They want to tear MAGA apart. But the more they go after Trump, the stronger he and Maga become. Go against it, what are they going to do that they haven’t already tried, that is the entire point of them doing it….The Swamp Creatures hate Trump more than they love our Country and they’re willing to destroy the USA in the name of Hate with No Facts! The USA is turning into a Zombie Country full of druggies and homelessness. Good job Assholes, our grandchildren will love you for that.
Note to Trump. You have never learned an important lesson. Never underestimate your enemy abilities to deceive and adapt. You also shouldn’t give them ammo to shoot you with. Might want to watch your flanks cause in the past your weakness cost you an election. One more thing, stay focused and quit whining, sorry 2 things.
Unbelievable how educated people would still vote for the conmen/women from the Democratic party.
The President is correct! It is purely weaponizing the government against. Political opponents! 90% of our Congress is crooked. The people of this nation must vote for President Trump. DeSantis is sponsored and controlled by the Murdochs. He is just like pretty boy Wray. Elite and supports NWO. He is a wolf. All By Design. Corn PRICE Today | Corn Spot Price Chart | Markets Insider (businessinsider.com)
This IS their strategy. They have no case against Trump and they know it. So these indictments will just keep coming. They want to tie him up in legal matters to prevent him from campaigning and they want to try and bankrupt him. ANYTHING to stop him from running. And by now we ALL know why.
If Donald Trump gets back in that White House, he’ll declassify everything. If it’s truly sensitive, he, Mike Flynn, and Kash Patel meet in a SCIF. Any/All alphabet agencies can join them. Any Deep State push back against declassification better damn sight make a case, or Trump declassifies it. Because we all know they’re hiding some pretty bad stuff under those classifications and the DS really doesn’t want that out.
What Trump needs to do is assert legal objections to the indictments, which all have serious facial defects, and then if those objections are overruled, appeal. The appeals will take things well past the election. Of course, this would require that the lawyers get up from sitting on their hands, and there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that will ever happen.
It appears that their plan is to hang around, collecting millions of dollars, until they get a plea bargain. “We did the best we could, blah, blah, blah, but the client couldn’t risk a trial.” In the final analysis, the lawyer is not nearly as concerned with winning as with getting paid (as much as possible for doing as little as possible).
We are being RAPED from the FRONT and from the rear and this has been going on for the last 40 plus years. It is now on STEROIDS BC these EVILS have gotten caught on all their criminal behavior and now they don’t care on how it looks, they are going to TAKE you down to your KNEES to BE SLAVES and there will be 2 classes of folks the ones that have everything, the EVILS CRIMINALS and the ones that HAVE NOTHING and go to your DEATH CAMP.
They have not the masses but they have the court system and control the finances and we are LIVING on a TIME CLOCK of forever the loss of OUR COUNTRY. THE CIVIL WAR is HERE and for anyone to think otherwise just look at 2020 and the J6 Insurrection for what they did to the AMERICAN SOULS, the GOD FEARING PEOPLE and the VETERANS.
You snooze, you lose..and the World’s been hitting that snooze button for so long that when He finally insisted that they all wake up, brush themselves off and take on some adult-like responsibility of governance for the good of more than just elitists spoiled spoiling spoilers!
He really pissed them off when he showed (thru living by example) that it’s actually possible to truly love one’s self while daring sharing caring Love for Country First in song and versatility! His blatant examples of unrelenting Patriotism as the equalizing force in helping keep in check those robusting lusting hustling temptations that’s afflicting and addicting almost every politician once surrounded and confounded by big business bribes and promises!
He shamed them with integrity He maybe needs to grab up his family and mostly loyal friends and take to the skylines byelines until he finally settles down where there’s a non-extradition treaty..because the democrats are only just beginning since they’ve been winning in the stolen stench of stolen valor despite the mighty will and voted wishes of the America First Electorate! We’re in a fledgling dictatorship banana kangaroos Courtships repugnant republic right here and now as we all speak! (No rule of law within these halls of no more justice)
About time for those, such high numbers in elections, vote to secure freedoms, secure borders, bring back law, prosecutions, counter green agenda, and drill for economic security. Energy independence, GNP, coal, gas, oil, could supply allies, and would increase production, shore up supply and demand, prices at pump, grocery stores, construction costs go down.
Green can’t ever meet daily energy demands. Cali has to ration set times for power without EV’s. Green makes China wealthy in production, exports, to stop putting us more dependent upon China trying to destroy the dollar to Yuan. This climate psychosis only enriches China, not in Accord at taxpayers’ expense.
A ZOMBIELAND OF DRUGGIES AND HOMELESS MIGRANTS.
If Trump doesn’t win, then you can basically say “bye, bye,” America. What we have running this country now, is basically a “cartel.” We are reaching “critical mass,” in this country, and the liberal media can spin it all they want, about “Trump,” but the fact is Joe Biden, and the Democrats, are systematically destroying this nation, and ruining the quality of life for the average American, and future generations.
Saul David Alinsky(January 30, 1909 – June 12, 1972) was an American community activist and political theorist. His work through the Chicago-based Industrial Areas Foundation helping poor communities organize to press demands upon landlords, politicians, economists, bankers and business leaders won him national recognition and notoriety. Responding to the impatience of a New Left generation of activists in the 1960s, Alinsky – in his widely cited Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer (1971) – defended the arts both of confrontation and of compromise involved in community organizing as keys to the struggle for social justice. Beginning in the 1990s, Alinsky’s reputation was revived by commentators on the political Right as a source of tactical inspiration for the RepublicanTea Party Movement and, subsequently, by virtue of indirect associations with both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, as the alleged source of a radical Democratic political agenda. While criticised on the political Left for an aversion to broad ideological goals, Alinsky has also been identified as an inspiration for the Occupy movement and campaigns for climate action.
Washington has been living in a bubble, for DECADES, and forgotten, and abandoned, the working, tax-paying citizens of this country. There is a “silent rage,” that is growing by the day, as more Americans slip into poverty, all because of Joe Biden and the Democratic Party’s policies. This is an unsustainable path; we’re currently in a “death-spiral”….1984 Big Brother is watching you – Bing video
I will vote for President Trump even if he is in jail….But I am getting really fed up with the republicans in Congress…they should have started impeachment against everyone in the Brandon regime…Doesn’t matter if the freaking Senate won’t prosecute the bastards…. it would make them have to defend themselves….TRUMP 2024….F Garland…F Wray.. F Blinken and FJB and F BHO, That’s the whole idea behind these indictments!! How can they be stopped when they hold all the cards and are completely lawless??!!
The United States has a weak, gutless, impotent and cowardly Republican Party problem. Most Republicans are Democrats. NO Democrats are Republicans. The Demonrat’s have NO Opposition Party. The Democratic Party OWN Washington DC, ALSO OWN the US Government, AND OWN Congress, AND OWN all 3-Letter Agencies.
If Biden can run from his basement. Trump will be a 1000 times better campaigning while tied up with bogus courtroom maneuvers. We can make this happen. The real problem is ballots sent to fictitious ‘voters’ are HARVESTED, filled in and deposited into drop boxes by CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS. The last time I checked the DNC and RNC are PRIVATE organizations, why should either (especially the DNC) be allowed to partner with the PUBLIC federal government and perpetrate a crime wave in America?
America has lost two-generations to Marxist indoctrination: How many Marxist professors compared to Conservatives? 17 to 1. How many companies, Hollywood, and private donations does the Marxist Democratic party get? 90%! 3/4 of our District judges are Marxist liberal. The template for the 2024 election was Ohio, the initiative just lost by Republicans, hundreds of millions, part of the 90% of donations was dumped in Ohio to buy, cheat, and change voting laws preparing for the 2024 elections. In other words, that pattern will be used on all key States.
Wake up. We are Beyond elections saving the country. Legal Definition of Under Color Of State Law To act “under color of state law” means to act beyond the bounds of lawful authority. What Is the Legal Definition of Under Color of State of Law? Covers not only acts done by an official under a state law, but also acts done by an official under any ordinance of a county or municipality of the State, as well as acts done under any regulation issued by any State or County or Municipal official, and even acts done by an official under color of some State or local custom. To act “under color of state law” means to act beyond the bounds of lawful authority, but in such a manner that the unlawful acts were done while the official was purporting or pretending to act in the performance of his official duties.
The establishment is trying to wear him down; the weak Republicans must step up: Trump can fight this alone! Set up coalitions for President Trump’s re-election in each state. We know what Trump will do and has done. Trump doesn’t need to debate or pander to the masses; he just needs his supporters to back him and the people of this nation to campaign for him and for that matter anyone that supports the America first agenda. Time for a ground pounding attack and for the people to get into the campaign fight. The people can set up rallies and marches for Trump without President Trump being present.
Listen to gatez idea of immunity through whistleblower status. Just need any group in the gop Congress to take it on.
The trials are designed to bleed the Trump campaign, but they won’t work! They will be inconvenient, but Pres Trump will overcome them! This is why Speaker McCarthy needs to start a formal impeachment inquiry on Biden to allow Congress broader powers to call witnesses! A call to action is now! We can all help by being his voice! Push support everywhere, flags, billboards, social media, yard signs. Start now, don’t wait till next year!
We will, because MAGA’s numbers keep increasing as more people who are not MAGA are waking up to all of this, besides feeling the same financial pain as we are due to Biden’s recklessness and his infatuation of sacrificing our nation for his personal wealth. That’s the plan. Those that are and will accomplish taking America down are of the smartest minds on earth. Don’t forget criminals as well.
What Joe Biden’s really doing is blocking mining activity on a million acres, bordering the Grand Canyon.
What kind of mining? uranium mining. Now, why would Joe Biden block uranium mining? Uranium’s used for nuclear power plants, nuclear powered subs, electricity, no emissions. It’s also used for radiation treatments to cure cancer. Curing cancer and reducing emissions are two of Joe Biden’s biggest initiatives.” https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/f…
MIGRANT CRISIS: New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged President Biden to declare a state of emergency over the migrant crisis on Wednesday, the Daily Mail reported. MORE: https://bit.ly/3YqAzdV
1 of 119 Car T Therapy Inbox – Bing video Which has a Gene and Cell Therapy Institute that offers CAR T-cell therapy. “It’s one of the most personalized ways of taking care of some of the blood-related cancers,” she said of the therapy. (Mass General Cancer Center) Novel cancer treatment offers new hope when chemo and radiation fail: ‘Big change in people’s lives’. CAR T-cell therapy turns patient’s cells into a cancer-fighting weapon: ‘Extremely high response rates’.
When it comes to cancer treatments, most people are familiar with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Yet there is another emerging, lesser-known therapy that is showing promising results in treating blood cancers. With CAR T-cell therapy, the patient’s T-cells are taken from the blood, engineered to attack cancer cells and then infused back into the patient’s body through an IV, Dr. Noopur Raje told Fox News Digital. Raje is director of the Center for Multiple Myeloma at Massachusetts General Hospital, which has a Gene and Cell Therapy Institute that offers CAR T-cell therapy.
“I think it’s made a big change in people’s lives and how we take care of people,” she told Fox News Digital in an interview. “It’s one of the most personalized ways of taking care of some of the blood-related cancers.” At Mass General, Raje and her team treat patients with multiple myeloma, a rare form of blood cancer that attacks the plasma cells. Most of their patients are between 60 and 70 years old, she said.
What is CAR T-cell therapy? CAR stands for chimeric antigen receptors, which are proteins that enable T-cells to target the tumor antigens produced by cancer cells.
BONUS:LET YOUR SPIRIT BE… | Cancer Quick Facts (solitarius.org) T-cells are a type of white blood cell that helps to fight germs and prevent disease, per the Cleveland Clinic. There are currently six CAR T-cell therapies that are FDA-approved to treat leukemia, lymphomas, multiple myeloma and other blood cancers.
