Integration of technology and neuroscience has now made it possible to impart vision to individuals suffering from blindness. Scientists around the world are trying to use the principles of neurotechnology and other fields of sciences in order to develop devices that can mimic the human eye so that blind people can be benefited.

Described below are some important innovations that have been made in this area and how neurotechnology is helping blindness.

1. Eye-pod: This is a device that has been developed by Neurotech, a Rhode Island based biotech firm. Using their proprietary Encapsulated Cell Technology, scientists and engineers at this institute have come out with a porous membrane that is filled with genetically modified human retinal cells capable of secreting a protein called as ciliary neurotrophic factor. This protein is known to protect the eye. This device has to be surgically implanted into the eye.

2. Another major innovation developed by engineers and scientists at Optobionics, Illinois, is a sensory device or a chip that can be surgically implanted into the eye. This device is based on the thought of integrating electronic devices directly into the human body. Known as Artificial Silicon Retina (ASR), this device is actually a 2mm wide silicon chip containing thousand of photovoltaic solar cells. These cells are capable of converting external light into electric currents that are capable of stimulating retinal cells in the eye.

3. Second Sight is another biotech firm based in California. Scientists at this organization have developed an electrode array that when implanted in the eye captures images by means of its small camera. These images are then processed and transferred to the electronic implant device present in the eye. This device then electronically stimulates the retina.

It really surprises me at just how our normal lifestyle has become so draining and is affecting our health in such a way that finding the energy to do something about it can lead to even more stress.  Ask yourself the question, when did you last meditate?  Or take a long walk in nature to clear your mind?

Learning about our organ health and the emotions that are represented by them can generate a clear insight into where in our body our Qi is not flowing freely.

The Liver

Also known as the lifer because it is the giver of life, the liver is the largest gland in the body and has a variety of functions such as storing blood when we rest. When the liver is not in balance then we usually experience intolerance which leads to frustration & anger and in very extreme cases, Rage. The element that is associated with the liver is wood and its colour is Green.

The kidneys

You might not know it but your kidneys work extremely hard in pumping and balancing fluids in the body, circulate around 15 gallons of fluid every hour, amazing` let’s hear it for the kidneys. The emotion connected to the kidneys is inappropriate fear and anxiety during normal day to day activities. The element for the kidneys is water and the colour is deep sea blue.

The Spleen

Here is another organ that really affects our mental health when out of balance and one function is to filter our blood. The spleen is emotionally connected to pensiveness or you could call it the worry organ when out of balance. The spleens element is earth and the colour is earthy yellow.

Organs are Emotions

So you begin to get the picture when we look at the body from this perspective that the organs are right at the core of our mental health and taking yoga & fitness classes or going on long walks really helps to create balance.

Learn to Meditate

Learning to meditate brings with it so many benefits with many different methods used all over the world. Mindfulness meditation has proven to be one of the most popular today and has some really good studies to back it up. Also walking meditation has been a great way of building and maintaining much clarity for our minds.

What is meditation?

Meditation can be practiced in many ways but one of the best is the observation of thoughts passing through your mind without feeling the need to think about them or become involved with where the thought came from and why it is here.

Attend a yoga & fitness retreat.

Retreats have become incredibly popular over the decades and you can find many offering yoga health and fitness in Europe and all over the world. All you have to do is ensure you choose the right one that suits your needs for building and sustaining a healthy and mentally fit lifestyle.

With the skyrocketing costs of health care, the issue of health travel or “medical tourism” has been generating lots of buzz in the media. Within the last few weeks, stories about health travel have hit the pages of publications like US News & World, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, detailing how health travel offers people high quality health care at a price far more affordable than the US. It’s a benefit without boundaries – meaning, the cost savings are for anyone who wants them, including the thousands of insured who are nevertheless facing higher premiums, reduced coverage, and higher out-of-pocket deductibles and co-payments.

While much of the press has focused on exotic locales like India, Mexico is actually the most common destination for Americans traveling for health care. Last year alone more than 50,000 Americans traveled to Mexico seeking everything from heart surgery, hip replacement, cosmetic dentistry, cosmetic surgery procedures, preventive screenings and even homeopathic health treatments. Mexico is widely recognized for its number of leading gastroenterology (weight loss) surgeons.

In its study Medical Tourism: Consumers In Search of Value, Deloitte estimates the number of medical travelers is expected to reach 6 million per year in 2009. The growth is not surprising – the typical medical traveler receive outstanding quality health care at significantly lower cost over U.S. pricing.

