We all have them, people in our office, home, or circle of friends whose stress is so under managed that it has a tendency to spill over and begin affecting our lives or maybe you are that person. Secondhand Stress, as experts on the topic are now calling it, can have disastrous results on those who receive it and those that create it on a regular basis.

For those caught in the crossfire or aftermath of someone else's stress episode, trying to cope with a stress that is not their own can be frustrating and overwhelming simply because they are not directly linked to the cause of that stress. Being so far removed from the cause can create a feeling of being out of control or at the mercy of the person who is experiencing the stress directly. It's the feeling of having no power to improve the situation amplified by a strong desire to relieve your co-worker, loved one, or friend of their burden that makes Secondhand Stress so dangerous. It introduces new tension in the atmosphere surrounding that relationship and can create a high level of anxiety instead of creating a supportive healthy environment.

Some common situations can be a spouse struggling at work or with addiction, a co-worker going through some personal problems, or a child hurting from the pain of a learning disability or problems at school. It can be anyone we interact with daily, weekly, or even very rarely. All that it takes is an empathetic connection with that person like in the case of family members and friends. For most people, Secondhand Stress comes from those they love the most simply because they have a need to share the burden of those they care about. In a workplace situation, even if the need to shoulder the load of a co-worker isn't consciously felt there can be a more sub-conscious need for the department to function well or a sense of camaraderie. From that need comes a natural tendency for others to step up and take on the stress of the co-worker in trouble.

So, how do you combat Secondhand Stress and it's effects? There are several ways. All going back to the root of the issue – stress. The power of the stressful event experienced everyday by most people comes from their method of coping. If everyone knew effective ways to cope or channel their stress and emotions when certain situations came up throughout the day, not only would they feel better and be healthier, but as you've read above, the people closest to them would experience the same benefits. One way to manage stress is through a combination of several stress reduction therapies, but now there is one method that combines several therapy types into one powerful device.

This device is called the SCIO/EPFX. It is a highly technological tool used with a stress reduction therapy called Quantum Biofeedback. Based on traditional Biofeedback, this technology interfaces with the client on a subconscious level to understand what types of stresses the person is facing daily. This is all done in the office of a Certified Biofeedback Specialist who can analyze what is causing imbalances in the body by the use of energetic stress reduction. Because the SCIO/EPFX interfaces with the client on such a deep level it can read stresses that the person may not consciously be aware of. This is part of the therapy. Once someone is more aware of the stress that is causing such pressure on them and perhaps on the ones around them they can take proactive steps to alleviate it. And if you are the one feeling the secondhand effects of stress, this can help to relieve some of that tension and help to teach you and your body ways to cope on a daily basis.

While Secondhand Stress is a frustrating and unhealthy phenomenon in our society today, the fact that we want to reach out to those closest to us and relieve their burden is part of what makes humanity such a unique race. To suggest breaking this connection would be far more disastrous than the side effects we are experiencing now or could ever experience. Instead, the key to relieving Secondhand Stress will be in everyone learning how to properly manage and channel the stress that exists in their lives, secondhand or not. So start today with a yoga class, daily meditation, or with a Quantum Biofeedback session. Your friends and family with thank you!

Looking for Alternative therapy that doesn't involve pain or complicated drug theropy? Try Quantum Biofeedback and live a pain free life. Your health depends on it!

What is Psychic Surgery? A Psychic surgeon has the ability to enter a person's body, penetratiing through skin or bones, with his bare hands. He can then manually remove tumours, dead tissues, pus etc. without inflicting pain. When he is finished, no scar or mark is left on the person

Impossible ? Maybe, but only according to our very limited scientific standards. I have been involved with Psychic Surgery since 1998 and I have witnessed and filmed many major operations performed in minutes without anaesthesia or drugs of any kind.

Jun Labo was born on 23 December 1934 in Dagupan City in Pangasinan, Philippines. He is awesome in his mastery of Psychic Surgery (also known as Bare Hand Surgery).

Jun's background Jun's parents belonged to the "Union Espiritista Christiana de Filipinas" (a spiritualist church that has taught numerous healers in the Philippines). Jun's mother was a psychic dentist (she could pull teeth out without anaesthesia) and she forced Jun to go to church on Sundays. Jun was not keen on spending part of his Sunday in church and used to sneak out to play with his friends.

One weekend during a church ceremony he became paralysed. In a state of shock and with fear, he witnessed his first apparition of Jesus. This was Jun's first encounter with Jesus who was to become one of his spirit guides for all healing.