As of now, the FDA has approved CAR T-cell therapy as a “last resort” when the disease has persisted through all other available treatments. (iStock)
“We are taking our patients’ T-cells, which are the immune cells, and then activating them and putting a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which can recognize a protein on a cancer tumor,” Raje said.
CANCER BLOOD TEST USING DNA FRAGMENTS BRINGS HOPE FOR EARLIER DETECTION, SAY RESEARCHERS Because Raje treats multiple myeloma, her team started off by doing studies against a protein called BCMA, which is found in cancerous plasma cells. The re-engineered T-cells continue multiplying in the body, so they can seek out and kill more tumor cells, the doctor said.
With CAR T-cell therapy, the patient’s T-cells are taken from the blood, engineered to attack cancer cells and then infused back into the patient’s body through an IV. (iStock)
“We are seeing extremely high response rates, between 82% and 100%,” she told Fox News Digital. “Now we need to do a better job of maintaining that response.” Before CAR T-cell therapy, Raje said, patients were started on a treatment and then stayed on it for an indefinite length of time. “This is the first time that patients are getting a ‘one-off’ treatment, and then we’re just watching them with no more treatment at all,” she said.
Once the process is complete, the patient receives no new therapies for up to three years. While the treatment can be a little “involved” at the beginning, Raje said, once it’s complete the patient receives no new therapies for up to three years. “And I have some patients who are on no treatment for way longer than that, which is a big advancement,” she added. “Obviously, we need to do better — we need to cure people,” Raje said. “We’re not quite there, but the next step is to start the treatment earlier, so we can start seeing more control of the disease over a longer period of time.”
Sandy Caterine is pictured leaving the hospital after receiving CAR T-cell therapy in 2019. (Sandy Caterine)
As of now, the FDA has approved CAR T-cell therapy as a “last resort” when the disease has persisted through all other available treatments; but Raje hopes that soon, it will be available to patients earlier in the course of their cancers. CAR T-cell therapy is expensive — costing anywhere from $500,000 to $1,000,000, per WebMD. Raje pointed out, however, that many insurance plans cover at least some of the cost. It is also covered by Medicare. “I think one has to start looking at the time saved in terms of quality of life in not coming back to the hospital and not being on any other meds,” she said.
AI TECH AIMS TO DETECT BREAST CANCER BY MIMICKING RADIOLOGISTS’ EYE MOVEMENTS: ‘A CRITICAL FRIEND’ There is some risk of side effects for those receiving CAR T-cell therapy, primarily a condition called cytokine release syndrome (CRS). It can occur when the immune system responds too aggressively to infection. “When the CAR T-cell kills the tumor, it produces a bunch of proteins, and when it does that, it can make you quite sick,” Raje said.
Sandy Caterine of New Hampshire (center in green dress) is pictured with her extended family in June 2021 after her successful CAR T-cell therapy. (Sandy Caterine)
“But as we’ve used more and more of these therapies, we’ve gotten pretty good at managing this, and we have the antidotes for these kinds of toxicities,” she added. Another potential side effect is a condition called ICANS, or immune effector-mediated neurotoxicity. “With this, people can get confused, sometimes to the extent that they can actually go into a deep coma,” Raje said. “It’s important to recognize and treat these conditions earlier.”
One woman’s story: ‘A great response’ Sandy Caterine, a retired accountant who lives in Rye, New Hampshire, was part of a clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy. She was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in August 2019.
“It kind of came out of nowhere,” Caterine told Fox News Digital. “In retrospect, maybe I had a couple of little symptoms.” Caterine had experienced some back pain, fatigue and nausea, but initially chalked it up to dehydration. When the symptoms didn’t go away on their own, she saw her primary care physician and got some blood tests, which led to her diagnosis. Sandy Caterine is pictured visiting her grandson in New Orleans in 2023. (Sandy Caterine)
“I had never even heard of multiple myeloma,” Caterine said. “All I heard was that it was incurable and no one could predict what the life expectancy might be.”
For several months, Caterine was on a regimen of numerous drugs, infusions and radiation, none of which fully resolved her cancer. Then she learned about the clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy. “Sandy has what is known as high-risk disease, based on the genetics of the cancer,” said Raje. “This usually doesn’t have good outcomes, but Sandy had a great response to the trial.” TWO NEW CANCER PILLS SHOW ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ RESULTS IN BOOSTING SURVIVAL RATES AND PREVENTING RECURRENCE
Caterine, who is 62, did experience the CRS illness as a side effect, which caused her to endure nausea, fatigue, fever and disorientation.
She remained in the hospital for 15 days. “It took me a while to get my strength back,” she said. “I do remember them taking very good care of me.” Caterine has gotten periodic bone marrow scans every three months since her infusion.
Sandy Caterine (center, right, near Mickey’s ear) is pictured in February 2023 with her daughter, her sister and her family. (Sandy Caterine)
“So far, there has been no sign of the disease,” she said. “Dr. Raje told me the hope was that it would work for two to three years, and I am already over two years.” Caterine’s experience has helped her appreciate each day more than she did before, she told Fox News Digital.
“It’s probably the most personalized way of being able to take care of your own disease.” “These are two years that I never thought I would get when I was first diagnosed,” she spoke. “It’s just great that I can continue to live my life and be with my family.”
Future of CAR T-cell therapy CAR T-cell therapy started out for use in leukemia, later branching out to other blood cancers like lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Raje is hopeful that the treatment eventually will become available for other types of cancers, including cancers of the breast, colon and brain.
“We have an ongoing study where we are looking at CAR T-cell therapy in glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, which we would have never thought of doing early on,” she said. “And we have a whole host of new CARs coming down the pike against different antigens.” “Obviously, we need to do better — we need to cure people.” The doctor emphasized the significance of teaching the body’s own immune cells to fight against cancer cells. “In my mind, it’s probably the most personalized way of being able to take care of your own disease, which is amazing,” she said.
THE WORST YEAR EVER 536 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
536 A.D. worst year to be alive – Search (bing.com) The Year 536 A.D. (Roman numerals: DXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year after the Consulship of Belisarius.In 2018, medieval scholar Michael McCormick nominated 536 A.D. as “the worst year to be alive” because of the extreme weather events probably caused by a volcanic eruption early in the year, causing average temperatures in Europe and China to decline and resulting in crop failures and famine for well over a year.[1][2] Other researchers have noted additional adverse events during the year, including a mysterious fog, possibly due to the volcanic eruption.[3]
Events By place in time Byzantine Empire[edit]Spring – Emperor Justinian I appoints his cousin Germanus as magister militum to deal with the crisis in Africa. He sends a mobile force of comitatenses (mostly cavalry) and an elite guard. Solomon, the previous magister militum, returns to Constantinople.[4] Summer – Gothic War (535–554): Belisarius crosses the Strait of Messina and invades Italy. He conquers the city of Rhegium and advances to Naples. November – Siege of Naples: Belisarius captures Naples after a month’s siege, by sending troops into the city through an abandoned Roman aqueduct.[5] December 9 – Belisarius enters Rome through the Porta Asinaria, and the Gothic garrison of 4,000 men flees the city. He sends an urgent request for reinforcements to Justinian I, meanwhile preparing Rome for a siege, by bringing in great quantities of food and other supplies.[6] Winter – Belisarius sets up his headquarters on the Pincian Hill, and repairs the neglected city walls of Rome. He stations a 5,000-man garrison, of whom half are his personal bodyguard (bucellarii). To hold parts of the city, he recruits 20,000 young Romans to man the walls.
Dr John Clauser lecture on climate and misinformation – Bing video At a lecture at Quantum Korea 2023 Seoul on June 26, 2023, esteemed Nobel Prize winner and physicist Dr. John Clauser – Search (bing.com) told the audience and the world, “I don’t believe there is a climate crisis.” And his comment has provoked a wide range of responses from the public, as well as from his colleagues and peers in the field. Dr. Clauser went on to say, “The world we live in today is filled with misinformation. It is up to each of you to serve as judges, distinguishing truth from falsehood based on accurate observations of phenomena.” Global warming and climate change have been hot-button topics for some time now, and although the world is widely divided on its validity, most scientists have agreed that climate change is a very real problem.
So when such an educated and respected physicist like Dr. John Clauser publicly denounces the problem, it certainly makes headlines. But he’s not the only one to do so; Meteorologist and founder of The Weather Channel, John Coleman, has also spoken out, stating that there is “no significant man-made global warming. Climate change is not happening. There is no significant man-made global warming now, there hasn’t been any in the past, and there’s no reason to expect any in the future.” Now, it’s not just on social media that Dr. Clauser is being so-called “canceled.” He is also facing challenges in his career because of the comments at the Seol forum. In fact, exactly one month after giving his speech on June 26, 2023, Dr. Clauser was set to present a detailed seminar on the climate to the International Monetary Fund, but directly after hearing his comments, his lecture was immediately canceled.
While technically, Clauser received an email from the Director of the IMF, Pablo Moreno, postponing the talk, it seems clear to everyone that Dr. Clauser is no longer welcome to share his opinions with the organization. Climate change is a widely divided issue the global community is facing, but those who do not believe in the problem are often known as “deniers” and have been subject to censorship in the mainstream media. However, more and more data is being collected that may eventually turn the tide. For example, in 2022, a study by The European Physical Journal Plus reported that there have actually been many unconfirmed claims about the apparently apocalyptic climate crisis in the media which have no scientific support. Dr. John Clauser finished his thoughts on the climate issue with these important words: “In my opinion, there is no real climate crisis. There is, however, a very real problem with providing a decent standard of living to the world’s large population and an associated energy crisis. The latter is being unnecessarily exacerbated by what, in my opinion, is incorrect climate science.” We will have to wait and see if Dr. John Clauser continues to be removed from important events for his comments, but for now, it seems that the world will certainly be watching to see what he says next.
📌 Look around you. Appreciate what you have. Nothing will be the same in a year. 🙏🏼
Weather Control The “Artificial Clouds Generation System” is a machine Located in Mississippi owned by NASA that’s responsible for the rain & artificial clouds we see in the southern states. The government has been engineering the weather for decades creating “geo storms” and artificial weather using HAARP. It stands for “High frequency Active Auroral Research Project” ; it was a joint project by the U.S. Navy & Air Force.
There are a total of 20 HAARP stations in the world. It’s used for affecting weather systems creating a very large radio frequency transmitter which can transmit an electromagnetic beam into the upper atmosphere or ionosphere. It can create a column-shaped hole that rises a couple of hundred kilometers through the atmosphere. The lower atmosphere then moves up the column to fill in that space, and it changes pressure systems below. This radio frequency energy is broadcasted at 3.6 million watts through a field of 48 antennas which are 72 feet tall, and they have a cross dipoles across the top.
Earth has always evolved and CO2 Levels Change Constantly. Increases in atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and other long-lived greenhouse gases such as methane, nitrous oxide and ozone increase the absorption and emission of infrared radiation by the atmosphere, causing the observed rise in average global temperature and ocean acidification. Another direct effect is the CO2 fertilization effect. These changes cause a range of indirect effects of climate change on the physical environment, ecosystems and human societies. Carbon dioxide exerts a larger overall warming influence than all of the other greenhouse gases combined.[5] It has an atmospheric lifetime that increases with the cumulative amount of fossil carbon extracted and burned, due to the imbalance that this activity has imposed on Earth’s fast carbon cycle.[11]
This means that some fraction (a projected 20–35%) of the fossil carbon transferred thus far will persist in the atmosphere as elevated CO2 levels for many thousands of years after these carbon transfer activities begin to subside.[12][13][14] The carbon cycle is a biogeochemical cycle in which carbon is exchanged between the Earth’s oceans, soil, rocks and the biosphere. Plants and other photoautotrophs use solar energy to produce carbohydrates from atmospheric carbon dioxide and water by photosynthesis. Almost all other organisms depend on carbohydrates derived from photosynthesis as their primary source of energy and carbon compounds.
