Winter Pet Care & Poisoning

What to Do If Your Pet Is Poisoned

Don’t panic. Rapid response is important, but panicking can interfere with the process of helping your pet.

Take 30 to 60 seconds to safely collect and have at hand any material involved. This may be of great benefit to your vet and/or APCC toxicologists, as they determine what poison or poisons are involved. In the event that you need to take your pet to a local veterinarian, be sure to take the product’s container with you. Also, collect in a sealable plastic bag any material your pet may have vomited or chewed.

If you witness your pet consuming material that you suspect might be toxic, do not hesitate to seek emergency assistance, even if you do not notice any adverse effects. Sometimes, even if poisoned, an animal may appear normal for several hours or for days after the incident.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

The signs and symptoms of antifreeze poisoning are time dependent, meaning that certain symptoms will be noticeable based on how much time has passed since consumption.  The following are organized by the time frame of thought consumption of EG.

Within the first 12 hours:

• Depression
• Vomiting
• Increased water consumption
• Stumbling or wobbling
• Hyper-excitability
• Not eating
• Seizure activity may be observed

During this phase of poisoning your pet may exhibit characteristics similar to someone who is drunk.

Within 24 hours:

All of the above symptoms can be exaggerated by this point. During this time the cardiovascular system is affected, causing in addition to the above list:

• Rapid breathing
• Panting

Within 72 hours

At this point the kidneys have suffered a great deal of damage and the likelihood that kidney failure will occur is almost definite.

• Marked Depression
• Stumbling or generally uncoordinated when walking
• Severe vomiting and diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Various forms of paralysis
• Decreased motor function

POISONING

National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC)
1-900-680-0000
$45 per case, billed to your phone.

• A dog is not a 4-legged human. The NAPCC staff is all veterinary health professionals who have been trained in animal toxicology. Because of their training, they are prepared to deal with the complexities of a poisoned dog.
• Assistance is provided to both veterinarians and pet owners. The center is staffed around the clock by veterinary professionals. In the case of certain chemical exposures, the manufacture of the chemical/product may pay the caller’s NAPCC charges. NAPCC will make follow-up call(s) as needed.
• Watch for any changes in color (skin and in mouth) and respiration, excessive salivation or dryness, diarrhea, heaving, vomiting, extreme restlessness or lethargy. Do NOT try to induce vomiting or ingestion without first consulting a veterinarian or poison control center.

When calling, have the following information available:

• Your name and phone number
• Age of dog
• Weight of dog
• Physiologic condition (i.e. neutered, pregnant, lactating, health disorders, etc.)
• Name of the product and manufacturer
• Active ingredient and concentration listed on the label
• Formulation of the product (i.e. solid, liquid, aerosol)
• Amount of product the dog was exposed to
• Time elapsed since exposure
• Any symptoms observed (drooling, vomiting, difficulty breathing, etc.)
• Time between exposure and onset of symptoms

The first step in treatment is to eliminate the poison from your dog’s stomach by making it vomit. The second step is to delay absorption of the poison from the dog’s intestinal tract by coating it with a substance that binds it. This is followed by a laxative to speed elimination.

Note: Do not induce vomiting or give charcoal by mouth if your dog is severely depressed, comatose, unable to swallow or experiencing seizures.

Your veterinarian will most likely admit your pet to the hospital and provide the following:

• Administer emetic drugs to induce vomiting.
• Administer activated charcoal – this gives the toxin something to bind to, so as to slow down the absorption process for the body.
• Administer i.v. fluids to include sodium bicarbonates to not only control dehydration but also to balance hydration.
• Administer Fomepizole – this is the drug of choice when treating EG poisoning.  This product is given intravenously and it stops any further metabolizing of the Ethylene Glycol.
• Provide an extensive amount of nursing care to keep your pet comfortable through the treatment process.

The prognosis will depend on how much time has lapsed before treatment began and of course how much antifreeze was consumed.  You can expect your pet to stay in the hospital for several days to several weeks, and it is not uncommon for a veterinarian to transfer an antifreeze case to a specialty hospital to complete treatment.

How to Delay or Prevent Absorption

1. Mix activated charcoal (one tablet to 10-cc water). Give one teaspoonful per two pounds body weight and follow with a pint of water. Depending upon the dog’s condition, this may need to be given by stomach tube. Veterinary assistance usually is required.

2. Thirty minutes later, give sodium sulphate (Glauber’s salt), one teaspoonful per ten pounds body weight, or Milk of Magnesia, one teaspoonful per five pounds body weight.

Note: If these agents are not available, coat the bowel with milk, egg whites or vegetable oil and give a warm water enema.

If your dog has a poisonous substance on the skin or coat, wash it well with soap and water or give a complete bath in lukewarm (not cold) water, as described in the SKIN chapter. Even if the substance is not irritating to the skin, it should be removed. Otherwise, the dog may lick it off and swallow it. Soak gasoline and oil stains with mineral or vegetable oil. Work in well. Then wash with a mild detergent, such as Ivory soap.

When signs of nervous system involvement begin to show, the dog is in deep trouble. At this point, your main objective is to get your dog to a veterinarian as quickly as possible. Try to bring with you a sample of vomitus, or better yet the poison in its original container.

How to take a dog’s temperature

If you suspect your dog is sick then taking your dog’s temperature is important. It is not difficult, but it is a task best performed with two people. Have someone hold the dog still, preferably someone the dog knows and likes.

• Apply petroleum jelly to the head or bulb of a rectal thermometer.
• Slowly slide the thermometer into the dog’s rectum about 1 inch deep.
• Wait 2 minutes for a mercury thermometer.

Remove slowly and read the thermometer. Shake down the thermometer and clean it after every use.

A dog’s normal body temperature ranges between 100.5 Fahrenheit (38.1°C) and 102.5 Fahrenheit (39.2°C).

A dog’s temperature below 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37.2°C) and temperatures above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40°C) are considered extremely serious and your dog should be brought to a veterinarian immediately.

Resting Heart Rate

Of the three vital signs, the resting heart rate for dogs shows the greatest variation. Unlike humans, the heart rate of dogs varies widely based on the size of the breed.

• Large-breed dogs (Newfoundlands, Great Pyrenees, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, and similar size breeds over 50 pounds) have a normal rate of 70 to 120 beats per minute.
• Medium dogs (Border Collies, Cocker Spaniels and other breeds weighing 25 to 50 pounds) have a normal rate of 80 to 120 beats per minute.
• Small dogs (Miniature Poodles, Boston Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers and other breeds between 10 and 25 pounds) have a normal rate of 90 to 140 beats per minute.
• Toy dogs (Chihuahuas, Maltese and Yorkshire Terriers, and others under ten pounds) have a normal rate of 100 to 160 beats per minute.

Place a clock or watch with a second hand on a chair or table near you. Stand over your dog, with his head facing away from you. Place both hands on his ribs, below his elbows. Move your hands until you can feel his heartbeat easily.

Count the number of beats in a 15 second period, then multiply by four. Or count for 30 seconds and multiply by two.

While you’re checking, also practice taking his pulse from other places. If he’s ever ill and unable to stand, you won’t be able to use the above method.

Other locations where you can check his pulse are the sides of his neck, on the inner thighs of his hind legs, and on his lower front legs, which is the equivalent of your wrists.

Resting Respiratory Rates for Dogs

The normal respiratory rate for a dog ranges from 15 to 30 breaths per minute. It’s easy to count your dog’s breathing rate. With a clock or watch with a second hand, count the number of breaths for one minute.

Do not, however, try to count his breaths when he’s panting — it doesn’t count as breaths. Panting occurs when he’s hot, short of breath, excited or in pain.

Some breeds pant more than others:

Dogs with heavy coats pant more when it’s warm. Dogs with pushed-in faces, such as Pugs and English Bulldogs, pant more than other breeds. The shape of their faces forces them to work harder to get air in and out of their lungs.

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These three vital signs — normal temperature, resting heart rate, and resting respiratory rate — are important indicators of good health and health issues. Don’t delay in learning what your dog’s baseline vital signs are.

If you don’t feel comfortable testing for the baseline numbers of these vital signs, ask your vet to provide you with the numbers, or ask her to show you how to check for them yourself.

As soon as you have the vital signs, record them and store a copy of them in your dog first aid kit and in the information and records you keep in the evacuation kit you make for your dog.

Petroleum Products (Gasoline, Kerosene, Turpentine)

These volatile liquids can cause pneumonia if aspirated or inhaled. The signs of toxicity are vomiting, difficulty of breathing, tremors, convulsions and coma. Death is by respiratory failure.

Treatment: Do not induce vomiting. Administer an ounce or two of mineral oil, olive oil or vegetable oil by mouth; then follow it in thirty minutes with Glauber’s salt. Be prepared to administer artificial respiration.

Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol)

Poisoning with antifreeze is not uncommon because ethylene glycol has a sweet taste that appeals to dogs and cats. In dogs, a toxic dose is one half teaspoonful per pound body weight.

Signs of toxicity, which appear suddenly, are vomiting, uncoordinated gait (seems “drunk”), weakness, mental depression, coma and death in twelve to thirty-six hours. Convulsions are unusual. Dogs that recover from the acute phase may have damage to the kidneys and go on to kidney failure.

Treatment: Induce vomiting. Coat the bowel to prevent further absorption. Intensive care in an animal hospital may prevent kidney complications.

Garbage Poisoning (Food Poisoning)

Food poisoning is common, as dogs are notorious scavengers and come into contact with carrion, decomposing foods, animal manure and other noxious substances (some of which are listed in DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: Common Causes of Diarrhea). Signs of poisoning begin with vomiting and pain in the abdomen; they are followed in severe cases by diarrhea (often bloody) in two to six hours. If the problem is complicated by bacterial infection, shock may develop. Mild cases recover in a day or two.

Treatment: Induce vomiting. Afterward, coat the intestines to delay or prevent absorption. The condition may require antibiotics. (See also NERVOUS SYSTEM: Botulism.)

Chocolate Poisoning

All dogs like chocolate, but chocolate can be dangerous. Chocolate contains a caffeine like alkaloid called theobromine. While not toxic to people in the amounts present in commercial foods, theobromine in these amounts can be quite harmful to the dog.

Signs of chocolate toxicity occur within hours after the dog ingests the chocolate. They include vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle tremors, seizures and coma.

A small dog weighing five to ten pounds can die after eating four to sixteen ounces of milk chocolate; a medium-sized dog weighing twenty to forty pounds can die after eating sixteen to thirty-two ounces; a larger dog after eating about two pounds. Individual variations do occur. Unsweetened chocolate (used for baking) contains higher concentrations of theobromine and is therefore more toxic. A large dog can die after eating just four ounces.

Use these treatments if your dog is showing symptoms of having recently ingested a large amount of chocolate. However, avoid using these treatments on dogs that are having seizures. In either case, call or take the dog to the vet immediately.

Make a 1-to-1 solution of 3 percent standard hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and water.

Give your pet the appropriate amount: For every 10 lbs. of your dog’s body weight, give 1 tbsp. peroxide/water solution. For example, a 20-lb. dog will need 2 tbsp. peroxide/water solution.

Pour the peroxide/water solution into a turkey baster and squirt it into your dog’s mouth to induce vomiting.

Watch for vomiting.

Wait another 10 minutes if the dog has not vomited in 5 minutes. If your dog has not vomited after the full 15 minutes, re-administer the peroxide/water solution using the same dosage.

Administer 1/4 tsp. ipecac to your dog as an alternative way to induce vomiting.

Avoid giving a third dosage of peroxide/water solution or ipecac if your dog still has not vomited, as that could be dangerous.

Call the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 4ANIHELP or (800) 548-2423. Be prepared to pay a consulting fee.

Don’t feed your dog chocolates. To prevent accidental ingestion, keep chocolate candy in the refrigerator.

Corrosives (Acid and Alkali)

Corrosives and caustics are found in household cleaners, drain decloggers and commercial solvents. They cause burns of the mouth, esophagus and stomach. Severe cases are associated with acute perforation, or late stricture, of the esophagus and stomach.

Treatment: If acid is ingested, rinse out your dog’s mouth. Give an antacid (Milk of Magnesia or Pepto-Bismol) at the rate of one to two teaspoons per five pounds body weight. If an alkali, use vinegar or lemon juice. Vinegar is mixed one part to four parts of water. The amount to give is judged by the size of the dog. Do not induce vomiting; this could result in rupture of the stomach or burns of the esophagus.

Toad Poisoning – Since all toads have a bad taste, dogs who mouth them slobber, spit and drool. In southern states a tropical toad (Bujo marinus) secretes a potent toxin that appears to affect the heart and circulation of dogs, bringing on death in as short a time as fifteen minutes. There are twelve species of Rufo toads worldwide.

Symptoms in dogs depend upon the toxicity of the toad and the amount of poison absorbed. Signs vary from merely slobbering to convulsions and death.
Treatment: Flush your dog’s mouth out with a garden hose and attempt to induce vomiting. Be prepared to administer artificial respiration.

People Medicines

Veterinarians frequently are called because a dog has swallowed pills intended for the owner, or has eaten too many dog pills. (Some dog pills are flavored to encourage dogs to eat them.) Drugs most often involved are antihistamines, sleeping pills, diet pills, heart preparations and vitamins.

Treatment: Induce vomiting

Emergency Pet First Aid Kit items to keep on hand

You may benefit by keeping a pet safety kit and other items on hand for emergencies. Such a kit should contain:

• A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide 3% (USP) to induce vomiting.
• Milk
• Vinegar or lemon juice
• Milk of Magnesia
• Charcoal
• Can of soft dog food
• Turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe, (to administer peroxide)
• Saline eye solution to flush out eye contaminants
• Artificial tear gel to lubricate eyes after flushing (Bion Tears/Visco Tears)
• Mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid in order to bathe an animal after skin contamination
• Rubber gloves to prevent you from being exposed while you bathe the animal
• Forceps to remove stingers
• Muzzle to keep the animal from hurting you while it is excited or in pain
• Pet carrier to help carry the animal to your local veterinarian

K9 FIRST AID KIT

A good canine first aid kit is an absolute must. The following is a list of items that you might want to consider for your own first aid kit. Most can be found either in your neighborhood pharmacy or ordered from a number of different pet mail order catalogs.

• A plastic fishing tackle box makes a great, portable kit. Don’t buy it until you have assembled your contents so you don’t end up with a box that is too small.
• Consider keeping a second kit in your car.
• Tape an index card inside the lid with telephone numbers and open hours of your regular veterinarian, emergency clinic and Poison Control Center. Keep an up-to-date list of your dog’s medications.
• Clearly LABEL all medications and supplies with their name and expiration date.
• Go through your kit TWICE a year (at a minimum), replacing expired medications, replenishing used supplies, checking for broken or leaking containers etc. Replace as needed.

MISC.

• Telephone numbers (regular veterinarian, emergency clinic and Poison Control Center)
• Latex gloves
• Zip lock bags (for specimens)
• Penlight or flashlight
• Blanket (to carry and wrap an injured dog)
• Rubbing alcohol (use only for sterilizing objects)
• Book on canine first aid
  Read & be familiar with your manual. An emergency is NOT the time to begin reading the book! A good manual is published by the American Red Cross — “Pet First Aid for Cats & Dogs”

TOOLS

• Muzzle
• Rectal thermometer
• Scissors – blunt tip
• Tweezers
• Cotton swab sticks
• Cotton balls or roll cotton
• Instant ice pack
• Nail clippers
• Eye dropper
• Magazine – for quick splint
• Wooden paint mixing stick – for quick splint
• Elizabethan collar
• Magnifying glass
• Oral dose syringes (You don’t need the needles. Make sure you understand the volume markings. The syringe lets you administer fluids in specific volumes by squirting between the dog’s teeth near the back of mouth.)

DRESSINGS

• Sterile gauze (roll and pads 2″ & 4″ – no stick variety)
  (rolls also can be used for an emergency muzzle)
• Adhesive tape – 1″
• Vetrap 2″ or 4″ wide (by the 3M company. These are self adhering bandage rolls, they come in great colors and can be wrapped around a limb. It sticks to itself without adhesive tape. Does not stick to the dog’s hair so it is easy to remove. Be careful not to apply it too tightly – it is elasticized and will not loosen up once applied.)
• Skin glue

MEDICATIONS

• Buffered aspirin (NOT Tylenol which is toxic to dogs)
• Sterile saline solution or eye wash (for cleaning wounds or rinsing eyes)
• Neosporin
• Hydrocortisone creme
• Betadine
• Iodine (to disinfect minor wounds)
• Benadryl (an antihistamine to help if your dog has an allergic reaction or insect bites/stings.)
• KY jelly (to lubricate thermometer, also use to cover an open sore or wound. Don’t use vaseline, it is not water soluble but KY Jelly is.)
• Hydrogen peroxide – 1% solution (can also induce vomiting)
• Pedialyte
• Rescue Remedy
• Quick Stop for nails
• Kaopectate – for diarrhea
• Milk of Magnesia – for antacid, laxative

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS HANDY FOR FIRST AID

• Empty plastic bucket for holding warm water
• Paper cups for washing wounds
• Sanitary napkins for compress to control bleeding
• Table leaf as an emergency stretch

EPI K9 EMERGENCY KIT

• Keep an emergency kit in your house as well as in your car.
• A small tool box or shoe box makes a handy kit.
• Tape an index card inside the lid with telephone numbers and open hours of your regular veterinarian and emergency clinic. Keep an up-to-date list of your dog’s medications.
• Keep your dog’s seizure log book handy.
• Clearly label all medications and supplies with their name.
• It is advisable for a second person in the household to know what to do in case you are unavailable. If you use a pet-sitter, make certain they are thoroughly educated on your dog’s normal as well as emergency care needs.

• BEFORE an emergency, make sure your vet has given you correct dosing information about PB and/or Diazepam to use following a seizure or cluster. Each time your pick up a prescription, check it! Make sure it is correct.

• BEFORE an emergency, practice with the equipment and a substitute for the Diazepam (such as plain water) to feel at ease with its use. Your vet can give you proper instruction. It may be a good idea to have a “seizure drill” while everything is calm to be sure your plans are manageable. Plan ahead, for instance, how you would move/transport a large dog to a emergency clinic.

• After each emergency, check the kit for medications or supplies which need to be replenished. Make sure prescriptions have refills available.

