Health and Medicine

Health and Medicine

Goji Berries Produce 25,000 ORAC Value, Highest Yet

Goji ("g0-gee") berries have been grown in the Himalayan valleys of China for centuries, but the Department of Agriculture has recently rated the ORAC (antioxidant) value of these berries at 25,000 units, which is over ten times the antioxidant value of blueberries.  Already popular in Europe, these berries are gaining great reviews all over the world.

• How Goji Berries Work - From HowStuffWorks, an easy to read article with great facts.
• Live Superfoods - Quick facts.  For presentations, buy some berries here and feed your audience.
• Wolfberry - Wikipedia entry on wolfberries, another name for goji berries.

Red Wine Pill

A Harvard study done on mice shows that giving obese mice excessive amounts of red wine extract kept them from developing any of the health problems normally associated with obesity.  The old, obese mice were also able to perform as well physically as young, lean mice.  We've always heard that drinking red wine is good for you, but could this be the holy grail of modern medicine?

• Can I eat anything... - An in depth article on the red wine extract and the study supporting it.
• Harvard Study - The actual Harvard University study on resveratrol.
• Grape Expectations - A scientific article about red wine extract and its effects on the body.
  

How Hypnosis Works

Is hypnosis fact or fiction?  Is it useful for things besides making people act like chickens? Hypnosis has been used in forensic investigation, and also for curing phobias.  Many women have also given birth under hypnosis with minimal pain.  Hypnosis has also been known to curb harmful eating and smoking habits.

• How hypnosis works - A step by step of what the mind undergoes during hypnosis.
• The Empowerment Group - A scientific view including scripts, tips, and exercises.
• New Hypnosis Institute - The past, present, and possible future uses of hypnosis. 

Restore Vision to the Blind

In November of 2006, the journal "Nature" published a paper describing how a cell transplant had allowed blind mice to see again.   The study shows that stem cells can be used to recreate cells in the eye that have died.   This discovery is expected to lead to a cure for macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in elderly people in developed countries.   Other recent success stores include bionic eyes and

• "How can cells restore someone's vision?" - A good brief introduction to the topic.
• Bionic Eyes Benefit the Blind - A Wired news article about
• Dog Was Blind, But Now Can See - An article about gene therapy in dogs.

 Air Purifiers

Americans spend an estimated $250 million annually on air purifiers for their homes, with asthma and allergy sufferers responsible for most of the sales. But scientific studies and testing reveal that many purifiers aren't effective at all, and some may be causing harm.

 Headaches

Everyone gets them, some more than others.  Severe or frequent headaches can have a huge impact on a person's life.  Why do we get headaches?  What can be done to prevent them?

• Headaches Explained - Learn about the three types of headaches and how to prevent them.
• National Headache Foundation - Check out the Educational Resources section.
• Wiki Article - Well written article with a reference to Duke University.