Fukushima radiation spikes 7,000% as contaminated water pours into the ocean

Fukushima radiation spikes 7,000% as contaminated water pours into the ocean
by: Ethan A. Huff

Cleanup crews trying to mitigate Japan's never-ending radiation crisis at Fukushima ran into more problems recently after sensors monitoring a drainage gutter detected a huge spike in radiation levels from wastewater pouring into the Pacific Ocean.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company says radiation levels were up to 70 times, or 7,000 percent, higher than normal, prompting an immediate shutdown of the drainage instrument. The first readings came around 10 a.m. local time on February 22, setting off alarms not once but twice as radiation levels spiked to extremely high levels.

"The levels of beta ray-emitting substances, such as strontium-90, measured 5,050 to 7,230 becquerels per liter of water between 10:20 a.m. and 10:50 a.m.," reported The Japan Times. "TEPCO requires radioactivity levels of groundwater at the plant discharged into the sea to remain below 5 becquerels." Read more

How to use turmeric as a potent cancer fighting food

How to use turmeric as a potent cancer fighting food by: Kali Sinclair

Turmeric is a spice that comes from the Curcuma plant. If you want to purchase fresh turmeric, you may be able to find it at a farmer's market. If not, look for it online.

The rhizome (commonly called a root) looks a lot like ginger root with its brown peel, but it is bright orange to yellow inside. You can cut it up, grate it, juice it, crush it through a garlic press, and add it to almost anything (smoothies, beans, lentils, quinoa, meat, etc.)

Dried turmeric is a powder whose color ranges from orange to yellow. You can make your own turmeric powder by peeling, boiling, drying, and then grating fresh rhizomes, but consume fresh, uncooked turmeric to maximize its health benefits. When using it in recipes that require cooking, try adding some before the cooking process, and then grate some fresh turmeric on top of the meal before eating.

In recipes, one tablespoon of fresh turmeric is equivalent to one teaspoon of dried turmeric for taste.

Turmeric is one of the basic and best known ingredients in curry (which is a combination of spices) and is a commonly used spice in Indian and Asian cooking. It is delicious in salad dressings or heavily sprinkled on salads, and it is a welcome addition to vegetable dishes, dips, and sauces.

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4 Healthy Ways to Make Sex Feel Better Tonight

4 Healthy Ways to Make Sex Feel Better Tonight

By Amy Levine, MA, CSE, Special to Everyday Health

S-E-X.

Three simple letters that elicit myriad thoughts and feelings. Sex has the potential to involve all of the senses, turn us on, happen solo or with a partner, allow us the opportunity to give and to receive, and be incredibly pleasurable. But for many people, sex isn’t the connected and fulfilling experience we know is possible. Sometimes pain or discomfort is to blame. Other times it’s sabotaged by common issues like body-bashing thoughts, anxiety, or stress. Often with subtle adjustments, sex can feel and be a lot better.

As a sex coach, I often play detective with my clients to figure out what they need to elevate their sexual experiences. Here are some of the solutions I share with them that I think will help you have a more pleasurable sex life too. Read more

Biological Therapy for Cancer Treatment

Biological Therapy for Cancer Treatment

By Diana Rodriguez | Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH
Biological therapy, often called immunotherapy, boosts the body's own defenses to help beat cancer.

Cancer patients have broad options regarding the kind of cancer therapy they can receive: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and newer options like biological therapy. Biological therapy is an approach that boosts the body's own defense system to help the body heal itself.

Cancer Treatment: Understanding Biological Therapy

Biological therapy has many different names, including immunotherapy, biotherapy, and biological response modifier therapy. While biological therapy is designed to better help the body's immune system fight cancer, exactly how these treatments accomplish that goal isn't understood. Read more

A Guide to Alternative Therapy Practitioners

A Guide to Alternative Therapy Practitioners

By Sherrie Mcgregor, PhD

Alternative treatments may be suggested by your family doctor or psychiatrist, or by a specialist in a particular type of treatment. The most common types of alternative medical practices are explained in the following sections:

Acupuncture 

Developed in China, acupuncture is based on the idea that an energy force called ch'i flows through the human body. If your ch'i is blocked, as acupuncture theory states, illness results. Modern acupuncturists use tiny, sterile, disposable needles inserted into the skin to undo these blockages. Some also employ heat, (noninvasive) lasers, magnetic devices, or electrical stimulation. You don't have to believe in the ch'i concept to enjoy the benefits of acupuncture. Even the alternative medicine skeptics at the National Institutes of Health admit that it has value for treating chronic pain, and as an adjunct to other methods in the treatment of drug addiction (in fact, NIH is currently funding several studies on acupuncture). Some Western doctors think that acupuncture may work by influencing the body's production of natural opioid chemicals and neurotransmitters. Reputable research indicates that properly applied acupuncture treatments may help heal nerve damage, which may in turn reduce anxiety and mood swings. There have been anecdotal reports from bipolar adults about acupuncture as an effective treatment for manic episodes (actress Margot Kidder, who has bipolar I disorder, claimed to have been successfully treated by an acupuncturist after a much-publicized manic/psychotic episode a few years ago). If you can find a good acupuncturist, it might be a worthwhile adjunct to other types of medical care.

Ayurvedic and other traditional medicine 

Before the advent of modern medicine, people everywhere relied on herbal remedies. India's Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine (which also includes acupuncture) are two herbal systems that have been studied to a great extent. The Ayurvedic medicine concept revolves around a life-force called prana, which is comparable to the Chinese ch'i mentioned previously. Ayurvedic practitioners will give you a thorough exam and tell you which "type" you are in their diagnostic system. Then they'll suggest an appropriate diet, lifestyle adjustments, and probably meditation. They may also have various suggestions about cleaning out your digestive tract, and may prescribe herbal remedies. Chinese traditional medicine practitioners take a very similar approach, although their dietary recommendations tend to be less strict than a typical Ayurvedic plan. They may recommend physical and breathing exercises as well as herbs. There is a vast array of Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal remedies available, most of which have not been tested by Western researchers. Some of these concoctions are probably quite effective, while others could be dangerous to your health. Try to find out exactly which herbs are in a remedy, and then check out their known effects in a reference book on herbs. For example, the popular Chinese herb Ma Huang (ephedra) is a common ingredient in traditional "nerve tonics." It is also a powerful central nervous system stimulant, and should be taken with caution. Read more

Biological Dentistry

 Biological Dentistry

Dr. Wright, a Santa Fe Soul affiliate, offers a system of dental care that takes into account oral health in relation to other conditions in the body.

Hear about mercury fillings, tooth alignment, how dental work affects the rest of the body.
Compare this kind of dentistry with anything you've experienced previously. Read more