Items that you might want to consider for your own emergency kit:

• Phenobarbital (PB)
• Oral Diazepam tablets (brand name is Valium)
• Rectal Diazepam liquid (brand name is Valium)
• Rescue Remedy or similar homeopathic blend (a Bach flower essence which helps many dogs recover from post-ictal symptoms)
• Syringe
• Syringe needles (needle NOT used for administering Diazepam)
• Plastic extender tip for syringe
  OR
• Tom cat catheter
• KY jelly
• Pill splitter
• Extra syringe, needle and bottle (to practice filling syringe)

Useful household items to have on hand:

• Old towels, rags or diapers (to clean up if your dog voids his bladder or bowel during a seizure)
• Heavy blanket (can be used to transport to a clinic a seizuring dog that cannot stand or walk)
• Baby gate (to block off hazards from a recovering, ataxic dog or to block other dogs from a seizuring dog)
• Extra mats or pillows (they may need to be changed if soiled during a seizure)
• Electric fan (to help cool a seizuring dog)
• Rescue Remedy, Honey, molasses, or Breyer’s natural vanilla ice cream (these foods help some dogs recover more quickly after a seizure)

People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets

Chocolate, Macadamia nuts, avocados…these foods may sound delicious to you, but they’re actually quite dangerous for our animal companions. Our nutrition experts have put together a handy list of the top toxic people foods to avoid feeding your pet. As always, if you suspect your pet has eaten any of the following foods, please note the amount ingested and contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine

These products all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee and in the nuts of an extract used in some sodas. When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest.

Chocolate Toxicity

Levels of Theobromine in Chocolate

Concentration of Theobromine varies with the formulation of the chocolate

• Milk chocolate has 44mg/oz (154mg/100gm)
• Semisweet chocolate has 150 mg/oz (528mg/100gm)
• Baking chocolate 390mg/oz (1365 mg/100gm)

The theobromine in candies consisting of chocolate that is coated over some other substance – as in filled candies and chocolate coated dried fruits, etc will be more dilute than that in pure chocolate bars and solid chocolate candies.

Things like Oreos and other chocolate cookies, or chocolate ice cream, contain only a tiny bit of real chocolate. Candybars that are covered in chocolate have only slightly more. Hershey’s kisses are milk chocolate, but a few aren’t usually dangerous for larger dogs. Good chocolate bars and bittersweet chocolate are risky. I’ve been known to share my oreos and chocolate chip cookies now and then.

There is also some evidence that the effect (at least in some dogs) can be cumulative. While one incident may not be dangerous for your dog, letting them eat chocolate over time can lead to issues.

IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS, CALL YOUR VET!!!! If your dog is acting strangely (very energetic, or listless, throwing up, breathing quickly, or pacing, or showing signs of pain), call immediately!

Toxic Amounts of Chocolate

 
Dog's         Amount of         Amount of         Approx. Mg.
Weight        Milk Choc       Unsweet. Choc       Theobromine

 5 lb.          4 oz.             .5  oz.              200

10 lbs.         8 oz.            1.0  oz.              400

20 lbs.         1 lb.            2.5  oz.              900

30 lbs.         2 lbs.           3.25 oz.             1300

40 lbs.         2.5 lbs.         4.5  oz.             1800

50 lbs.         3 lbs.           5.5  oz.             2250

60 lbs.         4 lbs.           7.0  oz.             2700

70 lbs.         5 lbs.           8.5  oz.             3400

in metrics:

 
Dog's         Amount of         Amount of         Approx. Mg.
Weight        Milk Choc       Unsweet. Choc       Theobromine

 2.2 kg.       113.4 g.          14.1 g.               200

 4.5 kg.       226.8 g.          28.3 g.               400

 9.0 kg.       453.6 g.          70.8 g.               900

13.6 kg.       907.2 g.          92.1 g.              1300

18.0 kg.       1.134 kg.        127.5 g.              1800

22.6 kg.       1.360 kg.        156.0 g.              2250

27.2 kg.       1.814 kg.        198.4 g.              2700

31.7 kg.       2.268 kg.        240.9 g.              3400

Animals often have a “sweet tooth” too
Just like their human counterparts, pets, especially dogs, can crave the delicious goodness of chocolate. While recent studies have shown that chocolate may be beneficial for our health, it is important to know that chocolate can be toxic, and sometimes even fatal, for animals.

Dogs are most commonly affected, due to their ability to find it and the common ’sweet tooth’ they seem to have. It is important to remember that cats and other species are susceptible to the toxic effects of chocolate, too.

What makes chocolate toxic, anyway?
Chocolate is made from the fruit (beans) of the cacao tree. Theobromine, a component of chocolate, is the toxic compound in chocolate. (Caffeine is also present in chocolate, but in much smaller amounts than Theobromine.) Both Theobromine and Caffeine are members of a drug class called Methylxanines.

Theobromine and caffeine effects on the body:

• Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulant
• Cardiovascular stimulant
• Increase blood pressure (mild)
• Nausea and vomiting

Are some chocolates more toxic than others?
Yes. Unsweetened (baker’s) chocolate contains 8-10 times the amount of Theobromine as milk chocolate. Semi-sweet chocolate falls roughly in between the two for Theobromine content. White chocolate contains Theobromine, but in such small amounts that Theobromine poisoning is unlikely. Caffeine is present in chocolate, but less than Theobromine.

Quick Guide for Theobromine levels in different types of chocolate:
From The Merck Veterinary Manual, here are approximate Theobromine levels of different types of chocolate:

• Dry cocoa powder = 800 mg/oz
• Unsweetened (Baker’s) chocolate = 450 mg/oz
• Cocoa bean mulch = 255 mg/oz
• semisweet chocolate and sweet dark chocolate is = 150-160 mg/oz
• Milk chocolate = 44-64 mg Theobromine per oz chocolate
• White chocolate contains an insignificant source of methylxanthines.

_{Source: Merck Veterinary Manual Online}

How much is too much?
The toxic dose of Theobromine (and caffeine) for pets is 100-200mg/kg. (1 kiliogram = 2.2 pounds). However, various reports by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) have noted problems at doses much lower than this – i.e. 20mg/kg.

Translated to a “typical” scenario, and using the 20mg/kg as a measure of “problems can be seen at this level of ingestion”, a 50 pound dog would have to consume 9 ounces (+/-) of milk chocolate to consume the 20mg/kg amount of Theobromine. Some dogs won’t see problems at this rate. Some may.

This is a much more conservative toxic level calculation than the “standard” of 100-200mg/kg, but better safe than sorry. A dog sneaking a couple M&M’s shouldn’t have a problem, but it isn’t a good habit to get into!

What are the signs of toxicity?
Signs are most commonly seen within 12 hours (or less) of chocolate ingestion.

• Excitement / nervousness / trembling
• Vomiting / diarrhea
• Excessive thirst / sometimes excessive urination (at higher levels of Theobromine toxicity)
• Muscle spasms
• Seizures
• Coma (rare
• Death (rare) — likely due to heart rhythm abnormalities.

How is chocolate toxicity treated?
If you suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate (more than the stray chocolate chip that fell on the floor), call your veterinarian for advice. The toxicity of Theobromine is dose dependent. This means that the size of your pet, the type of chocolate, and quantity of chocolate determine if or how toxic it is for your pet.

There is no specific antidote for Theobromine toxicity. Medical treatmentis supportive, and may include all or some of the following:

• IV fluids – to prevent dehydration from vomiting, diarrhea, and /or increased urination, and to “flush” the Theobromine out of the system.
• Emetics – medications that induce vomiting. Used when the ingestion of chocolate is within 4 hours. Up to 6-8 hours post chocolate ingestion may be effective.
• Activated charcoal – for ingestion greater than 4 hours prior to treatment, or for patients that show continued signs of toxicity.
• Anti-seizure medications – for patients having seizures and/or muscle tremors.
• Cardiac medications – for patients exhibiting irregular heart rates or rhythms.

Why isn’t chocolate toxic to humans?
Humans can break down and excrete Theobromine much more efficiently than dogs. The half life of Theobromine in the dog is long; approximately 17.5 hours.

Keep your pet’s best interests at heart…chocolate wasn’t meant to be shared anyway (grin).

Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.

Avocado

The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Birds and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado poisoning, and can develop congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart. Some ingestions may even be fatal.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are commonly used in many cookies and candies. However, they can cause problems for your canine companion. These nuts have caused weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.

Grapes & Raisins

Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. In pets who already have certain health problems, signs may be more dramatic.

Yeast Dough

Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach or intestines to rupture. Because the risk diminishes after the dough is cooked and the yeast has fully risen, pets can have small bits of bread as treats. However, these treats should not constitute more than 5 percent to 10 percent of your pet’s daily caloric intake.

Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones

Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets. In addition, raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems. Feeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural and healthy option that might occur if your pet lived in the wild. However, this can be very dangerous for a domestic pet, who might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s digestive tract.

Xylitol

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release in most species, which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to recumbancy and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.

Onions, Garlic, Chives

These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed. Toxicity is normally diagnosed through history, clinical signs and microscopic confirmation of Heinz bodies. An occasional low dose, such as what might be found in pet foods or treats, likely will not cause a problem, but  do NOT give your pets large quantities of these foods.

Milk

Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Salt

Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. In other words, keep those salty chips to yourself!

Candy Canes

Legend of the Candy Cane

Candy Canes

Candy canes are favorites of Christmas decorations amongst kids. These red and white J-shaped candies are tasty too. It is said that their origin lies in an event in Cologne Cathedra about two hundred thirty years ago. It was said that one evening, the children were being very loud and noisy at the Church and were not paying attention to the choirmaster. In his efforts to keep them quiet and still for Nativity ceremony, he gave them a long, white, sugar candy stick. Since, giving out chocolates and candies at church was otherwise considered sacrilegious; he bent these sticks on one end to make them look like shepherds’ cane that went to worship the Christ on the day he was born and thus, attached a religious significance to them.

In 1847, a German-Swedish immigrant in Wooster, Ohio liked candy canes so much that he put them on his Christmas tree as decorations. The idea soon caught up and became quite a fashion. By 1900, candy canes started coming in red stripes and peppermint flavoring and it was said that the white color was symbolic Christ’s purity while the red symbolized the wounds he suffered. The peppermint flavoring was said to represent the hyssop herb described in Bible for purification. Some other interpret that the ‘J’ shaped candy cane is not a cane but the letter ‘J’ that stands for Jesus. However, there are no evidences supporting these views. Around 1920, Bob McCormack from Georgia started mass-producing candy canes that came to be known as Bob’s Candies. Since then, the firm has remained the most popular candy-cane manufacturer company in the world.

Peppermint Candy Canes Recipe

Try making candy canes at home with this easy recipe. Make traditional candy canes or experiment with different flavorings and food colorings. Be careful! It will be very hot. Once it is just barely cool enough to handle, the candy must be pulled and turned on itself over and over until it is no longer clear.

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• Red food coloring

Preparation:

Cook sugar, corn syrup, water, and cream of tartar to a very hard ball stage (use candy thermometer: 250 to 265 degrees F.). Remove from heat and add peppermint. Divide into two parts and add red food coloring to one part and mix well.

Pull pieces of each part to form ropes and twist red around the white to make candy canes.

Yield: 1 dozen

Cost analysis: Store bought: $1.29 per dozen; Homemade: 50 cents per dozen

Poinsettia

Poinsettia

Legend of Poinsettia

Dr. Joel Poinsett, who was the first ambassador to Mexico, brought the bright red star-shaped flower to the United States. Hence, it was names as Poinsettia. It is also known as ‘Flame Leaf’ or ‘Flower of the Holy Night’. The legend related to this favorite Christmas flower is Mexican too. However, there are two versions of the story. In one version, the two small children of the story are known as Maria and her little brother Pablo; while in another version, two cousins are mentioned by the names of Pepita and Pedro. Whatever be the names, the story goes like this:

There was once a brother-sister pair who was very poor. They lived in a village and they had barely enough to eat two full meals a day. As the Christmas time approached, festivities, parades and parties in the village attracted the children. The gaiety of the season in itself was quite charismatic. Moreover, a large manger scene was being set up in the village church and all the children were eager to go to Baby Jesus and give him the best present. Maria and Pablo also wanted to give expensive presents to the Holy Child that He will love. While all children were discussing, what they think is best for the baby and what they will buy as the gift for Him, Maria and Pablo knew that they had no money to buy the presents and had nothing that they could gift to the child.

Yet, they could not let go of the temptation to see the baby just once and give something to Him. On Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church a little earlier than others to attend the service. Since they had nothing to give to the child, they thought of plucking some weeds that was growing along the roadside to make a soft bed for Baby Jesus and decorate his crib. While they were still decorating the crib of the Baby, other children also arrived. Now, children can be very cruel when it comes to teasing and making fun of others. Maria and Pablo were almost in tears for shame and helplessness when a miracle occurred. Suddenly, the weeds burst into bright red petals that looked like stars and were so beautiful that everyone was awed by their beauty. Everybody realized and said that a gift of love is dearer to Jesus than the most expensive presents that money could buy. Ever since then, Poinsettia flowers have become favorites for Christmas decorations.

Are poinsettias poisonous?

For years we were warned that poinsettias – those beautiful red and pink flowering plants we display at Christmastime – were poisonous. Parents magazines, medical books and guides, and even doctors and veterinarians cautioned us to keep the beautiful plants out of the reach of children and pets for fear that they might nibble on the flowers or the leaves which were believed to be toxic. In fact, some books still indicate poinsettias are poisonous.

Thanks to more recent testing, however, it is no longer necessary to keep your beautiful poinsettia plants on high shelves and out of reach. The long-standing belief that poinsettias were poisonous has finally been proven to be nothing more than a myth – a false alarm.

According to a source at the Poison Control Center in Madison, Wisconsin, most of the fear originated from the death of one child in Hawaii in 1918 who was believed to have eaten a poinsettia plant. However, experts are no longer sure this death really had anything to do with the ornamental plant.

In fact, a research study conducted at Ohio State University in more recent years reveals that poinsettias are not truly poisonous at all. The study conclusively proved that all parts of the plant are non-toxic.

Today the National Capital Poison Center in Washington, DC and poison control centers across the country list the poinsettia as a non-poisonous plant.

According to the Madison Poison Control Center, a 50-pound child would need to ingest 500-600 poinsettia leaves to suffer ill effects of any significance – which is highly unlikely to occur. Of course, minor gastrointestinal upset may occur if a child or pet consumes the leaves, as with the consumption of any non-food product, but the plant is not a deadly poison as previously thought and will not kill a child or animal. In the worst-case scenario, the child or pet could have an upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea – all treatable using over-the-counter products.

This was further confirmed when the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Melon University conducted a study of almost 23,000 poinsettia exposures reported to poison control centers across the country and found that none presented evidence of actual toxicity.

Playing with the leaves could cause local minor skin irritation in humans, and children who play with the leaves and then rub their eyes could experience redness and irritation of the eyes. To prevent further irritation, eyes should be rinsed with lukewarm water for 10-15 minutes, and hands or body parts irritated by the plant should be washed well with soap and water.

However, ingesting poinsettias is not shown to cause several stomach upset, convulsions, or other symptoms requiring emergency care. Probably the greatest threat the plants pose is the potential to obstruct a child or pet’s airway, causing choking.

This holiday season, everyone can sit back and enjoy the beauty of poinsettia plants without a worry. Caution should be exercised with other ornamental holiday plants and even some normal houseplants, however. Just because the poinsettia has been “cleared” doesn’t mean all other plants are just as safe. Various parts of some plants – including holly, mistletoe, English ivy, azaleas, rhododendrons, philodendron, and others – can cause severe reactions and may be fatal. If in doubt, check it out. Better to be safe than sorry!

Like me, if you love poinsettias for the holiday, but hate throwing them out after the holidays, follow these simple month-by-month steps to keep the poinsettia all year:

January to May- Be sure the poinsettia gets strong light all day and fertilize every two weeks. Keep the plant moist, but remember not to drown it. Poinsettias like to dry a bit between waterings.

April- Prune the poinsettia so it is about 6 to 8 inches tall.

June to September- Repot the poinsettia and move the plant outside. Place the plant where it can receive morning light, but will be sheltered from the hot afternoon sun. Be sure to keep it moist and fertilize every week.

Mid September- Bring the poinsettia indoors and make sure it still gets strong light all day. Continue to fertilize weekly.

October to November- During the short daytime hours, be sure the plant stays warm and in a bright place, but at night, place the poinsettia in a cool dark place….a closet works well. Make sure the plant is getting more dark than light time now. Continue to fertilize weekly.

Mid November- Discontinue the light/dark treatment and put it in bright light.

December- Poinsettias don’t need strong light all the time this month, so put it anywhere you like when you are decorating, and from time to time, put it in strong light.

Legend of the Christmas Spider

Long, long ago, on one Christmas Eve, the spiders were banished from homes while the houses were cleaned for Christmas and their webs were broken. They just managed to survive and had to move to the farthest corner of the attic for the time being. However, some of the young spiders longed to see the decorated Christmas trees and the little Christ child that came to bless the homes in the midnight. The elders tried to make them understand that they were not allowed inside the rooms but the young spiders were quite curious and adamant. Finally, the oldest and wisest spider came up with a solution and suggested that in the night, when everybody went to bed, perhaps they could creep out of their corners and get a closer look of the magical Christmas tree.

Even the adult spiders felt the thrill of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them and in midnight, when the house of a noble family was dark and silent and everybody was fast asleep, spiders crept out of their hiding place and slowly reached the Christmas tree. They were so captivated by the ethereal beauty that they spent all night in the tree, crawling up and down and examining its beautiful ornaments. They could not curb their urge to weave pretty and delicate spider webs all over the tree as they danced on its branches. In the wee hours of the morning, the little Christ child came to bless the house. He was surprised to find little spiders and their webs on the tree.

He knew that every creature was made by God and yet he knew how the mother who had worked hard all day to make everything perfect would be dismayed to find the spider webs on its tree. Thus, with a heart full of love and a lovely bewitching smile on his lips, the Christ child gently touched the spider webs and set them sparkling and shining in silver and golden colors that made the Christmas tree look even more beautiful than before.

It is said that this is how tinsel was introduced to decorate Christmas trees.  Some people also hang a plastic spider in remembrance of the devoted little spiders who worked hard that Christmas Eve.

Tantra Yoga & Tantric Sex

Philosophy of Love, Sex & Orgasm

In one sense it is strange how little philosophers have written on Love, Sex and Orgasm, as it is clear from Evolution that Sex and Survival are the two most fundamental forces driving our continued existence.

What it does show is how our culture, our religious beliefs, and our emotions have prevented us from writing or speaking honestly on this most profound subject. I would venture to say that it is almost impossible for a human to be completely happy or healthy if they are devoid of a meaningful sexual relationship.

Further, evidence suggests that where sex is actively prohibited, as within certain religions, then the sexual urge, being so strong, tends to manifest in abusive ways that cause great harm to human society. (The sexual abuse of children by priests is an obvious example of this.)

Function and Freedom of Sexuality
The reason why lust is described as a deadly sin is that it sees another person as a means to the end of our pleasure- it fails to value the human person and simply sees the function they can perform for us.

One should never, as a minimum, engage in sexual activity with another when this does not reflect and represent a very real commitment to the personal identity and individuality of the other.

In the absence of this, we are not really engaged with another human being but rather with a human being whom we are degrading to the level of an object.

The more a person becomes promiscuous and is controlled by instinct or the desire for personal pleasure, the more he or she cease to be able to see the humanity of their partner and instead see them in terms of their function, as a means to temporarily satiating their desire.

The person who sleeps with any woman (or man) who is available, the young man who is desperately anxious to ‘score’, or the lonely young woman who seeks love and consolation by making herself freely available are all on paths which can and often will lead to serious personal disintegration.