His first healing experience came when he was accompanying his mother on a religious walk. One woman collapsed and Jun instinctively began rubbing her chest. Blood spurted out and Jun ran away in fear. The crowd brought him back and asked him to finish the healing. Jun carried on rubbing the woman's chest and she fully recovered.

The personality Jun probably is the most flamboyant Filipino healer alive today. He is often referred to as the Muhammad Ali of Filipino healer because of his extrovert personality. Jun has been reported to perform the most amazing healing. In his book the "Magician of God", Jaime Licauco reports that: "I witnessed Jun lift the eyeball of a patient suffering from glaucoma. He then proceeded to extract some black tissues from behind the eyeball and then replaced in its socket. The patient never fetl any pain during this intervention. It was a rather bloody and eerie operation which apparently did not damage to the eye".

Jun has, so far, married three times. His last wife, Lisa, is a Russian lawyer. His previous wives were respectively Australian and Japanese.

He ran for election and became Mayor of Baguio City in 1988. His term only lasted 2 years as his citizenship was questioned (his second wife was Australian and he was supposed to have adopted and kept that nationality). He eventually had his Filipino citizenship reconfirmed and was elected again in 1992. Altogether, he served 5 years as Mayor.

Jun claims to channel Jesus and an Indian guide named Rama during his surgery. Jun practices in very comfortable surrounding in his own healing centre in the Philippines.

Jun's diagnosis techniques

In order to find out the condition of a patient, Jun holds a sheet in front of the patient and uses it as a form of psychic x-ray machine. Through it, he is able to see spots inside the patient's body. If the spots are dark, then the disease is serious (location and number of tumours are shown to him). If the spots are bright, it is not so serious.

Jun as a most gifted Psychic / Medium

Jun also offers a course every year in Psychic Development / Mediumship when he teaches students how to develop their Psychic abilities. Jun has direct communication with the Spirit world and is amazing in his visions. Through his communication with the Holy Spirit, Jun is able to allocate new powerful guides to students and open their Psychic and Healing abilities in a very powerful way.

A film - narrated in English by Burt Lancaster - was made on Jun by producer Alan Newman in the early 1980s. In this film, Jun was seen operating on a Filipino patient suffering from eye problems. To diagnose the patient, Jun used his sheet as an X-ray and doing so, spotted something in the throat of Alan Newman who was standing behind the patient. After a successful operation on the Filipino, he asked Alan to lie down and operated on his throat, removing a large quantity of pus from it. Newman later confirmed that he had had problem with his throat for the past 8 years but had not told anybody about it. After the surgery, Newman was able to breathe freely for the first time in 8 years. Dr Shealy later confirmed the blood taken out of the Filipino was genuine.

One of the most tested healer in the Philippines Jaime Licauco in "Magicians of God" states: "Many scientists including Dr Alfred Stelter, Dr Gerrit Bretzler both from Germany, Dr Hans Naegeli of Switzerland, Dr Nagato of Azuma of Japan and Dr Lee Pulos of Canad have declared Jun genuine. Dr C Norman Shealy, a Neuroscientist and head of the Pain Rehabilitation Clinic in La Crosse, Wisconsin and Dr Elmer Green, a director of the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, Kansas both testified that the blood taken out of Jun's patients was genuine human blood".

Stories Over the years, Jun and I have become friends and I was allowed to witness and take pictures of many of Jun's surgery. One day, famous psychic writer Jaime Licauco was present with Tania, a guest visitor from Russia. Jun operated on Tania and at the end of the surgery asked Jaime to come to the couch and give him his hand. Jaime obliged and Jun said a prayer, blew on Jaime's hand, positioned it above Tania's body and sliding Jaime's index finger down from the sternum to below the navel opened Tania's body up with Jaime's finger. The energy projected by Jun was so strong that Jaime staggered back and nearly collapsed after this experience. Jaime is himself a very psychic person and easily goes in a trance. Jun has also used me to demonstrate this to other students in my groups.

The magic of seeing through the body is extremely useful. I visited Jun in December last year having suffered from a left elbow complaint since August. Jun looked through his bed sheet (X-ray machine) and started working on my inner left shoulder where he claimed the circulatory blockage was. The next day my elbow pain was gone for the first time in 4 months... I know this is a small thing to mention as Jun routinely removes cancerous tumours from people's body but I wanted to mention it anyway. I know that I could have gone around all types of medical specialists in the UK or abroad, I would have been given all types of pills but nobody would have gone to my shoulder to remove some unnecessary tissues that were blocking my blood circulation. To me, this is the magic of Jun's Psychic Surgery. To know where to go and remove all types of physical problems.

