Adopted or abducted?

Adopted or abducted? - Veil of secrecy lifts slowly on decades of forced adoptions for unwed mothers around the globe.

Most women describe giving birth to a child as a life changing experience – in a word – “challenging”, “joyous”, “miraculous.” But generations of young, unwed women describe their experience of giving birth to a child as a nightmare – and decades later their suffering has yet to end.

From Australia to Spain, Ireland to America, and as recent as 1987, young mothers say they were “coerced”, “manipulated”, and “duped” into handing over their babies for adoption. These women say sometimes their parents forged consent documents, but more often they say these forced adoptions were coordinated by the people their families trusted most...priests, nuns, social workers, nurses or doctors.

Last month, a Dan Rather Reports producer and crew were in Canberra, Australia as Parliament released the findings of an 18-month-long investigation revealing illegal and unethical tactics used to convince young, unmarried mothers to surrender their babies to adoptive homes from the late 1940s to the 1980s. And we interviewed some of the victims -- adoptees and mothers separated at birth.

“One of the happiest days of my life, most proudest achievements, is giving birth and holding my newborn child,” says Senator Rachel Siewert, who oversaw the Australian Senate Committee Report. “These women didn't have that experience. And I can't imagine it.”

Siewert added, “There was a lot of testimony from people that were associated with Catholic institutions. And Catholic Health Services here issued an apology and I understand they're gonna be putting in place some grievance procedures.”

In some cases, mothers in Australia were drugged and forced to sign papers relinquishing custody. In others, women were told their children had died. Single mothers also did not have access to the financial support given to widows or abandoned wives, and many were told by doctors, nurses, and social workers that they were unfit to raise a child. Siewert says, “We heard practices that were either illegal or unethical and downright cruel.”

“It wouldn't surprise me to hear the same thing happened elsewhere,” continues Siewert, “...the U.K., the U.S., Canada and Ireland. So you could, I think, expect that those countries also had these sorts of practices.”

Two weeks ago, a prominent Canadian law firm announced that it would file a class-action lawsuit against Quebec's Catholic Church accusing the Church of kidnapping, fraud and coercion to force unwed mothers to give up their children for adoption.

Attorney Tony Merchant represents several hundred women who claim that when they were in maternity homes in the 1950s and 1960s, social workers, nurses, doctors, and even men and women in the employ of the Catholic Church cooperated with government officials to force or, even coerce, young women to sign away their rights to keep their child never knowing they even had a choice.

Merchant was quoted in the Montreal Gazette as saying, "The beliefs the Catholic Church (in Quebec) had about premarital sex and the judgmental approach the church had, made it particularly aggressive in pressuring women into putting their children up for adoption."

In Spain, an 80-year-old nun, Sister Maria Gómez, became the first person accused of baby snatching in a scandal over the trafficking of 1,500 newborns in Spanish hospitals over four decades until the 1980s. The babies were either stolen, sold or given away by adoption.

Since October, Dan Rather Reports has contacted nearly 100 alleged victims, social workers, researchers, lawyers and authors from around the world to shine a bright light on the issue of forced adoptions. The two most respected books on the subject of “forced adoptions,” Ann Fessler's The Girls Who Went Away and Rickie Solinger's Beggars and Choosers indicate that the tactics used to procure adoptable babies in Australia, Ireland, Canada and Spain were also implemented in the United States.

We have interviewed numerous women in the U.S. who told us that they were sent to maternity homes, denied contact with their families and friends, forced to endure labor with purposely painful procedures and return home without their babies. Single, American mothers were also denied financial support and told that their children would be better off without them.

In some cases, they too were told that their babies had died. Many signed away their rights while drugged and exhausted after childbirth. Others were threatened with substantial medical bills if they didn't surrender or were manipulated through humiliation. According to Fessler, these seemingly unethical practices were used against as many as 1.5 million mothers in the United States.

When we asked these women who say they were victims of “forced adoption” to use one word to describe their experience giving birth…here’s what they told us…

“Sad” states Angie from Colorado, who says at age 19 her pregnancy was kept an absolute secret and that she disappeared before her infant daughter was put up for adoption against her will in 1972. “Sad” also states Chris from Massachusetts, who gave up her firstborn through Catholic Charities in 1969.

“Trauma” states Valerie from Toronto who says in 1970 a Salvation Army matron at the Bethany Home for unwed mothers dropped her off at Grace Hospital in Toronto to labor alone. While crying out in pain during labor, she says a nurse called her a “slut.”

“Barbaric” states Christine, a PhD. candidate at the University of Western Sydney in Australia, who heads the Apology Alliance, made up of individuals and groups from all around Australia who seek an apology for the practices and policies that led to forced adoptions in her country.

“Devastating” states Shawn who was a sophomore in college in 1974 when at age 19 she gave birth to a son she has yet to see in person or touch. During the delivery, she says her doctor forcibly grabbed her foot and said, “I hope this has taught you not to get in trouble again.”

“Horrifying” states Lily who was 17 in 1967 when she says she was “held in slavery for nearly 10 months” in a home for unwed mothers before she says she was forced to give her son up for adoption.

“Traumatic” states Fran from Pennsylvania, who says in 1959 at age 20 she did not give informed consent before her son was placed for adoption. “It was not a choice…it was social policy.”

“Tragic” states Susan, who at age 21 in 1967 says she had to fight just to see her daughter a day after giving birth to her at Miserecordia Hospital in Milwaukee. A supervisor tried to talk her out of it, but she persisted. A few days later, she regrettably agreed to give her daughter up for adoption.

"Torture" states Hanne from British Columbia, Canada, who says at age 16, her baby girl was “stolen...abducted on the delivery table.” “Torture” also states Carlynne from Florida, who says at age 20, she was not able to see, touch or was told the sex of her baby before being forced to put it up for adoption.

“Shattering” states Karen who was living in Virginia in 1966, when at age 18, she says she was “told by Catholic Charities to sign the paper” and give her daughter up for adoption. “I was never told I could visit her in foster care. I didn’t even know she was in foster care. I wasn’t told that I had six months to get her!! To change my mind.. as if I had even made up my own mind. I didn’t...they did.”