Socrates in the Phaedrus distinguishes between a blind, unreasonable eros and an eros which is guided by reason. The first arises when the attraction is to a beautiful body and where the desire is for momentary physical possession. Here, beauty is a means of enkindling sexual passion and satisfying it.

The reasonable eros is similarly passionate, but is directed more by reason and passes through three stages:

1. At the lowest level, the love of beauty in one body leads one to recognize that beauty is not to be found in one thing but that beauty is found in many different guises.

2. At the second level, it is the beauty of the other person’s mind which attracts. A person finds that this has an improving influence on them and may challenge and develop them.

3. At the third stage, it is the beauty of science or ideas in general that are found to be most attractive of all. This leads onto the search for pure beauty, or the perfect Form of beauty which, in Christian terms, is expressed most deeply in God.

The second stage analyzed by Socrates is important- true love will only develop when what is loved in the other is not the bodily ‘packaging.’ This may, it is true, be the initial attraction, but if this is all there is it will quickly fade. Genuine, deep love will only develop where the love is of the deeper self, the real person behind the exterior, and it will take time, care and trouble to discover this deeper person.

It is only when what is valued is the deeper humanity of the individual, that real love can occur and only then is there any possibility of this love enduring through all the ‘changes and chances of this fleeting world’.

Real lovemaking will seek not the pleasure of the self, but the joy and development of the other. It is an expression of passion, love and commitment which should not have a selfish aim but which should be directed towards thinking of the other person.

Paradoxically, it will be in giving joy and pleasure that joy and pleasure will be found- but as a by-product, never as an end in itself. Real love can be costly as it may mean not holding on to someone but freeing them to move to a new stage in life. This is why possessiveness or jealousy is such destructive emotions, as they come from a selfish wish to be made happy, rather than to ensure the happiness of the beloved.

Sexual Ethics:
The Four Principles of the New Approach to Sexual Ethics

1. Psychology has made clear the intimate link between sexuality, personality and human development as well as the need for human integration. Sexuality is an essential part of human nature and each person has to come to wholeness by being able to accept and balance the different aspects of their own nature.

Sexuality and spirituality may be seen to be connected. The ability to love and to accept love, to form relationships and to enter into mature, adult sexual bonds depends to a larger extent on the experiences one has as a young child.

Early experiences can destroy the development process and can cause adults to be psychologically immature. The impact of parents and a warm, stable loving home environment is important to psychological well-being. If this is absent, distortions are likely to result which may not be resolvable without help later in life.

The negative view of human sexual nature deriving from the Christian tradition needs to be rejected and a positive approach taken to the wholeness of human experience in giving and receiving love.

2. Any approach to sexual ethics must consider the whole human person and an attempt be made to seek a truthful understanding of what it is to be fully human. Aristotle and Aquinas tried to do this and today the same attempt must be made, but taking account of our modern knowledge of physiology, psychology and the complexity of human relationships.

If this is done, one can remain faithful to the past methodology whilst recognizing that the findings of psychology and of science must inform theological and philosophical debate.

3. Sexual relationships should always recognize the role of the other person involved as a free, autonomous human being and no human being may use another as a means to the end of his or her sexual gratification. Sex should always be a free act, a gift of intimacy, commitment and trust by one person to another. It should never be coerced, whether mentally or physically and should always express the depth of the relationship rather than being a means to try to develop a relationship. The pleasure involved should come as a by-product of the gift of love and tenderness, never as an end in itself.

4. Lovemaking between two people is something ‘deep’ and mysterious- it, like birth and death, is one of the great mysteries of life and concentration on the mechanics of the act without an appreciation of its role in the wider relationship misses its true significance. No philosophic analysis will be adequate to capture the full mystery of love nor will any set of rules meet all the complexities of human relationships.

If sexual ethics is to continue to be engaged in a search for truth rather than just accepting what previous generations have handed down, then it must take into account not just modern understandings of science but also knowledge of human bodies, psychology and the emotional and affective side of human being.

Tantra Yoga is a holistic approach to the study of the universal from the point of view of the individual: the study of the macrocosm through the study of the microcosm.

Tantra Yoga draws on all the sciences – astronomy, astrology, numerology, physiognomy, physics, chemistry, alchemy, Ayurveda (the traditional medicine of India), psychology, mathematics, geometry, and so on – to provide a practical means of realizing the highest ideals of philosophy in daily life.

Instead of separating and categorizing the different areas of human knowledge, Tantra Yoga draws them together. It studies the tree of life itself instead of limiting itself to any single branch of the tree. This tree is a microcosm, a great organization of diverse elements linked together by a unifying law (dharma) that is inherent in their very nature. Tantra Yoga seeks to understand this law.

The aim is to expand awareness in all states of consciousness, whether waking state, dream state or sleep state. To accomplish this we need a kind of “deprogramming” and “reprogramming” of our human computer.

Our birth in a particular place and time gives us our primary programming, influenced by heredity and environment. If we are content with the results and live our lives without too many problems, then we will see no need for change.

But when we experience great difficulties in life or begin to seek something beyond our limited “program” then we need a way to alter it. Tantra Yoga provides the methodology and the tools for this work.

It teaches us to identify the various factors that influence our thoughts and feelings and to transcend the obstacles to our evolution arising from ignorance, intolerance, attachment to our animal nature, and selfishness.

By refining our thoughts and feelings by means of these Tantra Yoga practices, we learn to create peace, harmony, and order within ourselves. Tantra Yoga thus promotes a one-pointedness and centeredness that help us to free the consciousness from limitations.

The universe is a product of two opposites: the static principle (rest, shaktiman, powerholder, Shiva) and the dynamic principle (movement, energy, power, creativity, Shakti).

The external part of everything is the creative aspect, and inside every dynamic creation is the static aspect.

The play of Shakti has no beginning or end. Although it is restless, the energy moves in an orderly cycle, alternating periods of motion and rest. Energy undergoes many changes, gets distorted and then it reorganizes itself during the period of rest. Thus a continuous process of creation, preservation and destruction, reorganization and re-creation goes on forever.

Tantra Yoga believes that as long as the phenomenal world exists, it is the Universal Mother who is the creator, preserver and destroyer. Thus in Tantra Yoga she should be worshipped as an aspect of the Divine.

The motivating force behind this eternal play of the illusory world of phenomena is the power of desire (ichcha-shakti). This desire is present in the one who is without attributes, the nameless and formless aspect of the divine (Brahman).

Tantra Yoga accepts desire as the prime motivating force of the universe, so it does not ask its’ aspirants to renounce desire.

Many other spiritual sciences advise the avoidance of desire, which they claim leads to bondage and is an obstacle to achieving higher consciousness. They try to overcome desire through ascetism. Yet one is left with the paradox that to achieve desire-lessness, one must have a strong desire to be without desire.

Tantra Yoga asserts that desires are natural and that as long as we are embodied, we will have them. Our sense organs serve as windows through which desires enter.

The constant presence of desire arouses a yearning and love for the desired object. Most desires center on the physical body and its comforts. People become slaves to their instincts, which constitute the lower part of the personality and fall prey to agitation, loneliness, anxiety, dissatisfaction, selfishness and misery.

Tantra Yoga offers practical tools for reprogramming the mind and our desires. By means of physical and ritual cleaning, breathing exercises (pranayama), contemplation, visualization (of yantras and deities), repetition of a mantra (mantra japa), Tantra Yoga helps to unfold our divine nature.

Health and Intimacy Benefits of Practicing Tantra Yoga and Tantric Sex

Sexual Health can be improved naturally through the practices of Tantra Yoga and tantric sex. Besides having a strong body/mind/spirit connection, every loving couple should also enjoy multiple, powerful sexual orgasms, which stimulate and increase the secretion of the pineal and pituitary glands.

Tantric Sex Improves Sexual Health

Tantric sex has a rejuvenating effect, improving men and women’s sexual health. Frequent orgasms, as one of the brain wave stimulations, will alter body chemistry. Depression and stress disappear. Women’s sexual health is greatly improved. Headaches, menstrual cramps, urinary-tract problems, weak immune function, incontinence, etc. virtually become a thing of the past.

In tantric sex, the brain chemistry is affected by empowering the endocrine glands for more hGH, serotonin, DHEA, and testosterone. Scientific and medical studies prove that sexual health improves drastically… stimulating blood circulation, detoxifying the body through the breath, strengthening the cardiovascular, endocrine/immune and nervous functions, leading to improved sexual health, rejuvenation and longevity.

Orgasms Strengthen Immune System

Orgasms that last at least 20 minutes can alleviate depression altogether. Take years off our face as depression is eliminated from our life. Prolong life span, strengthen the immune system and improve overall sexual health by freeing our body and mind through tantric sex.

Men can derive great benefits by increasing sexual quantity and sexual quality in a safe, healthy, natural way through tantric sex. Tantric sex focuses on the benefits of prolonging the sex act for more intimacy and health benefits.

Men are most concerned with:

• Having a soft erection
• Inability to maintain an erection
• Low intensity
• Premature ejaculation
• Prolonging ejaculation
• Performance skills
• Self confidence
• Satisfying his partner
• Male sexual health

While men’s sexual health concerns are more of a physical nature, women’s concerns seem to be a function of their minds.

Women want to enjoy sex, but their main problem usually stems from Western based religions or feelings of guilt and shame.

Women’s problems with sex generally fall in the following categories:

• Loss of interest in sex
• Loss of sensations
• Painful intercourse
• Inability to reach orgasm
• Having weak or mild orgasms
• Weak internal muscles due to childbirth etc.
• Sexual health concerns
• Sexual guilt and shame
• Inhibitions
• Fear of intimacy
• Need to be in control

Loss of interest can arise from being too busy, overworked, having an insensitive lover who doesn’t know how to make you happy. The guilt and shame factor is deeply imbedded in our Western culture mainly perpetuated through religion and “osmosis” …the Western mind-set. In the East, the body and all its functions are considered beautiful and natural.

Frequent Orgasms and Women’s Health

Frequent orgasms can benefit women’s sexual health tremendously. However, there is a vast difference in having an ordinary orgasm and having a tantric orgasm. Ordinary orgasms, which are the norm, are of short duration, isolated in the sex organs. Tantric sex orgasms involve the full body, mind and spirit, lasting for hours as well.

Benefits of Tantric Orgasm

To obtain the benefits of a tantric orgasm, the shakti, or energy, the rising kundalini, must pierce each of the chakras (vortexes of energy in the subtle body) as it ascends the spinal cord. It must reach the brain’s central nervous system and endocrine command center – the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which commands the changes that benefits our sexual health.

Benefits of Frequent Orgasms

Frequent and powerful orgasms increase the level of the orgasm hormone, oxytocin. The oxytocin level is linked to the personality, passion, social skills and emotional quotient (EQ), all of which affects career, marriage, emotions and social life. Orgasms are very beneficial for sexual health because they empower our pituitary (brain function).

We benefit from tantra practices on the physical, spiritual and emotional levels.

Tantra Yoga

Tantra yoga is a spiritual path of love that requires years of commitment, surrender, and practice for the attainment of long lasting peace, love, happiness and health.

The term yoga means union of mind and body, derived from Sanskrit language. Yoga is more than meditation and it helps in harmonizing one’s physical and spiritual body. Yoga is a holistic technique practiced for self-improvement and it is almost five thousand years old.

A female practitioner of yoga is known as yogini and the male practitioner is known as yogi. There are eight forms of yoga and one of the major forms of yoga is the Tantric yoga.

One of the subset of Tantric yoga is the attainment of mental and spiritual wisdom in sex.

Unfortunately, tantra has often denigrated to exotic sex positions and porn, where self proclaimed “tantrics” casually and conveniently use the term “tantra” to validate their sexual dysfunctions, giving themselves “permission” to participate in group sex, swapping partners and other such activities.

But, in truth, tantra is about sexual energy; it is a process that succeeds only for those who have outgrown their adolescent fascination for sex and are seeking higher states of consciousness.

Today, most of what has been represented as “tantra” has no foundational basis and can only be described as anti-tantra. This pseudo tantra ignores most of the warnings and teachings of the enlightened Masters. This unwillingness for the preparatory work necessary can lead to unnecessary emotional and physical pain.

Pseudo Tantra Serves to:

• engage the ego
• bypass any spiritual disposition
• advocate pedestrian sex
• ignore meditation practice
• continue the drama
• create more karma
• use the partner as an object of pleasure

By Comparison, Tantra Yoga Aims to:

• surrender the ego
• purify the body
• expand the mind
• control the emotions
• maintain balance
• honor the partner
• recognize the divinity within
• embrace the inner animal
• improve relationships
• create enduring peace and harmony
• live in the present
• become more authentic
• build confidence
• maintain a positive outlook
• achieve blissful union through sacred sex

How does one begin a spiritual path such as tantra? Decide to!

As mentioned before, tantra yoga is a process that will yield positive results when applied properly. All of your efforts will result in changes you and others will notice in as little as 30 days. But that is only the beginning. Make this your passion.

If you want to see changes in your life, you have to do the work. No one else can do it for you.

Many of the Tantric yoga exercises are similar to exercises and poses of other forms of yoga.

Remember, relaxation plays a significant role while performing the various Tantric exercises.

Tantric Yoga Exercises

You could do the Tantric exercises early morning or before going to bed. Tantric exercises also help to stimulate the functions of the respiratory system to keep the various airborne diseases at bay. Tantric yoga exercises are performed for general health and also to enhance sexual abilities. Today, Tantric yoga is recommended by many doctors as a solution for minor infertility problems. The reason is Tantric yoga exercises if practiced religiously would strengthen the muscles around the anal and genital areas.

Here’s a Tantra Meditation Practice You Can Do Every Day:

• Sit on a chair with your spine straight, palms down with the thumbs and forefingers touching, feet flat on the floor. If you prefer, you can sit on the floor with your legs crossed and hands resting on your knees.
• With closed eyes, bring your focus to the area between the brows, known as the third eye.
• Concentrate on your breathing. Breathe in light, breathe out any negative thoughts or feelings.

Do this tantra meditation for at least five minutes a day. After a few days you may want to increase the time until gradually you are able to sit for twenty minutes or more without any discomfort. If your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to the breath. If you do this practice faithfully you will notice improvements in all areas of your life. If you don’t see or feel or changes, then this path is probably not for you, but give it a try.

Exercise I – Breathing Exercise

Tantric yoga breathing exercises are best done early morning when your stomach is empty. Always remember to spread a small carpet or sheet on a flat ground before you start the breathing exercise.

Sit with your legs crossed and back straight on the floor. Relax before your start off.

Breathe out to empty your lungs. Count four and slowly breathe in.

The process of breathing in should take place in two stages. First using your diaphragm, so your stomach is pulled in. In the second stage, use your chest muscles so the oxygen flows through shoulder muscles.

Hold your breath for 16 seconds before slowly breathing out. You have to count up to 8 while breathing out.

Breathing out also should take place in two stages. Initially empty your diaphragm and then relax your chest muscles and the shoulder muscles.

Repeat this exercise couple of times.

Exercise II – To Correct Sexual Disabilities

This form of Tantric yoga exercise could be done by anyone who has minor sexual disabilities.

Lie on your back and relax for few minutes before your start this exercise. Remember to use a sheet if you are lying on the floor.

Slowly breathe out and relax yourself.

Swing your hands over your head and back. This would stretch your entire body from head to toe. While swinging your arms, try breathing deeply so as to fill your lungs.

Hold your breath for couple of seconds and twitch your anal muscles by pulling the opening of the anal as inward as possible. However, do not strain your self while twitching your anal muscles.

Slowly breath out and relax and loosen your anal muscles. At same time, swing your arms to and fro.

Repeat this exercise couple of times.

Sexuality is only one aspect of Tantric yoga exercise. Remember Tantric yoga is very much helpful than other forms of yoga and thus helps in refreshing your body and soul.

What is the origin of Tantra Yoga? Is it all linked to the Kama Sutra or is there more to it?

The origins of Tantra Yoga and the Kama Sutra date back to the Fourth Century A.D. The author of the Kama Sutra was Vatsyayana Mallanaga, who is somewhat of a mystery in the history books. There are no other traces of him to be found. He did write the world’s most famous sex manual to date.
At different points in time, ritual Tantric sex has been considered common place within certain Tantra followings. However, it is not as common place as some might think. There is also a common belief that Tantric sex is always intentionally prolonged. This is not always the case and sometimes Tantric sex takes it own natural course.

Lastly, it should be noted that the Kama Sutra might have been considered a “racy classic” at the time of its writing, and during conservative points in history. However, by today’s standards, the Kama Sutra would offend the masses much less. Some of the entertainment, at this point in time, has managed to make the public more callous than we should naturally be. Entertainment of the present day is sometimes comparable to that of the Roman coliseums in the past.

Tantra Yoga is a good example of the cycles and evolutions of morality within human history. Whether we think Tantra Yoga and the Kama Sutra are right or wrong, the current moral code will change with time, but we may not live long enough to see it.

Universal Laws in Yoga

Here are some habits to practice on your journey toward self-perfection. Always remember that you may make some mistakes along the way.

Cultivate love through acts of kindness toward family, friends, and associates. Smile at others and put your “best foot forward.” This alone will open many doors in life and make your journey a pleasant one. Take time for self analysis by observing your past, future, and present. Visualize what you can change and learn from what you cannot. Meditate, pray, and practice your breathing (Pranayama).

Selfless service for the common good is rewarding for the inner and outer self. You do not have to join a group to help others, but a group will have more ability to help than a single person. Either way, helping others will make you a better person.
Give to charity and share with others when ever it is possible. Giving to others, especially those in need is a universal law. When it is possible to help another person, we should all help.

Forgive others for their wrong doings and let go of the past. Do this for yourself and you will feel a great burden, lifted from you. Carrying a grudge and frowning all day, takes too much positive energy out of you, so leave bad feelings behind.

The following are some habits to avoid.

Avoid practicing Yoga for material gain or to acquire psychic powers. Anything of value should be used to help those you can. There is nothing wrong with earning a living or bettering yourself, but you should always help anyone you can.

As a Yoga practitioner, you are an ambassador of Yoga. An “air of superiority” should be avoided by all Yogis and Yoginis. This is seen as arrogance, and arrogance is only needed to bolster the ego. Therefore, be a diplomat, when speaking in terms of Yogic philosophy or vegetarianism.

Remember to practice Yoga as a lifestyle. Yoga is not just practiced in the ashram, in the mountains, on the beach, or behind the exclusive walls of a particular Yoga studio. Yoga can be practiced with acts of kindness, devotion to God, or in a physical practice at your own home.

Give your family, friends, and work your best efforts. Practicing Yoga is part of your life, but you should never abandon your obligations for Yoga. It is much healthier to live a full life and enjoy your family, friends, and work along the way.

We can take the right actions by practicing the following:

Meditate daily and take action to focus your thinking, when your mind becomes restless. Remember that Yoga can be practiced anytime because of its mental, spiritual, and physical components.

