Category Archives: Transhuman News

Theres not enough evidence to prove aloe vera can treat all the health issues it is said to help with. (3) The claims are many and varied, including:

Aloe latex contains aloin, an anthraquinone that gives aloe vera its laxative properties, and which may relieve constipation, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). (6)

Constipation is a symptom commonly seen in primary care patients and also occurs with chronic digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). (5)

An analysis of three randomized controlled studies published in October 2018 in the Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility suggests that aloe vera may be useful for individuals with constipation, including those dealing with this symptom in IBS. (7) This is due to aloe veras laxative effect and its ability to increase water in the intestinal lumen.

Aloe creams have a calming effect on the skin and have been shown to help reduce itchiness and inflammation. (5)

In a past review of aloe vera, researchers noted the plant has the ability to inhibit prostaglandin E2 production. (8) These are lipids that not only play a role in the inflammatory process, they're also active in the sebaceous glands, possibly contributing to inflammatory skin conditions, notes other past research. (9)

Some people swear by aloe to calm a sunburn. You might have experienced the gels cooling effect yourself, and according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, aloe vera is generally safe to use for soothing mild sunburns. (10) But the research backing up the claim that it can speed skin recovery is lacking.

One past small study, for instance, found aloe vera applied topically after laboratory-induced sunburn didnt have an effect on reducing redness when compared with a placebo. (11)

Although aloe vera might not be effective for treating sunburns, it may provide some relief after a first- or second-degree burn. In a review of four controlled clinical trials consisting of 371 sunburn patients, researchers found that healing times for patients who applied aloe vera to their burns was about nine days shorter than in the control group. (12)

In a pilot trial published in December 2015 in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, researchers found that a standardized aloe vera extract in a syrup helped lessen several symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), including heartburn, belching, and vomiting, over a four-week period. (13)

This may be due to GERDs link to inflammation. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antioxidant and anti-ulcer properties that have been studied some in animals and patients with IBD (irritable bowel disease), as past research notes. (3,14)

A past clinical trial found drinking two tablespoons of aloe vera juice every day for two weeks helped lower the blood sugar levels among people with type 2 diabetes. Triglyceride levels of the study participants also improved which could have additional benefit for those with diabetes: They're at an increased risk of developing heart disease, which is linked to triglyceride and cholesterol abnormalities. (15)

Originally posted here:
What Is Aloe Vera? Benefits, Risks, Uses, and More ...

It was only a matter of time before posh upscale "wellness" clubs made the leap from toning bodies to selling wealthy clients on someversion of immortality I'm just surprised that it's happening in Torontobefore Miami or L.A.

Billed as the first of its kind North America, Longevity House is a brand new "ultra-exclusive members club" in Toronto's west end that purports to extend the lives of its members through biohacking, plant medicine and various cutting-edge technologies.

Using the same types of equipment as elite performance athletes and coaches (including Lebron James and Tony Robbins), the club says it can help members live up until the age of 120 and in good shape, too, thanks to improved "healthspans."

It's an enticing proposition, but there's a major catch in the form of a $100,000 (one time only) price tag.

"With the $100,000 membership fee, Longevity House's 30 members can attend monthly workshops and have access to the top practitioners in biohacking, plant medicine, epigenetics, breathwork and functional medicine to balance mind, body and spirit," reads a release issued Thursday morning announcing the club's existence.

"Longevity House believes in two interventions at a time: weight training in an electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) suit, red light therapy while balancing on a vibration plate, and ai-driven cardio alongside oxygen variability training."

Longevity House'sinitial service menu for its inaugural location on a private oasis in west Toronto. Image via Longevity House.

Among the services available to members of Longevity House are the buzzy "smart home gym" Tonal, the AI-powered CAROL bike and the freaky-deaky Biocharger system, which generates its own electromagnetic energy field to "optimize health, wellness and athletic performance by balancing the energy of the cells in the body."

A host of "trailblazing experts" are also available at members' fingertips, according to the release, including (to start) Urban Buddhist Monk Reverend Dr. Bhante Saranapala and Giovanni Bartolomeo, founder of Elemental Rhythm.

All of this takes place on a private, 9,000-square-foot estate backing onto a ravine in Etobicoke a "curated environment mixing the best of luxury, privacy, technology, expertise, and ancestral grounding in nature," as publicists put it.

The flagship location of Longevity House in Toronto's west end is already open, but at least three more are planned: One for Yonge and Eglinton that is expected to launch this fall and two more that will open next year in New York City and Miami (see! I knew Miami would be down for this.)

"We are creating a space for people to strive for health creation rather than disease prevention," says the company's founder, Michael Nguyen, who is best-known as a celebrity tailor to the likes of Drake, Ryan Gosling and Jeff freaking Bezos.

"How you live every single day matters, and we provide members with a destination to access the most innovative and proven tools in one place to ensure a longer and better healthspan."