“Horrific” states Laura from Virginia, who says at age 16 she was “forced” to give her son up for adoption in 1972. “I was totally coerced from day one.”

“Decimated” states Elizabeth from Melbourne, Australia, who says in 1963 at age 18 she was rendered unconscious before her daughter was taken from her at birth, even though she was married to the father of her baby 11 months before the adoption was finalized. “Decimated” also states Leslie, who at age 17 was going into labor at a maternity home in Alabama when “Sister Martha, the director of the maternity home drove me to the hospital, pulled into the driveway and let me out. I went in and admitted myself. I labored that night (alone) in one of the hallways” because she says she was told the maternity ward was only for married women. Ironically, the son she says was taken from her was born on Mother’s Day 1966.

Carol, was a college freshman in 1966, when she says a social worker in Pittsburgh betrayed her with promises to help her keep newborn son. After the birth, drugged and disoriented, Carol says she unknowingly signed relinquishment papers presented by that social worker as hospital release forms. She needed two words to answer our question, “soul rape.” ( Yahoo! News )

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Anti-gay discrimination in the animal kingdom

Can Animals Be Homophobic? - Anti-gay discrimination in the animal kingdom - In an interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan on Sunday, former Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron called homosexuality “unnatural,” and a behavior that is “ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.” We’ve heard that many species of nonhuman animals engage in gay sex, which calls into question the first part of Cameron’s statement. But what about the practice of shunning gays—can animals be homophobic too?

Not as far as we know. Homosexual behavior has been documented in hundreds of animal species, but the same does not hold for gay-bashing. For starters, few animals are exclusively gay. Two female Japanese macaques might have playful sex with each other on Tuesday, then mate with males on Wednesday. Pairs of male elephants sometimes form years-long companionships that include sexual activity, while their heterosexual couplings tend to be one-night stands. For these and many other species, sexual preferences seem to be fluid rather than binary: Gay sex doesn’t make them gay, and straight sex doesn’t make them straight. In these cases, the concept of homophobia simply doesn’t apply.

Still, it’s possible that a social grouping of animals would ostracize a member for engaging in even a single act of gay sex. Indeed, members of nonhuman species have been known to shun members of their social groups on account of certain specific behaviors. A 1995 study described a young adult chimpanzee that refused to grunt submissively and seemed to bully females; eight other males assaulted him and exiled him from the group for three months. It’s not inconceivable that unwanted sexual advances, homosexual or otherwise, might warrant the same harsh treatment; it simply hasn’t been documented.

What evidence we do have suggests that no such policing of sexual behavior exists. A male dog mounted by another male dog might reject the coupling, but there’s no sign that it takes any more offense than would a female that’s not in heat. In some primate species, young females will take umbrage at advances from males of their father’s age, probably as a defense against incest. But while they may scream and run away, the rest of the group doesn’t seem to get riled up about it.

Researchers believe that gay sex is even rewarded in certain species. For bonobos, sexual activity serves as an instrument of social harmony: It reinforces bonds and keeps the peace. For instance, when a female bonobo migrates into a new group, she often ingratiates herself to the clan’s other ladies by having a lot of sex with them. Far from being shunned, this homosexual behavior is welcomed. And former Stanford researcher Joan Roughgarden has argued that among male bighorn sheep bisexuality may be the norm; those that don’t participate end up as outcasts. ( slate.com )

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Itching really can be contagious scientists prove

Itching really can be contagious scientists prove - Itching can be "caught" just by watching someone else having a good scratch, scientists have confirmed.

It is a phenomenon that can leave entire rooms full of people scratching at the merest mention of fleas or lice. Now scientists have proven for the first time that itching really can be contagious.

In a condition known as itch transmission, the researchers have shown that the sensation of an itch can be caught visually in the same way as yawning.

They found that simply watching a video of someone else scratching was enough to induce and intensify itching in volunteers.

Even when they were given a few drops of a liquid designed to induce itching on a patch of their skin, the volunteers tended to scratch more on random parts of their body.

Researchers have shown that the sensation of an itch can be caught visually in the same way as yawning

Dermatologists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina believe itching becomes contagious because the brain becomes hypersensitive when someone nearby scratches and so misinterprets any kind of physical sensation on our skin as an itch.

Dr Gil Yosipovitch, who led the research which is published online in the British Journal of Dermatology, said: "Although it's a well-known sensation and dermatologists often feel itchy after seeing their patients scratch, contagious itch has not been studied systematically at all.

"Our results suggest there must be a central brain mechanism responsible for the generation of the itch sensation in the absence of itch stimuli. It is possible that sensory inputs from various regions, not specifically related to itch, may be wrongfully interpreted as being "itchy".

"It appears that there is low threshold for 'feeling an itch' when this suggestion appears in a visual form, or even by simply thinking/reading about it."

The researchers asked 25 volunteers to watch a series of five minute video clips that ether showed people scratching their left forearm or sitting idly.

They were either given a solution of histamine to induce itching on a patch of their skin or a few drops of harmless salt solution.

The volunteers tended to scratch twice as much when watching someone else scratching on the video compared to the video of the person doing nothing. The sensation occurred both in healthy volunteers and patients who suffered from atopic dermatitis.

The scientists also found that even when the histamine liquid was used, tended to scratch at other points in their body rather than just where the liquid had been applied.

Similar work in primates has also shown that monkeys can catch itches too and the researchers now believe contagious itching may be rooted in our evolutionary past as we evolved to live in close knit social groups.

Growing sensitive to itching when one member of the group is scratching could help to identify parasite infestations early and help to stop them spreading.

The scientists now hope to use their findings to develop new ways of treating people who suffer from chronic itching and skin diseases.

Dr Alexandru Papoiu, another of the researchers behind the study, said it appeared the mechanisms that create the sensation of itching was working "overtime" in these patients.

He added: "It is particularly interesting why humans are "vulnerable" or suggestible to cues of itch.

"If we can understand the underlying mechanism and its cause, we should have a better chance to treat itch, targeting the central nervous system stations involved."

Nina Goad, from the British Association of Dermatologists, said the study showed how much influence the mind could have on physical sensations.

She said: "This is a fascinating study looking at the power of the mind over a very physical sensation like itch.