Tantric Sex

Believed to date back 5,000 years, Tantric sex is an ancient Eastern spiritual practice.

Like yoga or Zen, it is practiced for the purpose of enlightenment — and the philosophy transcends the bedroom into all aspects of life. In the Tantric view, sex and orgasm equal spiritual awareness at its peak.

When Shiva, male energy, and Shakti, female energy, come into a sexual union, it is believed to be the highest point of enlightenment.

We all hold the key to Tantric sex: breath.

If you can keep your body relaxed and your mind clear of the mundane, your “inner goddess or god” can be fully present. Using your breath, you can spread orgasmic energy from your genitals through your entire body. This tingling can lead to a deeper, more intimate connection with your partner.

Despite all the talk of too-good-for-words orgasm, the big “O” is not the goal of Tantra.

Instead, it’s just being in the moment and riding a wave of sensation and arousal (yours and your partner’s). If you focus on getting to one big bang at the end, you may miss out on tons of other “orgasmic joys” happening in your bodies along the way.

Tantric sex promises that in addition to fuller orgasms, women experience orgasm more quickly since they learn to become more relaxed and sensitized and men develop better control over their release, which also gives them a more fulfilling orgasm.

Prepare Privately

Create a sacred space for lovemaking
Transform your bedroom. Awaken your senses with flowers, aromatherapy oils, scented candles, fresh fruits and chocolates. Include sensual fabrics like silk — whether it’s your sheets or your lingerie.

Shake your body alive
Put on your favorite music and stand with your legs hip-width apart, relaxing your body and breathing through your mouth so that your breath travels down to your belly button.

Shake your whole body — your legs, head, butt — for one minute. Lie down, and invite your partner to come into the bedroom. You’ve opened up all these places where there’s tension and increased the sensitivity, allowing pleasure in. If you make love after doing that, it’s more likely that you’ll have a whole-body orgasm.

Then Invite Him/Her In

Breathe and rock
Sit on the bed or floor, facing your partner (you’re on his lap). Start by closing your eyes, and use your imagination to watch your breath move in and out of your body.

Start to allow your breath to go three inches below your belly button.

Begin rocking like you’re in a rocking chair, moving your chest forward as you inhale and rocking back as you exhale. Then, as you inhale and rock forward, tighten your PC (pelvic floor) muscles; relax them as you exhale and rock back.

You may start to feel sexual sensations. Stare into each other’s eyes (“soul gazing”) and breathe, rock and pulsate together. The amazing connection that you’ll feel will blow your mind. Your energy fields get together, so you’re both in the same state and are much more sensitive to each other. It’s very electric.

Share a Tantric kiss
Continue to sit on his lap and rock together — you inhaling while he’s exhaling and vice versa. As he breathes out, you’ll discover yourself breathing his breath into your body and down to your sex organs.

As you exhale, be conscious that you’re sharing all of yourself with your partner. Then kiss and share the breath. Intercourse is not even necessary because you’re so merged. Tantra is about diving deeply into desire and pleasure. If you feel good and ecstatic, then you’re on the right track.

Tantric Sex

GUIDELINES FOR A TANTRIC RITUAL

1) Both partners should begin by bathing – this will help calm and relax you. Take your time. The man is a god, the woman a goddess, so admire each other’s physical forms and use the bathing ritual to empty your mind of worldy thoughts.

2) Eat appropriate food – nourishment is especially important if you are embarking on a long Tantric session and the act of sharing and feeding each other is representative of the bond between partners. Meat, fish and honey are all genital foods in Tantra tradition and the drinking of wine is highly recommended.

3) Create a beautiful atmosphere – candles or dim light, especially violet which is believed to stimulate female sex organs (red activates male sex organs) will help to prepare your sacred space. Use an oil burner or incense sticks to harmonize your space (Sandalwood, Patchouli and Ylang Ylang combined are fabulous).

4) Anoint each other’s body with oil – again, take your time. Pure essential oils are best used (a few drops mixed with a carrier oil such as almond). For a highly-charged sexual feeling go for Sandalwood, or for a gentler effect try Geranium or Bermagot.

5) Be comfortable – you can be naked but if you start with some light-weight clothing (especially chiffon and silk colored violet/pink for women, red for men) you can discard garments as you intensify the ritual. A white sheet laid out on which you massage each other is good, as are silk scarves and feathers used for gentle stroking and caressing.

The trick is to simultaneously control breathing, mental digressions and seminal ejaculation. This is supposed to allow the semen and ovarian secretions to be absorbed back into the body.

It may seem strange to fight the body’s urge to release, but this has a lot of advantages. Apart from the most fantastic sex you’ve ever experienced, it’s supposed to be the ideal way of achieving physical and spritual well-being and if religion’s your addiction, you may find Tantra brings you closer to your god.

Keep it slow, the aim is not to waste psychic energy through orgasm but to maintain high state of sexual bliss indefinitely. If you feel yourself engulfed in the mighty urge to orgasm, hold back for as long as you can. Contrary to what many ‘new agers’ tell you, it really is okay to completely release at the close of your tantric adventure.

Sources: All over the www

STD’s & Birth Control

U.S. STD Rates on the Rise

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis infections rose again in the United States in 2006, the second year in a row that rates of these sexually transmitted bacterial infections increased.

The rate of chlamydia increased by 5.6 percent between 2005 and 2006, with more than 1 million reported chlamydia cases in 2006 — the highest number of annual U.S. cases ever for any sexually transmitted disease. According to the CDC, the reported cases of chlamydia are likely less than half the actual occurrence.

The rate of gonorrhea rose 5.5 percent in 2006, with more than 350,000 cases reported, and the rate of syphilis rose 13.8 percent, with nearly 10,000 cases.

About 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year in the U.S., almost half among people ages 15 to 24.

It is important to educate sexually active teens and young adults that safe sex practices do NOT include birth control pills. In fact, the risk of contracting an STD when on the pill, or using other hormonal contraceptives, is 35 to 50 percent higher than when using non-hormonal contraceptives, such as condoms.

It is also important to know that while many STD’s are easily treated when caught early, they can cause severe health problems if left untreated.

Chlamydia: Health Risks and Treatment

The chlamydia bacteria, for example, can trigger heart disease, in addition to lung and eye infections.

A protein on the outer coat of the bacteria mimics a protein found in your heart muscle.

Normally this molecular mimicry allows the bacterium to evade your immune system. But sometimes your immune cells are not fooled; they mount an attack against the chlamydia germs, which can be misdirected against your heart cells as if they were the enemy. So what scientists found is that you do not need to have bacterial damage to your heart in order for bacteria to cause heart disease.

Heart attack survivors may also quadruple their risk for a second coronary or other adverse cardiac problems if blood tests show evidence of infection with a form of chlamydia.

Other health problems caused by untreated chlamydia, as well as gonorrhea infections include:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Ectopic pregnancy (Pregnancy occurs OUTSIDE the uterus. The baby cannot survive).
• Infertility

Chlamydia is easily treated with antibiotics. However, it is also very important to boost your immune system with nutritional interventions.

Gonorrhea Becoming Antibiotic Resistant

As of this year, the CDC had to revise their antibiotic treatment guidelines after a sharp and rapid rise in fluoro-quinolone-resistant gonorrhea. Currently, only the cephalosporins, which are antibiotics such as Rocephin, are recommended for gonorrhea treatment.

Since treatment options are rapidly running out for this common STD, making sure you’re practicing safe sex, and maintaining a healthy immune system, would surely be the most logical option.

If left untreated, gonorrhea can lead to infertility. It can also spread to your blood or joints, which can be a life threatening condition. In addition, if you have gonorrhea you can more easily contract HIV, and HIV-infected people with gonorrhea are more likely to transmit HIV to someone else.

Syphilis – A Dangerous Imitator

The syphilis bacterium has often been called “the great imitator” because so many of its signs and symptoms are indistinguishable from those of other diseases, which makes it that more important to get properly tested for the disease at frequent intervals.

While the first two stages are marked by the appearance of small sores, followed by skin rashes or lesions, the late stages of syphilis may cause severe damage to your internal organs, including your:

• Brain
• Nerves
• Eyes
• Heart and blood vessels
• Liver
• Bones and joints

This internal damage can take years to show up.

Signs and symptoms of the late stage of syphilis include difficulty coordinating muscle movements, paralysis, numbness, gradual blindness, and dementia. It can even be serious enough to cause death.

Fortunately, syphilis is also easy to “cure” if you catch it in its early stages. A single intramuscular injection of penicillin will kill the bacteria if you’ve had syphilis for less than a year. Additional doses are needed if you’ve had syphilis for longer than a year.

It’s important to remember that the antibiotic treatment kills the syphilis bacterium and prevents further damage, but it cannot repair damage that has already been done.

What You Need to Know When Taking Antibiotics

As you can see, antibiotic treatment is the only treatment protocol currently available for these STD’s. And while they can save you from further internal damage caused by the bacteria, taking antibiotics comes at a price as well.

Simply put, antibiotics are poisons that are used to kill, and they do so quite indiscriminately, killing both good and bad bacteria at the same time.

As an adult human, you have three to four pounds of beneficial bacteria and yeast living within your intestines. These microbes compete for nutrients from the food you eat.

Usually, the strength in numbers that beneficial bacteria enjoy keeps the ever-present yeasts in check, and causes them to produce nutrients such as the B vitamins.

However, every time you swallow antibiotics, you kill the beneficial bacteria within your intestines. As your intestinal bacteria die, you upset the delicate balance of your intestinal terrain so that yeasts can grow unchecked into large colonies and take over.

Any time you take antibiotics, your friendly bacteria, which include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidus and Bulgaricus, must be replaced. Fortunately, you can easily buy these probiotics supplements at your local health food store.

According to several reports, half of all young Americans will contract a sexually transmitted disease by the age of 25 because they are either ignorant about protection options or are simply too embarrassed to ask.

Another report revealed that approximately 18.9 new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among teens aged 15 to 24 years old occurred in the year 2000. The three diseases accounting for 88 percent of new cases were genital warts, trichomoniasis, (STD caused by a parasite) and Chlamydia (bacterial STD).

How Safe is the Pill?

The birth control pill was first introduced to the American public for contraceptive use in 1960. By 2002, 11.6 million U.S. women were on the Pill, making it the nation’s leading method of contraception.

But oral contraceptives can have negative health effects. The Pill’s relationship with blood-clot risk and stroke is well-documented, and that risk increases when a woman is a smoker, particularly a smoker over age 35. In addition, studies in recent years have found that birth control pill use:

• Impairs muscle gains in young women
• Increases the risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women
• Increases the risk of cervical cancer

And the Pill may interfere with a protein that keeps testosterone unavailable for women’s physiologic needs, thus causing long-term health problems, including sexual dysfunction.

Since 2000, death rates have increased in women between the ages of 35 and 44. All other age groups, meanwhile, have seen a decline. Research on this fact cites the significant increase in the use of birth control pills as a possible contributing factor.

Eighty percent of U.S. women have used oral contraceptives, commonly referred to as “the Pill,” during their lives, according to research in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

In my opinion this is a tragedy, as the Pills’ benefit of convenience is largely outweighed by serious health risks. In fact, their long-term use will invariably increase a woman’s risk of developing serious chronic illness. Yet they are passed out like expensive candy at most gynecologists’ offices, with little regard to these potential long-term effects.

The most important thing to remember about hormonal birth control methods such as the Pill is that they are synthetic hormones. It isn’t healthy for a woman to be exposed to them.

What are You Risking if You Take the Pill?

While many drugs do provide some benefit in certain situations, birth control pills are rarely, if ever, necessary or beneficial. In exchange for the convenience of preventing pregnancy (which you can do naturally just as well, and I’ll explain how below), you are putting yourself at risk of:

• Cancer: Women who take birth control pills increase their risk of cervical and breast cancers, and possibly liver cancer as well.

• Fatal blood clots: All birth control pills increase your risk of blood clots and subsequent stroke. And if your prescription contains the synthetic hormone desogestrel, your risk of fatal blood clots nearly doubles!

• Thinner bones: Women who take birth control pills have lower bone mineral density (BMD) than women who have never used oral contraceptives.

• Impaired muscle gains: A recent study found that oral contraceptive use impairs muscle gains from resistance exercise training in women.

• Long-term sexual dysfunction: The Pill may interfere with a protein that keeps testosterone unavailable, leading to long-term sexual dysfunction including decreased desire and arousal.

• Heart disease: Long-term use of birth control pills may increase plaque artery buildups in your body that may raise your risk of heart disease.

These are the more serious, chronic health risks. On top of these, many women also report awful more immediate side effects including:

• Migraines and nausea
• Weight gain and mood changes
• Irregular bleeding or spotting
• Breast tenderness
• Yeast overgrowth and infection

Despite this long and varied list of risks, many physicians recommend the Pill because studies have shown it may lower your risk of ovarian and uterine cancers and ease the symptoms of PMS. But even a simple side-by-side comparison shows that the risks are clearly greater, particularly since using the Pill is not a necessity by any means to begin with.

If you’re using birth control pills for reasons other than birth control, such as to regulate your menstrual cycles or treat irregular bleeding, cysts or endometriosis, you are not treating your underlying dysfunction, simply covering it up with a potentially dangerous drug.

In these situations, it is essential to balance your adrenal glands, as cortisol levels modulate and control the female hormones, especially progesterone. The Pill only treats the symptoms instead of the disease, and causes its own side effects as your body continues to remain in an unhealthy state.

For those of you using the Pill for its original purpose, birth control, rest assured there are natural options for you as well.

Natural Birth Control Options That Really Work

There are two routes to take when using natural birth control, barrier methods and natural family planning methods. Using the latter, many women feel empowered and more in touch with their bodies as they learn to track and notice subtle signs of fertility and ovulation. However, although natural family planning can be very effective, it is not always foolproof, especially when you’re still learning the process.

So if preventing pregnancy is an absolute must for you, you may want to use barrier methods such as the following as well:

• Male condoms: Condoms have a 98 percent effectiveness rate when used correctly. A water-based lubricant will increase the effectiveness; do not use an oil-based lubricant, however, as they break the latex.

• Female condoms: These thin, soft polyurethane pouches fitted inside the vagina before sex are 95 percent effective. Female condoms are less likely to tear than male condoms.

• Diaphragm: Diaphragms, which must be fitted by a doctor, act as a barrier to sperm. When used correctly with spermicidal jellies, they are 92 to 98 percent effective.

• Cervical cap: This heavy rubber cap fits tightly against the cervix and can be left in place for 48 hours. Like the diaphragm, a doctor must fit the cap. Proper fitting enhances the effectiveness above 91 percent.

Many people are familiar with these barrier methods, and less familiar with natural family planning tools. Again, these are methods a woman uses to track when she is ovulating, and then avoids sex during that time (or does so only using a back-up barrier method). Of course, these tools can be used the other way around as well, to help couples who are trying to get pregnant.

Some of the most popular methods include:

• Calendar Method: Abstention from sex during the week the woman is ovulating. This technique works best when a woman’s menstrual cycle is very regular. The calendar method doesn’t work very well for couples who use it by itself (about a 75 percent success rate), but it can be effective when combined with the temperature and mucus methods described below.

• The Temperature Method: This is a way to pinpoint the day of ovulation so that sex can be avoided for a few days before and after. It involves taking your basal body temperature (your temperature upon first waking) each morning with an accurate “basal” thermometer, and noting the rise in temperature that occurs after ovulation.

Illness or lack of sleep can change your body temperature and make this method unreliable by itself, but when it is combined with the mucus method, it can be an accurate way of assessing fertility. The two methods combined can have a success rate as high as 98 percent.

• The Mucus Method: This involves tracking changes in the amount and texture of vaginal discharge, which reflect rising levels of estrogen in your body. For the first few days after your period, there is often no discharge, but there will be a cloudy, tacky mucus as estrogen starts to rise. When the discharge starts to increase in volume and becomes clear and stringy, ovulation is near. A return to the tacky, cloudy mucus or no discharge means that ovulation has passed.

Contraception: Five Important Facts That You Need to Know

Close to 39 million U.S. women use some form of contraception with female sterilization, the birth control pill and the condom being the most widely used methods in the United States. Other methods include hormonal injections, implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and the birth control patch.

The different contraception methods act in very different ways and can be broken down as follows:

Barrier Methods: This method works by physically preventing the sperm from reaching the egg. It includes condoms (and female condoms), the diaphragm, the cervical cap and the sponge, which is not currently on the market.

Hormonal Methods: Typically, hormonal birth control methods work by releasing estrogen and progestin into the body, preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs. They also thicken cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to enter the uterus. There are a wide variety of hormonal methods on the market including oral birth control pills, implants (Norplant), hormone shots like Depo-Provera, a vaginal ring called NuvaRing, and a contraceptive hormone patch worn on the skin.

Spermicides: This method involves a chemical that kills or disables sperm so that it cannot cause pregnancy. It comes in many different forms: foam, jelly, cream, film, and suppositories.

Intrauterine Devices (IUDs): This is a small, plastic, T-shaped stick with a string attached to the end. The IUD is placed inside the uterus and prevents sperm from joining with an egg. It does this by making the sperm unable to go into the egg and by changing the lining of the uterus.

Natural Family Planning: In this method, a woman uses various techniques to determine when she is fertile during the month. By avoiding sexual intimacy, or using a backup method, during the window of fertility, pregnancy can be avoided. Techniques include the ovulation method, the symptothermal method, which is a combination of the ovulation method and monitoring of body temperature, and monitoring saliva with the Ovu-Tech magnification lens.

If you use contraception, the decision of which method to use can be overwhelming and it seems that most women are not adequately informed of their options. For instance, most doctors who see women about contraceptive concerns underestimate the effectiveness of natural family planning options and rarely or never mention them . Many women–more than 16 million U.S. women choose birth control pills as their preferred method–turn to birth control pills as a result because they are not aware that there are safer options available.

Lemons for Birth Control?

After investigating traditional contraceptive techniques, an eminent Australian-based scientist has proved that lemon juice diluted five to one with water kills HIV and sperm within seconds.

Roger Short’s findings will be made public in a scientific paper read at The Ninth International Symposium on Spermatology at the University of the Western Cape next week.

Symposium convener Professor Gerhard van der Horst is excited by the discovery of a cheap, universally available, non-technical way to block HIV transmission, and describes Short’s paper as “a milestone”.

A woman whose husband insists on “nyama to nyama” can protect herself against HIV transmission with a small sponge and watered-down lemon juice, perhaps leaving him none the wiser. Men may also anoint themselves with the acidic juice to prevent transmission.

The abstract of the paper says: “Historically, lemon juice on a sponge, or half a lemon placed over the cervix, was widely used as an effective contraceptive. We have shown that 20% lemon juice (final concentration) in human semen irreversibly immobilizes 100% of sperm in less than 30 seconds. A similar concentration also rapidly inactivates HIV. Thus intra-vaginal lemon juice might provide a cheap, readily available and extremely effective way of stopping the sexual transmission of HIV, whilst also providing contraception.”