Patrick Hamouy runs a school of Alternative Therapies with branches in West London and Brighton (UK). He teaches Reiki Healing, Indian Head Massage, Emotional Freedom Therapy (EFT), Anatomy & Physiology, Oriental Diagnosis & Psychic Development. He sees customers for consultations.in Macrobiotic, Emotional Freedom Therapy (EFT) and Removal of toxic products from the home environment Full information on his web site at:

"How to stop smoking? Hey, it's the easiest thing in the world, I have done it a hundred times"….. So goes the hoary old joke. It brings a smile from some, a frown from the others and hacking cough from the smokers.

It is no joke for the smokers, however they may smile at it. At heart every smoker wants to stop. Many of them are knowledgeable enough to know how, but can't quit the fags because the habit is too deeply ingrained.

A) What won't work?

Gradually decreasing it.

Buddy, the nicotine won't let you quit. It is too powerful an adversary and too cunning for you. You will find the gradual decrement plan going fine, until the day you have an excuse to forget it (tension, overwork, circumstances, party etc.).

Depending on medicines.

Medicines only help to reduce the craving. But seriously, do you smoke only when the urge hits you? Isn't it true that most of the time you smoke casually, whether there is a physical urge or not?

Talking continuously about it.

While you may think that it will help to keep the issue the uppermost in your mind, it will most probably lead to you being ridiculed in case you fail to quit. Also, words being cheap, it will begin to sound like empty boast.

Nicotine substitutes.

These are substitutes. They aren't really the solution. Sooner or later you will revert to the real nicotine.

B) So, What will work?

Well, that's what this article is about

1) Strengthen your resolve

First of all, I thank and congratulate you on having come so far with me. It shows that there is hope for you yet . You have already proved that you can take tough talk and are determined to go through with it. That's the first step.

Next, Analyze your smoking pattern, How many in a day? How often? When do you really have the urge (usually on waking up, after meals or generally after consuming anything orally)? When do you smoke maximum (with friends, alone, with drinks, under stress etc)

Number three, list down your reasons for a) smoking, and b) wanting to quit. I am a big advocate of putting things down on paper. It shows a commitment.

Number four, take someone into confidence. A friend, a family member, a medical worker or, best of all, a sympathetic ex-smoker.

These steps are keystones (preparations) for the big event. The only thing is that the "big event" is not a one off. It is a continuous obsession.

2) Back to basics

Now let's revert to the point A) above. I was less than generous when I said definitely that these things won't work. These things do help, specially reducing consumption. Every cigarette less means approximately 5 minutes more to live. Also, it helps to strengthen your resolve, which is the first step.

You see, archaic though it sounds, Will is a sure shot solution. So, unless you strengthen it, you will most likely fail. Why? - Remember that I said 'Will' and NOT 'Will Power' – They are different, 'Will Power' implies a struggle, where as using your 'Will', implies that it's going to be easy.

Let me explain:

Do you need will power to smoke? NO

Do you need will power to eat your favorite Ice-cream? NO

Now to do one of the two above activities, is easy because it is your 'Will' and NOT 'Will Power'.

The steps in the "won't work" topic are generally the excuses that frequent relapsers offer. But they are helpful in their own way.

What is important is not only the steps leading up to it, but maintaining the tempo once you have reached the crucial stage of ZERO cigarettes a day.

3) Penultimate stage – Quitting it

By the time you have worked on stages 1 and 2 above, you would be feeling strong enough to risk quitting it. As the experts suggest, you should decide on a date. NOT like a 'new year's resolution' - More like a new Quit Smoking Revolution! You're the leader of the campaign and then just go for it!

Are you ready to quit smoking? We can take this quit smoking journey together and make real progress to a healthier life.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.3 million Americans are diagnosed with some form of cancer each year. For many patients and their loved ones, battling cancer is a long and hard-fought endeavor. But apart from the disease itself, patients must also contend with a potential danger associated with cancer and certain treatments, such as chemotherapy and surgery-an increased risk for blood clots known as venous thromboembolism, commonly called VTE.

VTE involves a blood clot that can travel from a leg vein to the lung, with potentially fatal results. Studies have shown patients with cancer have a greater risk of developing VTE than non-cancer patients.

Fortunately, the anticoagulant, or blood thinner, called FRAGMIN® (dalteparin sodium injection) was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the extended treatment of blood clots in the veins to reduce the recurrence of VTE in patients with cancer. It is the first low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to be approved for this use.

"This is an important development in supportive care for patients with cancer," said Frederick Rickles, MD, FACP, clinical professor of medicine at George Washington University Medical Center. "Physicians now have an FDA-approved low molecular weight heparin specifically for the extended treatment to reduce the recurrence of blood clots in patients with cancer."