"Many people can identify with the idea that watching other people scratch an itch leads you to feel the itch sensation yourself.

"To see this demonstrated in a clinical setting, with a view to developing treatments for common skin diseases like eczema that cause itch, is very interesting." ( telegraph.co.uk )

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Chinese acupuncture

Chinese acupuncture - Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is a practiced medical treatment that is over 5,000 years old. In basic terms acupuncture is the insertion of very fine needles on the body's surface in order to influence the physiological functioning of the body.

The first recorded journal of acupuncture is found in the 4,700-year-old Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine). This is supposedly the oldest medical textbook in the world. It was written down from seven earlier theories by Shen Nung, the father of Chinese medicine. Shen Nung documented theories about the heart, pulse and circulation over 4000 years before Western medicine had any concept about them.

Shen Nung theorized that the body had an energy force called Qi (pronounced chee) running throughout it. The Qi consists of all essential life activities which include the spiritual, mental, physical and emotional aspects of life. A persons health is influenced by the flow of Qi in the body, in combination with the universal forces of Yin and Yang (discussed later). If the flow of Qi is insufficient, unbalanced or interrupted, Yin and Yang become unbalanced, and illness may occur. Qi travels through the body along special pathways called Meridians. These channels are the same on both sides of the body. There are fourteen main Meridians running vertically up and down the surface of the body, as well as two unpaired midline Meridians. The acupuncture points are specific locations where the Meridians come to the surface of the skin, and are easily accessible using the fine needles.

Yin and Yang is an important theory in the discussion of acupuncture, in relation to the Chinese theory of body systems. The energy force that runs throughout the body called Qi, is also said to be present in nature. Qi is composed of two parts, Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang are opposite forces that work in harmony when balanced. Any disruption of this balance will result in natural disasters in nature, and disease in human beings. Taoist philosophy states that Yin is signified by female attributes and Yang is signified by male attributes. So Yin is passive, dark, cold and moist, that which moves medially and is deficient of Yang. Yang (the male side) has the attributes of light, active, warm and dry that which moves laterally and is deficient of Yin.

Acupuncture is used to treat a variety of conditions such as muscle and joint problems, high blood pressure, back pain and neck pain, menstrual problems,headaches migraines and nervous conditions, digestive problems and low energy, respiration and other lung related conditions, allergies and asthma, insomnia, skin problems,stress related, mental and emotional e.g. anxiety and depression; and chronic fatigue.

Acupuncture can involve the usage of as many as nine types of needles, though only six are commonly used today. These needles vary in length, width of shaft, and shape of head. Today, most needles are disposable in accordance with medical biohazard regulations and guidelines. Stimulation from the needle creates two responses to ease pain. One is endorphin release; the other part affects the immune system.

According to a study on the effects of Acupuncture application therapy on obesity by the department of Physiology in Selcuk University, Turkey; it has been reported that acupuncture application in obesity treatment is effective in procuring weight loss. It can effect appetite, intestinal motility, and metabolism, as well as emotional factors such as stress. Acupuncture stimulates the auricular branch of the vagal nerve and increases serotonin levels. This suppresses the appetite, as well as enhancing intestinal motility. It controls stress and depression via endorphin and dopamine production. In addition to these effects, it is thought that the increase in plasma levels of beta endorphin after acupuncture application can contribute to the body weight loss in obese people by mobilizing the body energy depots.

It is clear that acupuncture has grown in popularity outsider China including the Western hemisphere and some insurance companies have even expanded their coverage to include licensed acupuncturists. Houston is home to one of only three accredited acupuncture schools in Texas, where the American college of acupuncture and oriental medicine offers a four year masters degree, and students must pass state exams to become licensed acupuncturists.

More and more Americans are going under the needle. In 2002 a national survey showed 8.2 million Americans had tried acupuncture, up from 2.1 million the year before. In China it is not uncommon to see traditional stroke medications, acupuncture and Chinese herb treatments all going on at the same time for the same patient. ( arabnews.com )

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Why are some pharmaceuticals so expensive?

Why are some pharmaceuticals so expensive? - The FDA may revoke its approval of Avastin, the world's top-selling cancer drug, for treatment of breast cancer. Regulators are only supposed to compare the drug's benefits to its risks, but many industry observers note that the real problem with Avastin is its astronomical price tag: A month's supply costs approximately $8,000. Why are some drugs so much more expensive than others?

Pill prices preposterous

Because they fill an unmet need in the market. In the United States, the priciest medicines aren't necessarily the ones that cost the most to develop, nor those that save the most lives. The most expensive drugs are those that have no competitors. When a truly novel blockbuster drug hits the market, there is very little to guide manufacturers and insurers in their negotiations.


The largest constraint is public perception. Insurers fear that, if they refuse to fork over the dough, their sick customers will be outraged. Manufacturers don't want the public or Congress to view them as price gougers. Negotiators eventually settle on a price between those two poles. Few drug makers are lucky enough to face this problem, though. Most debutant drugs find the market already crowded with similar products, and prices are set by the competition.


Consider two examples. When Provenge, a controversial prostate cancer drug, hit the market this year, the maker could demand a ransom because there was no real analogue. (Patients are given three infusions of Provenge, each costing $31,000.) In contrast, the cholesterol-lowering drug Livalo, which earned FDA approval in 2009, had to contend with well-established statins like Lipitor and Crestor. Even though the drugs work differently, they all serve the same purpose. The manufacturer had little leverage in negotiating with insurers and had to undercut its competitors on price. The cost of Livalo, at about $3.30 per dose, is 15 percent lower than Crestor.


The process of drug valuation is more quantitative in the United Kingdom, where regulators have a system to compare the clinical benefit of a drug to its price. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence uses a system called the Quality Adjusted Life Years measurement, which sets the value of a year of healthy living at between $31,000 and $47,000. So even if a drug prolongs a patient's life, the British National Health Service typically won't cover the medicine if it costs more than that amount. (In breast cancer patients, Avastin appears to extend life by at most five months. The NHS doesn't cover its use for most diseases.)