The paper refers to additional strategies, including circumcision for men, which more than halves the risk of HIV infection. The virus appears to enter the penis via specific HIV-receptive Langerhans cells on the inner surface of the foreskin. The vagina has its own Langerhans cells that are also the main entry point for HIV in women.

Thickening the vaginal epithelium by estrogen administration could provide cheap, safe and effective HIV protection for women, but drug firms are not interested, says Short.

Based at the University of Melbourne, Short is also professor-at-large at Cornell University in the United States, and a visiting fellow of Green College, Oxford. His career began in England at Cambridge in 1956. He was co-editor and principal author of the eight-volume Reproduction in Mammals published by Cambridge University Press from 1972 onward, which was translated into six languages.

The lemon juice breakthrough is not the first scientific bombshell he has lobbed. He was part of the Cambridge University team that crossed a camel with a llama in Dubai. He also co-authored a physiological study presenting strong evidence that the elephant was an aquatic mammal in an earlier evolutionary phase. He has published more than 300 scientific papers and, with Dr Malcolm Potts, wrote a bestseller aimed at the layman: Ever Since Adam and Eve: The Evolution of Human Sexuality (1999).

Short’s interest in the transmission of HIV infection arose naturally from his research activities of the past 20 years, which focused on contraception, the evolution of human reproduction and the causes of the Earth’s overpopulation.

These are the types of therapies I love — inexpensive, completely natural and no side effects. While this method is appealing on many levels it would certainly seem that this approach needs careful scrutiny as to its effectiveness.

However, one variation of the above might be to use half of a lemon and scoop out some of the insides but retain some of the actual lemon and juice and use it as a “cap” to actually cover the cervix. Not only would this serve as a barrier to the sperm from actually entering the uterus, but, as the article above suggests, the lemon juice appears to act as an effective spermicidal agent.

Until further data is in, it seems like this approach is safe enough and potentially effective enough to considering if you pregnancy avoidance is not an absolute must.

Sexual Healing

Is Sex a Blessing or a Curse?

For so much of human history, most people were confused as to whether sex was a blessing or a curse. In the intimacy of a sexual encounter with another, our nakedness is far more than physical. Our basic drives and instincts are fully exposed. Perhaps it’s one of the rare times when a person becomes completely authentic.

The experience of sexual orgasm, I’m certain you’ll agree, is a here-and-now event. You’re not “past-ing” or “futuring,” you’re absolutely in the moment. Hence, here lies a deep and potent pull, as strong as the biological attraction it offers.

Biologically speaking, we are simply here to pass on our genes and die when we can no longer fulfill our evolutionary job, but that is not all that sex has to be about. Sex should be a joyous, fun, adventure and a good sex life also has some awesome health benefits!

I once read an article where a religious devotee spoke about his view of procreation. He was candid and openly told stated that he and his wife had sex through a sheet so that they would never allow their eyes to behold the shame of nakedness. He wasn’t joking. For him, sex was a necessary curse. I personally concluded that such ideas about sex were tragic and unnecessarily guilt-generating.

For this man, sex was indeed a curse because our mental states have more power over how our glands secrete hormones than we often think. There are, for example, numerous psychological case studies of people who, after observing a tragic incident to which they have strong emotional ties, experience a sudden loss of sight.

So could strong negative emotions involving sex actually lead to impotency? Is there any connection between seeing sex as a curse (in other words, believing that sexual pleasure is a vice) and the presence of abnormal hormone levels that lessen desire?

That would be “convenient,” especially for one who has been conditioned to accept sex as a necessary sin.

I recall a cartoon of two elderly men sitting on a park bench as a hot, sexy woman walks past. One says to the other, “Remember when we used to chase after that?” His friend replies, “Yes, but for the life of me I can’t remember why!”

Senility, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, decline of lean muscle mass, and those little fat bellies that men carry around as they race to find somewhere to urinate seem to be the plagues of the day.

While men are worried about prostate cancer, women fear breast cancer and similar woes associated with aging and decline in sexual function.

However, a decline in sexual function can occur at any age when guilt, shame, and the concept of sin enter the emotional scene.

Why? It’s very simple: Negative emotions create anxiety and tension, which can override biological function even in healthy people.

Health and lifestyle also play a large role in sexual vigor.

If you have peripheral vascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, low testosterone levels, or over- or under-active thyroid hormone production or if you’re taking certain medications, then any or all of these could lead to a frustrated sex life or none at all.

Add to this high alcohol and tobacco consumption and you might wish you’d never heard of sex. Why? Because using these substances can also lead to sexual problems. High alcohol consumption affects sexual function because it sedates the nervous system, which is of course heightened during sexual excitement.

Smoking interferes negatively with the vascular dilation required for an erection. Both lead to diminished performance and thus contribute to related psychological issues, since frustration can lead to anger, guilt, and fear of intimacy.

The only difference between healthy, fully functioning youthful humans and old, decrepit humans who’ve lost their zest for life is their hormone levels. The blessing of restoring those levels can come through reigniting sexual desire, and the restoration of sexual function is a health option available to all.

By age sixty-five, men generally have half the testosterone level they had when they were twenty. Women experience hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and aging skin as their youthful hormones decline.

It’s a function of aging. Nature realizes that once your hormone levels decline from youthful procreative levels, you (like all animals at a certain point) are no longer needed for evolution. Are you thinking, “Now wait a minute! I’m not ready to give up yet!” Good!

Both men and women should eat less fat and strive to lower their cholesterol. (Swollen prostate glands are filled with cholesterol.) Everyone should eat more raw vegetables–especially the cruciferous kind, like broccoli, kale, and cabbage–and avoid excess of red meat and dairy foods. And don’t forget to exercise. Also, never underestimate the need for humor in your life. With the right attitude, sex can be a wondrous blessing, not a curse.

Kissing

The kiss may have evolved for reasons that are far more practical – and less alluring – than previously thought.

British scientists believe it developed to spread germs.

They say that the uniquely human habit allows a bug/virus that is dangerous in pregnancy to be passed from man to woman to give her time to build up immunity.

Cytomegalovirus, which lurks in saliva, normally causes no problems. But it can be extremely dangerous if caught while pregnant and can kill unborn babies or cause birth defects. These can include problems ranging from deafness to cerebral palsy.

Writing in the journal Medical Hypotheses, researcher Dr Colin Hendrie from the University of Leeds said: “Female inoculation with a specific male’s cytomegalovirus is most efficiently achieved through mouth-to-mouth contact and saliva exchange, particularly where the flow of saliva is from the male to the typically shorter female.”

Kissing the same person for about six months provides optimum protection, he added. As the relationships progresses and the kisses become more passionate, her immunity builds up.

Previously scientists have claimed that kissing acts as a form of evolutionary quality control, with saliva holding clues to fertility, health and genes.
Although not as romantic a notion as we might like, the theory that kissing may have a far more important biological function than the pleasure of bonding makes sense.

Sharing germs through kissing, prior to pregnancy, which allows the woman to develop natural immunity that protects the couple’s offspring, is a simple and elegant solution against a potentially devastating infection.

The Curious Biology of Sexual Attraction and Lasting Love

Needless to say, the reason why we kiss is not the only area of human sexuality that has been explored by researchers. Virtually every nook and cranny of sexuality and procreation has been investigated, to find out the elusive reasons for why you do what you do.

Pheromones, for example, likely set the stage for the “immunity-building” exercise of kissing. Because without the right chemical signals, you probably wouldn’t get around to kissing in the first place.

Pheromones are chemical signals that animals secrete to communicate their gender or reproductive status to other animals – and humans are no exception.

Even though you don’t consciously recognize the smell of pheromones, these chemicals likely play a role in helping you find a suitable partner.

For example, if you’ve ever found yourself inexplicably attracted to a stranger you’ve just met, it could very well be their chemical signals that you find irresistible. Humans tend to be attracted to those with a dissimilar genetic make-up to themselves, which is signaled by subtle odors. This ensures genetic diversity for the species.

Researchers have actually confirmed the presence of a “secret sex nerve” (Nerve “O”), which has endings in your nasal cavity. Nerve O’s fibers go directly to the sexual regions of your brain, and because Nerve O bypasses the olfactory cortex, it does not register a conscious smell, but rather identifies chemical sexual cues.

Interestingly, this biological strategy designed to ensure healthy offspring and a diversified gene pool, has been artificially altered through modern medicine, with the invention of the contraceptive pill.

As it turns out, pregnant women are drawn to people with a similar chemical makeup. And when a woman takes a hormonal contraceptive, her body believes, in a sense, that she is pregnant even though she’s not.

This hormonal alteration causes her to become unconsciously attracted to men with a similar, rather than different, chemical makeup. Unfortunately, couples who have high levels of chemicals in common are more likely to encounter fertility issues, miscarriage, and even infidelity.

It could even explain the inexplicable – why so many people have such a hard time maintaining long-term attraction, and staying “in love”… Because according to researchers, odor perception also plays a significant role in maintaining attraction to partners.

Chemical signals like pheromones are, in fact, constantly at work in your environment, but they are not only about sexuality. For instance:

• Women who sniffed fear-induced sweat became more mentally alert and intelligent, according to a study in Chemical Senses.

• Studies have shown that women can pick a T-shirt worn by their infant from a pile of T-shirts. Babies also respond to the breast pads worn by their own mothers, but not to those worn by other women.

• The smell of other women’s perspiration causes women’s menstrual cycles to speed up or slow down. This helps explain why women who live together often menstruate at the same time each month.

What about Pheromone-Enriched “Love Potions”?

In recent years, pheromones have become quite trendy, and they’re now showing up in perfumes and colognes that promise to make you more sexually attractive.

Do they work?

Well, some studies have actually found that people wearing these scents are more interesting to the opposite sex, but this could simply be a placebo effect, where the person believes they will be more attractive, and therefore are.

Plus, I would caution against wearing any synthetic perfume or cologne, as they’re almost always loaded with synthetic chemicals that have been linked to cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies and more.

When the woman stops taking the contraceptive pill, she again becomes more attracted to people with a dissimilar genetic blueprint from her own. So, the level of attraction felt to a specific person while on the pill may change once she stops taking the pill.

Finding a partner who is chemically different from yourself appears to give you the best chance of reproducing successfully, and enjoying continual attraction to each other, without infidelity.

For some people this may be enough to reconsider the pill, but there are even more important reasons to avoid birth control pills. Birth control pills alter many chemical signals in your body, which is the real reason why I strongly suggest that women avoid birth control pills like the plague and seek out natural family planning methods instead.

The Neurological Roots of Sexual Pleasure

Sexual desire, as well as orgasm are controlled by various influences on the brain and nervous system. Researchers have revealed many similarities between men and women; contrary to popular belief, for example, visual stimuli spur sexual stirrings in both.

Brain imaging studies show that achieving orgasm involves far more than merely heightened arousal. It requires a release of inhibitions, culminating in a shutdown of the brain’s center of vigilance in both sexes, and a widespread neural power failure in women.

Sexual desire and orgasm are far from simple issues that can be resolved by taking hormones or popping a pill that will turn your world into varying shades of blue. There are a host of influences on your brain and nervous system that control your sex glands and genitals, and some of those influences are your very thoughts themselves.

Anxiety, defensiveness, fear, and failure of communication are destructive psychological forces that can take a heavy toll on your libido, whether you’re a man or a woman, by acting as road blocks to desire. Fear and anxiety need to be avoided at all costs if a woman wishes to have an orgasm.

It All Starts in Your Brain

Every erection begins in your brain. Your brain stem emits nerve impulses that control erectile function. These nerve impulses navigate through the erection center of your spinal column to the erectile tissue of your penis, where they trigger a chain reaction in the membranes of your vascular muscle cells. This sophisticated chain reaction is dependent on a messenger molecule called cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP.

However, this works in reverse as well; an erection softens as soon as another enzyme called phosphor-diester-ase starts to degrade the cGMP molecules.

Drugs like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis, work by inhibiting phos-pho-di-esterase, which may help maintain your erection. But, these pills will not create an erection in and of themselves. Your initial erection still has to be triggered psychologically. Without that initial impetus, potency pills will have no effect whatsoever.

This is also why these pills are ineffective for many men who take them hoping for a magic jack-in-the-box effect.

Bigger, Better, Longer, Stronger – The Myths That Make Reality Shrivel

The pressures of “performance and potency” itself is a large contributor to impotence, and this theme is pushed continually in advertising, whether related to sexual potency drugs or the latest razor or even a damn cheeseburger!

Studies have shown that most men with potency problems believe in these advertised myths. Many of these men engage in what he called “spectatoring,” in which the man gets stuck in observing and assessing the sexual situation as if he’s an outsider, rating the woman’s expectations and what he can deliver.

And then there’s stress. But it’s not necessarily the type of stress typically portrayed by the media. Turns out the problem is rarely the work stress itself, but rather it’s a transference of work performance standards to your sex life. Approaching your sex life with that same attitude; feeling pressured to perform to certain standards, can turn the act of love making into another grueling task that must be completed, and completed well.

Scientific Research is Not Altruistic

All this research into the mechanics of your love life is not done for some altruistic purpose. Scientists don’t necessarily care about figuring this out in order to help you understand yourself better and improve your life.

This research is done to create medications that act on your nervous system to stimulate desire, which, I believe is a travesty to love and sex. And just one way that those who want to control us, do so! They control the air we breathe, the food we eat, the supplements that we take and they try to control the survival of our species through eugenics, birth control and making sex seem sterile and cold on one hand and then dirty and raunchy, sinful on the other! They are the operators of many of the porn sites, including child porn and then they turn around and point their fingers at you for being a filthy depraved human being if you look at what they put up! They have led women to believe that they don’t have to act or look feminine, and that being a mom is a horrible thing; They have worked diligently to make women believe that the selling of your body is how you are in control, how you have become above men, when it is the exact opposite. Please tell me how taking your clothes off for a paycheck has put you in control? You are still owned, you just get paid for it now.

Guys, for you they make it seem like the cool thing to do in disrespecting women and thinking of them as nothing more than eye candy or property. They get you excited and worked up by looking at something sexual especially via the internet, so you ‘take care of business’ by yourself and feel you have no need to actually have a competent partner and PROCREATE! To pass on your genes and help insure the survival of the species. Now I’m not against masturbation, it can be a very healthy thing to do and has its benefits! But, if you are in a committed relationship, you shouldn’t be wasting all your ‘moves’ on yourself! Share them with your partner! Isn’t that one of the reasons you have a partner to begin with?

Instead of dealing with your emotional and psychological issues that are blocking you from connecting with and feeling desire for your partner, you may soon be able to take a pill that removes the very act of needing to feel anything.

One such experimental compound already under development is a peptide called bre-mela-no-tide. It works by blocking receptors in your brain that are involved in regulating basic drives such as eating and sex. In human studies bremelanotide has triggered spontaneous erections in men, and boosted sexual arousal and desire in women.

Side effects? Rising blood pressure, for starters.

As convenient as these drugs may appear, impotence drugs contribute to infertility, heart problems and can even blind you. And taking synthetic hormones in hopes of putting the spring back into your step causes all sorts of terrible health problems too.

Side Effects

Since being approved in March 2000 by the FDA, a total 130 Americans have died resulting from the complications and side effects cause my Viagra – 77 from coronary heart problems such as heart attacks. Others have suffered strokes and non-fatal heart attacks as a direct result of using Viagra.

Pharmaceutical companies warn men not to take Viagra without a prescription from a doctor because of the many risks, especially for men taking nitroglycerin, which is a heart drug that lowers high blood pressure.

The British Medical Journal reports cases of men taking Viagra who maintained painful erections for up to 24 hours after ejaculation this complication is called priapism and I couldn’t imagine the horror that must caused by this. This totally unnatural occurrence is so dangerous that it can actually damage the tiny valves in the penis veins, leading to permanent impotence. This condition would be more likely to strike young men in their prime who do not need Viagra but take more as a sexual performance enhancer than men who truly suffer from impotence.

Because of its affects a person’s vision the inability to distinguish between blue and green, pilots are prohibited from taking it for 12 hours before flying. The last thing on earth you want to happen is to be stuck on a plane with 500 people which crashed all because the pilot couldn’t differentiate the colors on the control panel in the cockpit because he popped a Viagra.

CBS News analyzed four years of Viagra adverse events reported to the FDA. There were eye problems in more than 800 patients with more than 140 cases of partial or total blindness. These reports alone aren’t proof of a direct link, but, experts look to them for patterns.

The FDA asked manufacturers of Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra to revise product labeling after a very small number of patients taking the PDE5 inhibitors reported sudden hearing loss, sometimes accompanied by ringing in the ears and dizziness.

Pounding headaches, which are caused by the surge of blood to the meninges (the sheath protecting the brain) is just another of the many side-effect that are caused by Viagra. Other side effect that affect about 10% of men are blurred vision, a decrease tolerance to bright lights, stomach upset, nasal congestion, diarrhea and urinary tract infection. Facial flushing where the blood vessels to the face dilate causing redness is also considered to be quite common.

Viagra can leave men unable to achieve erections without its use, thus creating life-long Dependence!

Getting Your Sex Life Back on Track the Natural Way

Did you know that boosting your sex drive may be as easy as cutting out sugar?

According to a study published last year in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, high levels of sugar in your bloodstream can turn off the gene that controls your sex hormones.

Simple sugars (glucose and fructose), are metabolized in your liver, with the excess stored as fat lipids. Excess fat synthesis in turn deactivates your SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) gene, causing your levels of SHBG protein to drop dramatically, and it is this SHBG protein that controls your testosterone and estrogen levels.

There’s no end to the negative health ramifications of eating too much sugar!

Other ways to help get your sex life back on track (and improve your health as a happy side effect!) include these natural alternatives to treating sexual dysfunction:

• The neurotransmitter that triggers the sexual message, in both men and women, is acetylcholine (ACH). With too little ACH, sexual activity goes down. One way to safely and effectively enhance ACH levels in your body is to take choline supplements (1,000-3,000 mg) and vitamin B5 (500-1,500 mg).
• Studies have shown active men who engage in regular physical activity lowered their risk of experiencing sexual dysfunction. So start an exercise program guys! Remember, when using exercise as a drug, it’s important to set a goal of 60 to 90 minutes per day, every day. Obviously, depending on your current condition, you may need to work slowly up to this level.
• Optimize your diet based on your body’s unique nutritional type. We each have a unique nutritional type with varying demands for the ratios of macronutrients (fats, proteins and carbohydrates) to function optimally. This is why you may respond well to a low-carb diet while your friend on the same exact diet might not.

Sexual Orgasm Increases Longevity

Having regular (and enthusiastic) sex confers a host of measurable physiological advantages to both men and women.

In one of the most credible studies tracking overall health with sexual frequency, the mortality of roughly 1,000 middle-aged men was tracked over the course of a decade.

Men who reported the highest frequency of orgasm experienced half the death rate. Other studies have correlated frequency of sex with, among other benefits:

• An improved sense of smell
• A reduced risk of heart disease
• Weight loss and overall fitness
• Reduced depression
• Pain relief
• Less-frequent colds and flu
• Better bladder control

In physiological terms, women experience no possibility of “overdosing” and experience no dangers from too much sex. Men, however, can damage their penile tissue with too much rough or forceful sex, especially now that drugs such as Viagra and Levitra can allow for more staying power.

