Tennis

This is a lens on tennis, a popular game in the world which lots have played. it teaches some basic skills of tennis, as well as having some youtube video's, which are very cool. it also recommends a series of tennis video instructions. Please digg it!!

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Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is a form of medicine based around the use of plants and their extracts. The concoctions used in herbal medicine have been shared from generation to generation. As a result, the use of herbal medicine in order to cure ailments is a longstanding one that has been used around the world. Amazingly, herbal medicine concoctions have been found among cave paintings dating as far back as 13,000 to 25,000 BC.

Actually, the oldest form of healthcare known to mankind is herbal medicine. Before pharmacies ever existed, people used plants to cure and treat illnesses and injuries. Plants were one of the most important things to man millions of years ago. They helped feed him, shelter him, clothe him and provided healthcare. It is thought that people learned which plants were poisonous based on how the animals around them acted after eating the plant. Even today, according to the World Health Organization estimates, around eighty percent of the world's population, a whopping four billion people, uses herbal medicine for some form of their healthcare needs.

The reason plant chemicals have an effect on us is partly, because all living things are composed of families of related organic compounds. Proteins, enzymes, vitamins, sugars and poisons from plants are bound to have some effect. Plant chemical, when applied to humans, mimics its normal reaction inside the parent plant. Take antibiotics, in plants they are specifically evolved to ward off bacteria and fungi, and they do exactly the same in animals. Plant chemicals that inhibit parasites and tumours in plants have been found to have the same effect on humans.

Currently, there are three types of herbal medicine commonly practiced in the United States. These practices are Ayurvedic, which is based out of India, Chinese herbology and Western herbalism based on ancient Greek and Roman practices. All three of these types of herbal medicine are steeped in ancient tradition have are practiced by millions of people. Ayurvedic is still commonly used in India and the President of India has is own personal physicians that practice this form of medicine while Chinese medicine is also still practiced by many of the country’s doctors.

Many different alternative therapies such as acupuncture, oriental and homeopathy also have some sort of herbal component to them. Pharmaceutical companies use herbal components in some of their products as well. As an example, aspirin contains white willow bark. Therefore, plants actually pay a large part in medicine, and they are sometimes essential. When there is destruction to the rainforest areas, we may never know if we have lost a plant that was a cure for a disease.

People are becoming more interested in herbs as medicines, because they feel these are safer alternatives to a lot of the pharmaceutical drugs which have so many side effects. The truth is, though, plants are powerful medicines and need to be respected as such. Before taking any herbal medicine, it is important to check with your doctor or herbalist; because some herbs can interfere with medicines you may currently be taking. Also, not all plants medicines may be right for your particular condition.

In order to use an herbal remedy, the practitioner can follow a few different methods. One popular way to ingest herbal remedies is soaking the herb in hot water in order to drink it as a tea. Herbs can also be mixed into food or swallowed as a capsule. In some cases, the essential oils may be removed from the plant in order to use it for aromatherapy.

The use of herbal medicine has been in practice since ancient times. Since these remedies are still proving themselves to be effective, they will likely still be in use for thousands of years longer.

I have found a book about herbal medicines which is very good. I highly recommend it. If you are interested, Click Here!

The White Rose is a resistant group in Nazi Germany run by Hans Scholl, his sister Sophie Scholl and close friends Christoph Probst, Willi Graf and Alexander Schmorell. The group published leaflets that denounces the Nazi Government and spoke all its evils. At that time, such propaganda would receive a death sentence, but the group carried on. They posted the leaflets in mailboxes all across Munich, gave them out in schools and distributed them in the streets. The group borrowed a studio from a painter, and cranked out leaflets endlessly. Then, they gave them to the public. This went on for quite a long while, until a small mistake led to them being caught.