You hear a lot about how expensive it is to bring a drug to market. All of that is true, especially for cancer drugs. It costs around $1.75 billion to develop the average cancer medicine. Only drugs for respiratory disorders, at $2 billion, can top that total. (AIDS drugs and anti-parasitics are the real bargains, at between $500 million and $700 million.) But there is no correlation whatsoever between the cost of developing an individual drug and its eventual price. Drug companies have to make a profit over the long term. Most of the chemicals that a company experiments with never make it to market. Of those that do, only 20 percent are ultimately profitable. They cover these losses—and then some—by squeezing as much money out of their few successes as possible.


Manufacturing costs play a role in pricing decisions, although a small one. Avastin belongs to a category of drugs called biologics, which are large molecules that usually have to be manufactured by DNA manipulation. Biologics cost more to make than traditional drugs, which usually are generated through cheaper chemical reactions. Still, manufacturing costs normally don't exceed a few percentage points of sales revenue. ( slate.com )

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How a jigsaw helps a child to sleep tight

How a jigsaw helps a child to sleep tight. It's a parenting skill that seems to be in retreat in this age of non-stop television.

Mothers and fathers appear to have increasing difficulties getting their children off to sleep in the evening - and then ensuring they don't keep waking through the night.

The cost can be measured in the stress couples suffer as their nights are disrupted and in the millions of pounds a year the Health Service spends in treating children's sleeping disorders.

But help for the NHS and fatigued parents is at hand.

According to findings unveiled yesterday, simply switching off the television and pulling out a jigsaw is just the ticket in helping to get restless children to sleep.

The 'settling routine' has been developed by health visitors.

They encourage parents to switch off the television, dim the lights and interest their child in a more soothing activity such as play bricks or a jigsaw.

The series of basic steps should be carried out in a 'winding-down' hour leading up to bedtime and should finish up with supper and a sleep-inducing soak in the bath.

While some might say it is just old-fashioned common sense, the Edinburgh International Science Festival was told that such simple bedtime routines could help save the NHS up to £50million a year in Scotland alone.

That figure could easily rise to hundreds of millions if the routines were applied across Britain.

Research suggests that up to 30 per cent of children under of five are affected by behavioural sleep problems.

The health visitors created the relaxing routine while running sleep clinics for children and parents.

Jackie McGreavey, of the Tayside Primary Care NHS Trust, said: 'The work at the sleep clinic isn't rocket science, but it really works.

'A lot of what we do is good, oldfashioned common sense, but the point is many parents, particularly mothers, desperately need this help.

'As well as being able to help them, the sleep clinics could also save the NHS a lot of money.'

The Tayside research suggests the key to the settling routine's success is changing the behaviour of the child from 'seeker' to 'selfsoother'.

This includes switching off the television, turning the lights low and engaging the child in hand-eye coordinating play. ( dailymail.co.uk )

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Tips for older men

Tips for older men - Sex and the older man - What you can do to maintain a healthy and enjoyable sex life as you grow older. Getting older changes sexual function and desire. Senior sex isn't the same as it was in your 20s — but it can still be satisfying. Contrary to common myths about sexuality and older adults, sex is not just for the young. Many seniors continue to enjoy their sexuality into their 80s and beyond.

A healthy sex life is not only fulfilling, but it's also good for other aspects of your life, including your physical health and self-esteem. Adapting to your changing body can help you maintain a healthy and satisfying sex life. But you may have to make a few changes, such as allowing yourself more time to become aroused and talking more openly with your partner.

Senior sex: What changes as men get older?

As men age, testosterone levels decline and changes in desire and sexual function are common. These changes can include:

• Decreased sexual interest

• A need for more stimulation to achieve and maintain an erection and orgasm

• Shorter orgasms

• Less forceful ejaculation and less semen ejaculated

• Longer time needed to achieve another erection after ejaculation

Your health also can have a big impact on your sex life and sexual performance. If you or your partner is in poor health or has a chronic health condition, such as heart disease or arthritis, sex and intimacy become more challenging.

Certain surgeries and many medications, such as blood pressure medications, antihistamines, antidepressants and acid-blocking drugs, can affect sexual function. Adapt to your changing body and know your limitations. Focus on ways of being sexual and intimate that work for you and your partner. Talk with your doctor about your concerns.

Tips to maintain a healthy sex life later in life:

• Communicate with your partner. Open discussion of sex has become more common in recent years, but many older adults come from a generation where sex remains a taboo subject. But openly talking about your needs, desires and concerns with your partner can make you closer and help you both enjoy sex and intimacy more.

• Talk to your doctor. Talking about sexual issues with your doctor can help you maintain a healthy sex life as you age. Your doctor can help you manage chronic conditions and medications that affect your sex life. Some older men have trouble maintaining an erection or reaching orgasm. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medications or other treatments for these problems.

• Expand your definition of sex. Intercourse is only one way to have fulfilling sex. Touching, kissing and other intimate sexual contact can be just as rewarding for both you and your partner. Realize that as you age, it's normal for you and your partner to have different sexual abilities and needs. Be open to finding new ways to enjoy sexual contact and intimacy.

• Change your routine. Simple changes can improve your sex life. Change the time of day when you have sex to a time when you have the most energy. Try the morning — when you're refreshed from a good night's sleep — rather than at the end of a long day. Because it might take longer for you or your partner to become aroused, take more time to set the stage for romance, such as a romantic dinner or an evening of dancing. Try a new sexual position or explore other new ways of connecting romantically and sexually.

• Seek a partner if you're single. It's never too late for romance. It can be difficult starting a relationship after the loss of a partner or being single for a long time — but socializing is well worth the effort for many single seniors. No one ever outgrows the need for emotional closeness and intimate love. If you start an intimate relationship with a new partner, be sure to practice safe sex. Many older adults are unaware that they are still at risk of sexually transmitted diseases, such as AIDS.

• Stay healthy. Eating regular nutritious meals, staying active, not drinking too much alcohol, and not smoking or using illicit drugs are important for your overall health, and staying healthy can help your sexual performance. Follow your doctor's instructions for taking medications and managing any chronic health conditions.

• Stay positive. The changes that come with aging — from health problems to changes in appearance and sexual performance — leave many men feeling less attractive or feeling they're less capable of enjoying or giving sexual pleasure. Discussing your feelings with your partner can help. Feeling angry, unhappy or depressed has a strong negative impact on your sex life. Professional counseling or other treatment can improve your sex life — and your well-being.