Having sexual intercourse on a regular basis with a willing partner is a healthier option for both of you, versus abstinence.

New pick-up phrase:
Do you want to prolong your life tonight?

If you’re having a problem in that part of your life, please don’t fall for the hype behind sexual dysfunction medications.

As convenient as they appear, impotence drugs contribute to infertility, heart problems and can even blind you. And taking synthetic hormones in hopes of putting the spring back into your step causes all sorts of terrible health problems too.

Nine Health Benefits of Sex

A good sex life is one way to stay happy, healthy and fit.

For example, sex can actually cause you to get fewer colds. Research has shown that couples who have sex weekly have a 30 percent increase in immunoglobulin A, an antibody that fights infection. Sex can also help women have a more predictable period schedule, as a result of being exposed to male pheromones.

In addition, having sex reduces stress — for physiological as well as emotional reasons. Sex activates a nerve that has a calming effect. Having sex also lowers blood pressure, which reduces the risk of heart disease.

Sex can even reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol!

Having sex once a week can benefit your health. They are:

1. Get fewer colds because of an increase in immunoglobulin A, an antibody that fights infection
2. Women can get more predictable periods because of exposure to male pheromones
3. A better physical response to stress
4. Lower blood pressure, which lowers your risk of heart disease
5. Lower your bad cholesterol and increase your good cholesterol
6. Help tone your abs, gluts and pretty much any muscle in your body
7. Natural increases in estrogen improve the appearance of your hair, skin and nails
8. Improve your memory because blood flow increases to your brain
9. Increased feelings of motivation because of the release of endorphins

And this is actually only the tip of the iceberg. Sex has also been found to boost self-esteem and improve intimacy in your relationship. This is because sex and orgasms result in increased levels of the hormone oxytocin — the “love” hormone — that helps you feel bonded to your partner.

As oxytocin increases, so do hormones known as endorphins, which in turn lessens feelings of pain related to everything from headaches and arthritis to symptoms of PMS. It can also help you to get a better night’s sleep.

Further, for women, having sex can help strengthen muscles of your pelvic floor (the same ones used to stop urination). As you age, having strong pelvic floor muscles reduces your risk of accidents.

Of course, these benefits are assuming you’re having sex with a mutually monogamous partner — otherwise you risk catching a sexually transmitted disease.

How to Improve Your Sexual Desire Naturally

If you’d like to take advantage of some of the health benefits that regular sexual activity has to offer, yet find that your desire just isn’t what it used to be, there are many natural tips that can help.

One of the first ones I recommend — again because sexual dysfunction can worsen due to stress and anxiety — is taking control of your emotions by learning the Meridian Tapping Technique (MTT) can really help.

MTT is a technique that can help you effectively address your stress-related thoughts and leave you feeling calmer and more able to face your challenges, whatever they may be.

Your sexual fires may also be fanned simply by eating less sugar. High levels of sugar in your bloodstream can actually turn off the gene that controls your sex hormones.

Other tips to give your libido a big-time boost include:

1. Getting physically active. Studies have shown that men who engaged in regular physical activity lowered their risk of experiencing sexual dysfunction.
2. Optimizing your diet based on your body’s unique nutritional type. We each have a unique nutritional type with varying demands for the ratios of macronutrients (fats, proteins and carbohydrates) to function optimally. When you’re eating the foods your body was designed to eat, you’ll notice improvements in every aspect of your health.
3. Optimizing your vitamin D and insulin levels, as these simple measures have profound influences on every area of your health, including your sex life.
4. Considering choline and vitamin B5 supplements. The neurotransmitter that triggers the sexual message, in both men and women, is acetylcholine (ACH). With too little ACH, sexual activity goes down. One way to safely and effectively enhance ACH levels in your body is to take choline supplements (1,000-3,000 mg) and vitamin B5 (500-1,500 mg).

Sex and BPA Don’t Mix

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is found in microwave containers, baby bottles, laptops, and even canned foods. Tiny amounts circulate in the bodies of more than 90 percent of Americans.

A team of scientists says it has linked BPA to sexual dysfunction in men. BPA is a form of artificial estrogen that can disrupt your endocrine system, where hormone signals like estrogen and testosterone subtly influence the behavior of cells throughout your body.

Researchers looked at workers in four factories in China where large quantities of BPA are generated. Higher BPA exposures resulted in four times the rate of erectile dysfunction of the men who didn’t work there. They also complained about ejaculation problems seven times as much, and overall, they were four times as likely to be disappointed with their sex life.

Too Much Sugar Kills Your Sex Life

High levels of sugar in your bloodstream can turn off the gene that controls your sex hormones.

The simple sugars, glucose and fructose, are metabolized in your liver, with the excess stored as fat lipids. Excess fat synthesis deactivates your SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) gene, causing your levels of SHBG protein to drop dramatically, and it is this SHBG protein that controls your testosterone and estrogen levels.

Too little SHBG protein means your body will produce too much testosterone and estrogen, which increases your chances of acne, infertility, polycystic ovaries, uterine cancer, and heart disease.

Low levels of SHBG in a person’s blood means the liver’s metabolic rate is out of whack – because of inappropriate diet or something that‘s inherently wrong with the liver – long before there are any disease symptoms.

There is a new study that challenges the previous conventional thought that high levels of insulin are to blame for the drop in SHBG, and that it’s actually the liver’s metabolism of sugar that counts.

I’ve been advocating ridding your diet of sugar for years now as it is one of the most powerful single physical actions you can take for your health. New evidence of sugar’s devastating health effects keep rolling in at regular intervals, adding to the previous consensus.

Table sugar is made of glucose and fructose, also known as simple sugars, and limiting sugar in your diet is a well-known key to longevity. Your blood glucose levels actually rise slightly every time you eat. This is natural.

However, the average American now eats about 2.5 pounds of sugar every WEEK, which is far from natural. With this kind of diet, your blood glucose levels may very likely become excessively elevated, and stay that way.

It is a well-proven fact that sugar increases your insulin and leptin levels, and decreases receptor sensitivity for both of these vital hormones.

This can lead to:

• High blood pressure and high cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Weight gain
• Premature aging

Controlling your insulin levels is one of the most important things you can do to optimize your overall health, and avoiding sugar is essential to doing this.

However, what many people forget is that there are other sources of sugar, many of which are far more predominant in your diet than table sugar.

Don’t Forget About these “Hidden” Sources of Sugar!

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is present in virtually all processed foods, not just soda (which is now the number one source of calories in the United States). A quick look at the labels of the foods you have in your pantry; from crackers, to jams, to fruit juices and processed meat products, will give you an idea of just how widespread the use of this dangerous sweetener really is.

Part of what makes HFCS such an unhealthy product is that it is metabolized to fat in your body far more rapidly than any other sugar, and, because most fructose is consumed in liquid form, its negative metabolic effects are significantly magnified. Despite this fact, the delusion that fructose is an acceptable form of sugar is quite prevalent in many nutritional circles.

HFCS has also been linked to:

• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Metabolic Syndrome

Adding insult to injury, nearly all the corn that the high fructose corn syrup is metabolized from comes from genetically modified corn, which is fraught with its own well-documented side effects and health concerns.

And, lastly, although not as dangerous as sugar or HFCS, high-carbohydrate foods in the form of flour, grains, legumes, fruit, milk and starchy-vegetables also put a dent in your health.

In fact, most age-related diseases could best be described as “Excessive Carbohydrate Consumption Syndrome,” because the scientific evidence is clear; foods high in carbohydrates turn to glucose, which raises your metabolism and trigger the release of disease-causing hormones like insulin, cortisol and adrenaline.

Keeping your metabolism low is key for long life and optimal health. A high metabolism excites hormones in your body that eventually cause age-related diseases.

The pathogenic effects of carbohydrates are slow, but sure. The “20-year rule” was coined to describe the length of time between the start of the high-carbohydrate diet and the onset of disease. The number of diseases, severity and time to develop is directly related to the percentage of carbohydrates in your diet.

One reason for this is that carbohydrates displace essential protein and essential fats in your diet, which causes a double health reversal. The carbohydrates themselves cause disease, and the deficiency of protein and fats contribute or cause other diseases.

The consumption of carbohydrates generally begins showing the disease effects in either one of two directions.

• Body fat accumulation leads to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, gallbladder disease, degenerative bone diseases and many others.
• Damage to the intestinal tract leads to leaky gut syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases and a medical textbook listing of autoimmune diseases. These illnesses generally make the sufferer underweight and deficient in vitamins and minerals caused by poor digestion.

Avoid Getting Caught Up in Whole Grain Myth

Many people are surprised to learn that even whole grains can cause disease in both humans and animals. While whole grains are clearly superior to processed ones, they ultimately still break down relatively rapidly, and raise your insulin levels. About 15% of the population actually does well with them, but if you are one of the 85% of the population that struggles with insulin issues like being overweight, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, then you will want to radically limit your consumption of whole grains.

Whole grain breads and bagels are not the healthy foods that people are led to believe. All grains have high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, which are pro-inflammatory. Grains are a poor source of protein, and they are also the most allergenic of all foods.

How to Kick the Sugar Habit

Sugar can in fact be MORE addictive than cocaine, which would help explain why it’s so hard to just quit indulging in it. The sugar industry seems well aware of this fact, running a shrewd, well-oiled machine that will hook your children on their product right out of the cradle, if you let them.

5 Natural Ways to Boost Your Sex Drive

Here are some ways to boost your desire without the nasty side effects of drugs:

1. Exercise: Aerobic workouts improve blood flow to sex organs, and they can also boost your mood, pumping up “feel good” brain chemicals called endorphins. The increase in testosterone levels that arrives about one hour after working out can also leave you feeling sexier.

2. Relax: Too much stress increases the stress hormone cortisol, which causes testosterone to plummet.

3. Add a Little Novelty: Recent research shows that partaking in new and challenging experiences with your partner can boost the brain chemical dopamine, which helps fuel sex drive. This doesn’t even need to be in the bedroom — anything new is a good idea.

4. Consider Some Non-Drug Remedies: Ginkgo biloba has been used to treat sexual dysfunction. Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) could be useful, since it’s critical for the manufacture of sex hormones in the adrenal glands. Choline may help to enhance levels of acetylcholine, a brain chemical that sends sexual impulses from your brain to your sex organs.

5. Inhale: Certain scents are known to be attractive, including the sweat of your partner.

About 40 percent of U.S. women report having sexual dysfunction, according to a new study in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Yet, of them only 12 percent said they were distressed by the problems. So while everyone, both women and men, deserves to have a fulfilling sex life, turning the problem into a medical one that needs “treatment” may be a bit of a stretch.

Case in point, this U.S. News & World Report article brings up the testosterone patch called Intrinsa, which is supposed to increase sex drive and satisfaction in women after menopause. A just-released study in the New England Journal of Medicine, which by the way was funded by Procter & Gamble, the maker of the patch, showed that the patch did appear to increase libido in some women.

Well, that wasn’t the only thing that increased. Some of the women also reported unwanted hair growth on their face and chest, and there is concern that the patch may also increase the risk of breast cancer.

Fortunately, you don’t have to risk unpleasant and serious drug side effects to enjoy intimacy, as sexual pleasure has nothing at all to do with a pill.

Stressful Events Made Easier by Making Love

According to a study on the impact of sex on stress, as measured by blood pressure levels in stressful situations, sexual intercourse may be one of the best ways to calm your nerves.

Keeping Track

Researchers asked nearly 50 men and women to maintain diaries for two weeks regarding how often they experienced full blown intercourse, masturbation, or sexual activity that excluded intercourse.

Afterward, patients were given tests measuring their stress levels involving public speaking and solving math problems aloud.

Effect Lasts a Week

Those who had intercourse enjoyed the most relief, as their blood pressure levels normalized faster than the other groups. And, that beneficial effect lasted for at least a week. People who had abstained from any kind of sex, however, had the highest blood pressure response to stress.

Seems clear that healthy sexual relationships can be a powerful way to get rid of the jitters before that big business meeting. One possible reason for the effect could be the release of the “pair bonding” hormone oxytocin.

But what do you do if you’re not in a committed relationship?

Health Benefits of Masturbation

The “Sinful” Activity that Can Prolong Your Life

Masturbation is one of those words and one of those acts that cause people to feel uncomfortable. This is hardly justified. Significant percentages of men and women masturbate on a daily basis. Some studies have found that up to 94% of men and 89% of women have masturbated in their lives.

Despite what some are attempting to inform youths of otherwise in an era of increasing abstinence-only programs, masturbation is a healthy act that can produce a number of health benefits in both males and females.

At its most basic level, masturbation serves to reduce stress and sexual tension. Humans don’t go into heat at certain points of the year like other mammals, so starting with puberty we have a lot of bottled-up sexual energy year-round. People can’t exactly just leap on someone they’re attracted to and take out their pent-up sexual frustration on them.

Well, they can, but it’s called rape and it’s a despicable thing indeed. What’s the alternative when there’s not a consenting partner to help you to release your sexual tension? Well, of course masturbation is the answer.

Masturbating and achieving orgasm can cause all that sexual tension to be released in a controlled way and provide you with blocks of time in which you can be more focused, productive, and relaxed. Relaxation is a benefit that many stressed-out people in America could sorely use.

One of the most fundamental health benefits of masturbation is that it feels good. The reason behind this is because sexual stimulation and orgasm release endorphins in the body. Endorphins are natural chemicals produced by the body that give a feeling of well-being and elation after periods of exertion.

Two of the best ways to release endorphins are exercise and sexual activity. In the absence of actual sex, masturbation serves the same purpose of releasing endorphins and improving mood. In women, masturbation can help to relieve cramps associated with menstruation.

With both sexes, regular masturbation can help combat insomnia by lowering blood pressure and increasing relaxation through the release of endorphins.

Masturbation can be considered a light form of exercise, since it can burn a few calories during a session. It might not amount to much or shave ten pounds off you in a week, but what other exercise is as enjoyable as sexual exercise?

In any case, masturbation has cardiovascular health benefits. It helps relieve muscle tension through orgasm, in which muscles tense and then release. This helps to improve blood flow in the human body. Lowered blood pressure helps to relieve headaches and muscle aches throughout the body and masturbation can help you attain it.

Finally, masturbation helps improve sex. By being accustomed to your level of arousal and stimulation during a sex act, you can have better control over your performance.

Masturbation is one of the best ways to practice better sex. With enough practice, you will be able to coordinate your pleasure with your partner’s pleasure and make sex better for the both of you.

Orgasm control, improved stimulation, endurance- you name a sexual health benefit and masturbation will help you achieve it.

I suppose masturbation will always have a stigma attached to it because a certain group of people think that touching your body is sinful or obscene. I’m not too concerned, since they’ll be the ones not reaping the health benefits of a benign human urge.

There is a piece of history that I always keep close to my heart. Reverend Sylvester Graham, a nineteenth-century minister and inventor of the graham cracker spent much of his adult life crusading against what he believed to be the evils of masturbation.

He suffered a nervous breakdown and died at the age of 57.

The health benefits of masturbation

Generally speaking, women have been socialized to believe our sexual needs and desires are less important than those of our partners. It is in our physical and emotional best interest to give our own needs and desires a seat at the table.

Because of cultural taboos, many women feel that the urge to masturbate is somehow wrong, or they feel guilt or shame. There is enormous potential for healing through honoring our sexuality, expressing it, and experiencing it with joy.

The reality is that women who “self-cultivate” experience a wide range of health benefits, and here are just a few:

• Masturbation helps prevent cervical infections and helps relieve urinary tract infections. While its general knowledge that regular masturbation can reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men, studies are showing that female masturbation can also provide protection against cervical infections because when women masturbate, the orgasm “tents” or opens the cervix.

  In her book Sex: A Natural History, Joann Ellison Rodgers describes how the process of tenting stretches and pulls the mucous within the cervix, allowing for a rise in acidity in the cervical fluid. This increases “friendly” bacteria and allows more fluid to move from the cervix into the vagina. When“old” fluid moves from the tented cervix, it not only lubricates the vagina, but also flushes out unfriendly organisms that can cause infections.

  Many women with urinary tract infections report the desire to masturbate when they feel a UTI coming on, and for a good reason: masturbating helps relieve pain and it flushes the old bacteria from the cervix. It’s the body’s way of getting the bacteria out.

• Masturbation is associated with improved cardiovascular health and lower risk of type-2 diabetes. In a number of studies, women who experienced more orgasms, and overall greater frequency and satisfaction with sex — whether with a partner or not — were shown to have greater resistance to coronary heart disease (CHD) and type-2 diabetes.
• Masturbation can help work against insomnia naturally, through hormonal and tension release. Many women masturbate as a means to wind down after a hectic day or to fall asleep at night, but they often don’t know that there’s a hormonal reason why it works. Dopamine, or the “feel-good” hormone, is on the rise during the anticipation of a sexual climax. After the climax, the calming hormones oxytocin and endorphins are released, making us feel the warm afterglow that helps us sleep.
• Orgasm increases pelvic floor strength. There are so many benefits to having a healthy pelvic floor. In the “plateau” stage of orgasm, the pelvic floor gets a real workout. The clitoris surges with increased blood pressure. Muscle tone, heart rate, and respirations increase. The uterus “lifts” off the pelvic floor, increasing pelvic muscle tension. This strengthens the entire region, as well as your sexual satisfaction.

Psychological and emotional benefits of masturbation

Women most often cite fatigue as the reason for a decrease in, or loss of, libido. I haven’t met a tired woman yet who cares a bit about sex. Appropriately so, as a tired body is focused on taking care of itself.

The second most common reason women have decreased interest in sex is their dissatisfaction with their appearance. Given the often unrealistic yet prevailing standards of American beauty, it is challenging for many women to feel attractive.

Masturbation is one way to honor our sexuality conveniently and privately.

Because we are in control of our bodies when we masturbate, we can learn a lot about who we are. We can cultivate positive feelings about our miraculous bodies, giving us confidence from the inside out and the potential to heal any past negative sexual experiences.

These are all good reasons to reconsider our views on masturbation, but there are also several other reasons why masturbation can help us feel more confident and connected:

• Improves our mood. Masturbation helps relieve depressive emotions. As we become aroused, the hormone levels of dopamine and epinephrine soar in our bodies. Both of these hormones are mood-boosters. Many studies show that women who report personal satisfaction with their sex lives live a better quality of life overall.

• Relieves stress. In her book For Yourself, noted sex therapist Lonnie Barbach explains that the stress resulting from avoiding sex can create the kind of body imbalances we mentioned earlier. She writes that masturbation can help relieve emotional stress by taking time for ourselves, amidst the demands of home, family, and work.

• Strengthens our relationship with ourselves. When we know, love, and nurture ourselves on emotional and physical levels, we gain confidence and grow through self-awareness. Being able to recognize, articulate, and experience what brings pleasure is a powerful step toward fulfillment.

