Natural Alternatives vs. Prescription Drugs
Natural Alternatives vs. Prescription Drugs
Natural Alternatives: A growing phenomenon across this world which is a very diverse concept yet very divine and instrumental in healing health diseases. It might be thought as any health care which is not a part of the mainstream medical establishment. Despite the tremendous disparity in philosophy, organization, practice, and origins of the myriad types of alternative medicine, the growing acceptance and use of these therapies is part of a single cultural phenomenon. It is also an extremely dangerous and pretty costly too.Firstly let me deal with the critical differences between mainstream medicine and alternative medicine. And why the latter is cause for concern. In short, prescription drugs are a scientific endeavor, and alternative medicine is not.
We know that alternative medicine (Natural Alternative) was being used in ancient times long before conventional medicine came into the scene. Mainstream medicine is finally taking note of the herbal industry.More and more people are taking note of herbal therapies to treat various kinds of ailments in place of mainstream medicine. Herbal supplements are a type of dietary supplement that contain herbs, either singly or in mixtures. An herb (also called a botanical) is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, and/or therapeutic properties. It is interesting to note that there were not so many mortal pestilence diseases in those days. What has caused this never-ending increase of deadly diseases that is inflicting such havoc on the body today?If conventional medicine was the answer to these diseases, why have they increased, and why are so many people dying from these devastating illnesses? And why do so many people seem to be convinced that alternative medicine made by God do not have healing virtues as the conventional medicine made by man?Why is information about cures by alternative medicine often suppressed even though conventional medicine very often interferes with the natural process of healing?People are so coerced to use conventional medicine that they refuse to even give alternative medicine a chance because advertisements have such great influence when heard often enough, that the public is convinced. Have you ever noticed the way conventional medicines are advertised? It seems apparent that every effort is made to highlight the possible negative effects.Next what comes into the scene is complementary medicine, another treatment which is used along with conventional medicine to affect a cure. However, not all complementary medicine must be used with conventional medicine to be effective.For example: When the word "cholesterol" comes to mind some of us may think of it as deadly. The truth about cholesterol is that it isn't deadly at all, it's a vital substance. Cholesterol is actually a very important part of our bodies because it's used to form cell membranes and is needed for other functions in our bodies.However, it's when there are excessive levels of cholesterol in the blood that cholesterol can become dangerous.There are different ways one can develop high cholesterol. Your body, mainly the liver, can produce too much cholesterol and a poor diet will almost always do it. You MUST follow a strict, permanent, and healthy lifestyle to take control of your cholesterol.This includes:1) Getting more active.2) Eating foods that are low in cholesterol.3) Maintaining a diet rich in soluble fiber.There are also many natural alternatives that can be used to compliment a healthy lifestyle. Lecithin, which is a natural substance derived from the soybean, is one of the most effective supplements available to lower cholesterol.What just hovers onto my mind is why most people don't try natural remedies. Very often a simple massage is the answer to a problem. I personally have not had a headache for many years. There was a time when I was headache-prone, and got into the habit of using synthetic medicines to ease the pain, but after I decided to try natural treatments and medicines, I changed my diet from eating 'junk' foods and tried to stop using those synthetic headache remedies. Now they are virtually no more a part of my life.I have helped many, many persons to be rid of a headache by just simply giving them a massage as mentioned above. Many had headaches lingering for days, and after about 20 minutes of massage, they miraculously stopped.Think of the thousands of persons who might have been alive today if only they had known, and had been encouraged, to use certain natural remedies to be healed.It is not the intention of this article to condemn the use of conventional medicine, like prescription drugs. There have been countless such cases where, without the administration of conventional medicine, many persons would not have survived.However, it is my hope that conventional medicine in the field of drugs will one day give way to alternative medicine, and conventional medicine will retain its place in the field of surgery and other traumatic conditions where it cannot be replaced. Natural alternatives are not only much safer than using prescription drugs but also a lot cheaper.Chris Read is an associated editor to the website http://www.hateweight.com, "The Weight Loss Portal". Hateweight is committed to provide visitors with complete information on weight loss, obesity, healthy recipes, obesity diseases, latest news, personal views, articles and online community board on weight loss related topics. Your feedback & comments will be highly appreciated at chrisread001@gmail.com
Syrian vs. Dwarf Hamsters, What Should I Get For My Family?
Syrian vs. Dwarf Hamsters, What Should I Get For My Family?
