Yoga for Eyes: Improve Eyesight Naturally

From the Art of Living web site

Many of the yogic poses/asana and exercises are aimed at improving the functioning of specific organs of the body.
Yoga provides a series of eye exercises that improves the functioning of the eyes and helps to overcome various eye-related problems, such as

• Myopia or short sightedness
• Hypermetropia or long sightedness
• Various other eye-related disorders

In the present day world about 35 % of the population suffers from myopia and hypermetropia in varying degrees. These disorders are usually overcome using powerful glasses and lenses which correct the refractive errors of the eye. However one needs to understand that glasses never cure bad eyesight. In fact, using powerful glasses can worsen eye problems. Therefore, one should use glasses only when absolutely necessary.
Other than a few diseases such as cataract and glaucoma which occur due to bacterial infections, many eye disorders are related to the malfunctioning of the ocular muscles caused by chronic mental and emotional tensions. Yoga techniques help to alleviate various disorders related to defects in the eye muscles such as myopia and hypermetropia.
Practicing these yoga eye exercises regularly for a few months can go a long way in facilitating the normal functioning of our eyes.

Therapeutic yoga techniques include exercises such as

• Palming
• Blinking
• Changing focus of eyes from side to side simultaneously
• Changing focus of eyes forward and sideways simultaneously
• Rotational viewing
• Viewing upwards and down simultaneously
• Preliminary nose tip gazing
• Near and distant viewing

Note: Before starting these exercises, it is always recommended to splash your eyes with cold water a few times. Remember to keep the head and spine straight throughout the exercises.

Exercise 1: Palming

• Sit quietly with eyes closed and take some deep breaths to relax yourself completely.
• Rub the palms of your hands vigorously, until they become warm and place the palms gently over your eye lids.
• Feel the warmth of the palms being transferred onto the eyes and the eye muscles relaxing. Your eyes are being bathed in soothing darkness.
• Stay in this position until the heat from the hands has been completely absorbed by the eyes.
• Keeping the eyes closed, lower the hands
• Once again rub the palms and repeat the process at least three times

Exercise 2: Blinking

• Sit comfortably with your eyes open.
• Blink around 10 times very quickly.
• Close your eyes and relax for 20 seconds. Slowly take your attention to your breath.
• Repeat this exercise about 5 times.

Exercise 3: Sideways viewing

• Sit with legs straight in front of the body.
• Now lift the arms keeping your fist closed and your thumbs pointing upward.
• Look at a point straight in front of you in level with your eyes.
• Keep the head in this fixed position, focus on the following one after the other, by shifting your vision to the
  • Space between the eyebrows
  • Left thumb
  • Space between the eyebrows
  • Right thumb
  • Space between the eyebrows
  • Left thumb
• Repeat this exercise 10 to 20 times.
• After completing this exercise close your eyes and rest.

Observe the following breathing pattern as you perform the above exercise

• Inhale in the neutral position
• Exhale while looking to the side.
• Inhale and come back to the center.

Exercise 4: Front and sideways viewing

• Sit with legs straight in front of the body
• Then place the left [closed] fist on the left knee ensuring that the thumb points upwards.
• Look at a point straight in front and in level with your eyes.
• Keeping the head in this fixed position.
• Breathing out, focus your eyes on the left thumb.
• Breathing in, focus your eyes at a point in front and in level with your eyes.
• Repeat the same process with the right thumb.
• Then close your eyes and rest.

Exercise 5: Rotational viewing

• Sit with legs straight in front of your body.
• Place the left hand on the left knee.
• Hold the right fist above the right knee, with the thumb pointing upwards. Keep the elbow straight.
• Now keeping the head still, focus your eyes on the thumb.
• Make a circle with the thumb, keeping the elbow straight.
• Repeat this exercise five times each in clockwise and anti-clockwise direction.
• Repeat the process with the left thumb.
• Close and rest the eyes and relax completely.

Observe the following breathing pattern during this exercise

• Inhale while completing the upper arc of the circle.
• Exhale while completing the lower arc.

Exercise 6: Up and down viewing

• Sit with legs straight in front of your body.
• With both the thumbs pointing upwards, place both the fists on the knees.
• Slowly raise the right thumb keeping the arms straight. Follow the motion of the thumb upwards with the eyes.
• When the thumb is raised to the maximum, gradually bring it down to the starting position and continue to keep the eyes focused on the thumb all the while keeping the head still.
• Repeat the same process with the left thumb.
• Practice this 5 times with each thumb.
• The head and the spine should be kept straight throughout.
• Close the eyes and relax.

Observe the following breathing pattern as you perform the above exercise

• Inhale while raising the eyes.
• Exhale while lowering the eyes.

Exercise 7: Preliminary nose tip gazing

• Sit in a cross-legged pose.
• Lift the right arm straight directly in front of the nose.
• Making a fist with the right hand, keep your thumb pointing upward.
• Focus both eyes on the tip of the thumb.
• Now bend the arm and gradually bring the thumb to the tip of the nose, all the while having the eyes focused on the tip of the thumb.
• Remain in this position for a while with the thumb held at the tip of the nose with the eyes focused there.
• Continuing to gaze at the tip of the thumb, gradually straighten the arm.
• This constitutes a single round.
• Perform at least five such rounds.

