• UK researchers report alternative therapy technique from Shakespeare's time does help back pain
• US: University opening new integrative medicine centre
• California lawmakers weigh chemical ban in baby items

• Great Britain: New research on health benefits of Transcendental Meditation Technique sparks wave of publicity - Part II
• Great Britain: Groundbreaking research on Transcendental Meditation Technique gains media coverage - Part I
• Plans for proposed Maharishi Ayur-Veda hospitals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• Arsenic found to have firm link to diabetes in US study
• Poor sleep equals high blood pressure for teens
• Scores of cities using untreated wastewater

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Positive Trends
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

UK researchers report alternative therapy technique from Shakespeare's time does help back pain
20 August 2008 - Chronic back pain can be eased by teaching the Alexander technique, an alternative therapy involving learning better posture, British researchers said on Wednesday. Until now, there has been no real evidence of the long-term benefits of the Alexander technique. After a year of treatment, patients reported experiencing just three days of back pain, compared to 21 days for those given normal care by their doctor. The technique was originally developed at the end of the 19th century by the Shakespearean actor Frederick Alexander. (more)

US: University opening new integrative medicine centre
16 August 2008 - Many academic health centers offer programmes that include Ayurvedic medicine from India or traditional Chinese treatments. The University of New Mexico also offers traditional treatments from local healers. Native American healers and Hispanic curanderas are invited to work with patients at the clinic. The centre focuses on prevention and keeping the body in balance, staying healthy, exercising, eating healthy, and doing good things in life. (more)

California lawmakers weigh chemical ban in baby items
11 August 2008 - Responding to growing consumer anxiety, California lawmakers are considering enacting what could be the first statewide restrictions on a chemical found in plastic baby bottles and infant formula cans. The bill would require that all products or food containers designed for children 3 years and younger contain only trace amounts of the chemical, bisphenol A. There is little dispute that bisphenol A can disrupt the hormonal system. A recent draft report from the National Toxicology Program found that there is 'some concern' that the chemical can cause changes in behaviour and the brain. The US Congress is considering legislation to ban it in children's products, and Canada has announced it intends to ban the use of the chemical in baby bottles. Bisphenol A is found in dental sealants, the linings of food cans, CDs and DVDs, eyeglasses, and hundreds of other household goods. (more)

US: Study takes a new look at 'overweight' and finds half of overweight adults may be heart-healthy
11 August 2008 - A new study suggests that about half of 'overweight' people have normal blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while an equally startling number of trim people suffer from some of the ills associated with obesity. The first national estimate of its kind bolsters the argument that you can be hefty but still healthy, or at least healthier than has been believed. (more)

Japan's females are longest living in world, men third
6 August 2008 - Japanese girls born last year can expect to live until they are 86 years old, which would make them the longest survivors in the world, a report from the country's health ministry showed. Boys born in 2007 rank third after Iceland and Hong Kong, the report said. Japan's females have topped the world's longevity ranks for 23 years, something researchers have attributed to their healthy diet and tight social ties, among other reasons. (more)

Scottish smoking ban seen to cut heart attacks
31 July 2008 - Scotland's 2006 ban on smoking in public places cut the heart attack rate by 17 per cent within one year, with non-smokers benefiting most, researchers reported on Wednesday. The study is the first real-time, large-scale look at how a ban on second-hand smoke might benefit smokers and nonsmokers. Earlier research looked at the effect of smoking bans in individual cities, or had other limitations. Women seemed to benefit the most. (more)

US: Broad tobacco regulation bill clears House of Representatives
31 July 2008 - Legislation to give the US Food and Drug Administration broad authority to regulate cigarettes and other forms of tobacco cleared the US House of Representatives on Wednesday. Backers, including public health groups, said the measure would help curtail youth smoking, prevent heart disease, and reduce rising health-care costs. (more)

US: Centenarians owe their longevity to staying up on current events, close friends, sense of humour
31 July 2008 - The majority of centenarians, who have lived through their share of historical political match-ups, believe the 2008 election is the most important election ever, according to a new survey. Staying on top of current events and keeping the mind active, were among the keys to their longevity the centenarians said in the survey, along with staying close to friends and family and having a sense of humour. Most believed healthy aging comes from lifestyle choices not from genetics or other factors beyond their control. 'Don't think in the past. Think in the future. What are you going to do tomorrow?' centenarian Maurice Eisman said. (more)

Siberian villages witness Russian healthcare revival
30 July 2008 - A healthcare revolution is sweeping Russia. Both Russia's federal and regional governments -- enriched by energy and commodity exports over the last decade -- have poured money into the country's healthcare system, which crumbled after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have made improving the health of Russians central to their policies and pledged billions of dollars to boost healthcare. (more)