As pets go hamsters are fairly easy to take care of. Hamsters require no walking, are not particularly dirty or stinky, they are small and don't take up much space and are generally inexpensive. Hamsters are also fairly hearty animals and can be a very good pet for a child or a family with several children. There are however, two distinct choices when it comes to adopting a hamster for your family, and that is the dwarf hamster and the syrian hamster. I spoke with Ken Brocx, the founder of Hamsterific.com, an authoritative hamster and small pet website about this question and what his recommendations would be to someone considering adopting a hamster but not knowing exactly which route is best for his/her family.Andy Markison:
Thanks Ken for taking the time to speak to us. First of all, let's assume a family
with a young child or children (let's assume around seven or eight years of age for
this example) is considering adopting a hamster or hamsters for their home. Would
you personally recommend either a dwarf hamster or a syrian hamster in this case?Ken Brocx:
Typically I would recommend a syrian hamster for younger children. Dwarf hamsters
are smaller which can make them harder to handle. Also, if a dwarf manages to
get loose they are faster than syrians and thus harder to catch. Syrians tend to be
more docile if they are properly raised.AM:
Syrian hamsters are supposed to be solitary once they are weaned, but that's not the
case with dwarf hamsters is it?KB:
No. Most dwarf hamsters prefer some company, but that means more space. That
can be a problem since many commercial cages are too small for more than one
hamster, even a dwarf hamster.AM:
Is there any reason to purchase a dwarf hamster solitarily? Or would it be better to
adopt two dwarfs rather than one?KB:
In the wild dwarf hamsters live in colonies, so I prefer to keep them that way. A
dwarf hamster on it's own will need a lot of attention to keep it from
getting depressed.AM:
If you initially purchase a dwarf hamster and later wish to introduce a second (or
third) dwarf hamster would that be possible or are you asking for conflicts with such
an introduction?KB:
It depends on the particular dwarf hamster and on how long they have been alone. If
a dwarf hamster has been on it's own for more than a month I find it is very difficult
to introduce a new cagemate. Young dwarf hamsters will accept a new hamster
much more readilly than an older dwarf hamster. Also dwarf hamsters tend to
socialize better with siblings than with strange or unfamiliar hamsters.AM:
Are dwarf hamsters generally less hearty creatures than syrians?KB:
Both dwarf and syrian hamsters are very hardy creatures. Dwarf hamsters have been
domesticated for a much shorter time than syrians, and because of that there has
been less of an opportunity for them to become inbred. Inbreeding can cause many
problems with the health of any breed of hamster. In syrians this often results in a
hamster that is difficult to tame. In dwarf hamsters it is very common to see
diabetes in inbred pups.AM:
What kind of equipment would you recommend someone about to adopt a hamster
get for their hamster's new home?KB:
Hamsters need a constant supply of clean water, a food bowl that's heavy enough
that it won't tip over when a hamster is crawling on it, a wheel for exercise and a
"nest" where they can feel secure. Wheels aren't just toys. A hamster in the wild can
run several miles a night marking it's territory and looking for food and the only way
we can duplicate that in a confined space is a wheel. In the wild hamsters live in
burrows underground. For nesting a hamster needs a place where it feels it can
retreat from danger. A hamster without a nest will feel insecure and nervous.AM:
What are the life spans of dwarfs and syrian hamsters?KB:
Dwarfs usually live 2-4 years depending on breed, living conditions and genetic
disposition. Syrians live about 2-3 years.AM:
What would you suggest someone look for when purchasing or adopting a hamster?KB:
The most important things are the hamsters health and personality. The color, long
hair and pretty eyes won't matter much if you have a sick hamster. Look for clean
and dry fur, especially around the butt of the hamster, stressed hamsters can get
Wet Tail, which is a deadly type of diarrhea. Wet Tail can spread to surrounding
cages and it can be very difficult to sterilize an area after an outbreak. Personality is
very important, too. If you pick an outgoing hamster that doesn't mind being held
you're probably going to have a much easier time taming and making friends with
him or her.AM:
Is there a reason to adopt a hamster(s) from a breeder rather than a pet store?KB:
Professional breeders usually take great care in ensuring their hamsters are not
inbred. Inbreeding can result in many health and personality problems. Many pet
stores buy from these same breeders, although some may just let their hamsters
breed in the store leading to rampant inbreeding and hamsters with poor health.
Also, just because a person has lots of hamsters and sells them does not mean they
are a quality professional breeder. Don't forget to check your local shelters, too.