Observe the following breathing pattern as you perform the above exercise

• Breathe in while the thumb is pulled to the tip of the nose.
• Retain inside while holding the thumb at the tip of the nose.
• Breathe out as the arm is straightened.

Exercise 8: Near and distant viewing

• Stand or sit by an open window with a clear view of the horizon. Keep the arms by your side.
• Focus on the tip of the nose for 5-10 seconds.
• Repeat this for about 10 to 20 times.
• Close and relax the eyes.

Observe the following breathing pattern

• Inhale during close viewing.
• Exhale during distant viewing.

After completing all the above exercises, lie in shavasan (corpse pose) for a few minutes and relax yourself completely. Breathe gently and normally, and do not resist any thoughts or sensations during the exercise.
In the present day world about 35 % of the population suffers from myopia and hypermetropia in varying degrees. These disorders are usually overcome using powerful glasses and lenses which correct the refractive errors of the eye. However one needs to understand that glasses never cure bad eyesight. In fact, using powerful glasses can worsen eye problems. Therefore, one should use glasses only when absolutely necessary.
Other than a few diseases such as cataract and glaucoma which occur due to bacterial infections, many eye disorders are related to the malfunctioning of the ocular muscles caused by chronic mental and emotional tensions. Yoga techniques help to alleviate various disorders related to defects in the eye muscles such as myopia and hypermetropia. Practicing these exercises regularly for a few months can go a long way in facilitating the normal functioning of our eyes.

How to Improve Your Vision Naturally

Are you looking for clearer vision, but don't want to use corrective lenses or surgery? Though the jury is still out on whether eyesight can be improved through natural means, you can try a few tips and exercises that might help. Here's what to do.

Three Methods: 

1. Pencil Pushups

2. Lifestyle Changes

3. Professional Vison Therapy

Find a pencil, and mark it somewhere in the middle. Draw a letter, number or dot on the side of the pencil. For this exercise, you'll focus on the pencil and the dot as you move it toward and away from your eyes. Pencil push-ups are reputed to correct double vision and crossed eyes but it can't hurt to try them for other issues — it's free, painless, and only involves focusing and refocusing your eyes.

Hold the pencil in front of your face, at arm's length. Keep the pencil vertical, so that the eraser is pointing toward either the ceiling or the floor.

• If you're having someone else help you with the exercise and hold the pencil for you, hold out your arm to determine how far away it should be.

Focus your eyes on the mark you drew on the pencil. Don't proceed to the next step until you feel like your eyes are solidly focused. 

 

Slowly move the pencil toward your face, maintaining your focus on the same spot. Try to move it in a straight line, toward your nose.

• As the pencil comes closer, your eyes will have to adjust to maintain the same level of focus.

Stop when you see two pencils. As soon as the pencil doubles, stop moving it closer to your face.

Look away for a few seconds, or close your eyes. Without moving your head or the pencil, shift your focus away from the pencil for a moment. Focus on something else in your visual field, and don't worry about looking at the pencil at all for at least 5 seconds. If you're having a hard time, close your eyes for a moment. 

Look back at the pencil. Once your eyes are refreshed, try to focus on the pencil so that you aren't seeing double.

• If you're still seeing two pencils, rest your eyes for a few more seconds and try again. Don't get discouraged if you still see two pencils after your second try — you'll get better! Just move on to the next step.

Slowly move the pencil away from your face. Keep your focus on the mark you drew on the pencil as it moves back. Keep going until it's at arm's length again

 

Repeat the exercise. Pencil push-ups work best when you do them repeatedly, as part of a daily routine. Set aside five minutes a day at first, then try ramping up to 10.

• If you struggle to keep track of the time or stay entertained, try listening to music while you practice. For instance, two songs equal roughly five minutes, and three songs are roughly 10.

 Method 2 of 3: Lifestyle Changes

Eat foods that promote eye health. While you probably can't change your vision with diet alone, you can make sure your eyes have all the nutrients they need. Try to incorporate these foods into your Meals:

• Leafy greens (such as kale, chard, collards and spinach) are great, as well as carrots.
• Omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish like salmon and tuna) are great for your body.
• Citrus fruits and juices (such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit) are also good for you body.
• Non-meat protein sources (like bananas, beans and nuts).
• A vitamin supplement that contains omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, and vitamins C and E.

 

 Give up smoking. Smoking can lead to macular degeneration later in life, as well as cataracts Find a support group to help you quit, or enlist the help of a psychiatrist who applies medical treatments to addiction.

Wear sunglasses. Like smoking, too much exposure to ultraviolet light can lead to macular degeneration and cataracts

• Make sure your sunglasses UVA and UVB rays.
• Wrap-around glasses are ideal, since they'll block light from the sides of your eyes as well as the front.
• Try to wear sunglasses whenever you venture outside.

Reduce eye strain. Like any other muscle, the muscles around your eyes can start to feel fatigued and painful if you strain them too much. Try these tricks to cut back on visual fatigue:

• Practice the "20-20-20" trick. If your work involves staring at a screen for long periods of time, take a break every 20 minutes, and focus on a point 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
• Turn down brightness. If you're looking at a computer or television screen, turn down the brightness to the lowest possible level. You should still be able to see, but you shouldn't feel like you're staring at a bright light.
• Make text bigger. If you're reading on a computer, use your program's zoom function to make the text larger. Or, if reading small print in books is a problem, invest in a reading magnifying glass or buy larger-print editions.

