During the time I practiced at one of the three hospitals on whose staff I was a member, I was one of several psychologists who worked with chronic pain patients -- chronic pain and stress. Part of the overall patient treatment plan were intense rehabilitation techniques performed by physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and other specialists in such fields. I remember well several physical and occupational therapists using a technique that worked wonders with some handicapped individuals, mainly those who suffered from cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs) -- strokes. They would immobilize the patients' "good" limbs to force them to use the paralyzed limbs. At first, you could nearly feel the frustration the patients experienced; but slowly, and sometimes dramatically, they would show signs of being able to use the paralyzed limb(s), sort of like their brains were being re-wired. I read the other day that this is a NEW therapy! I don't know where those who are using it now were when those whom I practiced with used it as early as 1977! Oh, well, some come onto old practices, and call them new just for the publicity. Call this grousing a nip. I said I would do it, remember?

I thought this would be a good place to say something of importance (to me, at least.) When I add nips of information in these pages, you can count on their being within our Creator's plan or purpose for us. Outside of His plan, nothing will be permanent -- only temporary. God's purpose is absolute; don't fool around with God's plan -- don't mock Him!

Some time ago, research to find new and better ways to treat stomach ulcers, led to the discovery that practically all ulcers were caused by bacteria. From the results of the research, an antibiotic is routinely administered to help "cure" the problem. Well, now it appears that there is a possibility that antibiotics may prevent heart disease. Research has uncovered that within the cholesterol plaque is a bacteria (chlamydia pneumoniae) suspected of causing much of the irritation, triggering a dislodging of the plaque and creating blockages that, lacking the bacteria may not occur. This new finding is causing some doctors to suggest a round of antibiotic (to which the bacteria is sensitive) after a heart attack or to those whose cholesterol is high enough to be in danger of bringing about a heart attack. Interesting how we find more and more about how bacteria, viruses, mold spores and hantaviruses are invading us at all times. After all, they want to survive too. They want to survive so badly that they are presently adapting to enable them to resist the antibiotics that are given so freely. Does your doctor know this?

MALE CONTRACEPTIVE? It has been observed that an often used blood pressure medication (calcium channel blocker, nifedipine) tends to prevent healthy sperm from fertilizing an egg (ovum). The amount of sperm produced nor the movement with which they are provided doesn't appear to be affected. The use of the drug is being researched for continuous effectiveness and for possible harm it may do to those who otherwise don't need it. BUT DON'T COUNT ON IT AS A MALE CONTRACEPTIVE, YET, LADIES! HE MAY BE STILL BE VERY POTENT AND FERTILE!

Here's a terrific site to visit! Try it, you'll like it.

 The Christian Walk

Our critical day is not the very day  of our death, but the whole course of our course of our life; I thank him, that prays for me when my bell tolls; but I thank him much more, that catechizes me, or preaches to me, or instructs me how to live." - John Donne

Remember I talked about stem cells? Those primordial cells that appear to be the "building" blocks that take on the role of being whatever they are "programmed" to build? programmed by the DNA in each cell -- even present in the stem cells themselves? In my book "Why Not Do God?" (You'll find a link to excerpts from it in various places on this Web Site), I said that RNA and DNA were the "codes of life", and were an important part of the accomplished purpose of God. Well, I note that scientists, peeking inside one of these intriguing cells, find they are truly amazing indeed. They keep going on and on, creating fresh new cells to renew the body's tissues, throughout the life of the living creature – man, or animals lower than man. (Only man has God's spirit.) These scientists are hard at work trying to understand how these stem cells work so they can put the knowledge to use to overcome diseases (disease-caused lesions), where the body's tissues or cells degenerate or are injured and so become non-functional -- even tissue that may be absent from the beginning. The scientists are scrutinizing which genes -- stretches of DNA code -- are active in the cells. Understanding the mechanics involved will help the scientists understand how the stem cells can be better used to solve some of the disease problems of humankind. God is opening doors for man to go through; but no one should lose sight of the absolute -- it is all part of God's huge plan and His purpose. Lacking an acceptance of this fact is like laughing in the face of our Creator. Nothing comes from doing anything outside of God's purpose. Does this sound like preaching? Try working outside of God's purpose and see where it gets you, then answer the question!

Women experiencing menopausal discomforts are often helped by estrogen and progestin supplement (HRT). The hormone replacement is thought to reduce the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's. Some worry, though, about its increasing their risk of breast and uterine cancer -- and the lesser problem of breast tenderness and menstrual bleeding (progestin helps this.) Lately there is a big question whether the estrogen helps prevent heart disease, but, instead, may contribute to it through blood clots, etc. Regarding HRT, there may be an alternative found in plants (provided in abundance by the Lord) such as lentils, soybeans and chickpeas (Garbanzos). These plants produce an estrogen-like chemical called phytoestrogen. The active ingredient in this chemical is called isoflavones, very similar to estrogen! Asian women whose diets are rich in these "estrogen" producing plants appear to have nearly no menopausal problems, or very few compared to women whose diets contain few of the plants. By the way, there appears to be fewer if any side effects from the chemical found in the plants. Several companies are producing (prescription only) mendicants containing the active ingredient, isoflavones, but more testing is needed to assure their effectiveness and potency. The United States is way behind in its testing, of course. Keep your eyes on this aspect of your Better Life, ladies.

Most theories of personality applied in their therapeutic context (psychotherapy) consider "closure" as the ideal end product of the therapy process. It is called by different names: wholeness, adjustment, self-acceptance, personal maturity, healthily self-actuated and the like. Talk about closure is quite common. When there is an unjustifiable death caused by murder, automobile or industrial accident or by other unjustifiable means, or the death is one that has occurred resulting from an "accidental" lack of care (like in surgical mistakes, pharmaceutical errors, hospital negligence, etc.), the justice that comes (sometimes very late) is hoped to bring closure to the emotional duress felt by everyone affected by the death (wife, husband, children, relatives, etc.) Still, more must be said about this hoped for condition, called closure. More times than are admitted, closure doesn't bring the hoped for quieting or calming of the duress, the emotional upheaval. More often than admitted, more duress and deeper emotional upheavals occur. The question of justice can often be construed as the question of revenge -- revenge on the perpetrator or the one who caused the unjustifiable death. The execution of a murderer often isn't for the purpose of justice served, but for revenge visited on the murderer for the act he/she committed. In the case of rape, physical abuse, and non-death causing actions, closure often forces the victim to face more emotional duress even as the one who raped, abused or caused other harm is punished or brought to "pay for what he/she did." Closure (by whatever name it is called) is not a cut and dried event. A great deal of consideration has to be given to this "end product" before we give it over to believe that it always contributes to The Better Life. More must be discussed regarding this, and I hope to do it in subsequent words on subsequent pages. Keep alert to this. It has a lot to do with living The Better Life. We all want one; but, we must make sure that we don't sully the chance to have it by merely giving lip service to an event without exploring its good and bad sides. Agreed?