For example, in Mexico, weight loss surgery ranges from $6,000-$11,500 vs. the $25-35,000 price tag in the U.S. Hip replacement is $10,000-$12,000, compared to $60,000+ in the U.S. A $100,000 angioplasty in the U.S. is $25,000 in Mexico – featuring a surgeon who regularly spends at least three months of his operating time in the U.S.

Mexico offers the additional benefit of having direct flights from many U.S cities, and most surgeons are fluent in English as well as Spanish. The hospitals that welcome medical tourists are sleek, modern affairs featuring amenities such as patient suites, sushi restaurants and a medical traveler concierge, while even newer, more sophisticated hospitals continue to be built.

Do your research to find the medical tourism company that best suits your needs. There are companies that guide patients through the process of getting medical treatment abroad, handling every detail of your trip – from insurance to financing, arranging for air travel, accommodations, appointments, transportation to and from your procedure and even keeping you in touch with friends and family.

A hernia is a very painful disease and if it goes into the last stage, it has to be operated. There are many patients who prefer to go for surgery instead of continuing with the medication because it helps cure fast.

However, there is a different alternative to surgeries and it is becoming more and more popular among hernia patients. Technology has advanced in every possible way in the health section and doctors have come up with amazing solutions to make sure that you can get hernia treatment without surgery. This treatment involves controlling your diet plan, starting an exercise program and also wearing garments that would help heal a hernia. In fact, there are similar cures for piles treatment that doctors have come up with up in the recent time. But, what is it that will help you cure a hernia without having to go for the traumatic surgery? Let’s find out.

A systematic diet

One of the most important parts of treating a hernia without surgery is to have a good diet plan. Just like you have a diet chart when you want to lose weight, similarly there is a specific diet plan when you have hernia. However, it is important that you follow the diet religiously in order to quicken the process of recovery. Foods that are rich in fiber would be ideal for this situation. In addition to fiber rich foods, you should also include lots and lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. Since hernia patients lack minerals and vitamins in their body, it is essential that you eat food that are rich in vitamins and minerals and also zinc. All these will combine together to make collagen so that your skin gets the right amount of protein. A primary concern for hernia patients is their weak collagen content due to which the hernia occurs in the first place.

People exercise for various reasons, but for those who have a hernia, there are also exercises that helps to cure a hernia and prevent patients from undergoing a surgery. The exercises meant for hernia patients are mainly muscle exercises because the abdominal muscles have to be strained in order to cure the hernia. The main target area would be the muscles that lie just below the 6 pack. As those muscles are strained higher towards your stomach, the chances of curing your hernia increases. The most ideal exercise in this case would be Pilates as they directly deal with the abdominal muscles and will not only cure a hernia, but will also prevent it from growing any further.

Change in attire

That is the reason why many companies have come up with abdominal belts and pants that can keep your abdominal muscles tight. This in turn will help in ensuring that the hernia is prevented from getting worse.

As morals in medicine are on the verge of decline, it is all the more important to uphold medical ethics in all circumstances. Health care and education are recognized as the basic elements to ensure the survival of society into future generations. If their principles are not built on strong foundations to withstand the constant erosion of values, it is likened to the foolish man who built his house on sand and was washed away by the floods.

Solid principles in delivering health care services revolve around its code of ethics. Challenges may arise in the form of misuse or abuse of medications, procedures, treatments and other forms related to the field. Staff may be harassed or enticed to look the other way. Banking on the assumption of non involvement translating to innocence, the fact remains that knowledge without action is equivalent to condoning the act.

The role of medical ethics within its world of practice and study deserves due recognition. As such, morals in medicine should be a subject consistently extolled in the corridors and halls, drummed into the minds of health care practitioners of all status and levels. It is not sufficient for the general to be the only party aware of the enemy’s presence. The troops also need to be equipped to do battle.

As the world is a melting pot of cultures and religions, there is a need to understand the various styles of living so as not to overstep one’s boundaries and cause a misunderstanding. A practice of medical service which may be acceptable to a people group may be taboo to another. Some religions do not adhere to blood transfusions. More radical ones may choose to not seek treatment as they believe in healing via means other than the hands of man. Hence, one needs to be sensitive in dealing with such situations as medical ethics dictates the saving of lives.

When I first began researching information on various hospitals across the United States, I came across many hospitals that offered a variety of Centers of Excellence. I was curious as to what constituted a Center of Excellence as opposed to just listing a program as a specialty service, so I decided to research this as well.