Sex may not be the same for you or your partner as it was when you both were young. But by adapting to your changing body, sex and intimacy can continue to be a fulfilling and rewarding part of your life. ( mayoclinic.com )

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Bathtime healing

Bathtime healing. Most of us think catching a cold in winter is inevitable. Yet a simple daily ritual - a warm bath before bed - is one of the best ways to ward off infection, says leading naturopath Cornelis Van Dalen.

'Bathing in water a couple of degrees above body temperature activates the body's defence system against germs and viruses,' he explains.

'The warming effect of being submerged in hot water for around 30 minutes is like replicating a mini temperature rise - which is the body's natural mechanism for beating infection.'

Common viruses, including many of the 200 strains which cause colds and flu, die in temperatures just a few degrees above 37c, our normal healthy blood temperature. So soaking for around half an hour a day in a hot bath can easily nip a cold in the bud.

Although you can bathe at any time of day, it is better to do so at night, and to follow it with sleep, which is when cells and tissue renew themselves. For effective hydrotherapy, it is best to have a thermometer.

Avoid very hot baths if you have high blood pressure, angina, heart disease or diabetes, or if you are pregnant.

BEAT THE FLU

Run a deep bath to a temperature between 37c and 40c (98f and 104f), add a cupful of Epsom salts or Dead Sea salts (available at most chemists) and wallow in the water for 30 minutes. Drink a pint of fresh cold water while you are in the bath. Afterwards, simply wrap yourself in loose, warm clothing and go to bed. The virus should be gone by morning.

STRESS BUSTER

Run the bath to a relaxing temperature of between 34c and 36C (93f and 97f). Add one cup of Epsom salts and five drops of lavender oil. After 15 minutes of soaking, slowly add cold water and lower temperature to 15c (60f). Soak for another ten minutes. A cold compress around the head while you are in the bath reduces exhaustion and even headache.

ANXIETY DIP

A soothin mixture of basil, rosemary and mandarin oil balances the emotions, restoring peace of mind. Run a deep bath to a comfortable temperature (37c) and bathe for about 15 minutes. Don't let the water get hotter than this as a very hot bath can cause the heart to race, heightening feelings of anxiety.

ARTHRITIS SOAK

Boil a thumb-sized piece of sliced ginger root in a cup of water for five minutes. Steep for 30 minutes, then strain and pour into a bath of between 36c and 39c (97f and 103f). Bathe for 20 minutes.

INSOMNIA CURE

Run a deep, warm bath (34c/93f), adding two drops each of clary sage, lavender and basil oil. Add two tablespoonfuls of sweet almond oil and soak in the bath for around 20 minutes. When you get out, mix three drops of lavender oil with a tablespoon of sweet almond oil and massage into the body. Wrap up warmly and go to bed.

ENERGISER

Fill the bath with cold water (16c/60f) to a depth of about 10in (25cm). Add five drops of rosemary essential oil. Lower yourself gently into the bath and swish water all over your body for about a minute, then dry yourself vigorously. ( dailymail.co.uk )

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Living with a sex-addict?

Living with a sex-addict? . When Simran started dating Rohit, she found him to be an aggressive, but a fun-to-be with lover who did everything to rock her sex life in bed. But by the time they ought to speculate marriage, she realised that he wasn't a normal man with normal sexual desires.

Rather, he was a sex-addict, whose wild sex etiquettes and voracious hunger for physical intimacy was having a negative impact on their life together. Failing to cope up with his overtly insatiable sex drive, known to the world as ‘Satyriasis’ or ‘Don Juanism’, Simran had no option but to part ways with her beau.

Even for males, there's a chance that you maybe hooked to a 'nymphomaniac', who appears as - 'a loving girl for you' in the beginning. But by the time her 'sex-kitten' avatar comes to the fore it's already too late to pull up your socks. Dr. Sameer Parikh, a psychologist, defines sex addiction as a situation, "When having sex is seen as one's sole priority, leading to a neglect of the other important facets of life (e.g., working, socializing, and sleeping), an addiction or compulsion to sex. Sexual addiction and compulsivity include, any sexual behaviour which is "had" or done in an obsessive, uncontrollable, and/or irrational way that becomes self-destructive. People with this diagnosis feel, and indeed may have, little or no control over sex, and are required to go through psychological therapies and medication in some cases."

So, before you get into involved with a sex maniac, here are a few cues to help you know if you are clinging onto a sex addict or a nymphomaniac. However, remember that these are just cues and not a yardstick to make or mar your relationship.

He's a sex-addict if ...

1. Normal lovemaking session? Not for him!
He usually complains about the lack of variety in his sex life with you. Normal love making sessions never satisfy him as he demands hard core porn-star type moves and grinds. He finds bliss in numbers, be it the number of abnormal sex-positions or the number of times he wants to climax in a single night...all hinting towards his out-of-control sexual problem.

2. He's leading a double life
Do you doubt he's having a liaison with someone else only to seek sexual gratification? Do you feel cheated in his company? Does he hide his 'self-help' acts from you, only because he is going overboard with them? And despite repeatedly telling him, he simply can't control his sexual urges.

3. He constantly digs into sexual stuff
No, we are not talking about men who take pleasure in watching occasional porn or reading sex write-ups and looking at photographs, but a man who is pre-occupied with X-rated stuff even at times and places where it's strictly avoidable. It's only X-rated movies that he is interested in most of the times. If his browser history reveals out and out porn sites in chronological order and his mail box is filled with invitations from adult dating sites ...you have all the reasons to watch out for.

4. Sex on his mind!
In his diehard pursuit of sex or romantic relationships, he is neglecting his social, professional and spiritual responsibilities and development. Even the extreme fear of being inflicted by STDs is no hurdle in his sexual escapades...then you should know he's an addict.

5. He's a runaway guy!
Does he usually try to get away from you after having sex? When he desires, he wants a roller-coaster session but soon after it's over, he's filled with guilt of getting physically close to you. This sense of withdrawal is due to his awareness about the compulsive craving for sex which he fails to curb.