Method 3 of 3: Professional Vison Therapy

 

 Locate a vision therapist. Vision therapy has a few different modalities, but the primary types are:

• Orthoptics: An orthoptist focuses specifically on related to eye movement and coordination. If you have double vision, a lazy eye, or crossed eyes, this is probably the right choice for you. You can ask your eye doctor or family practice doctor to refer you to an area orthoptist.
• Behavioral optometry: A behavior optometrist works on helping patients manage visual skills and tasks. If you struggle to recall visual information, or if you have a hard time looking at complicated visual systems (like maps or puzzles), you might consider behavioral optometry. Ask your eye doctor for a referral.

Mother in tears after being called a 'SLUT'

Mother in tears after being called a 'slut' by two customers for breastfeeding her son in Costa coffee

• Rhea Holley verbally abused by couple in their 60s as she fed baby Arthur
• 27-year-old was in 'breastfeeding friendly' Costa Coffee in Purley, London
• Baristas 'reprimanded' the couple who had called Mrs Holley 'disgusting'
• New mother praises staff after being left in 'floods of tears' over the abuse

By Julian Robinson

A new mother was left in floods of tears after being called a ‘slut’ by two customers for breastfeeding in Costa coffee.

Rhea Holley was with a friend, both with new babies, in Costa Coffee in Purley, south London, when her son Arthur began to cry for a feed.

The 27-year-old, from Faversham in Kent, said she knew that Costa Coffee was ‘breast-feeding friendly’ and so she started to feed her 11-month old.

Within seconds, however, a couple sitting nearby started calling her a ‘slut’ and telling her she was ‘disgusting’ and that her feeding the baby in public was ‘offensive’.

Mrs Holley said she was left in ‘floods of tears’ after being abused by the couple, who were in their 60s.

Said she spoke to Costa Coffee workers, who ‘reprimanded the couple’, telling them breastfeeding was allowed in public.

One barista told the couple that The Equality Act 2010 bans anyone asking a breast-feeding woman to leave a public place, such as a cafe, shop or public transport and warned them to stop being abusive.

Speaking after the incident in Brighton Road, Purley, mother-of-one Rhea said: 'Arthur was asleep at the time so I went in and ordered us some drinks and cake.

'While we sat there Arthur woke up and he was quite upset and so I started to breast-feed him.

'A couple were on a table that was facing in such a way that they did not have to look at me.

'I heard one of them say "it is disgusting", that I know what time babies should be fed and should stay at home then, and that I was a "slut".'

Support: Staff at this Costa Coffee in Purley, south London, pictured, 'reprimanded the couple' who had made the abusive remarks to new mother Rhea Holley

Rhea Holley, pictured right with son Arthur, praised staff at Costa Coffee (file picture left) for supporting her after she was branded 'disgusting' by a pair of elderly customers while she was breast-feeding

Speaking about the barista and Costa staff, who ‘told off’ the couple, she said: 'It was so good of them - not only to stand by the law on breast-feeding but also to be so supportive of someone feeling so upset.'

A spokesman for Costa said: 'Mothers bring in children of all ages to Costa and they are always warmly welcomed by us.

'We have always been very happy for mothers to breast-feed in our stores offering a family-friendly environment that is the perfect place for mums to relax with their children.'

HOW THE EQUALITY ACT AIMED TO PROTECT BREAST FEEDING MOTHERS

The Equality Act 2010 made it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public place such as a cafe, shop or public transport
It states that a business cannot discriminate against mothers who are breastfeeding a child of any age.

In Government guidelines, companies are advised to make sure women they are providing a service to 'are allowed to breast feed on your premises if they want to'.

It also advises that staff are trained to understand the rights of breast feeding mothers.

Under the Act 2010, discriminating against someone because they are with a breastfeeding mother is also prohibited.

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A reality show too far?

A reality show too far? New U.S. series films women giving BIRTH in the wild with no help from doctors

• Born in the Wild will follow young parents who take home birth to the next level by leaving even shelter behind
• The show was inspired by a viral YouTube video that's racked up 20M views and shows a woman giving birth in a tropical creek
• Producers say no first-time mothers will be allowed and that the TV crew's presence will increase safety for the mothers--but there will be no doctors
• Critics fear the show will start a dangerous trend that will endanger mother and child

By Joshua Gardner

A new reality show announced by Lifetime on Wednesday will follow young parents who forego not only hospitals during the birthing process, but also any shelter at all.

Born in the Wild will portray the men and women who decide that giving birth surrounded by only the beauty and serenity of nature and away from any doctors or modern interventions is the way to go.

Inspired by the huge popularity of a YouTube video that shows a woman giving birth in a tropical creek, some critics say such a show could kick off a dangerous trend that will endanger mothers and their babies alike.

Born in the Wild: Lifetime has announced they'll air a show that follows parents who decide to give birth in nature with no doctors

'What happens when the craziest experience of a woman’s life becomes truly wild, and soon-to-be parents decide to take on an unassisted birth in the outdoors?' wonders the press release.

Producers hope the answer is ratings gold as Americans accustomed to hyper sterile hospital births and who are only starting to learn of the rising trend in home births watch with rapt attention.

Lifetime says the show's subjects may not be first-time parents and will be closely watched by crews.

'We’re taking extreme precautions to make sure the mothers and the babies are safe,' Eli Lehrer, Lifetime’s senior VP and head of nonfiction programming, told Entertainment Weekly. 'Our presence at these births is going to make them far safer than if they were doing it on their own.'