The present atmospheric concentration of CO2 is the highest for 14 million years.[15] Concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere were as high as 4,000 ppm during the Cambrian period about 500 million years ago, and as low as 180 ppm during the Quaternary glaciation of the last two million years.[4] Reconstructed temperature records for the last 420 million years indicate that atmospheric CO2 concentrations peaked at approximately 2,000 ppm during the Devonian (400 Ma) period, and again in the Triassic (220–200 Ma) period and was four times current levels during the Jurassic period (201–145 Ma).[16][17] Source: Carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere – Wikipedia.
Today, businesses are trapped in the green box of sustainable development.
Academics, government leaders, public opinion, and 1000s of laws and regulations demand the adoption of sustainability. In response, companies spend billions on renewable energy, carbon credits, biofuels, and other green policies in an effort to counter the coming environmental apocalypse.
But a look at data and trends shows that the ideology of environmentally sustainable development is based on false concepts. Population growth is slowing, nations continue to reduce air and water pollution, climate change is dominated by natural factors with negligible effects from human greenhouse emissions, and societal access to resources continues to grow.
Society and business should adopt a policy that is sensibly green. We should continue to reduce air and water pollution, but avoid other policies aimed at stopping global warming and halting hydrocarbon use. These other policies actually do little for Earth’s environment.
Outside the Green Box is a well-illustrated and amusing look at society’s quest to be sustainable, and the resulting misguided policies that provide little benefit for the environment. Learn what “your green consultant didn’t tell you.”
Steve Goreham is a speaker, author, and researcher on environmental issues and a former engineer and business executive. He is an independent columnist and an invited guest on radio and television, including Fox Business Channel, the 700 Club, Jim Bohannon, Lou Dobbs, Sean Hannity, Dennis Miller, Lars Larson, and Janet Parshall. He’s the Executive Director of the Climate Science Coalition of America a non-political association of scientists, engineers, and citizens dedicated to informing about the realities of climate science and energy economics.
Steve’s full-time efforts are devoted to correcting misconceptions about energy, resources, climate change, and the environment, including resultant negative impacts on business, industry, agriculture, and public policy. He wrote this book to bring the facts about sustainable development to business and to change commonly-held, but mistaken, beliefs about the environment.
Steve holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He has more than 30 years of experience at Fortune 100 and private companies in engineering and executive roles. He is husband and father of three and resides in Illinois in the United States of America.
5 healthy habits may be the secret to living longer, healthier lives, Story by Melissa Rudy
Florida neurosurgeon reveals the average life expectancy in the U.S. has dipped to 76.4 years, according to December data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — but many medical professionals believe people can extend their longevity by adopting certain lifestyle habits. Dr. Brett Osborn, a board-certified neurosurgeon in West Palm Beach, Florida, is the founder of a preventative health care and anti-aging facility, Senolytix. He works with patients to help them achieve a healthy weight, adopt better wellness habits and reduce their risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
“It is nearly impossible to achieve optimal health without taking intermittent snapshots of the inner workings of your body to guide you, which can be provided by laboratory testing that will accurately identify any and all risk factors,” Osborn said. “Taking these tests early — and taking the results seriously — can save your life.”
Osborn recommends implementing six blood tests to help prevent age-related diseases.
1. Lipid Profile. This test provides a rough idea of the ratio of “good” to “bad” cholesterol, he said. 2. Vertical Auto Profile (VAP). This is a cholesterol, lipid and lipoprotein test that measures all the components of a standard lipid profile and also delves further, segmenting cholesterol into subtypes. “I would strongly consider VAP testing in lieu of the standard lipid profile if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of heart disease or stroke,” Osborn said. “You may be surprised to learn that what was once deemed ‘normal’ in the standard lipid profile is far from it.” 3. C-Reactive Protein (CRP). Patients with obesity and metabolic syndrome have elevated CRP levels, which is a risk factor for coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and atherogenic dyslipidemia, Osborn explained. 4. Homocysteine. “Elevations in homocysteine are associated with a variety of diseases, including heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis,” Osborn said. 5. Hemoglobin A1C. This test measures how well blood sugar levels have been controlled over weeks or months. JUST 4 MINUTES OF INTENSE DAILY ACTIVITY COULD SLASH CANCER RISK AMONG ‘NON-EXERCISERS,’ STUDY FINDS “This test doesn’t lie,” Osborn said. “It is an average, wide-angle lens, not an instantaneous snapshot like a fasting glucose level. You want this level to be as low as possible.” 6. Vitamin D3. There is evidence that Vitamin D3 deficiency is associated with stroke, insulin resistance, Alzheimer’s dementia, coronary artery disease and cancer, according to Osborn.
“Get this tested and intervene, if necessary, as failure to do so will predispose you to a variety of diseases,” he warned. Although supplements are not to be used as primary treatments for ailments, Osborn said, they can be used as a complement to a well-rounded diet and exercise regimen.
“Supplements will not remedy your elevated blood sugar, blood pressure, gouty arthritis and hypertension — only you can. There is no easy way out,” Osborn said. “The right supplement regime, however, can optimize your health so that your hard work is maximized to its fullest potential, and should be treated as equally important as the right food choices and fitness routines,” he added.
Omega-3 fatty acids Resveratrol Green tea extract Vitamin D3 Curcumin B-complex Vitamin C Vitamin E Magnesium Probiotics *Selenium *Copper & Zinc
The Top 7 Superfoods for Optimal Health and Wellness (msn.com) Osborn opts to skip multivitamins, he said, because “the dosages of the individual components are fairly low.” Although it’s not a muscle, Osborn emphasized that the brain benefits from exercise, both mentally and physically.
“Physical exercise and critical thinking both forge neural pathways in the brain,” he said. “There is a component of learning while exercising or working through mental challenges like puzzles, and this process of learning literally rewires the brain.” “As we age, keeping the brain active through physical activity helps to prevent the progression of age-related atrophy,” he added. Physical activity helps to form synapses, which are connections between neurons that help to reduce inflammation, reverse age-associated spatial memory loss and enhance learning, Osborn explained. It also helps to prevent diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, he added.
“There is also evidence that augmented blood flow to the brain during exercise promotes neurogenesis (formation of new neurons in the brain),” he added. “Exercise can enhance both learning abilities and memory.” Beyond physical activity, learning a new skill can also “turbo-charge” the brain, Osborn said. Measuring your food’s glycemic index (GI) is a way of rating the impact it has on blood sugar and insulin, Osborn explained. This knowledge can then be used to find and avoid hidden sugars. Kidney beans, for example, have a glycemic index of 23, peanuts are rated at 7 and white rice is 89. “Simply put, the sweeter the food, the higher the GI value,” Osborn said. After eating low-GI foods, glucose increases only mildly, which means there is less insulin produced.
“Tight glycemic control is primarily a function of several interrelated factors, such as ingestion of low-GI foods, lean body mass and daily exercise,” Osborn explained. “While low-glycemic index carbohydrate consumption facilitates weight loss, eating your daily vegetables has far greater, life-extending effects,” he added.
7 Realities of Growing Older: The Deep Truths of Aging: Aging is an inevitable part of life, yet it’s often shrouded in mystery and apprehension. Shedding some light on the realities of growing older, from the physical changes we undergo to the emotional challenges we face, here are the unspoken truths of aging, offering a transparent look into life’s later chapters.
1. Inevitable Loss Aging is a journey that we all embark on, and along this path, we inevitably encounter the loss of loved ones. As we grow older, so do those around us, and the reality of losing a parent, a spouse, or a close friend becomes a part of our life. This loss can be a profound source of grief and a stark reminder of our own mortality. However, it also underscores the importance of cherishing the time we have with our loved ones and making the most of our relationships while we can. The Worst feeling in the world is feeling like you are left alone and forgotten.
2. Persistent Body Alerts As we age, our bodies undergo various changes and start to show signs of wear and tear. It’s akin to a persistent body alert that never goes off, signaling that our physical condition isn’t what it used to be. We may experience chronic aches, decreased energy levels, or persistent health issues. This can lead to a sense of urgency to accomplish our goals and a desire to make the most of the time we have left. It also underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and regular medical check-ups to manage these physical changes effectively.
3. Roads Not Taken As we age, we often find ourselves reflecting on the roads not taken and the opportunities missed. These could be career choices, relationships, or personal goals that we didn’t pursue. This reflection can lead to feelings of regret and a longing for what could have been. However, it’s important to remember that every choice we’ve made has shaped our lives in some way. Rather than dwelling on the past, we can use these reflections as a learning experience to make more informed decisions in the future and to seize the opportunities that come our way.
4. Physical Limitations One of the most challenging aspects of aging is the physical limitations it imposes. We may find ourselves unable to engage in activities we once enjoyed due to declining health or decreased energy levels. This can be a difficult adjustment and can lead to feelings of frustration and sadness. It’s essential to focus on what we can do rather than what we can’t. Adapting to these changes and finding new, less strenuous activities to enjoy can help us maintain a positive outlook and continue to live fulfilling lives despite these limitations.
5. Slow Healing As we age, our bodies’ ability to heal slows down. A minor injury or illness that would have been a quick recovery in our youth can take weeks or even months to heal. This slow healing process can be frustrating as it can limit our activities and independence. It’s a stark reminder of our bodies’ changing capabilities. This emphasizes the importance of taking care of our health, avoiding unnecessary risks, and seeking prompt medical attention when needed. It’s about adapting to our bodies’ changing pace and giving ourselves the time and care we need to recover.
6. Burden of Regret Regret can accumulate over time, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction with our lives. We may find ourselves dwelling on the “could’ve, would’ve, should’ve” moments, which can lead to feelings of disappointment. But remember that regret is a part of life and a sign of growth. It shows that we have learned from our experiences and that we understand the value of the opportunities we’ve missed. Instead of letting regret weigh us down, we can use it as a catalyst for change and a guide for future decisions, turning regret into a tool for personal growth and development.
7. Fear of Diminishing Quality of Life As we age, we may worry about our quality of life diminishing. We may fear losing our independence, our health, and our ability to enjoy life. This fear can lead to feelings of anxiety and uncertainty about the future. However, remember that aging doesn’t necessarily equate to a lower quality of life. With proactive health management, a positive mindset, and a supportive network of loved ones, we can maintain a fulfilling and vibrant life. It’s about focusing on the aspects of life we can control, embracing the changes that come with aging, and finding joy in every stage of our lives. Aging is a journey filled with challenges and opportunities. While it brings inevitable losses and physical limitations, it also offers wisdom and a deeper appreciation for life. Embracing aging with acceptance and resilience can transform this journey into a rewarding experience. Every day is a bonus, and it’s up to us to make the most of it.
In recent years, the topic of chakras has been circulating more and more across social media and within Western society. However, the chakra system originated thousands of years ago as a focal point of various ancient practices within Eastern cultures. Chakras represent the interconnected centers of energy within our bodies. These metaphysical energy points are believed to govern various aspects of our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Chakras are energy centers within the human body that help to regulate its processes and well-being 123. They are invisible to the human eye, but can be felt and sensed with intuition 42. They are also called “wheels” or “disks” of spinning energy, and they correspond to nerve bundles, major organs, and areas of our emotional and physical health 235. The word chakra comes from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient language of India 25.
Understanding and balancing the seven chakras is considered essential for harmonizing the body, mind and spirit—ultimately leading to a more enriched and fulfilling life. Parade spoke with Cassie Spires about the chakra system to help you better comprehend the profound powers of these energetic gateways. Spires is a multi-creative free spirit and a long-time enthusiast for self-transformation through the power of sound. She shares content with her 775k+ followers on TikTok. Chakras play a significant role in both our spiritual and psychological well-being. Plus, they can personally influence various aspects of our lives. The meaning of chakras may seem like a lot to understand at first, but with expert knowledge from Cassie Spires, we’ll uncover everything you need to know.