6. Legal troubles? Who cares!
You caught him talking over the phone in an indecent (sexually explicit) manner with someone. You get to know of some legal allegations against him for anything - ranging from having a romp at an illegal place or with someone like a prostitute or a minor. You might even find him engaging in offensive activities like voyeurism or exhibitionism. If even the prospects of getting into legal trouble fail to stop him from exercising his sexual prowess, you should be aware that you are living with an addict!

7. He's getting cynical by the day
Together with the above mentioned clues, if you find your guy living with intense negative feelings of guilt, shamefulness and remorse, the extent of being suicidal, it's only because he can't stop himself from doing what he knows is wrong not just for him but also for his loved ones.

She's a nymphomaniac if...

1. She's a spotlight hog
Nymphomaniac women need attention from more than just one person. She can go to any extent to be a man-magnet. So, beware if your partner is all over your friend, colleague, boss or any new male for that matter.

2. The world is sex-starved to her
That's the notion she lives in. To a Nympho, no one is oversexed, only undersexed! And she is the only one on planet Earth to satiate the sexual hunger of every sex-starved soul.

3. She's always in a relationship
Her past reveals one continuous series of relationships, overloaded with sexcapades. And the reason why she's never single is that she can't stand being alone.

Moreover, each one of her former boyfriends is stark opposite from one another, hinting towards the fact that she's not looking for that certain someone special, but for that certain anyone.

4. Sex, sex every where
No matter what you say to her, she will only decipher a sexual meaning or connotation from it to satiate her urges. She'll attach every thread of conversation with eroticism finally leading to sex.

Even your passive behaviour is no resistance to her over-charged self pouncing upon you.

5. Sex is a drug
Yes, to all her ailments, anxieties and problems the only medicine that works best is - sex. She just can't get over it. Knowingly most of the times, she fails to get over that compulsive compelling to get you into bed.

6. Too much, too soon
That's her expectation from the relationship and when we say this, we mean only her physical demands. While a normal girl is still happy with kissing and cuddling, she is already burning with a burning desire to be in bed with you...with her ruling the roost, of course!

7. Deny her and see!
Every man goes through certain 'low-drive' days, when he just fails to reciprocate his gal's passion and makes lame excuses for the next time.

But dare to deny a nympho and she'll touch the extremes of behavioural patterns, including a severe spat, depression and an acute sense of withdrawal from everything around her. Extreme suicidal tendencies will get more severe.

Expert advice:
"It is impossible for sex-addict themselves to realise the need of treatment for his state of being. In such a scenario, it is the prerogative of the other half to deal with patience and convince him/her to meet an expert for advice. Lack of treatment can not only expose the addicts to acute embarrassment, but also land them in legal troubles and wrong relations, especially in the case of women," explains physiatrist, Dr. Aruna Broota. ( indiatimes.com )

READ MORE - Living with a sex-addict?

Licking of the rose petals – Cunnilingus techniques

The quivering kiss

“With delicate fingertips, pinch the arched lips of her house of love very slowly together, and kiss them as though you kissed her lower lip: this is Adhara-sphuritam”.

This is a rather strange technique, but if done correctly, it can be a good way to initiate cunnilingus. Pinch together the labia of your partner’s vagina to imitate lips, and gently kiss the region.

The circling tongue

“Now spread, indeed cleave asunder, that archway with your nose and let your tongue gently probe her yoni (vagina), with your nose, lips and chin slowly circling: it becomes Jihva-bhramanaka”.

Remember, that the vagina is an extremely sensitive area, even more so than the penis, and when engaging in cunnilingus, make sure to always be gentle. Shaving before sex will reduce irritation in techniques where the face and chin will come into contact with the vagina.

The tongue massage

“Let your tongue rest for a moment in the archway to the flower-bowed Lord's temple before entering to worship vigorously, causing her seed to flow: this is Jihva-mardita”.

Rhythm is just as important for women as it is for men. Change the rhythms of your tongue, its speed and pressure, and don’t focus on one area.

Sucked

“Next, fasten your lips to hers and take deep kisses from this lovely one, your beloved, nibbling at her and sucking hard at her clitoris: this is called Chushita”.

The clitoris is one of the most sensitive areas of the vagina, and is probably the easiest place to stimulate a woman to orgasm. Talk to your partner, and ask her what techniques she prefers, slow or fast, circles or licking – find out what she wants, don’t just guess.

Sucked up

“Cup and lift her young buttocks, let your tongue-tip probe her navel, slither down to rotate skilfully in the archway of the love-god's dwelling and lap her love-water: this is Uchchushita”.

The entrance to the vagina is also an incredibly sensitive area that if stimulated correctly can give a woman immense pleasure. Moving in circles and changing direction sporadically is a good technique for stimulating this area.

Stirring

“Stirring the root of her thighs, which her own hands are gripping and holding widely apart, your fluted tongue drinks at her sacred spring: this is Kshobhaka”.

As a woman, help your partner provide you pleasure. Open your thighs to allow him better access, and tell him what you want.

Sucked hard

“Place your darling on a couch, set her feet to your shoulders, clasp her waist, suck hard and let your tongue stir her overflowing love-temple: this is called Bahuchushita”.

Remember that sex does not have to be limited to the bedroom. Experiment around the house to keep things fresh. High tables are excellent for oral sex, as they allow for different style of oral pleasure other than lying down.

The crow

“If the pair of you lie side by side, facing opposite ways, and kiss each other's secret parts using the fifteen techniques described above, it is known as Kakila”.

Interestingly enough, ‘The Crow’ is the origin of the 69 position. This position can perhaps be considered one of the most erotic positions for oral sex, as both partners are able to stimulate each other, providing intense pleasure for those who like to give as well as receive. ( health24.com )

READ MORE - Licking of the rose petals – Cunnilingus techniques

Sucking a mango fruit – fellatio techniques

Touching

“When your lover catches your penis in her hand and, shaping her lips to an 'O', lays them lightly to its tip, moving her head in tiny circles, this first step is called Nimitta”.

This is a great way to initiate fellatio if you are not sure what to do when you get down there.

Nominal congress

“When, holding the man's penis with her hand, and placing it between her lips, the woman moves about her mouth, it is called the 'nominal congress'”.