On the 18^th February, 1943, Hans and Sophie went to Munich University with a suitcase stuffed with what would be their last leaflets. They quickly put stacks on leaflets behind classroom doors, throughout the corridors and on windowsills. When they were about to go, Sophie found out that there were some leaflets left. She hastily threw them down to the first floor, but the timing was wrong. Students had already come out of their lecture rooms. Jakob Schmied, a custodian who was loyal to the Nazi Party, saw them and locked the university doors. They submitted to him and were arrested by the Gestepo, who took them to court. They were questioned for seventeen hours as the Gestepo wanted to make an example out of them. Sophie Scholl said during the hearing “What does my death matter if by our action thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?”

On February 22, 1943, they were put on trial. After three and a half hours, the court pronounced them guilty. They were beheaded immediately. Before he was beheaded, Hans shouted “Long live freedom”. This brave action would be sure to stay in peoples hears to know. In front of the Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich, a monument commences them to this day. Anyway, although they are dead, their legacy lives on.

Gynecomestia

Gynecomestia (male breasts or man boobs) is usually considered as a disease on account of which extra muscles forms into certain parts of the breast. Gynecomestia leads to the swollen of the parts of the breasts which gets affected by Gynecomestia. Gynecomestia generally is found to affect the male generation usually during the stage of adolescence, basically during 14 year of age. Besides the young adolescent being affected by the disease, Gynecomestia also affects the older generation of people. It is because of this disease of Gynecomestia, it is generally found that the males who suffers from it, doesn’t want to show their bare body. It is estimated out here that nearly 40% to 60% of the male generation suffers from this disease of Gynecomestia.

There are certain basic causes of Gynecomestia. Some of the most common causes of Gynecomestia are obesity, disorders in the generic system, tumors, ageing, puberty, medicinal side effects. In this context it can be found that Gynecomestia generally affects the male generation when they reach the stage of puberty that is found basically during the adolescence. Sometimes, certain medicine also causes Gynecomestia. Besides these causes, it has also been estimated that injury in the spinal cord is also a concerned cause of Gynecomestia.

Luckily, Gynecomestia can be overcome by many things, such as plastic surgery, special exercise and diet programs and man boobs reduction pills. However, these all have their ups and downs.

The main problem of plastic surgery is the cost. Gynecomastia surgery costs at least 4000 dollars and if you go to a professional company it will cost much more. It is also not covered by many medical insurance companies as it is considered a cosmetic condition and not a medical one. Also, there are a lot of risks involved in Gynecomastia surgery. If this doesn't go well, you may end up with scars, bumps or dents on your chest. There may even be a need for a second surgery to correct what the first missed. Finally, Gynecomstia is a painful procedure. You have to know this in advance.

For special exercise and diet plans, there have been cases in which a special and dedicated exercise and diet plan helped sufferers of man boobs to get rid of their man boobs. Some patients that have recovered published special programs in order to eliminate man boobs. If you're willing to spend some time and effort, you can get excellent results.

Finally, mans boobs reduction pills seem to fare quite well. They have been widely used during the past few years and have no reported cases of side effects. Gynecomestia thus is considered as a major concern of those who suffers from it. Gynecomestia is a disease which is only found to affect the male population either old or whether they be at the stage of puberty. But however, the matter can be relieved with the option of surgery on the basis of which the Gynecomestia can be removed and the male can thus show off their bare body rather than hiding it behind the shirt and the t-shirt.

By the way, I have a Squidoo lens called http://www.squidoo.com/malebreasts/. Visit it to find more information! Also, I strongly recommend a book by Cliff Manchester, which is very popular. He has suffered from Gynecomestia himself, and this book teaches you a lot about it. To buy it,
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Sun Protection

Overexposure to the sun and UV rays is rarely obvious at the time, -- and on many occasions, probably quite unintentional. However repeated exposure has rather more adverse long-term implications for our bodies and our health.

The sun’s rays are actually a major source of vitamin D and help the body’s systems acquire much needed calcium for building healthy bones. However, most people don’t need to spend large amounts of time exposed to the sun in order to get their required amount of vitamin D.