Important Safety Information

SPINAL/EPIDURAL HEMATOMAS

When neuraxial anesthesia (epidural/spinal anesthesia) or spinal puncture is employed, patients anticoagulated or scheduled to be anticoagulated with low molecular weight heparins or heparinoids for prevention of thromboembolic complications are at risk of developing an epidural or spinal hematoma which can result in long-term or permanent paralysis.

The risk of these events is increased by the use of indwelling epidural catheters for administration of analgesia or by the concomitant use of drugs affecting hemostasis such as non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), platelet inhibitors, or other anticoagulants. The risk also appears to be increased by traumatic or repeated epidural or spinal puncture.

Patients should be frequently monitored for signs and symptoms of neurological impairment. If neurological compromise is noted, urgent treatment is necessary.

The physician should consider the potential benefit versus risk before neuraxial intervention in patients anticoagulated or to be anticoagulated for thromboprophylaxis (also see WARNINGS, Hemorrhage and PRECAUTIONS, Drug Interactions).

FRAGMIN is contraindicated in patients with active major bleeding or with known hypersensitivity to the drug, heparin, or pork products, or with thrombocytopenia associated with a positive antiplatelet antibody test. It should be used with extreme caution in patients with a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Patients undergoing regional anesthesia should not receive FRAGMIN for unstable angina or non−Q-wave myocardial infarction, and patients with cancer undergoing regional anesthesia should not receive FRAGMIN for extended treatment of symptomatic VTE, due to an increased risk of bleeding associated with the dosage of FRAGMIN recommended for these indications.

FRAGMIN cannot be used interchangeably (unit for unit) with unfractionated heparin or other low−molecular-weight heparins.

FRAGMIN, like other anticoagulants, should be used with extreme caution in patients who have an increased risk of hemorrhage; bleeding can occur at any site during therapy. An unexpected drop in hematocrit or blood pressure should lead to a search for a bleeding site.

In FRAGMIN clinical trials supporting non-cancer indications, platelet counts of

Please see www.FRAGMIN.com or full prescribing information.

FRAGMIN is a registered trademark of Pfizer Health AB and is licensed to Eisai Inc.

In Vedic astrology, the three most outer planets of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn each cast a special aspect. The word aspect is actually not very accurate. Like many Western words that try to convey Eastern concepts, the actual word is "drishti" which means "look" or "glance". For you see, in Vedic thinking, culture and cosmology -- the planets are beings of intelligence that have been around since time immemorial. Their movements and energies are not just relevant as "archetypes" - they represent real forces, eternal forces of the universe that transcend our 80 to 100 year lifespan. They connect us to that eternal, cosmic nature that we forget here on the flat Earth in which we live in our day to day lives. Each of these planets are bodies of light that can "see" in different directions. Saturn sees 3 signs in front and 10 signs in front. That is his special look. This look conveys the essence of his nature.

With Saturn occupying Leo he will be "watching" the sign of Libra and the Sun of Taurus for the next two years, both ruled by Venus. If anyone has planets in Sidereal Libra or Taurus, Saturn will also be watching them. Regardless, wherever those houses fall in your Sidereal / Vedic chart will be under his watchful eye. Saturn aspects create trouble by shattering our illusions around the things he sees. Sometimes this results in losing the thing entirely, other times we may just worry about it or have to put forth immense effort in order to maintain it. This process of worry/effort/potential loss forces us to either deepen our commitment to it, or let it go. This is why we tend to lose things when Saturn starts moving. He tends to push things to a point of seriousness where they either break or we have to work to improve them.

There's a great story about Saturn aspects, Saturn's "looks". Once, Lord Shiva and Parvati after having their first child Lord Ganesh, held a party and invited all of the gods, Demi Gods and Planets to participate. It was a beautiful celebration except one of the planets, Lord Saturn, seem to be kind of depressed and moping in the corner (go figure!) - in fact he would not even look at the beautiful Ganesh. Now, the planets are powerful -- but they are not as powerful as the gods, especially the mighty Lord Shiva and Mother Shakti, Parvati.

So the great goddess upon seeing Lord Saturn unmoved by the festivities asked him why he was not participating. Saturn replied "Great Goddess, your child is beautiful and I do not want my looks to ruin that beauty - a glance from me is not always welcome". "Nonsense!", declared Parvati, "I insist you look at my child immediately!". At which time Lord Saturn gaze gently at the beautiful Ganesh. No sooner did Saturn look at Ganesh, then did the beautiful boys head falloff!! One look from Saturn decapitated Ganesh. Lord Shiva went to find a suitable replacement head and was said to have found the head of one of Lord Indra's elephants - and so Ganesh was given this elephant head.