Again, What Are Chakras? You may have heard people talking about their chakras being unbalanced, or how certain healing crystals are better for particular chakras. But what are chakras, exactly? “Chakra is Sanskrit for ‘wheel of light,'” Spires tells Parade. “It is a thousand of years old term used by Eastern cultures to describe the energy, or subtle body. Some refer to this part of ourselves as an aura, or light body.” Spires continues, “The chakras radiate seven colors: that of the rainbow. Each one governs a different aspect of the human experience.”
What Do the Seven Chakras Mean? As Spires mentioned, each of the seven chakras governs a different aspect of the human experience and radiates a color of the rainbow. Here is what the seven chakras mean and represent: Root = Red: Survival, security, grounding, stability, safety Sacral = Orange: Pleasure, creativity, inspiration, connection and relationships Solar Plexus = Yellow: Willpower, determination, confidence, motivation Heart = Green: Love, compassion, forgiveness Throat = Blue: Communication and authenticity Third Eye = Indigo: Vision and imagination; seeing the bigger picture Crown = Violet: Understanding, divine wisdom, spiritual connection
Where Are the Seven Chakras Located? Each of the seven chakras is located within a corresponding part of the physical body. “The human body has hundreds of chakras, but the seven main energy centers begin at the base of the spine and rise to the crown of the head,” Spires added. Root: Base of the spine Sacral: Lower abdomen Solar Plexus: Between the navel and at the bottom of the rib cage Heart: Heart area, around the chest Throat: Base of the throat, coinciding with the thyroid gland Third Eye: Between the eyebrows Crown: Top or crown of the head What Powers Do Chakras Have? When our chakras are balanced, they can bestow us with a wide array of powers—from roundedness to creativity and confidence. Understanding and nurturing the chakras can be a transformative journey toward a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us. 7 Mudras for Your 7 Chakras (msn.com)
A guide to keep track of your chakras (msn.com) Spires explains that some of the benefits of balancing your chakras include mental, physical and emotional coherence, harmony and balance. “We are better able to align our thoughts, feelings and emotions so that a life we love can manifest,” Spires continues. “It cultivates a deeper awareness of ourselves, helping us to take action in the direction of our best path. It prevents us from being easily swayed by outside influences that would have us unknowingly go against ourselves.” When our energy is in harmony, we tend to feel more vibrant and excited about life, equipping us with the powerful tool of handling stress gracefully along with other challenges that naturally arise within the human experience. Related: ‘I’ve Always Been a Meditation Skeptic—Which Is Why I Was Shocked By What Happened When I Mediated for 30 Days’
What Causes Chakras To Be Blocked? I never really understood what a blocked Chakra met until someone explained it to me. Think of anytime you are annoyed with someone and don’t want to tell them anything and you have that lump in your throat. That can be perceived as a blocked throat chakra. And until you overcome that feeling your throat chakra will be blocked. Or think of a time when you were let down by someone and you felt broken hearted et cetera.
We all feel stuck sometimes in life—whether it be in our careers, relationships or hobbies. When we feel stuck, does this mean that our chakras are blocked? Spires says that she doesn’t like to use the term “blocked” when speaking about energy, as it implies energy has stopped moving. And in reality, energy never stops moving. Instead, she prefers to use the terms “overactive” or “underactive.”
“The chakras are closely tied to our emotional states,” Spires explains. “The way we feel is our first clue to the disharmony within our energy field. The longer we ignore the way we feel, the more likely that energy presents as a physical problem in the body. Over time, the body will develop discomfort near the chakra that is disturbed.” So, since the chakras correspond to a location within the physical body, you can gain clues as to which chakras may be more overactive or underactive for you. But what, exactly, causes chakras to be “blocked”?
Spires provided an example of a physical manifestation that correlates to an over or under-active chakra. “Headaches often indicate that the third eye is over or under-active,” she says. “The energy of that center is either being ignored and not used or given far too much attention—creating an imbalance between it and the other six chakras. Someone may lack vision and imagination or may develop confusion and fog when overusing this center. The body will alert us thru frequent headaches.” Additionally, Spires informs Parade that many imbalances begin at the root and affect the upper chakras, so it is important to be attentive to each center.
How Can You Activate Your Chakras? The good news is that if you are alive, your chakras are already active. Seriously! Even if they are under-active or “blocked,” chakras are active for everyone. If you want your chakras to feel more activated, however, there are plenty of simple steps you can take within your everyday life.
Spires highly suggests finding fun ways to build a relationship with the subtle nature. “If you enjoy cooking, you could focus on cooking by the chakras’ colors and consuming the food in awareness of it being prepared for the subtle body’s care,” she shares. “Root vegetables, for example, will energize the root chakra.” There are plenty of other ways to further activate your chakras if you don’t fancy yourself a cook. Fashionistas can choose their outfits of the day by tuning into their feelings and awareness of which chakra needs their attention. “If you feel a lack of creativity, wearing orange could inspire your creative energies. If you’re having a good day and hitting all the green lights on the way to work, send some gratitude into the heart with each green light you drive-thru.”
How Blocked Chakra’s cause dis`ease, – Search (bing.com) Spires preaches the healing power of sounds, and that also comes into play when activating the chakras. “If you’re like me and you enjoy music, something like tuning forks and singing bowls are a great way to literally tune the subtle body,” she explains. “The chakras energy vibrates kind of like that of a guitar string and just like with a guitar, all the strings have to be in tune to strike the harmony necessary for creating beautiful music. Harmony in our chakras is how we create a beautiful life.” Chakra Diseases: Cause, effects and techniques to overcome suffering – Chakra Healing (mychakrahealing.com)
She who {in}Spires beautiful thinking Beautify your mind
Beautify your life Let go of what hurts with hertz Cassie Spires is a multi-creative free spirit and long-time enthusiast for self-transformation through the power of sound. She promotes a deeper awareness of the self through a better understanding of the subtle nature of the human experience. Spires hosts the spiritual podcast, Love Hertz, is a self-published author with her debut book Believe in Love, a popular influencer on TikTok and enjoys singing/songwriting for the indie duo, Cassie and Mallory. Spires offered her intuitive guidance and acquired wisdom in metaphysics and shares divinely inspired creativity through her talents in art, writing, music and podcasting to encourage others to love themselves more deeply in the here and now. This simple habit can protect you from stress and burnout, says Harvard-trained psychologist: ‘It only takes 5 minutes’ (msn.com)
Founder/CEO, Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Fdtn $OraLeeFoundation She has a non-profit OraLee.org where you can make donations to support. You may share this and follow her @Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green
Today is a very special day! Today, we honor and celebrate the woman who was the inspiration and namesake of the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation! Ora Lee “Auntee” Smith raised Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green from the age of four, serving as her mother & legal guardian. When Auntee announced that she had cancer and would rather die than experience the harsh side effects of chemotherapy & radiation treatments, Dr. Green knew there had to be a better way. In becoming a medical physicist and creating the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation, Dr. Green aims to ensure that, one day, no one else will have to opt out of treatment to avoid the side effects of today’s cancer treatment. To find out more about our nonprofit, as well as ways you can support us, please visit OraLee.Org.
Happy Birthday Auntee!
From day 1, the goal of the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation has been to improve health outcomes with an affordable, accessible, and effective treatment. In understanding that health is a human right, supporters have volunteered, donated, and shared information about our organization to move us toward beginning human trials of Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green‘s cancer-killing machine. We thank you all for your support and hope you will continue to support us as we set out to change the way cancer is treated! #HappyBirthdayOraLee #OraLee #Give #LetsMakeCancerHistory #CancerResearch #CancerAwareness #Cancer #Live #Family #Love #Tech #GirlBoss #STEM #Technology #HelpUsSaveLives #WeAreOraLee #Health #CancerSucks #LasersKillingCancer #HealthIsWealth #DrHadiyahGreen #AnswerToCancer
Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green shares what inspired her research, and what is needed to take it to the next level. Facebook
Stephanie Jennings I won the battle of Brest cancer last year! Thank you for your talent and knowledge!!!
I hope she stays safe. Big pharma isn’t going to like this.
God, please protect her & allow her to heal and change lives
Frequencies, vibration and harmonics can heal the world. Phenomenal woman, “If people only knew the magnificence of the 3, 6 and 9, then people would have a key to the universe.” Nicola Tesla.
Michelle Diana Dr. Green’s integrity cannot be compared. She is not in this for the $$$. She is a scientist and humanitarian….like Tesla. “Serbian-American introvert Nikola Tesla was more of a humanist than an inventor or scientist. He believed strongly that his work belonged to humanity, not a corporation. His life serves as inspiration for anyone who believes in a higher purpose for work, and making this a better planet.”
Thank you to USA Today for honoring our founder @drhadiyahgreen
Founded by Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, #Innovation is one of the fundamental values of the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation. Merriam-Webster defines innovation as “a new idea, method, or device” and as “the introduction of something new.” Our innovation is Laser-Activated Nano-Therapy (LANT), which was developed by our founder, Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green. LANT completely eliminates tumors in laboratory mice after one 10-minute treatment in just 15 days, without observable side effects, surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
Limited by funding, not technological advancements: we are ready to move LANT beyond the laboratory and into humans with tax-deductible donations, independent of the pharmaceutical industry. Your generous support will fund human clinical trials, keeping our cancer-killing #tech #affordable for all and ensure we stay #independent. Our actions TODAY can save our lives TOMORROW. Learn more and donate at http://OraLee.org.
The Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) #cancer #nonprofit founded by Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, to keep her cancer-killing #tech #affordable for all while remaining #independent. Dr. Green developed Laser-Activated Nano-Therapy (LANT), which completely eliminates tumors in laboratory mice after one 10-minute treatment in just 15 days, without observable side effects, surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
Limited by funding, not technological advancements, we are ready to move LANT beyond the laboratory and into humans with tax-deductible donations, independent of the pharmaceutical industry. When you support The Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation, your donations will help ensure her research comes to life by helping to fund human clinical trials, taking this tech from the lab to the living. Help us save #cancer patients!
Each petal of the unique “Ora Lee Flower” represents one of the fundamental #values of the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation. Our highest #purpose is to use our #innovation in #service to humanity, operating with #integrity to restore #health. We stand on #love and #faith as our foundation. With these values, the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation was built and continues to grow!
Similar to proton beam therapy, it is a radiation treatment that precisely delivers a beam of protons to disrupt and destroy tumor. She is raising funds through her nonprofit @Ora Lee Cancer Research Ftdn to keep the treatment affordable. I’ve seen something very similar about 12 years ago… The Kanzius Machine (John Kanzius) – Bing video Yeap! the only issue could be if cancer cells have already spread but if it’s still contained WOW very impressive!
A Funk Above the Rest is one of the most unique R&B broadcasts you’ll come across, featuring the productions of both major & independent artists from around the world, side by side in a mixture of funk, soul, and a sprinkle of other genres. Many of these songs have never been heard on an international platform! The show is internationally syndicated, with host “Skip the Funktologist” bringing live broadcasting, streaming, and podcasting on both terrestrial and digital networks reaching around the globe, either live or in its prerecorded format.
You have a Focused look…which is a direct reflection of your inner and outer beauty. It’s been studied and noted that our thought waves travel…. faster than the speed of light… Which is instantaneous…going out through the ether of Space & Time… However, if your thought waves … …… ……… are measured as light waves…… the Man Kind Observer cannot…measure what those light waves or codes say by looking, because those waves collapse upon Observation.
NOTE: This technology is similar to Proton Therapy for which Indiana University closed their Center sighting the reason was the procedure cost too much. However, I know a patient from Piqua, Ohio who was treated with Proton Therapy and it worked.
Therefore, your thoughts are Protected ……… …… … by you!!