US: Los Angeles blocks new fast-food outlets from poor areas
30 July 2008 - City officials are putting South Los Angeles on a diet. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to place a moratorium on new fast food restaurants in an impoverished swath of the city with a proliferation of such eateries and above average rates of obesity. The yearlong moratorium is intended to give the city time to attract restaurants that serve healthier food. Perks include assistance in finding parcels of land, low-interest loans, matching funds for burying utility lines, discounted electricity rates, and tax credits. The ruling exempts 'fast-food casual' restaurants which do not have drive-through windows or heat lamps and prepare fresh food to order. The action, which the mayor must still sign into law, is believed to be the first of its kind by a major city to protect public health. Research has shown that people will change eating habits when different foods are offered. (more)

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Success of Maharishi's Programmes
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

Great Britain: New research on health benefits of Transcendental Meditation Technique sparks wave of publicity - Part II
12 August 2008 - Speaking 8 August 2008 on Maharishi Global Family Chat, Raja Peter Warburton, Raja of Invincible Great Britain for the Global Country of World Peace, reported that the Transcendental Meditation Technique has gained widespread media coverage in Great Britain as a result of recent breakthrough research on its benefits for heart disease. (more)

Great Britain: Groundbreaking research on Transcendental Meditation Technique gains media coverage - Part I
11 August 2008 - Speaking 8 August 2008 on Maharishi Global Family Chat, Raja Peter Warburton, Raja of Invincible Great Britain for the Global Country of World Peace, reported on recent major newspaper and radio coverage of breakthrough scientific research on Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation Technique and its benefits for heart disease. (more)

Plans for proposed Maharishi Ayur-Veda hospitals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
10 August 2008 - Speaking 3 August 2008 on Maharishi Global Family Chat, Dr Paul Gelderloos, National Director of Invincible Netherlands for the Global Country of World Peace, reported further details of a plan for the proposed building of three Maharishi Ayur-Veda hospitals in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (more)

Room with Vastu: Vedic design creates positivity and peace in the home
3 August 2008 - Canadians are being introduced to the ancient design principle called vastu, which combines nature's elements to create health and harmony in one's work and home environment. (more)

Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health - Part II - Creating perfect health through Maharishi Health Centres and Colleges
28 July 2008 - Dr Rainer Picha, Minister of Health for the Global Country of World Peace, explained the role of Maharishi Health Centres in the creation of perfect health and elimination of sickness and suffering from the world in his talk during the continuing grand global celebration of Guru Purnima. (more)

Maharishi Vedic City listed as a 'green hotspot' in the US
28 July 2008 - Maharishi Vedic City, USA is listed as one of four green hotspots in the state of Iowa that 'ecotourists' should be sure to visit. Maharishi Vedic City qualifies as ecofriendly because it is a 100 per cent organic city, with organic greenhouses, an Ayurvedic health resort, and even its own currency. (more)

Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health - Part I - Creating perfect health through a Consciousness-Based approach
27 July 2008 - On 20 July, during the continuing grand global celebration of Guru Purnima, Dr Rainer Picha, Minister of Health for the Global Country of World Peace, spoke about the creation of perfect health and elimination of sickness and suffering from the world through Maharishi Vedic Approach to Health. (more)

Spain and Portugal: Rising invincibility though Maharishi's programmes - Part II
18 July 2008 - Dr Antonio Bartolome, Raja (Administrator) of Spain for the Global Country of World Peace, reported developments in Maharishi's programmes in the fields of education, health, and agriculture in Spain and Portugal. (more)

Going off the grid with ancient Vedic text as a guide
16 July 2008 - The Sustainable Living Center on the Maharishi University of Management campus in Fairfield, Iowa, USA will be the first building of its kind -- an entirely self-sustaining building using 'off-the-grid' concepts from Vedic texts that dictate building orientation, room placement, proportions, and type of materials. The university offers the country's only four-year degree in sustainable living. (more)

Part II - Experts explain the benefits of Transcendental Meditation for congestive heart failure
14 July 2008 - The new interactive website 'ASK THE DOCTORS' (www.DoctorsOnTM.org), among many valuable features, includes the expert knowledge of top medical doctors and scientists, who answer questions from the public about the use of the Transcendental Meditation Programme to help prevent specific diseases and promote health and longevity. One topic covered is the benefit of Transcendental Meditation for congestive heart failure. (more)

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Flops
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

Arsenic found to have firm link to diabetes in US study
20 August 2008 - Arsenic, a naturally occurring poison and carcinogen found in ground water, is strongly linked to adult-onset diabetes, US researchers said. Arsenic contaminates drinking water for millions of people in Bangladesh, parts of Central Europe, Chile, Argentina, and the western United States, where ground water is the source of drinking water and the land has higher concentrations of arsenic. Arsenic also raises the risk for cancers of the bladder, lung, kidney, skin and, possibly, the prostate, researchers said. The US government sets a limit for drinking water at 10 micrograms of arsenic per liter, which is exceeded in the water consumed by 13 million Americans who mostly live in rural areas that rely on wells to bring up ground water, the researchers wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (more)

