INTERESTING TIMES

We used to live in a world where people got sick from exposure to feces and lives were saved with antibiotics. Now we live in a world where people are dying from antibiotics and their lives are being saved by feces.
--a colleague

http://www.minishower.net/minish_commode.html

Here in the land of no bidets, this product has been found invaluable by a friend dealing with a perianal fistula. Also a terrific way for people with hemorrhoids to avoid torturing them with TP, and a kinder gentler way of cleaning vaginas. I haven't bought one yet, but I might. I'd rather have a full fledged bidet installed in my dream house, but who knows if I'll ever live there. I've wanted one ever since I lived in Europe as a teen.

Saccharomyces Boulardii and No-Knead Bread Recipe
Jacob Schor ND, FABNO
December 1, 2009
( from denvernaturopathic, includes a review of the literature regarding effects of this yeast, and a bread recipe )

http://www.wired.com/medtech/drugs/magazine/17-09/ff_placebo_effect?currentPage=all

AWESOME article. Nutshell: research has show that the biochemistry of the placebo response is due to anticipation-activated opioids and dopamine. Effects of opioids include pain relief, heart rate and breathing modulation. Effects of dopamine include improved motor function in Parkinson's. Both contribute to elevated mood, sharpened cognitive ability, decreased digestive disorders and insomnia, and lower levels of insulin and cortisol. But the whole article is well worth reading. ( Here's the text. I would take notes but I admire this guy's prose too much to chop it up. This article matters. )

The upshot: Flaxseed meal (not the oil) may be beneficial for people with IBS who do not respond well to psylium. Freshly ground flax meal is an excellent source of fiber mucilage. Any cholesterol lowering and PMS reducing effects are probably due to the bulking and improved intestinal function. If you are using flax products to increase your omega 3 fatty acid levels, it takes about 7 times more flax oil than fish oil to achieve the same effect. Flax contains ALA (alpha-linoleic acid) which is a precursor of omega-3's, getting converted in the liver. The Natural Standard Research Collaboration sees the current evidence as being inadequate to recommend flax for any condition at this time. Flax in any form goes rancid easily when exposed to light, heat, or oxygen.
( notes from medscape )