Oraleevolmh2 · Follow Learn more, share this information and donate at Oralee.org. Thank you for your support!
ORALEE.ORG Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation | Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green https://fs.blog/observer-effect/ You’ve already succeeded!! Peace, Knowledge, Wisdom And Always Love!! Cited Source: Thank you! God Bless
I’ve been fascinated to read severalinterviewswith medical writer Jo Marchant. For her new book, Cure: A Journey Into The Science of Mind Over Body, Marchant has mined the literature on how thoughts and perceptions affect our physiology, developing a nuanced appreciation of how the mind and body interact. Her findings: “Our mental state can be crucial in determining our experience of symptoms such as pain, nausea, fatigue and depression…Feeling stressed or afraid can cause your heart to race and your bowels to empty, and trigger an immune response called inflammation. These processes aren’t usually under our conscious control—we can’t change to occur—but there are indirect methods we can use to influence them.”
While in no way suggesting that illnesses are “all in the mind,” Marchant’s analysis suggests that our mental and physical health is affected by the way we perceive and relate to it. Meditation, says Marchant, is one of those indirect, influencing, methods that can help, which is perhaps not surprising given that how we perceive and relate to our lives is precisely what’s trained in mindfulness practice.
The effect of mindfulness on inflammatory health was shown in a study by David Creswell that came out in February. This research showed changes in brain circuitry and reduced inflammation after three days of mindfulness training, while three days of relaxation did not have the same effect. Creswell explains the difference in impact between mindfulness meditation and relaxation:
“We show that mindfulness meditation impacts measurable brain circuits more so than helpful relaxation practices, and that these brain circuit changes help us understand how mindfulness meditation improves health. Mindfulness teaches participants how to be more open and attentive to their experiences, even difficult ones. By contrast, relaxation approaches are good in the moment for making the body feel relaxed, but… harder to translate when you’re dealing with difficult stressors in your life. This new work sheds light into what mindfulness training is doing to the brain to produce these inflammatory health benefits.”
How meditation helps me deal with the symptoms of depression and lingering triggers. A mindful way of perceiving and relating to difficult experiences has helped in my journey with depression. I came to meditation around 15 years ago, when I was stuck in a two-and-a-half year depressive trough. I had thrown myself in desperation at various treatments, but mindfulness offered something different. The method itself meant practicing acceptance, just the opposite of what I was used to.
This marked the beginning of a transformation—a recognition that the way I was approaching the “problem” of depression actually helped perpetuate it. Through meditation, I learned to see how my attitude and behaviour, characterized by self-critical striving and resistance, was a significant factor in how I felt. Mindfulness offered a gentler way, and I learned how to be kind to myself, even—especially—when feeling stressed.
What’s really changed is that life’s troubles no longer seem to propel me into a prolonged, self-perpetuating funk, one that continues to endure long after the events that triggered it. I still sometimes experience the symptoms of what I used to call “depression,” albeit usually for shorter periods, after a difficult event. What’s really changed is that life’s troubles no longer seem to propel me into a prolonged, self-perpetuating funk, one that continues to endure long after the events that triggered it. Why is this so? Well, I think that the meaning I give to my condition matters. Once upon a time, I saw depression on one hand as something I couldn’t control, a clinical illness that left me feeling powerless. On the other, I also saw it as my fault, a self-stigmatising belief that filled me with shame, and a sense of failure that I couldn’t shake off. These perspectives, I suspect, made me feel even more depressed.
When I believed that symptoms like heart palpitations, muscle pain, and racing thoughts were fearful catastrophes, signs of the devil depression, I was easily overwhelmed by them, and prone to try to push them away, with a sense of impotent rage. However, as I learned to let go of the labels and judgements about depression, I started meeting the same kinds of symptoms as normal reactions to unpleasant events. I no longer added to their unpleasantness with the stressful belief that something terrible or unmanageable was happening to me, that I couldn’t cope, that it was all my own doing, or that I had to wrestle with it.
Viewing difficult thoughts, feelings, and urges as impermanent events in the mind and body, trusting that they too will fade, just like the events that triggered them, I find I can handle life’s challenges with more competence, trust, and confidence. I’m less likely to add a secondary suffering to the unavoidable stresses of living. Difficulties come, but they also go.
This is a radical shift. Gently practising steadfastness and self-compassion has not only made uncomfortable thoughts and feelings more workable, but allows them to pass more quickly, rather than reactively keeping them going. With this approach, I make better decisions when problems arise, and I’m more able to draw on my environment for support—rather than the old chaotic, lonely existence I used to lead, my outer life has come more to reflect the qualities of mind that I’ve gradually cultivated through mindfulness practice.
With my mind, body and life no longer in such conflict, stress has reduced. Practicing a shift in view, a change of heart, over and over again, seems to be a vital mechanism through which mindfulness training helps our sense of health. As Creswell’s study elegantly demonstrates, it also leads to measurable biological shifts.
For me, mindfulness has been the “master key” to understanding how the mind and body work, as well as a skillful method for managing them. It’s not magic, of course. Our physiological and psychological habits are strong, and we can’t just think our way out of them—believing this would be falling prey to the pseudo-science which has given mind-body medicine an undeservedly poor reputation. Our experience is conditioned not just by our mentality, not just by our biology, but also our relationships, external environment, society and culture, and we have limited control over all of these. But practicing a shift in view, a change of heart, over and over again, seems to be a vital mechanism through which mindfulness training helps our sense of health. As Creswell’s study elegantly demonstrates, it also leads to measurable biological shifts.
There’s a traditional mind training slogan which says: “Change your attitude, but remain natural.” I think this captures the paradox that mindfulness training invites. Without getting caught in trying to change the moment, we nevertheless change our relationship with the moment—the meaning we give to what’s happening, and our way of responding. This, it turns out, changes the moment too.
Journalist Jo Marchant explores surprising new research into curing the body with the mind.
The Science of Healing Thoughts By Gareth Cook on January 19, 2016 Credit: Penguin Random House For centuries, the idea of “healing thoughts” has held sway over the faithful. In recent decades it’s fascinated the followers of all manner of self-help movements, including those whose main purpose seems to be separating the sick from their money. Now, though, a growing body of scientific research suggests that our mind can play an important role in healing our body — or in staying healthy in the first place. In the book Cure, the veteran science journalist Jo Marchant brings her critical eye to this fascinating new terrain, sharing the latest discoveries and telling the stories of the people —Iraq war veterans among them — who are being helped by cures aimed at both body and mind. Marchant answered questions from Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook.
You have taken on a topic where, historically, there has been a tremendous amount of quackery. What convinced you that there was a compelling scientific story to tell? The misunderstandings and false claims were one of the elements that drew me to the topic of mind-body medicine in the first place. The mind influences physiology in many ways — from stress to sexual arousal — so it has always seemed reasonable to me that it might impact health. Yet the question has become so polarized: advocates of alternative medicine claim miracle cures, while many conventional scientists and doctors insist any suggestion of “healing thoughts” is deluded.
I was interested in those clashing philosophies: I wanted to look at why it is so difficult to have a reasoned debate about this issue. What drives so many people to believe in the pseudoscientific claims of alternative therapists, and why are skeptics so resistant to any suggestion that the mind might influence health?
At the same time, I wanted to dig through the scientific research to find out what the evidence really says about the mind’s effects on the body. That took me around the world, interviewing scientists who are investigating this question (often struggling for funding or risking their reputations to do so) and their results persuaded me that as well as being an interesting sociological or philosophical story, this was a compelling scientific one.
Examples include trials demonstrating that hypnotherapy is a highly effective treatment for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and studies showing that perceived stress correlates with telomere length in cells. But what I personally found most convincing were studies suggesting an evolutionary rationale for the mind’s influence on health.
There are now several lines of research suggesting that our mental perception of the world constantly informs and guides our immune system in a way that makes us better able to respond to future threats. That was a sort of ‘aha’ moment for me — where the idea of an entwined mind and body suddenly made more scientific sense than an ephemeral consciousness that’s somehow separated from our physical selves.
What is known about what the placebo effect actually is, and what do you see as the biggest open questions?
“Placebo effect” can be a confusing term, because it has several different meanings. It is sometimes used to cover anyone who feels better after receiving placebo (or fake) treatment, which of course includes all those people who would have improved anyway. But researchers are finding that taking a placebo can also have specific, measurable effects on the brain and body.
As neuroscientist Fabrizio Benedetti, one of the pioneers of placebo research, puts it, there isn’t just one placebo effect but many. Placebo painkillers can trigger the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins. Patients with Parkinson’s disease respond to placebos with a flood of dopamine. Fake oxygen, given to someone at altitude, has been shown to cut levels of neurotransmitters called prostaglandins (which dilate blood vessels, among other things, and are responsible for many of the symptoms of altitude sickness).
None of these biological effects are caused by placebos themselves, which are by definition inert. They are triggered by our psychological response to those fake treatments. The active ingredients are complex and not fully understood but include our expectation that we will feel better (which in turn is affected by all sorts of factors such as our previous experience with treatment, how impressive or invasive a treatment is, and whether we’re an optimistic person) and feeling listened to and cared for.
Another element is conditioning, where if we learn to associate a particular treatment — taking a pill, say — with a certain biological response, we experience that response when we take a similar pill in the future, even if it’s a placebo. This influences physiological functions such as hormone levels and immune responses, and works regardless of our conscious beliefs.
Future questions include teasing out the psychological factors that shape placebo responses, and investigating why honest placebos (where someone knows they are taking a placebo) seem to work — this research has barely begun. Scientists also want to pin down exactly what conditions placebos work for (most research so far is on a few model systems, like pain, depression and Parkinson’s), and who they work for (both genes and personality seem to play a role). And then of course there is the question of how we can maximize these responses, and integrate them into routine clinical care in an honest way.
‘The thing that pisses me off is that there wasn’t anybody smart enough to realize what was there. When they heard Eva, they should have known.’ Photograph: Courtesy Blix Records
Those who knew and worked with her look back on an unusual talent. On a late May day in 1996, the singer Eva Cassidy and her bandmate Chris Biondo drove to a remote factory in rural Virginia to collect copies of the recording that turned out to be the last she would ever make. “We picked up a total of about 1,100 cassettes and CDs,” Biondo recalled. “When we got in the car, Eva cracked open a box and started getting very worried. She felt she wasn’t going to be able to sell them all. I’ll never forget her comment: ‘When I’m dead and they find me, there’s going to be boxes of these in my basement,’ she said. Her expectations for the record could not have been more minimal.”
After all, Cassidy had been performing for nearly a decade by then in relative obscurity and, while she had a number of meetings with record company executives in that time, they never went beyond the talking stage. Worse, by the summer of 96, the 33-year-old was facing something dire. Over the course of the next few months, she would receive increasingly grim diagnoses of a cancer that had already begun to make quickening race through her body, robbing her of any chance of making a mark during her time on earth. Given that, who could have foreseen that Cassidy’s music would one day generate a sustained catalogue that would sell in the multi-millions, creating chart hits all over the world? “At the time, we just hoped to make enough money to buy a PA system,” Biondo said.
This week will mark 25 years since Cassidy died of melanoma cancer, just 10 months after recording the live album she and Biondo had driven out to pick up that day. The story that emerged later – of a talent barely recognized in her lifetime, who went on to achieve rapturous posthumous acclaim – has become one of the most dramatic bad news/good news tales in pop history. But it never would have happened without the stalwart efforts of some dedicated supporters, as well as several connections that brought her songs to the attention of more media gatekeepers than normally receive credit in the tale.
The small label that set things in motion, Blix Street Records, seemed an unlikely engine to power such a success. Before making a deal with Eva’s estate, the imprint had achieved modest sales with recordings by jazz instrumental bands and Celtic singers, the best-selling of whom was Mary Black. It was another singer on the label, Grace Griffith, a friend of Cassidy’s from the Washington DC club scene, who introduced her music to Blix Street chief Bill Straw. “We have this wonderful nightingale,’” Griffith told him, Straw recalled. “I’m afraid we’re going to lose her.”