And so it is said that the Saturn aspects can be more difficult than the Saturn conjunction.

So this means, for the last couple of years Saturn has been looking at the signs of Sidereal Virgo and Aries. Does that speak to anyone?

Sam Geppi has over 20 years of Vedic Study and experience. He is a Hatha Yoga instructor and certified Vedic Astrologer and Teacher through the ACVA (level 2) as well as author of "The Ascendant".

We are all used to seeing the many advertisements on our televisions about protecting ourselves and our children from the summer sun, but do we ever think about protecting our pets? Probably not. However cats and dogs can get sun burnt too and with the same terrible consequences that causes, including the possibility of skin cancer.

Cats who are outside a lot during the summer, especially those with light coloured fur are particularly at risk from the effects of the sun and the heat. So before we let our pets outside on a summer’s day we must make sure we provide adequate care for them, just as we would for our children and ourselves.

Areas particularly at risk on your pets are their ears. They often have a much lighter covering of fur and this makes them much more likely to burn in the sun. Add this to the fact that cats will often spend hours laying in the sun and the risks of skin cancer rise dramatically. Often in Mediterranean countries you will often see a lot of cats with both their ears missing. This is because that the region receives a lot of hot sunny weather and skin cancer on cats has become so common that owners will often ask the vet to remove the cats ears to reduce the risk of them catching skin cancer. Another method used is to have the ears tattooed all over in black; this helps to reflect the sun and provides protection.

Of course there are other simpler methods to protect your pet from the effects of the sun. Simply remember when you let your pet out on a hot summers day, make sure you rub a high factor sun cream onto the ears and areas which are not as covered with a thick layer of fur. Some breeds have a very thin covering of fur all over, and it might be safer to keep these breeds inside on very hot sunny days.

Also make sure that you provide plenty of fresh water for your pet which is readily available all through the day. Perhaps have several bowls of water dotted about the garden in a cool spot. Of course making sure that there are plenty of shady places that your pet can keep cool is essential. The affects of heat stroke can come on very fast and if not treated promptly can be fatal. If you suspect that your pet is suffering from heat stroke i.e. is panty very heavily and seems to be wobbly on their legs and disorientated. Cool them down immediately in a bath of cool water and then take them immediately to a vet.

All of the above are quite simple and affective steps, which will protect your pet during the summer months. A little time and thought could save both you and your pet any suffering and will ensure that summertime is enjoyed by every member of your family.

Kate and her partner co-write a site full of further cat care and cat health topics. As well as being a feline friendly community site for happy cat and a happy owner.

UV sun protection products have been hot discussion item over the past few years as consumer protection bodies have introduced measures to ensure that information regarding sun screens and sun blocks are clarified.

The difference is in the way they work and the type of UV protection they provide.

* Sunblocks - stop UV rays penetrating the skin by adding a layer on the skin surface.

*Sunscreens - penetrate to deep layers of the skin and reflect harmful rays.

The key to selecting an effective sun protection product is to understand the ingredients in the products, and how they work based on the activities you engage in.

There are two types of UV that harm your skin:

1. UVA - damages the inner layers of the skin and causes wrinkles and lines, and skin cancer.

2. UVB - the most damaging radiation, burns the skin and damages the skin cell DNA, resulting in long term skin disease .

Most sunscreens protect from UVA damage, but only broad spectrum sunscreens protect both from UVA and UVB. These are the ones to look for.

Previously, those products that protected from both UVA and UVB were referred to as 'Sunblocks'; and those that protected the skin from UVA, referred to as 'Sunscreens'.

Many consumer bodies around the world are now banning manufacturers from referring to their broad spectrum sun protection products as sun blocks, unless they work in the manner as outlined above.

This has just added confusion to the market for consumers - hence the need to fully understand the ingredients in the products.

UV Sunscreen Ingredients

Overall you are aiming to use a sun protection product that:

* Blocks both UVA and UVB for at least 2 hours

* Is waterproof - if required

* Does not irritate the skin - especially if you have sensitive skin

* Maintains its effectiveness for the duration

* Is easy to apply and does not stain clothing.

Key ingredients to look for in full spectrum sun protection are:

* Anthelios - SX

* Avobenzone

* Helioplex

So next time you slip, slop, slap, take a minute to read the label and ensure you are getting all the sun protection you thought you were.

Nicola is publishing editor of Antiaging-Wellness website. For more tips on fighting back aging disease and appearance go to