosinolates and thiocyanates, which are specifically abundant in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. And a little-known fact is that some of the compounds in cruciferous vegetables help to combat other estrogenic compounds in our food supply and environment and can help prevent excess belly fat. So eat up on that cauliflower!
Mushrooms
Not many people realize this, but surprisingly, even white mushrooms have high levels of unique nutrients and antioxidants. White mushrooms are high in a couple types of antioxidants called polyphenols and ergothioneine.
Potatoes
Now that also leads us to another example - white potatoes (which by the way, can also be found in red, yellow, purple varieties, etc). Many health professionals claim that potatoes are a bad carbohydrate because they are thought to have a high glycemic index. First of all, if youve read my Truth about Six Pack Abs book, then you understand that glycemic index is not necessarily the most important factor in choosing your carbohydrates.
While a generalization can be made that most low glycemic index carbohydrate choices will help you lose body fat easier than high glycemic index choices, it is not all that its cracked up to be. There are many other factors that determine how your body will react-to and process the carbohydrates you ingest, such as glycemic load and also how you combine the high GI food with other foods.
For example, using glycemic load as an example it is known that watermelon has a high glycemic index. However, the glycemic load of a normal serving of watermelon is just way too low for your body to start packing on body fat just because you ate a high glycemic index fruit. You would have to eat such an enormous quantity of watermelon just to get enough grams of carbohydrates to have any negative glycemic effect, that it is just non-sensical.
Not to mention that watermelon is also a great source of vitamins, minerals, and lycopene. Theres just no reason to avoid it simply because it has a high GI. My point is candy bars, cupcakes, and donuts make you fat NOT watermelons, carrots or potatoes.
weight loss
Also, as i mentioned, food combinations are important in how your body processes the carbohydrates and the associated blood sugar and insulin response you receive. For example, if you mix a high glycemic index carbohydrate with an extra source of fiber, healthy fats, or even certain proteins, many times the blood sugar and glycemic response will be slowed down considerably by the way you combined the food. Again, I talk in detail about this entire topic in my Truth about Six Pack Abs book
Alright, so back to my point that white potatoes are actually a healthy carbohydrate as long as you eat them in the right form with the entire skin, and please dont ruin them by deep frying them into french fries either! French fries are one of the most evil things ever invented for your health, but only because we ruin them by soaking them in a scorching bath of trans fats in the deep fryer from the hydrogenated oils that are typically used.
Keep in mind that potatoes contain so many vitamins and minerals that the list is way too long to even try. Also, as long as you eat the skins, you get a decent shot of fiber too.
On the topic of potatoes not being so bad after all, I dont remember where I saw this referenced, but I recently saw a particular study that had participants eat something like 7-9 whole potatoes per day for several weeks.
At the conclusion of the study, the potato eaters had actually consistently lost weight! Id venture a guess that the reason the people lost weight is that they were probably so full from eating all of those damn potatoes, that they actually consumed less calories than normal! An average sized potato only has about 100-120 calories, and I can surely imagine youd be full constantly from eating 7-9 potatoes each day.
Now I would never recommend going to those extremes, but my point is that an occasional potato is not going to hurt your efforts to get lean, especially if you combine it with some other fibrous vegetables and maybe a healthy fat and some protein. On that note, I have one of my favorite recipes for you, using potatoes.
Gearys Lean-Body Potato Side Dish
Desired quantity of baby potatoes (I like to use this mixture I found recently at a health food store it is a mixture of white, red, yellow, and purple baby potatoes)
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 or 2 onions
a couple cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 or 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
a little salt and pepper to taste (I like using a sea salt instead of normal commercial salt)
Cut the baby potatoes into slightly smaller pieces and place in a steamer until soft all the way through. Slice up the peppers and onions into strips and add with the chopped garlic into a pan with the olive oil. Cook the peppers, onions, and garlic until tender, and then add the steamed baby potatoes. Stir it all together and serve. This is a delicious and healthy side dish that goes great with chicken or red meat.
I hope youve enjoyed this little topic today about potatoes, healthy carbohydrates, glycemic index, and my killer potato recipe idea.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:normal
- Music:Robbie Williams
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:bad
- Music:Roxette
Musician
Some people fret about what they want to do with their lives. For musician Bill Smith, the moment he picked up the clarinet, there was nothing else he wanted to do. Smith started clarinet lessons more than 70 years ago. Over his long career, he's been a touring musician and a university professor; a classical music innovator and a jazz man. As part of the series "Old Masters," about how art shapes artists, and how age shapes their art, KUOW's Marcie Sillman has this story about a man and his instrument.
You probably know the bittersweet sound of the clarinet. Musician Bill Smith likes to trace the origins of the clarinet back to Greek mythology.
Smith: "Athena was sitting by a pond one day. She took a piece of cane out of the pond and put a slit in it and made a sound. She made holes and she had a double pipe instrument."
The gods may have invented the clarinet, but Bill Smith's introduction to the instrument was a little more down to earth.
Smith: "When I was 10 years old living with my mother in an apartment in Oakland, California, a salesman came to the door, a doordoor salesman."