This is a very simple and mild technique that is a good way to get into the rhythm of oral sex. It is not a vigorous technique, but a gentle movement of the lips and tongue around the head of the penis.

Biting the sides

“Next, grasping its head in her hand, she clamps her lips tightly about the shaft, first on one side then the other, taking great care that her teeth don't hurt you: this is Parshvatoddashta”.

In other words, gently grip the head of the penis with your fingers, and caress the shaft with your lips and tongue. This is another less intense beginning to fellatio.

Outer pincers

“Now she takes the head of your penis gently between her lips, pressing and kissing it tenderly and pulling at its soft skin: this is Bahiha-samdansha”.

This technique mimics the final stage of the penis being taken in and withdrawn from the mouth, as the woman kisses the end of the penis as though she has just withdrawn it from her mouth.

Inner pincers

“If next she allows the head to slide completely into her mouth and presses the shaft firmly between her lips, holding a moment before pulling away, it is Antaha-samdansha”.

Great fellatio is all about technique and rhythm. Try variations in style and rhythm, by changing depth and speed and pressure.

Kissing

“When, taking your penis in her hand and making her lips very round, she presses fierce kisses along its whole length, sucking as she would at your lower lip, it is called Chumbitaka”.

Fellatio is not just about taking the penis into your mouth. Explore the rest of it with your lips and tongue. This will help add variation.

Rubbing

“If, while kissing, she lets her tongue flick all over your penis and then, pointing it, strikes repeatedly at the sensitive glans-tip, it becomes Parimrshtaka”.

Though aggression can become very erotic, remember that the head of the penis is a very sensitive area, and too much pressure or pain may become extremely uncomfortable for your partner. Do not be afraid to ask if what you are doing is painful. He will be more than happy to help you get it right.

Sucking a mango fruit

“And now, fired by passion, she takes your penis deep into her mouth, pulling upon it and sucking as vigorously as though she were stripping clean a mango-stone, this is called Amrachushita”.

This technique is a good way to bring your partner to orgasm. However, as it is a very vigorous exercise, be sure to keep the noise levels down, so as not to put him off. If you are worried about awkward sounds during oral sex or intercourse, put on a cd, and let the music cover them up.

Swallowing up

“When she senses that your orgasm is imminent, she swallows up the whole penis, sucking and working upon it with lips and tongue until you spend: this is Sangara”.

This is of course the woman’s prerogative. Some women may be uncomfortable having a man ejaculate in their mouth. Before giving your partner oral sex, tell him your preference, and stick by it. ( Health24.com )

READ MORE - Sucking a mango fruit – fellatio techniques

Caresses and sensual touching

Caresses and sensual touching. Sex is like a sand castle. A foundation needs to be built, it then needs to be sculptured to perfection, and then allowed to be washed gently away by the sea.

Moving in for the kill too quickly will end the experience after a couple of hours. The trick is to draw out being with each other for as long as possible. There are many things that can be done prior to penetration. Abstaining from penetration for as long as possible will increase the anticipation of the act, and will intensify the moment of penetration for both partners.

This is easier said than done, however. The Kama Sutra describes 12 embraces that are designed for partners to be in sensual physical contact with one another without the act of sex.

These embraces usually occur naturally in relationships, but you can use them in preparation for sex. Try a selection of these throughout the day with your partner. You’ll soon discover that by the time the lights go out, you’ll have your partner more than ready for some steamy action.

The touching embrace

“When a man under some pretext or other goes in front of or alongside a woman and touches her body with his own, it is called the touching embrace.”

A soft unexpected touch can be very erotic. This act is a subtle display of affection, reminding your partner that you are still there, and of what is to come. Soft, unexpected touches throughout the day will do wonders in preparing your partner for the night of love ahead.

The pressing embrace

“When on the occasion of walking together a lover presses the other’s body forcibly against a wall or pillar, it is called a pressing embrace.”

Perhaps ‘forcibly pressing’ your partner against walls and pillars all day might become a bit much, but it is good to help emphasise the importance of pre-sexual foreplay. Passionately embracing your partner during the day shows them that you are still there, and that you’re still keen.

The twining of a creeper

“When a woman, clinging to a man as a creeper twines around a tree, bends his head down to hers with the desire of kissing him and slightly makes the sound of sut sut, embraces him, and looks lovingly towards him, it is called the embrace of the twining creeper.”

Though it is difficult to interpret what the sound of ‘sut sut’ is, what is important with this embrace is the display of affection the woman is giving. This embrace is a very personal one, and is a display of physical affection given by the woman.

The milk and water embrace

“When a man and a woman are very much in love with each other, and, not thinking of any pain or hurt, embrace each other as if they were entering into each other’s bodies either while the woman is sitting on the lap of the man, or in front of him, or on a bed, then it is called an embrace like a mixture of milk and water.”

This embrace can be interpreted as dry sex in modern terms. Simply, this means sex with your clothes on. Again, this is a very passionate act, and can be extremely erotic because of the concept of that small barrier of material that is the only thing stopping a couple from actual intercourse.

The embrace of the Jaghana

“When a man presses the jaghana (area between the navel and the thighs) of a woman’s body against his own and mounts upon her to practice scratching with the nail or finger, biting, striking, or kissing, the hair of the woman being loose and flowing, it is called the embrace of the jaghana.”

A little gentle pain can be an extremely sensual and erotic experience. Try soft scratches on the upper and lower back, or gentle bites all over the body. Body massages can also help get your partner in the mood, but be sure not to kill the night with over-zealous sexual aggression.

The embrace of the forehead

“When either of the lovers touches the mouth, the eyes, and the forehead of the other with his or her own, it is called the embrace of the forehead.”

This embrace is a very personal one, with the faces of the two lovers coming into contact. It is a gentle gesture of affection, and good for any relationship.( Health24.com )

READ MORE - Caresses and sensual touching

The Sutra of kissing

The Sutra of kissing. Kissing is the first step a couple takes toward a sexually active relationship. It is a vital part of any couples time together, and if not enjoyed by both partners, can bring a quick end to any relationship.

The Kama Sutra describes many kisses. By recognising these moments in your relationship, you can help fine-tune them for maximum enjoyment from both you and your partner.