• Strengthens sexual relationship with partner. Many couples have different sexual drives and needs. Masturbation is one way to meet personal needs not met by a partner. It can be shared with a partner. Witnessing a partner masturbate can teach us what methods our partners use so we can learn what they enjoy. It can also open the lines of communication between partners who otherwise might be assuming that the “routine” is still working.

Differing desires

Many women have told me they feel as though they’ve somehow failed as a sexual partner if they don’t want to just “jump into intercourse” every night. Often men (thinking that women’s sexual needs and desires match their own) report feeling as though their wives or partners aren’t interested in them if they don’t immediately want to have sex. Understanding the fundamental, hormonal difference between the sexes, and communicating your desires, can lead to a wonderful sex life.

Many of the differences between male and female desire and arousal can be traced to the brain, the most powerful sex organ we have. For men, the hormones testosterone and arginine vasopressin (AVP) encourage sexual desire before sex to a higher degree than they do in women, who have fewer AVP receptors in the brain. It takes time for women’s hormone levels to rise before they become aroused. But after orgasm, our hormones function differently too.

As many women know, men often fall asleep after sex. There are hormonal reasons why this happens. Men release hormones when they ejaculate, including norepinephrine, serotonin, oxytocin, vasopressin, and prolactin — the release of prolactin specifically slows their “recovery time.” Conversely, women’s arousal time is slower but recovery is quick, thus making multiple orgasms possible for some women.

Sharing these differences with our male partners (if you have one) can help foster intimacy. Sharing desire is one of the deepest ways we can communicate and ultimately brings us closer to the ones we love.

Daily Sex Can Improve Fertility

Daily sex (or ejaculation) improves men’s sperm quality by reducing the amount of DNA damage, according to a study.

Until now, there has been no consensus amongst fertility specialists as to whether or not men should refrain from sex for a few days before attempting to conceive with their partner.

Researchers studied more than 100 men who had higher than normal sperm DNA damage as indicated by a DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI). The men were instructed to ejaculate daily for seven days, and no other treatment or lifestyle changes were suggested. Before they started, levels of DNA damage ranged between 15 percent and 98 percent DFI. When the men’s sperm was re-assessed on the seventh day, 81 percent of the men had an average 12 percent decrease in their sperm DNA damage.

Doing Dull Chores Could Improve Your Sex Life

American men have doubled the amount of housework they do, and may be having better sex because of it. According to a new report, “When men do more of the housework, women’s perceptions of fairness and marital satisfaction rise and the couple experience less marital conflict.”

According to therapists, there is often a direct correlation between marital satisfaction and the frequency of sex.

In addition to doing more chores around the home, American men spend three times more time with their kids today than they did in 1960. The time women spend with their children has doubled.

Aspirin in Pregnancy May Lower Male Sex Drive

Expectant mothers who take aspirin may produce sons with unusually low sex drives, according to a study on rats. Mother rats took a dose of aspirin each day that was equivalent to the dose a human would take for a headache, but as their sons matured, their sex drives didn’t. It is not known whether a similar effect occurs in humans, but it certainly reinforces the need to use caution when taking any type of drug during pregnancy. Aspirin and other synthetic painkillers are also known to increase the risk of miscarriage by 80 percent.

Sexual Dysfunction Caused by Over-Prescribed Drugs is More Common Than Previously Thought

Sexual “numbness.” Lack of libido. Arousal that stalls. Such sexual symptoms have long been known side effects of the popular Prozac class of antidepressants, but a growing body of research suggests that they are far more common than previously thought, perhaps affecting half or more of patients.

And a handful of recent medical and psychological journal articles document a small number of cases in which sexual problems remain even after a patient goes off the drugs.

“This is such an upsetting issue,” said Aline Zoldbrod, a Lexington psychologist and sex therapist. “There are people for whom SSRIs are really life-saving, I think, but the idea that someone would have to choose between getting out of the darkness of depression and having a good sex life is horrible.”

Current warnings on the labels of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, cite early studies in which the prevalence of sexual side effects was lower: 4 percent for Prozac, for example, and ranging from 0 to 28 percent for Paxil.

But more recent studies, in which patients were more likely to be asked about specific sexual side effects and thus more likely to report them, suggest that the ballpark range of those affected by SSRIs is between 30 percent and 50 percent, said researchers including Dr. Richard Balon, a psychiatry professor at Wayne State University who studies the symptoms.

That would translate into millions of affected sex lives among the estimated 1 in 8 American adults who have tried these antidepressants in the past decade or so. Some studies have found the range still higher.

In fact, the dampening sexual effects can be so dramatic that in recent years, the antidepressants have become the leading treatment for premature ejaculation, a study last year found, though they are not approved for that use by the FDA.

Antidepressants May Impair Ability to Experience Romance

For the majority of people who take antidepressants, the possible risks of a decreased sex drive might not seem to be a sacrifice to get the effects from the drug. Despite reported findings on adverse sexual side effects, the number of Americans taking antidepressants has skyrocketed ever since Prozac was first introduced in the late 1980s.

In the last year alone, statistics showed that U.S. doctors wrote 213 million prescriptions for antidepressants.

But now experts have found that some of the popular antidepressants could alter the serotonin levels in the brain enough to change neurological circuits associated with romance and attachment.

Researchers discovered there were three brain systems that worked together and regulated lust, attraction and attachment. Each system was found to operate on different sets of chemicals. For this reason, increased amounts of serotonin from antidepressants could not only repress the sex drive, but also could disrupt the three systems.

It was also found that the change in people taking antidepressants was initially subtle and in some cases led to a sudden loss of feelings toward significant others.

Researchers expressed their concerns over how this could impact many relationships by crippling a person’s ability to experience sexual desire and jeopardizing their chances of falling in love and remaining in a loving relationship.

Antidepressants are a serious problem in this country, as they at best treat the symptoms and could alter a person’s emotional balance, which could result in many hardships on relationships with loved ones.

As anyone who has suffered with depression knows, it is a devastating illness and needs to be aggressively treated. However, instead of relying on pills that are mere Band-Aids, try these three keys to fighting depression:

• The food you eat has a far more profound influence on your emotions than you may think. This is particularly true for sugars and grains that require insulin to metabolize them. Elevated insulin levels will lead to disrupted serotonin and other neuro-chemicals that will lead to depression.
• Exercise can also be beneficial in helping those with depression. The practical problem with using exercise in depression, however, is that the desire to pursue any activity, let alone exercise, is not very high when you are depressed. The converse though also needs to be considered. Just because one exercises, that does not mean you cannot become depressed. Exercise makes it easier to treat depression, but it certainly does not cure it in everyone.
• Taking fish oil is an extremely powerful tool to fighting and preventing depression. Fish oil contains the essential omega-3 fatty acids that have been found by many major studies to alleviate depression.

Sources are Mercola and many different sites across the world wide web.

Sex and Conception

5 Myths about Women’s Bodies

Much misinformation about the female body circulates in mainstream consciousness.

Myth: A women can’t get pregnant during her period

While a woman is unlikely to conceive during menstruation, sperm can wait for an egg for up to a week. Ovulation can occur soon after, or even during, the bleeding phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle, giving sperm the chance to get lucky.

Myth: Menopause causes sex drive to nosedive

A comprehensive survey of sexual habits in the United States found that roughly half of women in their fifties have sex several times a month. While hot flashes and other discomforts may make women temporarily not in the mood, there is not a direct link between menopause and sexual desire.

Myth: Antibiotics make birth control pills unreliable

The failure rate of birth control pills is unchanged when taken with the vast majority of antibiotics. A possible exception is rifampin, the antibiotic prescribed for tuberculosis. Rifampin does lower pregnancy-protecting hormone levels induced by birth control pills, but whether the effect is large enough to increase pregnancy risk is unclear.

Myth: Women and men need equal sleep

Tossing and turning not only causes women more psychological distress, it also raises their insulin and inflammation levels. A study of more than 6,000 participants, led by researchers at the University of Warwick in 2007, found that women who slept five or less hours a night were twice as likely to suffer from hypertension than women who slept for seven or more hours. Among men, there was no such relationship.

Are there sexual positions that would increase my chances for conceiving?

There are a number of things that you can do to increase your chances of conception.

There are some very basic factors that must be considered here. One is adequate foreplay for the couple.

The woman should be aroused, and at the same time, relaxed and enjoying the sexual act.

These sessions should begin with a great deal of embracing and kissing, light massage and sexual massage, as well as light stimulation to the woman’s erogenous zones.

If the man has a good degree of self-control and can delay the ejaculation

Best Positions
The man-on-top position works well when trying to conceive. Place a small pillow under your hips following intercourse so that your cervix basically rests in the pool of semen for a short time (perhaps 20 minutes or so).

This will allow the sperm time to easily swim up through the cervix. (Important Note: Do not use a large pillow, or you may sabotage your efforts, since the sperm may then puddle behind your cervix. Not a good place to be when trying to reach that egg.)

If you have a tipped uterus, you may have better luck having intercourse from behind (hands and knees position. Commonly known as ‘doggy style’). By having intercourse in this position it allows the sperm better access to the cervix.

Positons to Avoid
For most women it makes sense to avoid straddling their partner while making love — woman-on-top, sitting or standing — since this can cause the semen to leak and may result in fewer sperm making their way to the egg.

Myths abound when it comes to sex, sexual positions, and conception.

One common misconception is that it’s best to have all sex all the time because the greater the number episodes of intercourse, the greater the chance of conception. But that’s not true. When trying to conceive, it’s better to have sex every other day around ovulation to give the guy a chance to recharge his sperm count.

You can, of course, get pregnant having intercourse in almost any position, but there are certain gravity-defying positions such as sitting, standing, or woman on top that may discourage sperm from traveling upstream.

Also don’t do stupid things like douche after you have sex if you are trying to conceive. Douching alters the pH balance of the vagina, and sperm needs the alkaline-acid levels to be more or less balanced in order to live. In addition, if you douche, you’re flushing cervical fluid out and this fluid gives sperm an easier and quicker path to the uterus and beyond.

There is also a myth that says if you have an orgasm, you are more likely to have a male. Who knows if that is true, but if you have an orgasm you are more likely to have fun.

Men’s Dos and Don’ts

Men wishing for conception must not wear tight underwear or take hot baths.

These two activities will raise the temperature in the scrotum and reduce the mobility and liveliness of the
sperm.

The man should not make love under great influence of alcohol nor drugs. The reasons for both are more than obvious, and in fact, prior to sexual sessions meant for conception, the man should try to put him self in the best of physical shape as he can.

Trying for a Certain Gender?

Whether you want a precious baby girl or a bouncing baby boy, positioning actually may play a role (along with timing and other factors.) Male sperm (Y-chromosome) are known for being faster swimmers than their female (X-chromosome) counterparts. They also tend to die off quicker while the female sperm live longer.

Those wishing for a boy may find it best to settle on “doggy style” position. This allows the penetration to be deeper, shortening the distance the sperm carrying the Y-chromosome must travel. According to what is known as the Shettles™ method, the optimal time to conceive a male child is close to ovulation — generally by having sexual intercourse within the window 24 hours prior to ovulation to 12 hours after. Male sperm also supposedly prefer a more alkaline environment for swimming so ladies, avoid dairy and up the sodium intake. Men, drinking caffeine before sex (NOT alcohol!) can boost the speed of your Y’s!

Dreaming of a girl? Opt for a position with shallow penetration, such as spooning. A greater window of opportunity allows the slower, but much more resilient “female sperm” to take their time in reaching their destination. These sperm typically survive three to five days, and in some (rare) cases up to seven! Female (X-chromosome) sperm tend to prefer a more acidic environment. Increasing dairy products and sweets (don’t forget those more natural, healthy sources such as fruits) may provide an additional aid.

How Important is Orgasm for conception?

What about the O-factor? Obviously, for the male’s role, achieving orgasm certainly aids in distributing sperm to its intended destination. Don’t forget though that female orgasm can be as equally important, particularly after the man has climaxed!

The reasoning? Achieving female orgasm can improve the environment for the sperm to swim and survive. The resulting contractions help draw the sperm up and into the cervix — ready to meet that egg and “make” a baby!

The most important dynamic is to relax and enjoy being intimate with your partner. While certainly increasing your personal knowledge and understanding of your fertility is important, you will likely find that leaving that outside the bedroom will allow you both to focus on your love and desire to pleasure one another versus feeling as if being intimate is now yet another chore on your to-do list.

For those that have been trying for a year or more may wish to seek out medical advice regarding their and/or their partner’s fertility.

Some Natural Aphrodisiacs

What are Aphrodisiacs?

At some point in our lives we may experience low libido and an extra boost is required to keep the passion alive. For centuries people have made use of aphrodisiacs as libido enhancers to achieve greater sexual health and functioning.

An aphrodisiac is a substance such as food, drink, drug, scent or device that can arouse or induce feelings of sexual desire. Aphrodisiacs are named after Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty.  Aphrodisiacs have a powerful impact on the mind as they are thought to trigger the release of chemicals in the brain which then stimulate certain organs.

Most aphrodisiacs enhance aspects of the sensory experience such as sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing – which in turn increases sexual drive or libido, improves performance and results in greater sexual satisfaction. Some foods are thought to have aphrodisiac properties.

These include oysters, chocolate, chili, or alcohol. There are also a variety of plants and herbs which have been used for centuries in traditional medicine around the world in order to restore or enhance sexual pleasure.

Even certain situations may play a part in sexual arousal. For instance, a candlelight dinner for two with romantic music and champagne is seen as an aphrodisiac and libido enhancer because it has all the stimulants necessary to promote sexual desire.

Aphrodisiacs have even been hailed as being of great help in treating sexual dysfunction and increasing female and male libido. While aphrodisiacs may be considered by some as folklore and mythology, many claims have been made about their potential libido enhancing powers.

There a wide variety of natural aphrodisiacs and they include:

• Vegetables containing androstone, such as celery. Vegetables such as asparagus, carrots, cucumbers and artichoke are suggestive of sex due to their phallic  shape
• Fruit such as the banana, avocado, pomegranate, fig, papaya and peach
• Nuts such as gingko nuts and pine nuts
• Grains such as oats
• Herbs such as basil, cloves, garlic, ginger, ginseng, aniseed, nutmeg and licorice
• Spices such as cardamom, chili, pepper, and asafetida
• Shellfish such as oysters, caviar and shrimp
• Sensual scents such as vanilla, peppermint, patchouli and musk

Many herbs are also natural aphrodisiacs and have been used for centuries as a way for increasing libido naturally and to promote sexual pleasure and arousal. These herbs are highly effective, safe to use, and nourishing for the body.

For example, Sarsaparilla is used as a tonic for male sexual potency and virility, while Siberian Ginseng is an overall system toner which improves performance and stamina. In addition, sarsaparilla is a strengthening remedy which has a stimulatory effect on sexual functioning, as well as female health.

According to folklore, natural aphrodisiacs may help to raise libido and increase desire. They’re being used by an increasing number of people to give their sex lives a boost.

What you eat can have a direct impact on your sex life, affecting your hormones, brain chemistry, energy and stress levels. Some foods have psychoactive properties, others arouse because they are psychologically suggestive, and some can actually increase blood flow to the genitals.

For enhanced sex, natural aphrodisiacs are well worth exploring, especially the aphrodisiac foods in this article which not only serve romantic and erotic purpose but are virtuously healthy. Many of the natural aphrodisiacs in this article are also superfoods due to their superior health-promoting properties. You’ll find they are both female aphrodisiacs and aphrodisiacs for men. Natural aphrodisiacs are safe and fun to experiment with and can act as a catalyst for hotter sex in the bedroom, both due to their physiologicial and psychological effects.

Cornstarch

The first item on this list isn’t something you eat, it’s about the feel of the cornstarch on your body (half- to full-nude body preferred). Just the initial sensation of cornstarch dropping on the skin mimics the sensation of liquid silk. Try a few drops on yourself and you’ll see what I mean. But don’t stop at sprinkles; once you have enough on the body, take out a pastry brush and gently spread the cornstarch over your lover’s entire body. Next, give a seductive full-body massage using the cornstarch instead of body oil. It may take a minute to get the pressure just right so that the cornstarch just flows across the skin through your fingertips, but once you do, it won’t be too long before you are off to some other pleasures.

Tomatoes

Many food experts prefer to call the tomato, the “apple of love.” Why is the tomato erotic?

Two reasons: First of all, the sensation of eating a fresh, fully ripened, crisp, clean, juicy tomato is sexy all on its own. Watching a pair of sexy lips nibble on a ripe and juicy tomato is enough to make you hungry for other things. Of course, the juicier the tomato, the more chance you’ll have of dribbling on yourself or your partner, but isn’t that what tongues are for?

Eating tomatoes is known to aid in sexual performance. They help calm pre-sex nerves, which can be especially helpful in a first-time-partner situation. Furthermore, the tomato is also known for improving muscle control, which can aid in a number of other between-the-sheets efforts, too.

Avocados

Okay, so now that you’re in the mood and have all your muscles functioning for the action that lies ahead, it’s time to prepare for the main course. Don’t let that sexy tomato get lonely; add a side of avocado.

The Aztecs called the avocado tree Ahuacuatl meaning testicle tree. The ancients likened the fruit hanging in pairs on the tree to male testicles. The Spanish spread news of its stimulating powers on return to Europe and Catholic priests forbade their parishioners to eat them.

The texture of the inside of this fruit is as delicate and soft as some body parts, and you can eat it or rub it on each others skin.

In addition to its sensuous texture, the avocado also has a sensuous function. The high-quality Vitamin E content of this super-food can boost the state of arousal and intensity orgasm. From start (foreplay) to finish (orgasm), this little green love goddess has you covered!

The avocado is also a supremely healthy superfood, very mineral dense, and contains the body’s master antioxidant glutathione, as well as host of healthy carotenoids, heart-friendly monounsaturated oil and superior amounts of fibre, potassium and B6.

Chocolate

You knew it was going to be on here…and, really, what self-respecting list of sexy natural aphrodisiacs could leave out chocolate? Is there anything sexier than a drizzle of the finest natural organic chocolate you can get your hands (or mouth) on? Chocolate is thick, smooth, creamy, and delicious, but you already knew that. It’s also believed to be a natural source of phenyl ethylamine (PEA), the same feel-good chemical that the body naturally produces during those first moments of falling in love.  Some studies even suggest that devouring chocolate stimulates the same feelings in the brain as making love.

Buttermilk

Buttermilk is a popular ingredient in desserts for meals that call for a lush finale, and that same quality makes it a perfect post-coital reward, too. How? Try a buttermilk shower. The wonderful feeling of cool buttermilk poured over the body can be enough to start an encore.

For the non-kitchen savvy, heed this important tip: Do not, under any circumstances, microwave or heat the buttermilk much above room temperature; doing so will make it curdle. Stinky clumps of curdled buttermilk is not the best way to put an end to the evening.