Kind of like Robert Preston in "The Music Man."
Smith: "He told my mother, no household can afford to be without a musician. If you take 32 clarinet lessons at $3 a lesson, we'll give you a free clarinet in the end."
I try to imagine 82old Smith, with his white hair and goatee, as an eager 10 year old pestering his mom for music lessons.
Smith: "And she said, now Billy, if we get you a clarinet, will you stick to it this time, not like archery. I said, no, no, I'll stick with it. I was selfmotivated. She never had to tell me to practice."
Smith: "And I found it was something I could excel at. I was not a great scholar, my studies evaded me. So, to find something I could do better than the other kids, I thought, hey, this is all right."
That was in the 1930s. America's airwaves hummed with the sounds of bigband jazz. Little Billy Smith had his instrument, and he had a dream.
Smith: "From the time I saw Benny Goodman in 1939, that was it, I wanted to do that, to be like Benny Goodman."
When Smith was 18, right after high school, he got his first dance band gig. He started working regularly, but it wasn't all he'd imagined.
Smith: "It wasn't after a year that I decided I wasn't progressing as a musician. I was sort of stale and bored, and not learning about music."
Smith's musical imagination ventured beyond the safe territory of Goodmanesque pop tunes. Smith tinkered with nonwestern scales. He wanted to make his instrument whisper and howl, and he was fascinated by polytonality: The simultaneous use of more than one musical key.
Bill Smith picks up two clarinets and starts playing them, both at the same time.
Smith: "If you play two clarinets at once people think it's a trick, a vaudeville show or something."
Smith says it's really not so bizarre. He heard a double pipe instrument on a trip to Greece and wanted to recreate the sound on his clarinets.
In 1946, Smith's need to push the boundaries led him to Mills College, to study with composer Darius Milhaud, a pioneer in the synthesis of musical styles. A Mills classmate wanted Smith to meet a fellow student, a pianist.
Smith: "She said, wait till you hear Dave Brubeck, he plays weird chords, you wouldn't believe. I said really? But when I heard Dave, I was flabbergasted. He was way ahead of his time in his harmonic invention."
It was, as they say, the start of a beautiful friendship. Bill Smith helped found Dave Brubeck's original octet, composing and recording with the band. Brubeck was on the path to fame and fortune. But for Bill Smith, even though he loved the music he was making, the constant touring and the demands of the music business started to wear him down.
Smith: "Everything becomes making a profit and making it appeal to the most people possible."
Smith wanted to write music.
Smith: "Not just jazz tunes but to be a socalled serious composer."
He felt like the best place to do that was at a university, where he thought people might be more open to experimentation and new work. In 1966, Bill Smith joined the University of Washington School of Music faculty. He still straddles the classical and jazz worlds. In fact, he's got dual biographies on his website. He even goes by two names: Bill, and William O.
Smith: "I see William O. Smith like, if you're getting dressed up in a suit and tie to go out to a formal dinner. And the Bill Smith is when you have Levis and a jacket."
Smith never stopped pushing the edge with his own work, despite his teaching commitments. For 50 years he dreamed of composing an opera. And for Bill Smith, just because it's called opera doesn't mean it has to sound like "Carmen."
Smith: "I thought, I'd like to write an opera where the instrumentalists are improvising parts. The opera has all the voice parts written out, but the instrumentals are all improvised."
In other words, a jazz opera. Smith's opera, "Space in the Heart," had its world premier at Seattle's 2008 Earshot Jazz Festival.
Bill Smith's musical journey has taken him a long way from his original dream of playing in a dance band. But through the years, he held onto his fantasy of meeting Benny Goodman. One day, he got his chance.
Smith: "I was on tour with Brubeck in the south of France."
And there, in the Nice airport, Smith saw his boyhood hero.
Smith: "I walked up and said, Mr. Goodman, I just want to say that all of my life I have emulated you. He said, yeah, I can see that, you look terrible."
Actually, Bill Smith looks pretty content. He doesn't tour much, but he still practices every day. 72 years ago, Smith promised his mother he'd stay with the clarinet. It's a promise that has defined his life.
Smith: "My biggest joy is making music. Without music, I can't even imagine life."
I'm Marcie Sillman, KUOW News.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:hangry
- Music:Moby
Updating boosts lensrank. Whats a meaningful way to update? Check your traffic stats and see what keyword phrases are drawing traffic. (Hopefully, they match your chosen keywords.) Copy and paste them to a spare window.
Now go edit the lens and add alt-tags to all your images. Thats one of those chores we often neglect or put off. In naming images with alt-tags, keep your keywords in mind, especially those which keep turning up in searches.
If you don’t know what alt-tags are, read my section on How to Use Images to Drive Traffic to Your Lens!
Also remember that many search engines can find a singular from a plural (cat from cats), but not a plural from a singular. For some search engines, using the plural form is slightly better for optimization, as long as its not an irregular word like geese tht doesnt have the word in it.
Similar posts: medicine side effects
- Mood:Very good
- Music:One Republic
Profile
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
gerbernyla- gerbernyla
Syndicate