Inspiring: The show was inspired by this woman's video, which showed her giving birth in a creek bed and has racked up 20 million views since February

However, critics saw the people who may feel compelled to 'try this at home,' as it were, won't have the luxury of a TV crew.

That means these impressionable souls could be in even greater danger, the position some would say the inspiration for the show was in when she documented for YouTube her own birth in nature.

YouTube user Birthinnature has just one video associated with her account, but that single offering has racked up an incredible 20 million views since it was posted in February.

It shows the slow process of a woman giving birth from start to finish, while surrounded by her family, in a creek bed.

'It has had a profound effect on my mothering and for my children especially,' the mother in the video said of the nature birth.

The subjects of Born in the Wild who are after that same motherly high have yet to be revealed, but Lehrer says there aren't all that many of them.

'I truly don’t think this is something people would enter into lightly,' he says. 'This is a very specific subset of people doing this.'

Dangerous: Critics fear the show will encourage parents to endanger their children but producers say only a small subset of people would ever choose to participate in such a birth

10000 times stronger killer of CANCER than Chemo!!!

"SHARE THIS INFORMATION FIRST AND READ AFTERWARDS.....SAVE LIFE Share this as much as you can.

"10000 times stronger killer of CANCER than Chemo".. do share it.. can save many lives, fill up hopes and build confidence in the patients...

The Sour Sop or the fruit from the graviola tree is a miraculous natural cancer cell killer 10,000 times stronger than Chemo.
...
Why are we not aware of this? Its because some big corporation want to make back their money spent on years of research by trying to make a synthetic version of it for sale.

So, since you know it now you can help a friend in need by letting him know or just drink some sour sop juice yourself as prevention from time to time. The taste is not bad after all. It’s completely natural and definitely has no side effects. If you have the space, plant one in your garden.

The other parts of the tree are also useful. The next time you have a fruit juice, ask for a sour sop.

How many people died in vain while this billion-dollar drug maker concealed the secret of the miraculous Graviola tree?

This tree is low and is called graviola ! in Brazi l, guanabana in Spanish and has the uninspiring name “soursop” in English. The fruit is very large and the subacid sweet white pulp is eaten out of hand or, more commonly, used to make fruit drinks, sherbets and such.

The principal interest in this plant is because of its strong anti-cancer effects. Although it is effective for a number of medical conditions, it is its anti tumor effect that is of most interest. This plant is a proven cancer remedy for cancers of all types.

Besides being a cancer remedy, graviola is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent for both bacterial and fungal infections, is effective against internal parasites and worms, lowers high blood pressure and is used for depression, stress and nervous disorders.

If there ever was a single example that makes it dramatically clear why the existence of Health Sciences Institute is so vital to Americans like you, it’s the incredible story behind the Graviola tree..

The truth is stunningly simple: Deep within the Amazon Rainforest grows a tree that could literally revolutionize what you, your doctor, and the rest of the world thinks about cancer treatment and chances of survival. The future has never looked more promising.

Research shows that with extracts from this miraculous tree it now may be possible to:
* Attack cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that does not cause extreme nausea, weight loss and hair loss
* Protect your immune system and avoid deadly infections
* Feel stronger and healthier throughout the course of the treatment
* Boost your energy and improve your outlook on life

The source of this information is just as stunning: It comes from one of America ‘s largest drug manufacturers, th! e fruit of over 20 laboratory tests conducted since the 1970's! What those tests revealed was nothing short of mind numbing… Extracts from the tree were shown to:

* Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer..
* The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!
* What’s more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the Graviola tree selectivelyhunts
down and kills only cancer cells.. It does not harm healthy cells!

The amazing anti-cancer properties of the Graviola tree have been extensively researched–so why haven’t you heard anything about it? If Graviola extract is One of America ‘s biggest billion-dollar drug makers began a search for a cancer cure and their research centered on Graviola, a legendary healing tree from the Amazon Rainforest.

Various parts of the Graviola tree–including the bark, leaves, roots, fruit and fruit-seeds–have been used for centuries by medicine men and native Indi! ans in S outh America to treat heart disease, asthma, liver problems and arthritis. Going on very little documented scientific evidence, the company poured money and resources into testing the tree’s anti-cancerous properties–and were shocked by the results. Graviola proved itself to be a cancer-killing dynamo.

But that’s where the Graviola story nearly ended.

The company had one huge problem with the Graviola tree–it’s completely natural, and so, under federal law, not patentable. There’s no way to make serious profits from it.

It turns out the drug company invested nearly seven years trying to synthesize two of the Graviola tree’s most powerful anti-cancer ingredients. If they could isolate and produce man-made clones of what makes the Graviola so potent, they’d be able to patent it and make their money back. Alas, they hit a brick wall. The original simply could not be replicated. There was no way the company could protect its profits–or even make back the millions it poured into research.

As the dream of huge profits evaporated, their testing on Graviola came to a screeching halt. Even worse, the company shelved the entire project and chose not to publish the findings of its research!

Luckily, however, there was one scientist from the Graviola research team whose conscience wouldn’t let him see such atrocity committed. Risking his career, he contacted a company that’s dedicated to harvesting medical plants from the Amazon Rainforest and blew the whistle.