Chili’s

Chili’s can fire you up in more ways than one. They contain the chemical capsaicin that can induce the release of endorphins to create a temporary high. Capsaicin also speeds up the metabolism and increases circulation, responses that are similar to those experienced when having sex. It ignites our internal engine and stimulates our energy for passion. Eating large quantities of capsaicin may also work as an irritant to the genitals and urinary tract that can feel similar to sexual excitement.

Celery

Celery contains the male hormone andro-sterone that is said to stimulate sexual arousal in women. Andro-sterone is believed to be released after eating through perspiration and functions as a pheromone that turns women on, hence a female aphrodisiac. The Romans favored the abilities of this vegetable, dedicating celery to Pluto the ‘god of sex’.

Fennel

Fennel’s aphrodisiac traits have been upheld by research that has found it to increase the libido of both male and female rats. This is likely due to the hormone-like compounds it contains that mimic the female hormone estrogen. This estrogenic activity is why fennel has been used as a breast enlarger.

Figs

This sexy fruit has long been thought of as an arousing stimulant and an open fig is believed to emulate the female sex organs. Figs are steeped in history and are one of the oldest recorded fruits. They are mentioned in the bible (Adam and Eve wore fig leaves to cover their private parts), are reported to be Cleopatra’s favorite fruit and the ancient Greeks held them as sacred and associated them with love and fertility. Following on in some Southern European countries wedding guests would throw figs instead of rice at newly weds as a sign of fertility.

Garlic

This hot, pungent herb is said to stir sexual desires and Roman priestesses of old claimed garlic could make ‘women fall in love and men powerful’. It is certainly an immensely healthy food with many disease-protective qualities such as lowering cholesterol, aiding circulation and fighting bacteria, fungi and viruses. The problem with garlic is its potent aroma – if your partner loves it great, if not, it’s a risky choice for an aphrodisiac.

Honey

Sweet sticky honey is a great source of boron, a trace mineral that helps the body use and metabolise estrogen, the female sex hormone. Studies have shown that this mineral may also enhance testosterone levels in the blood, the hormone responsible for promoting sex drive and orgasm in both men and women. In addition, honey contains B vitamins needed for testosterone as well as other nutrients, enzymes and phytochemicals.

Licorice

Licorice has been used in ancient China for its love and lust provoking properties. Research has revealed that the smell itself is particularly stimulating. In a study by Dr. Hirsch, the neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, black licorice was found to increase blood flow to the penis by 13 per cent. In China it is also reported to be particularly stimulating to women.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg has been lauded as an aphrodisiac across numerous cultures and highly prized by Chinese women. Research supports this use as it has been observed to increase mating behaviors in mice. Large quantities of nutmeg can be psychoactive and produce hallucinogenic effects so don’t go overboard.

Peppermint Soap or Shampoo

Women will love this simple, quick trick to heighten stimulation, especially if the Big O is elusive. And for those lucky ladies who easily reach orgasm, peppermint products may help you become multi-orgasmic.

Buy natural peppermint soap made with pure essential oil for a cheap, easy enhancer. The cooling effect increases sexual pleasure and intensity. Also, try topical gels and creams with peppermint extract.

Watch out: Skip artificially-scented products that just contain perfume and chemicals. Only peppermint extract will prime the pump.

Cinnamon

This spice has been shown to increase sex drive over time and, in women, reduce urinary tract infections. The benefits come from its ability to lower high blood sugar, which restricts blood flow to the vagina (and the penis). So, if you can control your blood sugar, you’ll have better sex.

Cinnamon is not an immediate aphrodisiac, but it’s still reason enough to say yes to warm cinnamon buns for dessert.

And you have nothing to lose by adding a teaspoonful of fresh cinnamon to your morning coffee or bran muffin each day.

Watch out: Sprinkle cinnamon onto your food, but only use a teaspoonful. Too much of this good thing is dangerous, especially if inhaled or taken dry. You also don’t want to eat a spoonful, because it can trigger vomiting.

Pumpkin Seeds

These seeds are high in zinc, which has been known to increase fertility and sex drive.  Oysters are also incredibly rich in this mineral. But because you might not want to eat slimy critters every day, pumpkin seeds are a great alternative.

They’re also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which clean up arteries and capillaries – the ones that lead to your nether regions.

Eat ’em right out of the bag, sprinkle them on salads or grind pumpkin seeds and mix them with flour when breading chicken and other foods. Ladies, you can toss back a handful too!

Watch out: Some brands of pumpkin seeds contain artificial colorants and chemicals, so check the label for additives.

Saw Palmetto

Men with prostate problems, such as prostatitis or an enlarged prostate, respond best to saw palmetto.

Studies prove it eases weak flow, night urges (to urinate, that is) and that awful feeling you haven’t emptied your bladder.

Saw palmetto helps nourish the prostate gland and stimulate production of the sex hormone testosterone.

As a bonus, it may also help slow down male pattern baldness.

Take 160 mg twice a day and make sure your product contains at least 85% fatty acids.

Watch out: Saw palmetto may cause bad breath, insomnia, diarrhea or constipation in sensitive people. It may enhance blood flow, so be careful, especially if you take Coumadin (warfarin), Lovenox, Plavix, aspirin and other blood thinners.

Ginseng

Ginseng is one of the bestselling herbs in the United States. In much of Asia, ginseng is prized as a revitalizer for the whole body, partly due to the human-like shape of the root.

Alternate Names: The two most common types of ginseng are Panax ginseng, also called Asian, Korean or Chinese ginseng, and Panax quinquefolius, also called American, Canadian, or North American ginseng.

Erectile Dysfunction

In one research study of 90 men with erectile dysfunction, 60% of the participants reported improvement in their symptoms compared with 30% of those using the placebo. Unlike prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction which are usually taken when needed, ginseng only appears to be useful for erectile dysfunction if taken on a continuous basis.

Horny Goat Weed

According to folklore, horny goat weed’s reputed aphrodisiac qualities were discovered when a Chinese goat herder noticed increased sexual activity in his flock after they ingested the weed.

Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Dysfunction in Women
According to folklore, horny goat weed’s reputed aphrodisiac qualities were discovered when a Chinese goat herder noticed increased sexual activity in his flock after they ingested the weed.

Animal studies indicate that horny goat weed may work by increasing nitric oxide levels, which relaxes smooth muscle and lets more blood flow to the penis or clitoris.

Horny goat weed also appears to act by inhibiting the PDE-5 enzyme, which is the same way that the popular drug Viagra works.

Some evidence suggests horny goat weed may modulate levels of the hormones cortisol, testosterone, and thyroid hormone, bringing low levels back to normal.

Menopause
A study tested the estrogenic activity of 32 herbs used for menopause. Horny Goat Weed was one of the highest estrogenic activity.

L-Arginine

L-arginine is not an herb but an amino acid that has numerous functions in the body. It has been used for erectile dysfunction and is often promoted as a Viagra alternative.

L-arginine is an amino acid that has numerous functions in the body. It helps the body get rid of ammonia (a waste product), is used to make compounds in the body such creatine, L-glutamate, and L-proline, and can be converted to glucose and glycogen if needed.

L-arginine is used to make the nitric oxide, a compound in the body that relaxes blood vessels. Preliminary studies have found that L-arginine may help with conditions that improve when blood vessels are relaxed (called vasodilation), such as atherosclerosis, erectile dysfunction, and intermittent claudication.

L-arginine is also involved in protein formation. In larger amounts, L-arginine stimulates the release of hormones growth hormone and prolactin.

Erectile Dysfunction

L-arginine has been used for erectile dysfunction. Like the drug sildenafil citrate (Viagra), L-arginine is thought to enhance the action of nitric oxide, which relaxes muscles surrounding blood vessels supplying the penis. As a result, blood vessels in the penis dilate, increasing blood flow, which helps maintain an erection. The difference in how they work is that Viagra blocks an enzyme called PDE5 which destroys nitric oxide and L-arginine is used to make nitric oxide.

In one study, 50 men with erectile dysfunction took either 5 grams of L-arginine per day or a placebo. After six weeks, more men in the L-arginine group had an improvement compared to those taking the placebo.

Unlike Viagra, L-arginine must be taken daily.

Sources of L-Arginine

L-arginine is conditionally essential, which means that the body normally has enough. It’s produced in the kidney and to a lesser extent, in the liver.

Food sources of L-arginine include plant and animal proteins, such as dairy products, meat, poultry, fish, and nuts. The ratio of L-arginine to lysine is also important – soy and other plant proteins have more L-arginine than animal sources of protein.

Damiana

Damiana is a plant native to Mexico and the southern United States. It has been widely used as an aphrodisiac in Mexico for men and women.

Damiana is a plant native to Mexico and the southern United States. The dried leaves are used medicinally.

The use of damiana as an aphrodisiac is somewhat controversial because there is no scientific evidence that it works and yet it has been widely promoted as a sexual stimulant.

One study suggests that damiana may have plant compounds with effects similar to those of progesterone. Over 150 herbs were tested for their ability to bind with estrogen and progesterone receptors in breast cancer cells and found that the damiana was among the six highest progesterone-binding herbs and spices.

Damiana is also used for asthma, anxiety, depression, headache, and menstrual disorders, however, there is no scientific evidence that it works for these conditions.

Maca

According to folklore, ancient Incan warriors took maca before going off to battle to make them physically strong. However, they were later prohibited from taking it, in order to protect conquered women from their heightened libidos.

Maca is a plant with a radish-like root that is used as a food and for medicinal purposes.

Although maca is unrelated to the ginseng family, it has been dubbed “Peruvian ginseng” because it is used as a folk remedy to increase stamina, energy, and sexual function.

One study looked at the effect of 4 months treatment with maca tablets on semen quality in nine adult men. Treatment with maca resulted in increased seminal volume, sperm count, and sperm motility.

A 12-week randomized controlled trial looked at 1,500 mg maca, 3,000 mg maca, or placebo. After 8 weeks, there was an improvement in sexual desire in the men taking maca.

Sunrise at Coffin Rock (pt2)

Sunrise at Coffin Rock Part 2

by Raymond K. Paden

Thomas sat alone upon the cold stone, shivering slightly in the chilly pre-dawn air of this April morning. The flashlight was turned off, resting beside him on the bare granite of Coffin Rock, and involuntarily he strained his eyes in the gray non-light of the false dawn, trying to make out the shapes of the trees, and the mountains across the river. Below, he could hear the chuckling of the water as it crossed the polished stones. How many times had he fished there, his grandfather beside him. He tried to shrug away the memories, but why else had he come here except to remember.1 Perhaps to escape the inevitable confrontation with his mother. She would have to be told sooner or later, but Thomas infinitely preferred later.

“Mom, I’ve been expelled from the university, he said aloud in a conversational tone. Some small night animal, startled by the sudden sound, scurried away to the right. “I know this means you won’t get that upgrade to C-3, and they’ll probably turn you down for that surgery now. Gee, Mom, I’m sorry.” It sounded so stupid. “Why?” she would ask, “How?”

How could he explain that? The endless arguments, the whispered warnings, the subtle threats. Dennis had told him to expect this. Dennis had lost his parents back in the First Purge back in 2004, and his bitter hatred of the State’s iron rule had failed to ruin him only because of his unique and accomplished abilities as an actor.

Only with Thomas did he open up. Only with Thomas did he relate the things he had earned while in the Youth Reeducation Camp near Charleston. Thomas shuddered. It was his own fault, he knew. He should have kept his mouth shut like Dennis told him. All of his friends had come and shook his hand and pounded him on the back. “That’s telling them, Adams!” they said. But their voices were hushed and they glanced over their shoulders as they congratulated him. And later, when the “volunteers” of the Green Ribbon Squad kicked his ass all over the shower room, they had stood by in nervous silence, their faces turned away, their eyes averted, and their tremulous voices silent.

He sighed. Could he blame them. He’d been afraid too, when the squad walked up and surrounded him, and if he could have taken back those proud words he would have. Anyone is afraid when they can’t fight back, he’d discovered. So they taught him a lesson, and he had expected it to end there. But then yesterday had come the call to Dr. Morton’s office, and the brief hearing that had ended his career at the university. “Thomas,” Morton had intoned, “You owe everything to the State.” Thomas snorted.

The light was growing now. He could see the pale, rain-washed granite in the grayness as if it glowed. Coffin Rock was now a knob, a raised promontory that jutted up from a wide, unbroken arm of the mountain’s stony roots, its cover of soil pushed away. There were deep gouges scraped across the surface of the rock where the backhoe had tried, vainly, to force the mountain to reveal its secrets. He was too old to cry now, but Thomas Adams closed his eyes tightly as he relived those moments that had forever changed his life. The shouts and angry accusations as the agents found no secret arms cache still seemed to ring in his ears. They had threatened him with arrest, and once he had thought the government agent named Goodwin would actually strike him. At last, though, they had accepted defeat and turned down the mountain, following the gashed trail of the back-hoe as it rumbled ahead through the woods. At home, he had found his mother and father standing, ashen faced, in the doorway.

“They took your grandpa,” his father said in disbelief. “Just after you left, they put him in a van and took him.”

“But they said they wouldn’t!” Thomas had shouted. He ran across the yard to the old man’s cottage. The door was standing open and he wandered from room to room calling for the grandfather he would never see alive again. It was his heart, they said. Two days after they had taken him, someone called and tersely announced that the old man had died at the indigent clinic a few hours after his arrest “Sorry,” the faceless voice had muttered.

Thomas had wept at the funeral, but it was only in later years that he had come to understand the greatest tragedy of that day-that the old man had died alone, knowing that his own grandson had betrayed him. That grandson was Thomas Adams, and he was now too old to cry but in the growing light of the cold mountain dawn, he did anyway.

Thomas was certain that his father’s de-certification six months later was due to the debacle in the forest. As much as anyone did these days, they had “owned” their home, but the Certification Board would still have evicted them except for the intervention of Cousin Lou, who worked for the State Supervisor. As it was, they lost all privileges and, when his father came down with pneumonia the next autumn, medical treatment was denied. He had died three days after the first anniversary of Grandpa’s death. Thomas had been sure that he would be turned down at the University, but once again his cousin had intervened and a slot had “opened” for him.

But now that’s finished he reflected He would be unable to obtain any certification other than manual laborer. “Why didn’t I keep my mouth shut” he asked the morning stillness. In a tree behind him, a mockingbird began to sing its ageless song, and as if in answer, the forest below began to twitter and chirp with the voices of other birds, greeting the new day. No, what he had said had been the truth and nothing could change that. The State was wrong. It was evil.

It was unnatural for men to be slaves of their government, always skulking, always holding their tongues lest they anger The State. But there is no “State,” Thomas considered. There are only evil men, holding power over other men. And anyone who speaks out, who dares to challenge that power, is crushed. If only there was a way to fight back!

Thomas shifted on the stone, hanging his feet off the downhill side. His feet had almost touched the grass that day, but now, although his legs were certainly longer, it was at least ten inches to the scarred rock surface below. As he kicked his heels back and forth, he could almost hear h is grandfather speaking to him from long ago… “One day, America will come to her senses. Our men will need those guns and they’ll be ready. We cleaned them and sealed them up good’ they’ll last for years. Maybe it won’t be in your lifetime, Thomas. Maybe one day you’ll be sitting here with your son or grandson. Tell him about me, boy. Tell him about the way I said America used to be. “You see the way this stone points.” the old man was saying. “You follow that line one hundred feet…” Thomas’ heels were suddenly still. For many minutes he did not move, playing those words over and over in his mind. “…Follow that line…” What hidden place in his brain had concealed those words all of these years. How could the threats have failed to dislodge it. He stood upon shaky legs and climbed down from Coffin Rock. In his mind’s eye, he could see the old man pointing and he walked down the hill and through a clinging briar patch, counting off the paces. The round stone did seem sol idly buried, but he scratched around near the base and found that the rock ended just an inch or so beneath the surface.

“One man with a good bar can lift it,” Grandfather had said. Thomas forced his fingers beneath the stone and, with all the strength in his 21-year-old body, he lifted. The stone came up, and he slid it off to one side. Cool air drifted up from the dark opening in the mountain. Thomas looked to the right where the scars of the State’s frustration ended, only 15 or 20 feet away. They had been that close. He squatted and stared into the darkness and then remembered his flashlight. In a moment, he was back with it, probing into the darkness with the yellow beam.

There was a small patch of moisture just inside, but then the tunnel climbed upwards toward the ridge. On hands and knees, he entered. It was uncomfortably close for the first 20 feet or so, then the cavern opened up around him. The men who had built this place, he saw, had taken a natural crevice in the granite rock, sealed it with masses of poured concrete, and then covered it with earth. The main chamber was bigger than the living room of a house, and they had left an opening up near the peak of the vaulted roof where fresh air and a faint, filtered light entered.

Wooden boxes and crates were stacked everywhere on concrete blocks, up off of the floor, stenciled with legends like, RIFLE, CAL. 30 M1, 9MM PARA, M193 BALL, 7.62 x 39MM, and 5.56MM. He pushed between them and crawled to the wall where he found cardboard boxes wrapped with plastic sheeting. They were imprinted with strange names like CCI, OLIN, WW748, BULLSEYE, and RL 550B. He did not know what the crates and boxes contained, and was afraid to break the seals, but near the center of the room he found a plastic-wrapped carton labeled, OPEN THIS FIRST.

With his penknife, he slit the heavy plastic wrapping. It contained books, he saw with some disappointment. But he studied the titles and found that they were manuals on weapons and how to repair them, how to clean them, how to fire them, and ammunition…how to store it, and how to reload it. And here was something unusual’ A History of the United States. He lifted it from the carton and crawled back to the open air. Leaning against a stone, he tore open the heavy vinyl bag that enclosed the book and began to read at random, flipping the pages every few moments. On each page, something new met his eye, contradicting everything he had ever been taught. Freedom is not won, he learned, by proud words and declarations.

He remembered a quotation taught at the University’ “Blood alone moves the wheels of history.” An Italian dictator named Mussolini had said that, but now he read of a man named Patrick C Henry who said, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Mao was required reading at the University, too, and he now recalled that this man called a “hero” by The State – had once said, “Political power comes out of the barrel of a gun.” Freedom is never granted, it is won. Won by men who are willing to die, willing to lose everything so that others may have the greatest possession of all: liberty.

Mentally, he began to list those he could trust. Men who had been arrested for speaking out. Women whose husbands had been arrested and never returned. Friends who had been denied certification because of their fathers’ military records. The countryside seethed with anger and frustration. These were people who longed to be free, but who had no means to resist… until now. Thomas laid the book aside and then worked the stone back into position, carefully placing leaves and moss around the base to hide any evidence that it had been disturbed.

He tucked the book under his arm and started for home with the rays of the rising sun warming his back. He imagined his grandfather’s touch in the heat. A forgiving touch. A long, hard struggle was coming, and he knew with a certainty that defied explanation that he would not live to see the day America would once again be free. His blood and that of many patriots and tyrants would be spilled, but perhaps America’s tree of Liberty would live and flourish again. There is a long line stretching through the history of this world a line of those who valued freedom more than their lives. Thomas Adams now took his place at the end of that column as he determined that he would have liberty, or death. He would be in good company.