Animal shelters often have hamsters that need good homes.AM:
Is the diet of the syrian significantly different than that of a dwarf? I know, for
example, that giving dwarf hamsters fruit that may be high in sugar could be
problematic because dwarfs may be more likely to become diabetic.KB:
Other than that, syrians and dwarfs have similar diets.AM:
What is "heat" exactly? It's related to nuts in some way isn't it or is it related to other
types of foods as well? And does "heat" affect a syrian and dwarf the same way?KB:
Well, there are two types of "heat". "Heat" can be the term for when a female
hamster comes into season, but you are talking about the condition that affects
hamsters that eat too many fatty foods. That type of "heat" is usually caused by an
owner who wants to feed their hamster a treat, usually sunflower seeds, and goes
overboard. Too much oil, like that in sunflower seeds, can cause a hamster's
metabolism to speed up and cause them to lose hair. That's "heat" and I've only
seen it in dwarf hamsters.AM:
Any last words, warnings, recommendations or other thoughts in general that you'd
like to share with someone who is interested in adopting a hamster?KB:
Health and personality are the most important things in buying a new hamster, buy
the biggest home for your hamster you can, never put two syrian hamsters
together, and play with your hamster as often as you can!Interview with Ken Brocx, founder of Hamsterific.com an authoritative website on hamsters
and other small pets.Andy Markison is an illustrator, graphic designer, animal lover and pet owner living
in Germany. His website, http://www.zapgraphix.com/, sells fun and humorous pet related
merchandise.
External vs. Submersible Pumps. Which One Should You Use?-Gardening
External vs. Submersible Pumps. Which One Should You Use?
For many people, it's never been a question of whether to use a
submersible pump vs. an external pump because most people have
smaller ponds and are used to just using a submersible pump.
They're easy to install, and are pretty reliable - so why even
consider an external pump?There are a couple of reasons...But before we go into that, let's briefly talk about the benefits
of submersible pumps first. For obvious reasons, a submersible
pump is named as such because it is designed to be placed in the
pond, and submerged under the water.These are the easiest of all pumps to install, just drop them in
the water and plug them in - and you're ready to do. Of course,
you might have some quick plumbing to do, attaching a hose to the
waterfall or to a submersible filter (another article entirely),
but other than that - that's pretty much all there is to it.Submersible pumps range in size or gallons per hour, from 50 GPH
all the way up to 50,000 gallons per hour, but for most ponds -
pumps anywhere from 350 GPH to 4000 GPH will do just fine...So why might you also consider an external pump instead?Here are a couple reasons. First, external pumps can much more
energy efficient. Now, a typical swimming pool or spa pump won't
usually fall into this category - so be careful not to compare
apples to oranges! Pool pumps can also be huge energy hogs, so
always check the amps to compare different pumps together.
Anything over 10 amps will draw a significant amount of $$ out of
your pocket every month in electrical costs.The external pumps that we are talking about are designed
specifically for ponds and water gardens, and are engineered for
energy efficiency. I'm not sure why those folks in the swimming
pool and spa industry haven't figured out how to this yet, but
I'm sure they'll catch on sooner or later.I'm inclined to think the average pond owner is a bit more
intelligent than the average pool owner. Why else would someone
choose a pool over a pond? Unless of course you have both, but at
any rate - let's just assume that we're talking about external
pond pumps here.For comparison, a typical 4000 GPH (gallons per hour) submersible
pond pump will typically draw anywhere from 10 amps all the way
up to 15 amps, depending on the brand. This can really burn a
hole in your wallet (or pocketbook) on a monthly basis, and in
some parts of the country will run you $50 - $70 in energy costs.In contrast, a comparatively rated external pond pump like the
William Lim Wave I External Pump
(https://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Pumps/wave_pump_for_ponds.htm)
is rated at 4380 GPH at 3.47 feet of head, and only draws 2.3
amps - that's 3/4 less energy consumption than the submersible
pumps.When you start getting into larger ponds, 1000 gallons up to
20,000 and above - it's usually a good idea to look into these
more energy efficient pumps. For example, the 3/4 HP Dragon pump
(https://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Pumps/dragon_pumps.html)
will move 7,770 GPH at almost 5 feet of head (and under pressure)
and only burn 6.2 amps.External pumps are almost always better for using with
pressurized external filters as well, as submersible pumps are
not designed to handle all the back pressure. Other benefits of
using an external pump include:-> Easy to clean without getting your hands messy-> Come with a removable leaf trap which clog less often-> Easy to hook up to bottom drains or surface skimmers-> Generally last longer, and easier to repair / replace partsSo that's it, more than enough information for you to make an
educated choice.Just to recap:For smaller ponds, and for simple installation and daily use,
submersible pumps are probably your best option. For larger
ponds, 1000 gallons and above, it may be worth looking into an
external pump for your needs. Although they cost a little more
on the front end, the energy savings alone can often more than
offset this increase in cost during the first year of use alone.**************************************************
Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several
other pond-related websites including
MacArthurWatergardens.com
and Pond-Filters-Online.com. He
also publishes a free monthly
newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over
9,000. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive our FREE
'New Pond Owners Guide' visit MacArthur Water Gardens today!
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