In fact, the body’s health can actually suffer negative effects when it’s exposed too long to the sun’s rays, especially if it’s unprotected. Results can vary from skin and eye damage to immune system suppression and ultimately cancer, even for the young.

There are three kinds of invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays in the sun that reaches earth: UVA, UVB, and UVC. When these rays come in contact with our skin, affects of UVA and UVB can be - tans, burns and other reactions (e.g. like acne and cancer).

It’s also notable that the effects of all UV rays are not the same. Depending upon the season, time of day and place on the planet in relation to the sun - (i.e. your altitude and latitude), the rays’ intensities vary. For example, during summertime, UV rays are at their strongest. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the rays are strongest. And close to the equator and at high altitudes (where air and cloud cover are less, resulting in increased harmful penetration of UV rays into the environment), the rays are also strongest.

The damage that occurs beneath the skin as a result of sunburn is considerably ‘less obvious’ at the time of exposure, and could take years to produce symptoms visible to the naked eye.

The fact that damage caused to skin cells during sunburn can not only accelerate the aging process, but also increase the risk of cataracts and skin cancer, should certainly demand our attention.

When faced with the potential risk of having to treat more than just the temporary symptoms and pain of sunburn, doesn’t it make more sense to avoid the risk in the first place? Therefore, seek prevention rather than cure!

When you are going out on a sunny day, remember these tips to have healthy skin even after tanning for quite a long period:

1. Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeve shirt and a hat. Consider the ‘additional’ protection of an umbrella or shade where appropriate.

2. Avoid sun exposure between 10 am and 3 pm if at all possible.

3. Remember that UV rays are present even on cloudy days.

4. Remember that sunlight is strongly reflected from sand, snow, ice, water and concrete, which can intensify your direct sunlight exposure.

5. Apply sunscreen containing a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, at least 15 minutes before going out into the sun.

6. Reapply sunscreen at regular intervals while out in the sun, especially if you are perspiring heavily or swimming.

7. Remember that UV overexposure is not limited to ‘sun exposure’. Sunburn can also occur as a result of UV exposure from other sources including tanning beds/lamps, welding arcs etc.

Prevention is a far better treatment than cure. In the event however, that you discover any unusual moles or growths on your skin – (particularly if they’re irregular in shape, bleed, itch, or appear to be changing) - consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

After following the tips above, it is sure that you will have healthy skin and a happy life.

Just a word, I highly recommend Sungazing 101 by Greg Aurand. It contains a lot of helpful information about sun protection. To get more info,

Click Here!

Dog Training Tips

Dog training may be frustrating, as there are many problems to be faced. Your dog may not listen to you, and you may even not know what to do. Here are some useful tips:

1) Always use the same command. 'Come' is recommended by many because it is simple to use and is unlike any other command word. Remember your dog will not understand 'get over here' if you usually say 'come'.

2) Never scold or punish your dog. Dogs have few cognitive reasoning skills, if any. This means that hitting or yelling at your dog will most likely result in confusion for your pet and not correction. So even if you are frustrated, don't ever hit, smack, or abuse your pet either physically or verbally.

3) Train your dog on a consistent schedule, as they would respond more positively. When they know you better, they would recognize training time and begin to like it. Therefore, it is best to keep a schedule instead of doing it in irregularly.

4) Your body language is important too. A dog stands stiff legged and looks into the eyes of another dog to be aggressive and threatening. You will find it much more effective to crouch or bend, slap your legs and don't make eye contact. Keep your voice high pitched and cheerful. Your dog may come to you without you giving the command word when you adopt this position.

5) Finally, an adult dog that doesn't come on command has already learnt that the command word is meaningless. It is much easier to choose a different word than to try and correct a corrupted one. Choose 'here', 'to me' or any other simple word that you fancy!