Miracle unleashed
When researchers at the Health Sciences Institute were alerted to the news of Graviola,! they be gan tracking the research done on the cancer-killing tree. Evidence of the astounding effectiveness of Graviola–and its shocking cover-up–came in fast and furious….

….The National Cancer Institute performed the first scientific research in 1976. The results showed that Graviola’s “leaves and stems were found effective in attacking and destroying malignant cells.” Inexplicably, the results were published in an internal report and never released to the public…

….Since 1976, Graviola has proven to be an immensely potent cancer killer in 20 independent laboratory tests, yet no double-blind clinical trials–the typical benchmark mainstream doctors and journals use to judge a treatment’s value–were ever initiated….

….A study published in the Journal of Natural Products, following a recent study conducted at Catholic University of South Korea stated that one chemical in Graviola was found to selectively kill colon cancer cells at “10,000 times the potency of (the commonly used chemotherapy drug) Adriamycin…”

….The most significant part of the Catholic University of South Korea report is that Graviola was shown to selectively target the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells untouched. Unlike chemotherapy, which indiscriminately targets all actively reproducing cells (such as stomach and hair cells), causing the often devastating side effects of nausea and hair loss in cancer patients.

…A study at Purdue University recently found that leaves from the Graviola tree killed cancer cells among six human cell lines and were especially effective against prostate, pancreatic and lung cancers Seven years of silence broken–it’s finally here!!!

How To Cure A YEAST INFECTION NO MORE

How To Cure A YEAST INFECTION NO MORE - By Linda Allen

Yeast can thrive in it and you need to take caution if you intend to stay away from injuries. As you consider how to treat a yeast infection, you need to keep in mind that prevention is always better than cure. Avoid wearing tight fitting clothes so that will choke your system.

Afternoon Nap Raises to Early Death

Why taking an afternoon nap 'raises risk of an EARLY DEATH by a third'

• Adults who nap are more likely develop deadly respiratory issues
• Scientists say napping can trigger inflammation in the body
• The findings from say dozing could be a symptom of lung disease

By Pat Hagan

Napping, once thought of as a harmless way to recharge one's batteries throughout the day, could now have deadly effects

 

It seems a pretty harmless occupation, but taking an afternoon nap can knock years off your life, say researchers. British adults who sleep for an hour or more in the day increased the chances of premature death by almost a third, scientists found. The biggest risks appear to be associated with lung diseases, such as bronchitis, emphysema and pneumonia. Adults who nap every day are up to  two-and-a-half times more likely to die from respiratory illnesses than those who don’t. Researchers said that this could be  because napping triggers inflammation in the body. 

However, the findings, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, also suggested that dozing during the day could be a signal that the person already has lung disease. Experts at Cambridge tracked more than 16,000 British men and women over 13 years. They studied adults who, in the late nineties, signed up to a major research project investigating the effects of diet and lifestyle on cancer.  As part of the project, volunteers gave details of their sleeping habits – including whether they took a nap in the day. Researchers then followed them up for 13 years and recorded the number of deaths – just over 3,000 – and what caused them.

When they matched mortality rates with sleeping habits, they found the risk of death increased slightly by about 14 per cent in people who dozed less than an hour in the day. But if their naps lasted more than an hour, the risks increased by 32 per cent. When they looked at causes of death, they found the chances of dying from a respiratory illness more than doubled if naps lasted over an hour.

The chance of death of those who napped among 16,000 people increased by around 32 per cent

But the report added: ‘It remains plausible that napping might be an early sign of system disregulation and a marker of future health problems.’ Professor Jim Horne, from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, said short naps can still be a major help. 

He said: ‘The findings actually show that the great majority – about 85 per cent – of those people who napped less than one hour were at no greater risk.’ He said it is possible that people in the study with serious and incurable lung illnesses might even have benefited from snoozing in the day and that napping ‘may not have hastened death but delayed it’. Last year, a study in China – where taking a post-lunch snooze is very popular – found napping for more than 30 minutes at a time raised the chances of developing type two diabetes.

But scientists could not be sure that it wasn’t hidden diabetes that made people sleep, rather than napping triggering the disease. However, other studies have suggested a quick doze may slash the risk of heart attacks and strokes by more than a third.

Hope for young women born without a vagina

Hope for young women born without a vagina: Scientists successfully implant organs grown in the lab using patients' own cells

• The new organs given to women born with a condition called MRKH
• This is rare condition in which the vagina is underdeveloped or absent
• Treatment could also help patients with vaginal cancer or injuries
• Organ is engineered using muscle and cells from the genital region

By Anna Hodgekiss

Scientists have successfully grown vaginas in a laboratory and implanted them into four teenage patients. The new organs have been given to women born with MRKH - Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, a rare genetic condition in which the vagina and uterus are underdeveloped or absent. The treatment could also potentially be applied to patients with vaginal cancer or injuries, according to the U.S. researchers.

Pioneering: Scientists have successfully grown vaginas in a laboratory and implanted them into patients born with a condition called MRKH - where the vagina and uterus are underdeveloped or absent

HOW THEY DID IT

The organ structures were engineered using muscle and epithelial cells (the cells that line the body’s cavities) from a small biopsy of each patient’s external genitals. The cells were extracted from the tissues, expanded and then placed on a biodegradable material that was hand-sewn into a vagina-like shape. These scaffolds (pictued below) were tailor-made to fit each patient.