Poor sleep equals high blood pressure for teens
19 August 2008 - Poor sleep habits can do more than annoy parents and make teenagers drowsy in school, they can lead to high blood pressure, US researchers reported. Teens who slept fewer than 6 1/2 hours a night had more than twice the risk of high blood pressure and those with troubled sleep had more than triple the risk. The research team studied 238 13-to-16-year-olds and found 14 per cent of the adolescents had high blood pressure or readings at the borderline, called pre-hypertension. Researchers also said the study may underestimate the problem because it excluded children with known sleep disorders and other illnesses. High blood pressure can damage arteries and kidneys, causing stroke, kidney disease, and other illnesses. (more)

Scores of cities using untreated wastewater
18 August 2008 - Cities in developing countries around the world are using untreated or partially treated wastewater for agriculture, posing serious health risks to urban consumers, a study released on Monday said. The IWMI said wastewater was most commonly used to produce vegetables and cereals, especially rice. The study looked at 53 cities in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In over 70 per cent of the cities studied, more than half of urban agricultural land was being irrigated with wastewater, either raw or diluted in streams. Few developing countries reported having official guidelines for use of wastewater in agriculture and in the cases where they did exist there was little enforcement, the IWMI said. (more)

Iraq: Life in tent camps remains grim
17 August 2008 - While the rate of people fleeing their homes in Iraq has decreased during the first half of 2008, daily life for the thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in tent camps remains grim, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in an assessment issued on 15 August. 'Tent camp residents have little or no access to basic services, cannot protect themselves against the elements or extreme weather, and are located far away from medical care, education, and other services,' the IOM statement said. 'These harsh conditions, combined with a cultural aversion to living without familial privacy and personal dignity, make tent camps a last resort for Iraqi IDPs.' (more)

Canada: Smog-related deaths set to soar - report
15 August 2008 - Smog-related deaths are set to soar to more than 700,000 in Canada over the next two decades, the Canadian Medical Association said. Long- and short-term exposure to air pollution will kill at least 21,000 Canadians this year, the CMA said in landmark study into health costs of poor air quality. That is much higher than a government estimate of 5,900 premature deaths linked to pollution. In addition, pollution-related illnesses such as asthma and cardiovascular disease will prompt more than 30,000 emergency-room visits and 620,000 doctor's visits this year. (more)

US: Study finds 140,000 bad reactions to antibiotics
15 August 2008 - Bad reactions to antibiotics, mostly allergic ones, send people to US emergency rooms more than 140,000 times each year, government researchers reported on Wednesday. The findings offer another reason for doctors to limit their use of the drugs, which are overused in the United States, the team at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Many studies have suggested that half of the estimated 100 million antibiotic prescriptions written for respiratory tract infections in the United States are unnecessary. Most such infections are caused by viruses, and antibiotics are useless against them. (more)

Smoking doubles stroke risk in younger women
14 August 2008 - Younger women who smoke have more than double the risk of stroke compared to nonsmokers, with the heaviest smokers among them having nine times the risk, according to a US study published on Thursday. The research assessed stroke risk in women 15 to 49 years old who smoked cigarettes. Current smokers were 2.6 times as likely to have a stroke than women who never smoked, according to researchers led by Dr John Cole of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. (more)

US: After combat, citizen soldiers turning to alcohol
13 August 2008 - National Guard and Reserve combat troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are more likely to develop drinking problems than active-duty soldiers, a new military study suggests. The authors speculate that inadequate preparation for the stress of combat and reduced access to support services at home may be to blame. The research is one of the first major studies to emerge from the Pentagon's landmark 'Millennium' study. The study found that more than 600 combat troops who reported no binge drinking at the start of the study developed the problem after deployment and combat exposure. That accounted for about 26 per cent of the estimated 2,400 military personnel exposed to combat who did not report binge drinking at the start of the study. Alcohol abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression make up an 'unholy trinity' that haunts some combat soldiers, psychologists said. (more)

US: Alcohol abuse rises among combat veterans - study
13 August 2008 - A significant number of US veterans back from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan begin abusing alcohol after returning, perhaps to cope with traumatic memories of combat, military researchers said. According to the study, combat veterans were 31 per cent more likely to have begun binge drinking than those not exposed to combat. Six per cent of returning combat veterans started a new habit of heavy weekly drinking and 5 per cent developed a drinking-related problem. The findings were consistent with a recent study of soldiers returning from Iraq that found 12 per cent of active-duty personnel had alcohol problems, and 15 per cent of Reserve and National Guard members did. The study also determined that women were significantly more likely to start drinking heavily, turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism. (more)

Childhood stress tied to adult mental disorders, German study finds
8 August 2008 - Adults in treatment for severe mental disorders report greater levels of childhood stress than adults without psychiatric disorders, researchers from Germany found in a study they conducted. A burgeoning number of studies suggest that adverse or traumatic experiences during childhood influence adult psychopathology. The study found that childhood is a critical developmental period, and that all study participants showed negative effects related to high stress levels during childhood and before puberty, but not adulthood. Psychiatric patients, however, appear to be more negatively affected by early life stress. They found childhood stress levels most pronounced among patients with personality disorders. (more)