Kissing is also an essential part of foreplay, and cannot be overlooked when preparing for intercourse. Kissing also plays a role during intercourse, and aside from actual penetration, is one of the most personal and affectionate acts between a couple.

Bent kiss

“When the heads of the two lovers are bent toward each other, and when so bent, kissing takes place, it is called the bent kiss.”

This is perhaps the most popular of kisses.

The turned kiss

When one of the lovers turns up the face of the other (often by holding the chin), it is called the turned kiss.

This is a more personalised kiss, as it shows the intent of the kisser, who lifts is or hers partner’s chin.

The straight kiss

“When the lips of the two lovers are brought directly to each other, it is called a straight kiss.”

Clasping kiss

“When either the man or the woman takes both the lips of the other between his or her own, it is called the clasping kiss. A woman only takes this kind of kiss from a man with no moustache.”

Though an odd kiss, it can be considered something different.

Fighting for the tongue

“If, during the practice of a kiss, one of them touches the teeth, the tongue and the palate of the other with his or her tongue, it is called the fighting of the tongue.”

Most people will be able to recognise this kiss, as it is an extremely passionate kiss that can happen during heated sex or foreplay. A must to increase the intensity of a sexual encounter.

The kiss that kindles love

“When a woman looks at the face of her lover while he is asleep and kisses it to show her intention or desire to make love, it is called the kiss that kindles love.”

The kiss that turns way

“When one lover kisses the other while that lover is engaged in business or while he is looking at something else, so that his or her mind may be turned away, it is called the kiss that turns away.”

It is always a good idea to show your partner randomly during the day. An unexpected kiss is great for nurturing a relationship. ( health24.com )

READ MORE - The Sutra of kissing

Masturbation - fun or folly?

Masturbation - fun or folly?. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, or worse yet, dismissive of your concerns, the real "harm" here is not physical. It's all the worry, shame, and conflict attached to masturbation by so many men, women, and children, thanks to negative associations with all kinds of sex — done by one's self and with others.

Strong negative messages play a role

These messages come from so many influential places — often for most of one's lifetime. It may not be true for you, but this cloud that hangs over many masturbators might send some looking for physical "harm" from this popular practice. It can be a way of justifying any bad feelings and beliefs about masturbation that might never allow going it alone totally okay.

"Blame everything on masturbation"

That said, your "blame-it-on-masturbation" reasoning is understandable. If one sprouts hair in "strange" places, sports dark circles under the eyes, and says goodbye to those always reliable erections during and after stretches of solo-sex, one could easily conclude that these unwanted reactions came on as a result of whacking off.

Then, could it not also be said that hair loss, far-sightedness, and love handles also owe it to masturbation? And what about greater self-confidence, career changes, and the urge to buy property? The point: is it possible that all of these occurrences stem from something besides genital stimulation? Might aging also be the culprit?

It may not come up 'round the copier and coffee table, but many twenty- and thirtysomethings now include big black nose and ear hair plucking in their regular grooming routine. They'd also put down difficulty getting it up and keeping it there as a getting older symptom. Bags under the eyes? Yep, that's on the list, too.

Why not conduct this experiment?

If you're not convinced that masturbation doesn't play a direct role in the physical "consequences" that you're now experiencing, how about conducting an experiment? Masturbate less often, or refrain from doing it for a few months. and see if your symptoms disappear.

Take note that not "relieving" yourself for an extended period of time may lead to other unwanted physical and psychological situations, including irritability, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and wet dreams. Now, it is possible that any stress, guilt, disgust, etc. with your personal sex play is making it harder to get and stay hard — these feelings are frequently powerful obstructions to sexual arousal. Also, if you're masturbating past your bedtime, dark circles may stare back at you the next morning. ( health24.com )

READ MORE - Masturbation - fun or folly?

Learn good lip service

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Scientists warming up to African rodent

Scientists warming up to African rodent. Naked mole rats don't get cancer. They shrug off brushes with acid and age so well, some are older than the college-aged researchers handling them.

"They really are from Mars, I think," said Thomas Park, a professor of biological sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Actually, they're from the horn of Africa. But naked mole rats are becoming more popular in research laboratories, where the seemingly invulnerable rodents have surprised scientists with their ability to live up to 30 years and their potential to offer insights into human health. They're being used to study everything from aging to cancer to strokes.

AP – In this Oct. 21, 2009 photo, a pregnant naked mole rat is shown at the Barshop Institute at the UT Health …

About 1,500 naked mole rats live in clear tanks connected by long tubes at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, where researcher Rochelle Buffenstein nurtures the largest colony in the U.S. At least a half-dozen other universities also have colonies.

Nearly blind and hairless, the rodents resemble wrinkled spring rolls with tiny legs and buck teeth. They normally live in underground tunnels with a social structure comparable to bees. Buffenstein is studying their longevity.

Whereas laboratory mice live an average two years, naked mole rats can live up 30 years with little creaking in old age. Buffenstein said their bone quality doesn't start to diminish until they're about 24 years old.

They look fragile — several can fit into a palm, and it's possible to see beneath their pinkish skin — but naked mole rats are like tough, tube-shaped stuntmen.

Squirting lemon juice on a cut would sting anyone, but Park said naked mole rats don't feel pain because they lack a neurotransmitter known as substance P. The discovery has opened up ideas for pain research.

Park and researcher John Larson report in next month's journal NeuroReport that the brains of adult naked mole rats can withstand oxygen depravation for a half-hour or more. That knowledge could eventually help in stroke research, Park said.

Cancer? Buffenstein said the disease has never been found in the rodent.

A study published in October found their resistance may come from a gene called p16 that prevents cells from crowding together. Cancer occurs when cells grow uncontrollably.

Vera Gorbunova, an associate professor of biology at the University of Rochester who published the findings, said she hopes to have her own colony of mole rats to study by next summer.

"We shouldn't just be looking where it's easy to look," Gorbunova said. "We should be looking in species where we can find something ... instead of studying mice, which live relatively short lives."

As recently as the 1990s, Buffenstein said only she and one other group were really studying naked mole rats. Now she expects them to be common in laboratories by 2020.

"It takes time for people to realize that an animal has got a lot going for it," Buffenstein said. ( Associated Press )

READ MORE - Scientists warming up to African rodent