About five to six weeks after the biopsy, surgeons created a canal in the patient’s pelvis and attached the scaffold to reproductive structures.

At the same time the scaffolding material is being absorbed by the body, the cells lay down materials to form a permanent support structure – gradually replacing the engineered scaffold with a new organ. The researchers, from the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's Institute for Regenerative Medicine, say four teenage girls have successfully received vaginal organs that were engineered with their own cells.Writing in The Lancet, programme leader by Dr Anthony Atala, said: 'This pilot study is the first to demonstrate that vaginal organs can be constructed in the lab and used successfully in humans.

'This may represent a new option for patients who require vaginal reconstructive surgeries. In addition, this study is one more example of how regenerative medicine strategies can be applied to a variety of tissues and organs.' The girls were between 13 and 18 years old at the time of the surgeries, which were performed between June 2005 and October 2008.  Data from annual follow-up visits show that even up to eight years after the surgeries, the organs had normal function. The vaginas were engineered using muscle and epithelial cells (the cells that line the body's cavities) from a small biopsy of each patient's external genitals. The cells were then extracted from the tissues, expanded and then placed on a biodegradable material that was hand-sewn into a vagina-like shape. These scaffolds were tailor-made to fit each patient.

Yuanyuan Zhang demonstrates the process where four young women born with abnormal or missing vaginas were implanted with lab-grown versions made from their own cells

 

About five to six weeks after the biopsy, surgeons created a canal in the patient's pelvis and sutured the scaffold to reproductive structures. Previous research in Dr Atala's lab has shown that once cell-seeded scaffolds are implanted in the body, nerves and blood vessels form and the cells expand and form tissue. At the same time the scaffolding material is being absorbed by the body, the cells lay down materials to form a permanent support structure – gradually replacing the engineered scaffold with a new organ. Follow-up testing on the lab-engineered vaginas showed the margin between native tissue and the engineered segments was indistinguishable. In addition, the patients' responses to a Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire showed they had normal sexual function after the treatment, including desire and pain-free intercourse.

"Tissue biopsies, MRI scans and internal exams using magnification all showed that the engineered vaginas were similar in makeup and function to native tissue, said Atlantida-Raya Rivera, lead author and director of the HIMFG Tissue Engineering Laboratory in Mexico City, where the surgeries were performed. Current treatments for MRHK syndrome include dilation of existing tissue or reconstructive surgery to create new vaginal tissue. A variety of materials can be used to surgically construct a new vagina – from skin grafts to tissue that lines the abdominal cavity. However, these substitutes often lack a normal muscle layer and some patients can develop a narrowing or contracting of the vagina. The researchers say that with conventional treatments, the overall complication rate is as high as 75 percent in paediatric patients, with the need for vaginal dilation due to narrowing being the most common complication.

WHAT IS MRKH SYNDROME?

• MRKH (Mayer Rokitansky Küster Hauser) is a congenital abnormality which affects one in 5,000 women in the UK. 
• It is characterised by the absence of the vagina, womb  and cervix. 
• Women suffering from the condition will have normally functioning ovaries and so will experience the normal signs of puberty but will not have periods or be able to conceive. 
• The external genatalia are completely normal which is why MRKH isn’t usually discovered until women are in their teenage years. 
• It’s usually discovered when the woman tries to has sex or fails to get her period. 
• Many women are able to create a vaginal canal using dilation treatment, which uses cylinder shaped dilators of different sizes to stretch the muscles. 
• However, if this is unsuccessful then surgery will be used to stretch the vaginal canal. 
• Following treatment women are able to have intercourse and can have their eggs removed and fertilised to be used in surrogacy.

Did JUPITER kickstart life on Earth?

Did JUPITER kickstart life on Earth? Gas giant may have altered climate billions of years ago

• Jupiter’s gravity is capable of pulling on other planets in the solar system
• Computer simulations looked at how Jupiter's orbit would affect Earth's
• Position in relation to the sun, and therefore our planet's early climate
• It found it had no affect on tilt and orbit, but affect on climate was unclear
• Findings from study could help astronomers better narrow the search for habitable planets outside the solar system

By Ellie Zolfagharifard

The alien world of Jupiter is more than 365 million miles (588 million km) away from what we experience on Earth.  But despite this huge distance, astronomers have long believed the gas giant’s gravity is so strong it deflects comets and asteroids that would otherwise hit our planet.  Now a new study has shed light on how this strong gravitational pull may have influenced Earth's climate and, in turn, created the conditions needed for life to thrive on our planet billions of years ago. 

Astronomers have long believed Jupiter’s gravity helps deflect comet and asteroids that would otherwise hit our planet.  Now a new study has shed light on how Jupiter may have helped create the conditions for life to thrive on Earth billions of years agoJupiter’s gravity, which is 2.5 times stronger than that of Earth's, is capable of pulling on other planets in the solar system - including our own.  This means that, depending on how Jupiter interacts with Earth, our planet's orbit - and therefore its climate - could vary significantly. For example, if our planet is pulled closer to the sun, our climate would change as a result. Equally, if Jupiter's orbit caused Earth to move further away.

 

The study, by the University of New South Wales and Royal Holloway University of London, ran various computer models of our solar system, according to a report by Elizabeth Howell in Astrobiology Magazine.  With each iteration, the planets in the solar system remained in their place while Jupiter moved around in different obits, ranging from circular to elliptical.  