It's no secret that it takes awhile for your dog to get completely crate trained. Dog house training tip successfully means making the commitment to keep control of your puppy even during the night time. This means lugging that hard plastic or wire cage crate into your bedroom at night.

Just a final word, I highly recommend “Dog Obedience Training Secrets to STOP Your Dog’s Behavior Problems!” by Daniel Stevens. It just costs a mere $26.14 and has a lot of information about dog training. It has a very high popularity rate and many people have succeeded after reading it. It is really worth the price. To buy it , click on the link:
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BODY PIERCING

Body piercing has become such a popular form of body modification it has become almost mainstream, with more and more people sporting navel rings and multiple ear rings. Facial piercing, surface piercing and lots of others to choose from can make things confusing. Between five and ten percent of the population of the United States has indulged in at least one form of it at some time in their lives. In most cases, once a person gets a body piercing, they follow the first one with more. There are lots of considerations; however, for making sure that your body piercing is done safely so that you don’t end up with either an infection or a poorly done piercing that could leave an unsightly scar.

Body piercing also costs a large sum of money. The cost of a body piercing varies depending on several factors, including where you’re located, how close to a major city you are, and what kind of piercing you’re having done. Generally, the more difficult the piercing, the higher the cost. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for as well, so don’t depend entirely upon cost to choose your place for body piercing. If a company is charging significantly under the market cost in your area, he may be cutting corners in areas he shouldn’t, such as sterilization and other safety procedures.

On average, the cost of piercing fall somewhere in these ranges:

• Ears (lobes, cartilage, etc.).....anywhere from $25-$50
• Navel...................................$45-$55
• Tongue.................................$45-$55
• Labret..................................$50-$60
• Eyebrow................................$40-$50
• Nipple...................................$45-$55
• Nostril..................................$45-$55

Genital..................................$75-$100

The procedure for a good body piercing is not as easy as it seems. First, it must be done in a good piercing studio. A good body piercing studio must first and foremost be clean, clean, and clean! The most common cause of infectionof piercing is exposure to germs, so look for a piercing parlor that is very strict about its cleanliness and sterilization procedures. They should have a separate room where nothing else is done but piercing.

They should always have an operational autoclave, which is a wet steam sterilization unit that is to be used to clean and sterilize all tools and equipment used during piercing. They should also pierce only with single-use, disposable needles that are pre-wrapped. Ask them if this is what they use, and insist that the needles not be opened until they are actually ready to do your piercing so that you can confirm they are sterile-wrapped.

Look for experience and qualifications. Have all the piercers been through an apprenticeship program? If so, for how long did they train and where? Also make sure they are licensed to operate a piercing studio by their state’s department of health. In most states this is now mandatory. Also check the date to make sure it isn’t expired. Finally, look for a certificate of membership in a professional society such as the Association of Professional Piercers, an organization that supports safe and professional piercing practices and offers extensive ongoing training.

With properly gloved hands, your piercer will then check the area you want pierced to determine if you are really a candidate for the type of body piercing you’re seeking. In some cases, he may tell you that the conditions aren’t appropriate.

For instance, if there is damage to the cartilage or heavy scarring in the area you want pierced. He will also tell you if you have a current cut or skin condition that means you should postpone piercing. If this is the case, in order to protect your health and prevent possible problems down the line, he will not go any farther with the procedure. If everything looks fine, he’ll tell you so.

• He’ll change to a fresh pair of gloves after having handled your skin to examine the area.
• He will clean the area to be pierced with an antibacterial solution.
• He will mark the area to be pierced with a sterile, disposable marker.
• You’ll have the opportunity to check the marking (in a mirror if necessary) before he proceeds to the piercing stage.
• He will ask you if you are ready for the piercing procedure and allow you a moment to get comfortable.
• He will arrange his tools at hand and open the sterile package with the piercing needle.

And now, you’re ready for the real deal –- the piercing itself!