“As soon as her vocal came on, I felt it was extraordinary,” he said. “By the time I finished the album; I came to the conclusion that this was one of the best singers ever.”
Though many have come to similar conclusions since, Biondo was one of the first to do so. He met Cassidy in the winter of 1986 when, on the recommendation of a mutual friend, she came to visit him at his small home recording studio. “She was afraid to come inside because she had not done any recording like this before,” Biondo said.
Once she began to sing, however, he was instantly taken with her natural skill. “A lot of people take lessons to learn music theory and how to do harmonies,” he said. “She could just do it. I watched her come up with three- or four-part harmonies out of nowhere. She would hear it in her head and then sing anything she heard.”
Biondo believes that skill is what freed her to bring so much emotion to the songs. “There are a lot of components to someone trying to pull off a tune,” he said. “They have to think about the technical parts, about what the next note is and what the phrasing will be. But because those things were so natural to Eva, it allowed her to go right to the next level, which was to go inside the song and feel the lyrics.”
Her skill also meant she could improvise the tunes at will, as well as bend the notes with a sculptor’s care. “She could change the melody to something the band had not heard before on a gig-by-gig basis,” Biondo said.
Then there was the sheer sound of her soprano, graced by a tone as plush as fleece. “It’s the purity of the tone that struck me,” said Rob Burley, who wrote the book Songbird, about Cassidy’s life. “The unadorned quality of it shines through.”
Eva Cassidy Photograph: Courtesy of Blix Records
Eva Cassidy – Playlist 0n YouTube At times, however, the subtlety of her approach, and the quiet intensity of it, could fly over the heads of some audiences. “We never played loud which was a problem for us,” Biondo said. “One time, we played this club in southern Maryland and we were doing ballads, country tunes and the clientele was into Lynyrd Skynyrd, so people were leaving. The guy who had hired us to play said, ‘How about I pay you and you guys go home?’ It’s never a good thing when someone pays you to leave.”
On the other hand, Biondo said Cassidy “thought that was kinda cool,” an attitude that underscores her focus on the performance rather than its reception. “She just liked to go out and sing,” he said. “She didn’t want anybody to jump up and down.”
Cassidy remained equally cool when it came to meetings with record companies. “Maybe half a dozen companies came down to talk to her,” Biondo said. “But she never did the kinds of things the people who think they’re going to get a contract do, which is to act all giddy and make fast friends with the A&R people. I don’t think they were too impressed with her enthusiasm level.”
Cassidy’s low-key response had two sources: her introverted character, and her concern that the industry might try to squeeze her omnivorous musical taste into a box. When one company executive asked Cassidy what kind of music she wanted to record, she told him, “anything but that pop crap,” Burley said. When the prestigious Blue Note Records gave Cassidy’s band a budget of $3,500 to cut six songs, she covered six different genres. “You could see that the business sense and who the artist is was going to collide,” Biondo said.
At one point, Blue Note tried pairing her with a smooth jazz band on the label, Pieces of a Dream, for a few songs but the singer despised the result. A more pleasing proposal came from Apollo Records, run by civil rights activist Percy Sutton, a label connected to the vaunted Harlem-based theater. “They sent her a contract which meant she could have quit her day job (in a plant nursery) and gotten a yearly salary,” Biondi said. “That was a dream come true.”
Unfortunately, before Cassidy could sign, the company folded. That’s the whole reason Cassidy and her band cut the Live at Blues Alley album. It was essentially a hail-Mary pass to get attention and earn some badly needed cash. Sadly, around the same time a mysterious mole on Cassidy’s back began to raise concerns. Because she hadn’t seen a doctor in years, Biondo insisted she go to him. But she was delayed for six months.
When she finally went, it instigated a procedure that became far more invasive that was first assumed. The doctor had to take the skin from the back of her neck all the way down her spine in a three-inch-wide swath. While the surgeon thought he caught all the cancer, it came back with a vengeance. “It was bad news after bad news,” Biondo said. “She had cancer in her lungs, her brain, her arm, her back.”
Eva Cassidy – Time After Time – YouTube Several months of heavy chemotherapy followed, to no avail. In her dying days, Cassidy’s music was brought once again to various labels. And they still turned her down. “The thing that pisses me off is that there wasn’t anybody smart enough to realize what was there,” said Biondo. “When they heard Eva, they should have known.”
Bill Straw had heard Cassidy’s music by then; he was invited by Griffith to meet her at a benefit held for the singer two months before her death. But he felt it would be ghoulish for him to attend. Six months after she died, however, he met with her parents. Straw had the advantage of understanding the kind of specialized audience he assumed she could reach at that point. It helped that there were no other serious bidders. Though Cassidy had self-released just three albums in her lifetime – including a collaboration with DC go-go pioneer Chuck Brown, a solo work, and the live Blues Alley album – she had some 127 recordings in the can. From that deep trove, Blix Street fashioned an ideal set titled Songbird, which they issued in 1998. A myth has arisen that the album sold nothing until it was picked up by BBC Radio 2 two years later, but, according to Straw, the American press jumped on it quickly, with rave reviews in publications as mainstream as People magazine. Once the label convinced a Boston radio station to play her music, “we sold 10,000 CDs in that city in two weeks. We kept having these little explosions,” Straw said.
The Mount Vesuvius moment, however, came when Blix Street’s associated label in the UK, Hot Records, hired Tony Bramwell, a record promo guy from the 60s who had worked with the Beatles, to promote the music. He took it to the producer of Terry Wogan’s huge morning show on Radio 2. “They listened because of Tony Bramwell’s lineage,” Burley said. The result instantly resonated with British listeners, generating snowballing sales. Just before Christmas 2000, after Top of the Pops 2 played a blurry video of Cassidy singing Over the Rainbow, the album soared to the top of the UK chart.
Eva Cassidy Photograph: Courtesy of Blix Records
In the years since, the demand for her music has encouraged the release of no fewer than 12 subsequent albums, consisting of either previously unheard or repackaged performances. This December will see the release of yet another – a 25th anniversary edition of Live at Blues Alley. Biondo, who is credited as producer on most of her recordings, doesn’t believe that all of that music deserves to be heard.
“I don’t think Eva would want it all out,” he said. “She didn’t get the chance to censor her own stuff and I don’t think that’s fair, especially since she had such strong feelings about people not hearing her at her best.”
Even Straw believes one release shouldn’t have happened – the Wonderful World set from 2004. Still, he said, pressure from the public dictated that release. As to what Cassidy herself would have made of the sheer scale of the attention she has received, Biondo said, “she would have been scared shitless.”
He believes she would have preferred a more measured, and controllable, degree of attention. “I have this daydream about Eva every once in a while,” Biondo mused. “In the dream, she isn’t dead, and she’s as loved as she is now.
I see her singing in this little restaurant that’s behind my house. Maybe 40 people can fit in there and she plays there every night and people pay a lot of money to see her. And they’re quiet and they really listen. To her, that would be heaven.”
Mykayla was one of 2,201 cancer patients authorized by the state of Oregon to use medical marijuana. Published: Nov. 24, 2012,
She was 7. The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program serves 52 children who have a qualifying medical condition, parental consent and a doctor’s approval. Like adults, most cite pain as a qualifying condition, though many list multiple health problems, including seizures, nausea and cancer.
Allowing adults to consume medical marijuana is gaining acceptance nationwide. But Mykayla’s story underscores the complex issues that arise when states empower parents to administer the controversial drug to children. Oregon’s law, approved by voters 14 years ago, requires no monitoring of a child’s medical marijuana use by a pediatrician. The law instead invests authority in parents to decide the dosage, frequency and manner of a child’s marijuana consumption.
The state imposes no standards for quality, safety or potency in the production of marijuana. Little is known about how the drug interacts with the developing body, leading pediatricians say. A recent international study found sustained cannabis use among teens can cause long-term damage to intellect, memory and attention.
Many doctors worry about introducing a child to marijuana when they say other drugs can treat pain and nausea more effectively.
By the numbers Most jurisdictions that have medical marijuana programs — 18 states and Washington, D.C. — permit children to participate with parental consent and a doctor’s approval.
“It helps me eat and sleep,” she said, nestled against her mother on a couch. “The chemotherapy makes you feel like you want to stay up all night long.” Marijuana, she said, “makes me feel funny, happy.”
“She’s like she was before,” her mother said. “She’s a normal kid.”
Diagnosis: leukemia Mykayla, a sweet girl with a splash of red freckles across her nose and cheeks, started showing cancer symptoms last spring. She was feverish. She had a hacking cough and night sweats. A rash spread on her leg.
Purchase, 25, worried that her daughter had Lyme disease or pneumonia. A Pendleton doctor suspected strep throat and put her on antibiotics.
But Mykayla’s health worsened. Purchase took her to a Hermiston pediatrician, who found a mass in the girl’s chest.
Purchase and Krenzler, 27, drove Mykayla to Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel that afternoon. The following day she was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. “My whole life is her,” said Purchase, who became pregnant with Mykayla when she was a 17-year-old high school senior.
“I was so scared of losing her. It was heartbreaking.” Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, striking an estimated 3,800 American children each year. Mykayla has T-cell leukemia, an aggressive form of the disease that affects 10 to 15 percent of patients.
Immediately, Purchase, who is divorced from Mykayla’s father and has sole custody, faced decisions about her daughter’s treatment.
With chemotherapy, doctors put Mykayla’s odds of survival at 76.9 percent and her chance of relapse at 7 percent, Purchase said. Purchase accepted the chemo as part of her daughter’s treatment, although she takes a generally dim view of the pharmaceutical industry, is skeptical of childhood vaccines, rejects genetically modified foods and avoids products made with high-fructose corn syrup.
What Purchase believes, emphatically, is that cannabis heals. Purchase said her stepfather’s topical application of cannabis oil cured his skin cancer. She said an acquaintance’s lung cancer went into remission after he used pot.
And Purchase herself consumes marijuana daily. She said she became an Oregon medical marijuana patient in 2010 to treat vomiting from a metabolic problem and from her pregnancy with her second child. She is so convinced of the drug’s safety that she consumed it during the pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
She was certain of one thing when Mykayla was diagnosed: The child would use marijuana to defeat cancer.
Purchase and Krenzler took Mykayla to The Hemp and Cannabis Foundation clinic in Southeast Portland, where a doctor looked over a letter from Mykayla’s oncologist starting her diagnosis. The doctor asked about Mykayla’s medications, her symptoms and how Purchase planned to give her daughter the drug.
Purchase said the physician “was pretty thorough.” If he had any concerns about Mykayla’s age, Purchase said, he didn’t mention them. Ten days after her cancer diagnosis, Mykayla was an Oregon medical marijuana patient.
Undergoing treatment On a recent afternoon, Krenzler placed a baggie of empty pill capsules on the kitchen counter and unwrapped a 10-gram syringe of cannabis oil, known among marijuana patients as Rick Simpson Oil Krenzler filled a capsule with a half-gram of the dark sludgy substance that friends had prepared and handed it to Mykayla. The oil smells bad and, says Mykayla, tastes awful. Krenzler got lime-flavored capsules to help mask the drug’s pungent aftertaste. Test results showed the substance had a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 58.6 percent, a much higher concentration than in dried marijuana. THC is the psychoactive property of marijuana that gives users a high.
Mykayla swallowed the pill. “First you get hungry,” she said. “Then you get really funny, and then you get tired.” Mykayla went into remission within a month of starting chemotherapy. Cancer specialists say such a development is expected, but Purchase and Krenzler credited marijuana. “She wasn’t responding as well until she got the cannabis,” Purchase said. Mykayla continues to receive a half-gram of cannabis oil twice a day: once in the morning, and again in the afternoon.