Jupiter’s gravity, which is 2.4 times stronger than that of Earth, is capable of pulling on other planets in the solar system - including our own.  This means that, depending on how Jupiter interacts with Earth, our planet's orbit could vary significantly, changing how close it is to the sun

JUPITER'S INTENSE GRAVITY

• The gravity of Jupiter is 2.5 times greater than Earth's. 
• In the 1990s, its force tore apart Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 and pulled the broken pieces into the planet. 
• The gravity of Jupiter affects every planet to some degree. 
• It is strong enough to tear asteroids apart and capture 64 moons.

Some scientist think Jupiter destroyed many celestial objects in the ancient past as well as prevented other planets from forming. Astronomers have long believed that the gas giant’s gravity helps deflect comets and asteroids that would otherwise hit our planet.The scientists also moved the entire orbit of Jupiter inwards and outwards to test what would have happened if the planet had formed closer to the sun, or further away.  

Each simulation was taken through a million year time frame, recording where Earth would have been every 100 years as a result of Jupiter’s position. ‘The default assumption is this is something that is important,’ said Jonti Horner, an astronomer and astrobiologist at the University of Southern Queensland. ‘There's a lot of flexibility where Jupiter will be, and you would assume that you'd have a very smooth, very gentle variation in how the Earth's orbit behaves over time.’ While Jupiter's locations resulted in little change in Earth's orbit and tilt, the effect on Earth's climate remained unclear. However, a previous study by the same research group found that Jupiter's position has a striking influence on Earth's climate.  

The team now hope to go back to the earlier work to resolve the discrepancy.  By understanding how gas giants affect the climate on other worlds, researchers hope they can better narrow the search for other habitable planets outside the solar system. 

New fears over E-cigarettes

New fears over e-cigarettes after study finds they affect the lungs in a similar way to tobacco

• Electronic cigarettes may not be as safe as first thought
• Scientists grew bronchial cells exposed to vapour and tobacco smoke
• Lung cells develop similar mutations when exposed to e-cig vapor
• This means they might be 'safer' than cigarettes, but not harmless
• Sales of e-cigarettes increased by 340 per cent in Britain alone last year

By Sara Malm

E-cigarettes have been touted as a ‘safer’ alternative for smokers, but a new study indicates that this may not be the case. Sales of e-cigarettes have soared by 340 per cent in the past year as Britons turn to the electronic smoking devices in a bid to quit traditional cigarettes. Now, a study examining the biological effects of e-cigarettes found ‘strikingly similar’ gene mutations in lung cells exposed to e-cig vapour as those found in smokers.

Risky puff: Scientists at Boston University, U.S. found 'strikingly similar' gene mutations in lung cells exposed to e-cig vapour as in those exposed to tobacco smoke

Scientists grew bronchial cells in mediums exposed to e-cig vapour and compared them to bronchial cells grown in a medium exposed to tobacco smoke. They found that the gene mutations in both sets of cells, although not identical, showed ‘striking similarities’.

‘[E-cigarettes] may be safer, but our preliminary studies suggest that they may not be benign,’ said study author Avrum Spira, a genomics and lung cancer researcher at Boston University. This means that although e-cigarette vapour is tobacco and tar-free and that the device does not require combustion, it could potentially increase a user’s risk of cancer. Mr Spria, who presented the study’s findings at the American Association of Cancer Research’s annual meeting this week, said he could not confirm or deny that e-cigarettes cause cancer, as the research is in its early stages. Further experiments are planned.

Still unknown: The new research means e-cigarettes may be safer than normal tobacco cigarettes, but not as harmless as we first thought

E-cigarettes have soared in popularity in recent years as consumers look for ‘healthier’ ways to continue smoking, rather than use gum or patches to quit the habit. Figures released last month found that while sales of smoking quitting aids have slowed, the market for e-cigarettes is booming. Sales have increased by 340 per cent over the past year, from £44 million in 2012 to reach an estimated £193 million in 2013. The report says that while the smoking cessation market has seen strong growth historically, with annual increases of around 6-10 per cent between 2009-12, sales of products such as gum, tablets and patches have slowed. In 2013 the market for smoking cessation aids grew just 1.7 per cent to reach a value of £131 million.

The Victorian Joy of Sex

The Victorian Joy of Sex: Prudish? Far from it. A racy new book reveals our ancestors could teach today's lovers a thing or two about, ahem, 'courtship'

By Lucy Pearce

‘The natural state of reproduction requires a state of utter and complete frankness that must be observed between the married pair,’ suggested one contemporary writer.‘There must be no private reserves on the wedding night, and each one must allow their soul to be as open as their arms.’Other relationship-enhancing tips included the advice that passion is increased by time spent apart, and that even decent women should use a little rouge, enamel or powder, plus some ‘pencilling of the eyebrows and darkening stuff for the lids’.

German vintage postcard from 1909, showing a loving couple kissing at piano - people of the Victorian era might have been a lot more 'sexually minded' than we previously thought

 

Those with small breasts were advised that a little judicious padding might not go amiss — with the proviso that if they began this deception with a suitor before marriage, they should be prepared for him to be disappointed on the wedding night. Like their 21st-century counterparts, Victorian commentators worried about the legalisation of the sex industry, the ethics and availability of contraception and the horrors of human trafficking and child prostitution.