The basic procedure is the same for most piercings, but all piercers have their own way of handling the process. Some piercers will clamp the area with forceps to stabilize the area before putting the needle through, while others prefer to use a steady hand and their own eyes to guide the needle. If the person being pierced seems like they may flinch, it is more likely the forceps or surgical pliers of some type will be used to steady the area and hold the skin in place. This doesn’t hurt, and is simply to make sure you don’t get a crooked placement.

When the needle is lined up with the marking, the piercer will ask one last time if you are ready, and then quickly push the needle through. Some piercers use a cork as a backing, others don’t. This usually only takes a moment and feels like someone is pinching the skin hard. In most cases, the build-up to the moment is far worse than the actual piercing. Areas that are more sensitive include the genital area and the bridge of the nose.

• After the needle is removed, the starter jewelry is immediately put into place. One of the most important things to know about starter jewelry is that it is being put into an open wound, which is what a fresh piercing really is. Obviously, you don’t want your starter jewelry to be something that can cause an allergic reaction or infection. Also, never use cheap or base metals to get a body piercing. The best metals to use are titanium or surgical steel, both or which are essentially inert and won’t react with your body. In some cases, you can use high quality gold, but even this sometimes creates a reaction

Other materials are more likely to cause either an allergic reaction, rejection of the piercing by your body, or migration of the piercing.

Starter jewelry is generally a captive bead ring or barbell. The piercer will choose an appropriate size for the area that is slightly larger than what you would normally wear to allow for some swelling, which is normal for the first several days after a new piercing. He will screw the ends onto the new jewelry and make sure it is securely in place.

At this point, the piercer will remove this set of gloves and put on another fresh set, clean the area around the new piercing and examine it one last time. He will let you take a look at your new body jewelry while he explains the aftercare and any potential problems you should watch for. He will also give you a sheet of detailed aftercare instructions to take home with you.

Before you leave, take a few moments to relax either in the piercing room or the waiting room, as sometimes the adrenalin rush and its aftermath can leave you feeling a bit light-headed. Once you feel steady and sure of yourself, it is a good idea to get something like fruit juice to drink or a light snack. Your piercing is done!

A body piercing is, in the simplest terms, a puncture wound, so you want to use a high quality metal that won’t react with your body chemistry to create an allergic reaction or contaminate the open wound.

Never use cheap or base metals to get a body piercing. The best metals to use are titanium or surgical steel, both or which are essentially inert and won’t react with your body. In some cases, you can use high quality gold, but even this sometimes creates a reaction because of the nickel content, so do be cautious.

Once a piercing is completely healed, you have more leeway on what you can use, but if you are at all nickel sensitive, you will probably always have to stick with surgical steel and titanium for your body piercings, unless you are using alternatives such as glass, which is completely non-reactive and safe for nearly everyone.

After having body piercing, remember to keep your piercing clean. Clean it twice a day. Use a mild antibacterial soap that doesn’t have fragrances in it, such as Provon® Antimicrobial Lotion Soap or Satin® Therapeutic Skin Cleanser, both of which are approved by the Association of Professional Piercers (APP). The best place to clean your piercing is usually in the shower, where the warm water will help you loosen and remove those crusts around the base of your jewelry. Use a cotton swab or a Kleenex to remove these, and then throw the swab or Kleenex away. Never use a washcloth –- these things are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria! The same for bath towels after your shower!

Then, with clean hands, gently cleanse the area with the soap and turn the jewelry so that the soap gets in the piercing and let this sit for a minute or two. After rotating it again, rinse thoroughly with warm, clear water. Make sure you get all of the soap out to prevent irritation. The rinsing is very important, so try to be thorough without irritating the area. It often helps to cup your hands and drizzle water over the area, since the shower stream can be a little too hard to aim directly on the area.