Krenzler said marijuana can relax or energize Mykayla, relieve her pain, stimulate her appetite, ease her nausea or put her to sleep. When she first started using marijuana, it knocked Mykayla out. She’d nap for hours at a time, a sign that Mykayla’s body was adjusting to marijuana, said Krenzler. “Once you get used to it and you gain a tolerance, it doesn’t make you high,” said Krenzler, who is listed with the state as Mykayla’s grower. “You’re functional.”
Sometimes, if Mykayla is feeling especially lousy, Krenzler and Purchase offer her a cookie or slice of banana bread baked with “budder,” made by slow-cooking butter and marijuana buds. Krenzler said she’s had up to 1.2 grams of cannabis oil in 24 hours, the rough equivalent of smoking 10 joints.
The couple home-schools Mykayla for now. She loves sculpting clay and reading “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” Her favorite book is “It’s Just a Plant,” a children’s book about marijuana illustrated by the artist whose work includes the blockbuster parody, “Go **** to Sleep.”
Mykayla often reads the marijuana book aloud to her 17-month-old sister, Ryleigh. “It’s really fun,” Mykayla said. “It teaches you about cannabis, that it’s good for you and other people use it too.”
The doctor’s opinion The faith Purchase and Krenzler place in marijuana’s curative powers is not shared by the American medical establishment. Purchase and Krenzler said Dr. Janice Olson, the medical director of the children’s cancer and blood disorders program at Legacy Emanuel’s Randall Children’s Hospital, called the girl’s marijuana use “inappropriate.” Now they’re seeing another Legacy pediatric oncologist, Dr. Jason Glover.
Both doctors declined The Oregonian’s request for interviews. Leaders of the American Academy of Pediatrics are circulating a resolution opposing the drug’s use in children, prompted by the growing number of states with medical marijuana programs. “The issue,” said Dr. Sharon Levy, an author of the academy’s anti-pot resolution, “is that marijuana isn’t a medicine.” Much is unknown about marijuana’s risks and potential benefits for kids, said Levy, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and director of the adolescent substance abuse program at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Studies showing marijuana can be effective against nausea and vomiting have focused on adults. Pot does not cure childhood leukemia, said Dr. Stephen Sallan, chief of staff emeritus at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Sallan, a pediatric oncologist and professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, said he views the drug as “relatively harmless.” He did groundbreaking research in the 1970s that found THC in marijuana helps prevent chemotherapy-related vomiting.
“If I had a teenager — not a 7-year-old — who kind of liked the psychological side effects, and it offered additional anti-vomiting protection, I would say, why not?” said Sallan. On the other hand, Sallan said marijuana isn’t part of the “first line of anything we use” when treating childhood leukemia.
Aware of the medical community’s concerns, the couple has not discussed Mykayla’s marijuana use with Glover, though they said the doctor is aware of it. Krenzler said he also didn’t tell doctors when he gave Mykayla marijuana in the hospital. “She has never asked for a pain pill,” he said. “We’re not going to stop what works.”
Medical Marijuana Continuing coverage of medical marijuana by The Oregonian’s Noelle Crombie. Mykayla’s father said he was stunned to learn her oncologist was not consulted about the child’s marijuana use.
Comstock, who works in a North Dakota oil field, pays Purchase child support and covers Mykayla’s health insurance. He said he observed strange behavior during an August visit and took Mykayla to a private lab, where technicians detected THC levels of an adult daily marijuana user. Gladstone police contacted the girl’s mother, examined Mykayla’s medical marijuana paperwork, then told Comstock there was little they could do.
Comstock, who used pot in the past, said he doesn’t object to people over 16 using medical marijuana. But he worries about his daughter’s well-being and the potential for addiction. “She’s not terminally ill,” Comstock said. “She is going to get over this, and with all this pot, they are going to hinder her brain growth. “It’s going to limit her options in life because of the decisions her mother has made for her.”
Mykayla disappeared into the bedroom of a friend’s home one recent evening and emerged in a pistachio-colored gown. Someone she’d never met had sent her 1,000 paper cranes that, according to Japanese tradition, offer a wish for healing.
The tiny cranes, fastened to strings dangling from a belt, rose as Mykayla twirled. “When you get married,” her mom told her, “You can wear it with your wedding dress.”
Mykayla took a seat at the kitchen counter, where she eagerly pored over a stack of letters from her classmates at Sherwood Heights Elementary in Pendleton, closely examining their crayon illustrations.
“Dear Mykayla,” she read aloud. “I hope you feel better. Do you like cats?” Snacking on kiwi, she remembered the fun she had playing with friends and visiting the Pendleton Roundup before she got sick.Mykayla will be the one to choose when to stop using marijuana, her mother said. For now, Purchase hopes other parents won’t judge her for decisions she made when her daughter was “walking a line between life and death.”
“As a mother,” she said, “I am going to try anything before she can potentially fall on the other side.” Mykayla’s mother maintains a Facebook page dedicated to her daughter’s health and use of medical marijuana.
Cannakids & THC: Revisiting Brave Mykayla, Who Shared With The World Her Controversial Cannabis Cure by Angela Bacca
November 26, 2012, — When 7-year-old Mykayla Comstock was diagnosed with leukemia in July, it was less than three days before her mother filed Oregon medical marijuana paperwork so the child could take lime-flavored capsules filled with cannabis oil. The decision to give Mykayla the capsules came naturally to Erin Purchase, MyKayla’s mother, who believes marijuana has healing power, but doctors aren’t so sure it’s a good idea.
“The first doctor was not for it at all,” Purchase told ABCNews.com. “She was rude and she told us it was inappropriate. “Basically, she blew up at us and told us to transfer to another facility.” They found a new doctor, who knows that Mykayla takes about a gram of cannabis oil a day — half in the morning and half at night — but he doesn’t talk about it with them.
“This is our daughter,” Purchase, 25, said. “If they don’t agree with our personal choices, we’d rather they not say anything at all.” It’s legal for a minor to enroll in the Oregon medical marijuana program as long as the child’s parent or legal guardian consents and takes responsibility as a caregiver.
And Mykayla is not alone. There were four other patients enrolled in the Oregon medical marijuana program between the ages of 4 and 9, six between the ages of 10 and 14, and 41 between the ages of 15 and 17, according to the Oregon Public Health Division. Severe pain, nausea, muscle spasms and seizures are among the top conditions cited for medical marijuana use.
Mykayla first started to feel sick in May, when she developed a rash, cough and night sweats. By mid-July, doctors found a mass in her chest and diagnosed her with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia a few days later. The family relocated from Pendleton, Ore. to Portland to be near Randall Children’s Hospital for treatment, which included chemotherapy.
At first, Mykayla was not responding well to her treatment, and doctors said she might need a bone marrow transplant. Then she started taking the cannabis oil pills. her mother said. By early August, Mykayla was in remission and the transplant was no longer necessary. “I don’t think it’s just a coincidence,” Purchase said. “I credit it with helping — at least helping — her ridding the cancer from her body.”
Before Mykayla was diagnosed, Purchase had read about another young boy with cancer who received cannabis oil for nearly two years because his parents believed it kept him alive so much that they defied doctors’ orders and broke Montana law to give it to him. She said she knew it was what she would do for her children if they ever got sick.
Purchase said she, too, uses medical marijuana. She said it has helped with her kidney and liver disease since 2010, adding, “I feel that it saved my life.” However, Dr. Donna Seger, the executive director of the Tennessee Poison Center and a professor at Vanderbilt University, said cannabis has no effect on liver or kidney function, and it does not cure cancer.
“If it does anything, it decreases immunity,” she said. “It doesn’t fight cancer.”
Dr. Igor Grant, who directs the University of California Center for Medical Cannabis Research in San Diego, said he’s never studied marijuana’s effects on children and it’s not clear how the pills will affect Mykayla’s development if she takes the drugs daily for a period of months or years.
“It’s always a tricky issue prescribing really a medication of any kind to developing organisms because they may be more sensitive to the effects, specifically if the prescription drug has an effect on the brain,” Grant said.
He said there have been basic laboratory studies that suggest pot slows cancer cells’ ability to change, but those studies are only theoretical. They include no clinical data and or animal data.
The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes treating children with medical marijuana. “The issue is that marijuana isn’t a medicine,” Dr. Sharon Levy, of the AAP, told the Oregonian.
Seger said she has several concerns about a 7-year-old taking pills filled with cannabis oil because there is little research on its long-term effects on children. Cannabis could have potentially negative effects on cognitive development in children since it affects cognitive ability in adults.
But Purchase said she wasn’t afraid to give her daughter the pills last summer. She was a little nervous about determining the right dose. She and her fiancé, Brandon Krenzler, who helped raise Mykayla since she was 3 years old, started MyKayla with .07-gram doses.
“It took a while to get her adjusted to it,” Purchase said. “She acted more funny when she first started taking it and after a while gained tolerance. Now, when she takes it, you can’t even tell. She’s very normal.”
Purchase said she knew she’d done the right thing the day Mykayla missed a dose of her cannabis oil pills and her 17-month old sister walked into a room holding string cheese. The smell made Mykayla so sick that she threw up on the spot.
“She actually asked for her dose,” Purchase said, adding that she’s less perky without it. “She doesn’t use pain pills or nausea pills. She has not even lost a single pound since her diagnosis.”
Dr. Michel Dubois, who works in NYU Langone’s Pain Management Center, said using cannabis is still controversial because of its side effects and addictive qualities.
“This is a new ethical problem because you’ve got a medication, which is known to have psychoactive effects, approved by the parents and given to a child,” he said, adding that the child doesn’t have much choice in the matter. (Psychoactive drugs disrupt communication in the brain and alter normal awareness, behavior and mood, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.)
Dubois said it would be better to give a child other drugs for nausea because the cannabis oil likely contains at least 50 or 60 different chemicals with unknown long-term health effects. If Mykayla’s life expectancy is limited, her risk of toxicity will also be limited. However, if she is expected to make a full recovery, Dubois said there is a worry that the cannabis will add health problems later on. The emergence of cannabidiol (CBD) has changed the entire scope of the cannabis industry and the cannabis legalization movement — for better and for worse. Because the stigmas and fears that relegated the plant to illegal drug status have had an inordinate focus on children, the idea that CBD alone is safer for them than THC because they don’t get “high” continues to prevent the most vulnerable from accessing proper plant-based relief.
When CBD entered the mainstream zeitgeist, it was immediately more palatable to a society just waking up from Prohibition. Television specials about children with intractable epilepsy using orally administered high-CBD extracts were a comfortable bridge into the acceptance of herbal medicine. But the obsession with CBD has resulted in the majority of pediatric patients being guided to avoid higher THC varieties that might provide the relief they need. Starting with Utah in 2014, conservative states around America started passing preventative medical marijuana bills, or “CBD-only laws.” These laws allowed only epileptic patients to possess otherwise illegal high-CBD extracts, but put a hard stop on raw high-THC cannabis flowers.
Corporations seized the opportunity of growing unmet demand in illegal states by marketing “hemp-CBD” extracts as “legal in all 50 states.” Harkening back to a 2004 ruling in the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Hemp Industries Association v. Drug Enforcement Administration, they claimed their products were 100 percent legal since they came from hemp and were less than 0.3 percent THC, a wholly arbitrary but agreed-upon definition to legally separate marijuana from hemp, despite them being the same cannabis plant.
Patient stories have changed the conversation on cannabis, and none more so than the stories of children with cancers and incurable diseases. The first stories of children using high-THC cannabis to treat severe cases of autism started emerging out of the medical marijuana community in Northern California in the late 1990s. As social media emerged, more stories about more adults with more conditions started to filter through new social networks. But in 2012, it was one child’s story that changed the national conversation on pediatric use, paving the way for the CBD phenomenon.