But, writes Riddell, if the 19th century abounded with attitudes that we can readily identify with, our forebears also espoused many ideas that now seem utterly alien. Among the most significant of these, she suggests, is the Victorian fear of the dangers involved with what they euphemistically called the practice of ‘the solitary vice’.The Swiss neurologist Samuel-Auguste Tissot had published his influential L’Onanisme in 1760, in which he suggested that the consequences of masturbation included insanity or even death.

A commonly held belief during the Victorian era was that a woman could become pregnant only if she experienced an orgasm at the same time as her lover

More than 100 years later, Tissot’s theories were still widely believed, with the fear of ‘the solitary vice’ dominating Victorian marriage guides and advice on morals and manners. One well-known author on the subject was J. H. Kellogg, creator of the cornflake. Those tempted to indulge, it was suggested, should avoid mustard, pepper, rich gravy, beer, wine, cider and tobacco, all of which created a craving for sensual gratification. Rather than risk the consequences of ‘the solitary vice’, those in possession of 100 guineas could purchase a ‘femme de voyage’ or inflatable sex aid, for the ‘special use of gentlemen on their travels’.

These ingenious contraptions could be packed up and stored under a gentleman’s hat, and were also ‘a highly successful alternative to those who fear contamination or pollution from illicit acts with questionable lovers’. Another commonly held and erroneous belief was the notion that a woman could become pregnant only if she experienced an orgasm at the same time as her lover.Without this, the female seed could not be released and no child would be formed in her womb. Furthermore, at the conclusion of the sexual act, the wife must not talk, cough or sneeze, lest this impede conception.

Old texts said that those looking to have children should remember that 'sex must not be faintly or drowsily performed'

In 1845, the French physician Eugene Becklard, in his book Physiological Mysteries And Revelations In Love, Courtship And Marriage: An Infallible Guide-book For Married And Single Persons, In Matters Of The Utmost Importance To The Human Race, took this argument to its supposed logical conclusion and argued that since the ‘fecundating principle’ would not enter the womb unless a woman craved it do so, ‘a rape can never be productive of real offspring’. He also propounded the view that ‘the party, whose temperament predominates in the child, was in the highest state of orgasm at the period of intercourse’. Crucially, any union without true love, according to the manuals of the day, would bring forth ‘ill-looking, sour and spiritless offspring’, while those hoping for good-looking children should remember that sex must not be ‘faintly or drowsily performed’. Intriguingly, though, babies conceived during the daytime often turned out both ‘fine and handsome’. Conversely, women were cautioned that ‘a child that was begat upon a set of stair is most likely to be born with a crooked back and given in no small way to the fault of staring’. And if the husband was unfaithful, children he sired were likely to be ‘weak and wretched’ and grow up unhappy. As if all this weren’t enough for the beleaguered Victorian matron to take in, further gems of advice unearthed by Riddell’s researches include the suggestion that children who were conceived in spring and summer could be expected to have darker complexions than those conceived in autumn and winter. Similarly, children ‘begat when the wind is blowing from the north’ would tend to be stronger than those conceived during an easterly wind. An illegitimate child, on the other hand, would be full of ‘fire and energy’.

Despite popular depictions of 'subservient' women in the Victorian era, the century was full of strong, energetic women excelling in the fields of literary and scientific endeavour, or campaigning to improve conditions for their sex

This was evidence (albeit hypocritical in view of the Victorians’ moral code) of the passions which engulfed its parents at the time of conception. On the subject of choosing a partner, a wealth of advice — some of it downright bizarre — was available to young men and women of the period. No man, for example, should marry a woman with a nose similar to his own. Women with Roman, or hooked, noses should not marry at all — or else find a small-nosed husband.  Not only this, but potential suitors should remember to check skin tone, body shape, chin, height and size of feet. A broad and square chin was thought to be indicative of a jealous nature, while a long chin proved grace and humility. Big-footed men and women, although awkward on first meeting, made the most reliable partners, while small-footed people were deemed prone to reckless gaiety. The plump were renowned for their affable and easy nature. Those with sharp and angular forms were energetic and earnest and prone to find fault with the indolence of others. Tall people were thought to have the most self-control, while short people were the opposite, hence their frequent appearance in riotous mobs.

Gentlemen were advised that the easiest way to choose their future intended was to be guided by the shape of her legs. Sturdy legs with a neat ankle were thought the most suitable for a man who wanted an intellectual companion. Heavy legs and coarse shoes were regarded as indicative of a coarse nature, while thin yet muscular pins were best for a gentleman who wanted his home run with military precision.

Once marriage was finally in prospect, couples were counselled to bear in mind that a warm climate made people feel sexier — an important factor when planning the honeymoon, or wedding tour. Later, however, when the stresses and strains of family life began to show, gentlemen were reminded by one author that ‘hysterical wives or children should be laid on a waterproof sheet on the floor and doused with a jug of cold water.’ The idea of such dominant men and submissive wives is, on the whole, suggests Riddell, not a representative one. In reality, she says, the century was full of strong, energetic women excelling in the fields of literary and scientific endeavour, or campaigning to improve conditions for their sex. While much of the advice given out at the time was misguided and inaccurate, the 19th-century tenets of true love, respect and mutual physical pleasure are, she believes, as relevant today as they were 150 years ago. And for their timeless and illuminating advice on how to conduct a successful sexual relationship — along with a wealth of architecture, engineering, art and literature — we have a lot to thank the Victorians for.