After cleansing, a sea salt soak helps to draw out any piercing infection and impurities while soothing the area and calming any inflammation that may be present. Mix about ¼ teaspoon of sea salt with 8 ounces of warm water. Using a disposable cup, soak the piercing in this for ten minutes the first time, and five minutes each time after that. If your piercing is in a location that makes this difficult, apply the solution with cotton swabs, tissues or some other disposable product that’s soft and clean. Never use a hankerchief, washcloth or any other item that is going to be reused.

Always pat the piercing dry with cotton balls, cotton swabs or tissues –- don’t rub them, pat them. This reduces irritation and possible tearing of the skin and helps promote healing. Although it seems to be a minor step, keeping the piercing dry is actually an essential part of piercing aftercare because it reduces the opportunities for bacteria to breed (they love a warm, moist place to play).

If sea salt soaks are inconvenient, try H2Ocean® Piercing Aftercare Spray. It is a pre-mixed sea salt solution containing lysozyme, a natural antibacterial that is gentle to the skin. Simply spray it on the area and allow it to drip dry; it’s easy to use because of their patent-pending compressed air delivery system that produces a fine mist. This product is guaranteed to heal navel piercing in only a month and a half if used regularly and is highly recommended by numerous piercing communities like BME and Prick magazine.

H2Ocean® also comes in a portable size for your pocket or purse, which makes piercing aftercare away from home easier. X-pressions Piercing Aftercare Spray is also available for both oral and non-oral body piercings and is a mild antibacterial solution with purified water in a non-aerosol, pump spray with a pleasant, peppermint flavor.

Once a day (not more often, because you’ll be unnecessarily irritating the area), check that the ends of your piercing jewelry are firmly screwed on. But wash your hands with antibacterial soap first.

If you love body modification, you may be considering piercing yourself. It’s really not a good idea for a number of reasons. If you want to try piercing, do it the right way -- become a fully trained, licensed professional. Without the proper training and an understanding of proper sterilization techniques you risk scarring, infection, and permanent damage to the area.

First, it is really too hard to keep the area in your own home (or wherever you happen to be) clean and sterile enough. You also may have trouble lining up and placing a piercing squarely where you want it, and if you lose your nerve half-way through the piercing, you’re stuck with it half done.

If you do it at home, you’ll probably do it on an impulse, which will mean you won’t have the right tools. Piercing needles are incredibly sharp in order to reduce the pain and make a good, clean cut. No matter how sharp that sewing needle is at home, it’s not as sharp as a piercing needle, so it will hurt more, bleed more, and may not heal as cleanly. Also, they cannot be sterilized properly. Even heating over an open flame (such as a lighter) will not kill all bacteria. The only guaranteed way to kill all germs is with an autoclave or by using packaged, sterile surgical needles. Even then, the entire area and all tools must be sterilized properly.

If you are truly interested in piercing, consider it not as a hobby or a momentary activity but as a career. Becoming an apprentice at a piercing parlor means learning proper technique and learning a trade at the same time, combining your interests with a way to make a living.

An apprentice usually trains for at least a year under a licensed, professional piercer learning all aspects of sterilization, piercing and customer service. In many states they are also required to take courses in first aid, blood borne pathogens, anatomy and other Health and Safety standards and practices. You will observe piercings and work with the sterilization process for several months before actually doing any piercings, but when you do pierce you will be doing it properly and professionally. A good place to find out more information is through the Association of Professional Piercers’ website at www.safepiercing.org.

Body piercing and wearing body jewelry should be an informed choice, not a snap decision. If you have been thinking about getting a body piercing, talk to others who have done the same and get their feedback. Ask them if they are happy with the results and for their suggestions on good piercing studios. Ask yourself if you’re ready for the commitment to proper care and the expense of a body piercing.

Remember that a body piercing is a form of body modification that will affect how others perceive you. Obviously, this is part of the appeal for most people. However, the reactions will be mixed, and you should keep in mind that while some people will love it, others will not. So think through the consequences of body piercing thoroughly before you proceed. Then, if you decide its right for you—follow the tips above for a safe, attractive body piercing you’ll be proud to wear!