Catching Up With Brave Mykayla Mykayla Comstock became world famous when she was just seven years old. In July of 2012 she was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, and while her parents did use the traditional route of chemotherapy, they decided against brain radiation and opted instead for very high doses of high-THC, full-extract cannabis oil (FECO, a.k.a Rick Simpson Oil, or RSO). Mykayla’s cancer went into remission within a week of starting the cannabis oil and today she is still in remission, with a lower chance of relapse and less residual pharmaceutical effects than other children who have received similar diagnoses.
Images of “Brave Mykayla” laughing, dancing and playing, her head bald from the chemotherapy, were documented by Vice News and Ricki Lake among others, and spread millions of times online. Her parents were criticized for bringing the story public and talking heads would muse about what sort of brain damage she would end up with as a result of the THC exposure. But to real people in need, her story was an epiphany. Even the most conservative families who saw the images were forced to question their prior notions and seek it for their own friends or family. Mykayla’s mother Erin Purchase says even years later she is still getting hundreds of messages a week from people all over the world who need help for their children. For years she answered them all.
“[The messages] never slowed down at all, there is just as much of a desire [to treat children with cannabis] today as there was five years ago. So many cases have been proven since then and there is even more of a desire for information people still don’t have access to because of federal law,” Purchase says. But Purchase had to stop looking at or responding to the messages; she had to prioritize her own family. Still, she says she wishes she could help, because it’s not fair to the parents. She and partner Brandon Krenzler put all the need-to-know information about Mykayla’s treatment online and opted to create more privacy for her and her siblings as they grow up.
“It felt good to provide them with advice they need — a lot of these families need someone to talk to. … They need support when their child first takes the oil. They need someone who has been there and been through it,” Purchase explains.
Purchase and Krenzler are proud that Mykayla never took a single opioid or anti-anxiety medication during her cancer treatment. Today they are even more secure in the decision; because she was on far fewer pharmaceuticals than other kids, she didn’t experience the same side effects like neuropathy, wasting, depression and extreme pain. Instead, she was “smiling, happy and hungry.” And while Purchase already had a thorough understanding of medical marijuana before giving it to her daughter, even she had anxiety about getting Mykayla “high.” She says a lot of that is attributed to unsupportive doctors and to the law.
“When kids have bad reactions to pharma, you don’t feel as guilty because you are following doctor’s orders. With cannabis, you aren’t and you feel a tremendous amount of guilt when you see kids use it,” Purchase admits. “Most parents wait until their kid has exhausted medical options and is literally dying before they do it. I wasn’t that way.” Talking to Mykayla, now 13 years old, it’s pretty clear that the fear people had about her development using high doses of THC at such a young age were wrong. She is mature beyond her years, but settling in comfortably to being a normal kid; she babysits her brother and sister, she talks on her cell phone with her friends, takes dance classes, and is looking forward to starting drama classes next year and auditioning for a play. When she grows up, she wants to be “a hairstylist, a makeup artist, or both.”
She says she enjoyed being “cannabis famous.” She liked being on stage and had fun seeing and meeting so many people — it was only “kind of a little” weird that so many strangers knew her name. Since that time, though, more children’s stories have gone public and Mykayla’s health is no longer an issue.
She wants other kids to know about how cannabis helped her, but has chosen to stay more private in school. She only recently stopped hiding her scars and started opening up to her friends about having had cancer. She is most nervous, however, about how other kids would react if they found out.
“Kids are on Google and they search up names,” Mykayla says. “They are gonna find out I used cannabis and they will come up to me and be like, ‘What the heck?!’” Purchase chimes in, “That is a problem prohibition caused. These children have to deal with feeling they will be ostracized or judged.
These cannakids who used it to save their lives, they are stuck in the weirdest predicament.” Pointing to the mixed messaging at schools, Purchase adds that last year Mykayla graduated from the D.A.R.E. program, where she was taught about “the dangers of THC.” Purchase says the cops and school administrators all know Mykayla’s story and have not judged or said anything negative — at least, not openly. Mykayla’s D.A.R.E. instructor, a police officer, even gave her a barbed-wire cross with a pink plaque with the word “Hope.” Every adult in Pendleton, where Mykayla lives, knows her story.
The eastern Oregon town of just 16,000 is located along I-84, the Oregon Trail, and Purchase’s family has lived there for generations. They are “downwinders” to the Hanford nuclear facility in nearby Washington, where large portions of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II were assembled. In their circles, cancer — and particularly childhood cancer — is not uncommon. Mykayla says she hopes every kid with cancer is able to get the access she did. “It’s an inspiration, it’s a good thing. It makes me happy to know other people know my story,” Mykayla says.
This past June 9th MyKayla Graduated in the high percentile of her class on time.
Unlocking the brain’s spiral symphony: a new path to understanding brain activity Story by Lindsay Kalter • 10h ago
Imagine going to the orchestra and instead of a symphony, each musician plays solo, one movement at a time – a violinist during one piece, a cellist during the next, perhaps a clarinetist after that. Until recently, that is the equivalent of what neuroscientists have done: recording the spikes of each neuron individually. However, a shift is underway as researchers embrace a grander perspective that has led to a remarkable discovery: mysterious spiral brain waves that dance in the outer layer of the brain – the cerebral cortex – which may play a crucial role in organizing complex brain activity.
The cerebral cortex, a convoluted outer region of the brain, takes center stage in numerous high-level functions including reasoning, emotion, thought, memory, language and consciousness. This intricately folded area accounts for nearly half of the brain’s mass, playing an integral role in our cognitive experience. The research, published in June by University of Sydney and Fudan University scientists in Nature Human Behaviour, may lead to fresh pathways of understanding brain disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease and cerebral palsy, the authors say. “These emergent waves enable us to understand how different brain regions or networks are effectively coordinated during cognitive processing,” senior author and University of Sydney Associate Professor Pulin Gong told Salon. “These emergent waves enable us to understand how different brain regions or networks are effectively coordinated during cognitive processing.”
The scientists took magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans of 100 young adults between the ages 22 and 35. Participants engaged in cognitive tasks, such as solving math problems, leading to a fascinating observation: the waves exhibited a mesmerizing interplay of clockwise and counterclockwise rotations across diverse brain regions, frequently converging at the intersections of distinct brain networks. The team analyzed the imaging data collected as part of the Human Connectome Project (HCP) using methods employed by fluid physicists studying wave patterns in turbulent flows. What has been used to, for example, create more efficient piping systems, is now helping scientists understand the brain better. The HCP is an open science project containing brain scans from hundreds of participants, who are monitored either while sitting quietly in the scanner in a resting state or performing one of several simple tasks.
The spiral waves are brain signals emerging from the collective activities of millions – potentially even billions – of neurons at the microscopic level.
“One key characteristic of these brain spirals is that they often emerge at the boundaries that separate different functional networks in the brain,” Ph.D. student and lead author Yiben Xu said in a statement. “Through their rotational motion, they effectively coordinate the flow of activity between these networks. In our research we observed that these interacting brain spirals allow for flexible reconfiguration of brain activity during various tasks involving natural language processing and working memory, which they achieve by changing their rotational directions.” This large-scale approach to neuroscience could uncover various mechanisms underlying disorders of the nervous system, and potentially even lead to new diagnostic tests, the authors say.
In future work, the authors plan to integrate experimental recordings with modeling studies to better understand the mechanisms underlying the brain spirals and delve deeper into their functional roles in cognition. The scientists behind this recent paper are not alone in their study of brain waves. Lyle Muller, assistant professor of applied mathematics at the University of Western Ontario, leads a lab that has been exploring the links between traveling waves during sleep and neural plasticity – the process through which the brain learns and integrates new memories. This critical function deteriorates during neurodegenerative diseases.
Muller and his colleagues found that rotating wave patterns called spindles that occur during non-REM sleep – when our brains, breathing and heart rate slow – could enable plasticity required for storing memories during sleep. Because these spindles change with aging, understanding these wave patterns better could provide insights into how plasticity breaks down with disease, Muller said. “While this is a fundamentally new way of studying the brain, understanding neural activity with a dynamic, systems-level approach has a lot of promise for understanding disorders of the nervous system,” Muller told Salon. “Understanding the link between traveling waves, sleep and the aging process, by analyzing direct electrical recordings that have a strong link to the activity of single neurons, is a priority for future research in my lab.”
The spiral waves seen by Gong and his team span several brain areas, Muller said and could represent an interesting mechanism for coordinating flow of information through the neural circuits of the brain.But, he said it is not yet clear how. “Testing whether these spiral wave patterns can lead to new predictions of neural circuit dynamics and behavior, and confirming their specific underlying mechanism through computational modeling, will tell us whether these new spiral wave patterns are telling us something interesting about the symphony of neurons in the human brain,” Muller said, “or whether they may be more related to supplementary functions, like the tuning of the instruments or the lighting in the performance hall.”
Scientists found that sending electricity into a brain region called the anterior precuneus created sensations of floating. During an out-of-body experience, you might first feel weightless, like you’re drifting away from the ground. Then, you might see your body from above, as if detaching from it into a phantom twin. These startling sensations occur in an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of the population and in many different cultures. An out-of-body experience can happen when someone goes under anesthesia for surgery, has a near-death experience or wakes up in the night temporarily unable to move or speak, a phenomenon called sleep paralysis. Now, scientists have pinned down a part of the brain that may be going haywire during out-of-body experiences. The findings, published last month in the journal Neuron, hint at how the brain creates our everyday sense of reality and could point researchers toward new types of anesthesia in the future.
In 2019, an epilepsy patient visited Josef Parvizi, a neuroscientist at Stanford University and senior author of the recent study, and said he sometimes felt like he was floating, reports NPR’s Jon Hamilton. The patient felt “like an observer to conversations” going on in his mind, Parvizi tells the publication. The neuroscientist had a hunch that whichever brain area was undergoing unusual activity in the patient due to his epilepsy could also play a part in this altered state of consciousness. Since that meeting, Parvizi and his team have tracked down a part of the brain that may be involved in out-of-body experiences. The culprit is a small sliver of tissue, buried deep within the fold running down the top of the brain, called the anterior precuneus.
During the study, stimulating this area with electricity resulted in unusual sensations in eight volunteers with epilepsy. (The patients already had electrodes inserted into their brains to help with monitoring before unrelated brain surgeries.) When scientists sent electric pulses to this chunk of the brain, the volunteers did not have true out-of-body experiences, but felt like they were floating or falling. They also expressed feeling dizzy, dissociated and less focused. “All of them reported something weird happening to their sense of physical self,” Parvizi tells Bruce Goldman of Scope, Stanford Medicine’s blog. “In fact, three of them reported a clear sense of depersonalization, similar to taking psychedelics.”
In this way, the anterior precuneus is likely the seat of a person’s physical sense of self, or the idea that experiences are happening to you, not to someone else. Disrupting this network in your brain could shift your point of view, making your place in the world seem unreal, the team found. This understanding could point doctors toward potential treatments for people with trauma-related mental health problems that cause feelings of dissociation, Sahib Khalsa, a neuroscientist at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research who was not involved in the study, tells Scientific American’s Diana Kwon.
The “sausage-looking piece of brain,” as Parvizi calls it to NPR, might also act as a substitute for anesthetic drugs during medical procedures in the future. Stimulating this region in study participants created slow rhythms of brain activity. These brain waves and the feelings of dissociation resemble those created by the anesthetic drug ketamine, says Patrick Purdon, an anesthesia researcher at Harvard Medical School, to NPR. Most drugs for general anesthesia travel throughout the whole body and brain and carry some risks, since they slow heart rate and breathing. Purdon tells the publication that by sending electric pulses to this part of the brain, scientists might design new methods for anesthesia with fewer side effects. “There’s an exciting array of studies that can be conducted based on this work,” Khalsa tells Scientific American.
Beautify your mind 
Let go of what hurts with hertz 
Big pharma isn’t going to like this. 