What I found out was that a Center of Excellence essentially means that a hospital specializes in the treatment of a certain illness or specializes in particular treatments. Centers of excellence can be anything from heart or cancer care to neurosurgery or organ transplants. Some hospitals offer a variety of Centers of Excellence whereas other hospitals might just offer one or two.

It was more difficult to find out how a hospital was able to claim the distinction of having a Center of Excellence. From what I could gather, each individual program and treatment has particular criteria that needs to be met in order for the hospital to state that their program is a Center of Excellence. They might require that the treatments be performed by a certain type of doctor or that a certain amount of treatments are performed annually.

I also found that different health care programs and health insurance programs will also designate a program of a hospital as a Center of Excellence based on their own criteria. This might mean that they are more likely to recommend this hospital as opposed to another hospital. They do this as a service to the patients who have their insurance to help them make an informed decision about which program is right for them. If you have a question about a particular hospitals Center of Excellence designation, you should ask them about how they received the designation and who gave it to them.

It is often assumed when people mention nail care, that the recipients of such services would be women. Beautiful day spas continue to spring up all over America. These luxurious retreats offer women an escape from their hectic lives and offer some much deserved pampering. Sure, we may see the occasional advertisement for a “couples” massage or maybe even a “male” day at the spa. But when it comes to feet, many people imagine women with beautiful healthy nails polished in exquisite colors and designs.

So what do we do about the large percentage of men who simply need a safe and comfortable place to have their feet and nails professionally cared for? We can’t ignore the needs of thousands of men who are, in fact, perfect candidates for foot and nail care. Nearly 50% of people over the age of 60 have experienced onychomycosis, or toenail fungus. Once this infection takes hold, it can be very difficult to treat. Nails become yellow, thickened and brittle, often requiring the tools and expertise of a medical professional to treat.

Many men have difficulty maintaining good nail care because they cannot reach their feet. Hip and knee replacements are some common reasons, as are arthritis and back pain. Clipping one’s own nails when vision or balance problems exist could become a safety issue. Safety should always be a priority in cutting one’s nails since the possibility of nicking oneself could result in infection. This is especially important for diabetics, where progressive infection could lead to amputation.

Some men have painful corns and calluses which can interfere with their activity level. Regularly reducing rough areas of the feet, adding cushioning to susceptible areas, and moisturizing the feet daily, will delay the return of calluses. This will enable one to continue enjoying an active lifestyle.

Nail care for men needs to become the norm rather than the exception. Those who maintain healthy feet and nails are able to continue to participate in their favorite activities, and have fewer complaints of foot pain.

Some seniors reach a point where they think it is too late for foot care. Please know it is never too late. If you feel embarrassed by the condition of your feet or nails, please schedule a visit to have them cared for by your health care provider or foot care nurse. It will be the first step in a healthier you!

In my search for answers to use alternative medicine in place of modern drugs and pharmacy I ran across the story of colorful naturopath Henry Lindlair (1862-1924). As a young man Lindlair accumulated a fortune. Although rich he was sick at 35. Diagnosed with diabetes and given just a few months to live he changed his lifestyle to nature cure. Ten years later he owned a successful drug free nature cure clinic in Chicago. Over the next 20 years became the leading scientific naturopath in America.

Lindlair’s story is common in the annals of nature cure. His cure was not found in drugs, but located in nature. His first touch was reading Louis Kuhne’s The New Science of Healing which introduced him to the concept that disease is caused by violating nature’s laws. After applying the Kuhns suggestion he eventually became cured of diabetes. The experience gave him the drive to embark on a lifelong journey into natural cures.

Before that Lindlair had believed that life, death, and disease were largely a matter of being in the wrong place and disease was caught by chance. He felt betrayed by a medical community that should have explained that as simple a thing as diet and that he was cured by what medical doctors called a “Quack.”

Lindlair believed that if he became a medical doctor he could correct the wrong thinking conveyed by the medical profession. He learned osteopathy and nutrition, then later received his medical license and started his Chicago practice. He consistently railed against the rich American diet and felt good blood did not need large quantities of fats, proteins, meats, and dairy products. He felt that vegetable salts were taxed with heavy foods that nutritional deficiencies would occur. He never became a fanatic about food but was careful about quantity, making vegetables the biggest portions on his plate.

Four core solutions were used in his sanatorium
o Rest and Relaxation
o Water, air, light, electricity
o Hydrotherapy of all sorts, cold, warm, hot
o Controlled diet

Besides those he used homeopathy and occasional herbs. Lindlair was an accomplished naturopath whose light went out too early when he paid no attention to himself. An infection in his toe led to blood poisoning killed him.