Read the original here:
New private club in Toronto aims to help rich people live until they're 120 years old - blogTO

With so much of 2020 and 2021 bringing unparalleled death and loss, sometimes we need a reminder that we are still very much alive. This weekend, the Houston Chamber Choir will present Ein deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms known better as his requiem for the living to do just that as part of the choirs To Bring Comfort concert. It takes place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at South Main Baptist Church, 4100 Main Street, and will be available on virtual release starting November 22.

With our season themed Sing out the new day, we wanted this concert to proclaim the hope and sense of renewed joy we were having as we move into a new phase of COVID-19. I also wanted to recognize the fact that everybody has been through a lot these last 18 months, and some people in particular have suffered significant losses, so Brahms requiem suggested itself to me on a couple of cases, said Bob Simpson, founder and artistic director of the organization.

Simpson is correct in his observation. First, it is a requiem, and because so many people have lost their lives recently, it is completely appropriate to pay homage to them and to reflect. Second, Brahms wrote it to comfort the living. The very first words are, "Blessed are those who morn." It is only in the last movement the choir sings, "Blessed are those who are of the dead."

The piece really does have something special to say about our moment now as we move ahead and reflect on all the anxiety and uncertainty and also take on the sense of hope that we are experiencing now. The Brahms requiem is the perfect expression of that, Simpson added.

Founder and Artistic Director Bob Simpson will lead the Grammy Award-winning Houston Chamber Choir this weekend.

Photo by Jeff Grass Photography

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In writing the piece, Brahms picked his own text out of The Bible.

He knew his Bible very well and he handpicked passages that he felt reflected his personal theology. Here, we have a piece that has a completely different approach than the traditional requiem, and it focuses on hope and the sense of wellbeing that he found in Scripture, Simpson said. Its a piece that is predominantly in the major keys. This isnt an accident. He wasnt writing a mournful piece. He was proclaiming great hope and great promise. Were presenting it because we hope its a community rallying point to take stock of what has happened but give us a sense of courage and forward motion to take on the hope of the future.

Adding to the concert, the choir will be performing Brahms own four-hand piano arrangement featuring noted pianist Brian Connelly, artist teacher of piano at Rice Universitys Shepherd School of Music, and Yvonne Chen. They will play a 19th century Bsendorfer piano similar to one Brahms would have played.

Its not a modern concert grand piano. It has less iron in the structure, so the strings are under less pressure. Theres a gentleness to the sound that turns the requiem into a chamber piece. Theres an intimacy that this accompaniment allows us to explore. Theyll provide an important part to this piece by providing intimacy and approachability that makes it even more touching under these circumstances, Simpson described.

The concert will also honor the researchers and medical professionals who have stood by to comfort the ill and their families and also perform the work of researching and delivering vaccines. Houston Chamber Choir is collaborating with the Houston Methodist Center for Performing Arts Medicine (CPAM) for To Bring Comfort. The concert opens with the premiere of Hymn for Strength, a new composition with words by Houston Poet Laureate Outspoken Bean and music by CPAM Director Todd Frazier. This new work will be performed by a choir comprised of representatives from Houston's healthcare community, led by M.J. Gallop.

Todd dedicated this to the Texas Medical Centers healthcare employees, caregivers and first responders fighting COVID-19 in our community and around the world. For me, that adds a very special dimension to this concert, Simpson said.

Houston Chamber Choirs To Bring Comfort plays 7:30 p.m. Saturday at South Main Baptist Church, 4100 Main Street, and will be available on virtual release starting November 22 on the Houston Chamber Choir Digital Stage. For tickets or information, call 713-224-5566 or visit houstonchamberchoir.org. $10 to $25.

More here:
Things To Do: Enjoy A Different Kind of Requiem With Houston Chamber Choir - Houston Press

India celebrates Ayurveda Day every year on the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras. This day has been marked every year since 2016 on the occasion of Dhanwantri Jayanti. As this year, Dhanteras is today, November 2, so Ayurveda Day 2021 is being celebrated today. The day is marked to spread awareness on the importance of Ayurveda in our daily lives.

Besides, National Ayurveda Day is observed to focus on the strengths of Ayurveda and its unique treatment principles. The central government wants to reduce the burden of diseases by utilising the potential of Ayurveda.

Read: Happy Dhanteras 2021: Images, Wishes, Quotes, Messages and WhatsApp Greetings to Share on Dhantrayodashi

Since Lord Dhanvantari is the god of Ayurvedic medicine, Dhanteras is observed for the wellbeing of ones family members or kin. Lord Dhanvantari is considered to be the healer of all ailments. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Dhanvantari, who is a physician of the gods, appeared before the Devas and the Asuras during Samudra Manthan. He held in his hands Amrita, or the nectar of immortality and also the text called Ayurveda.

Read: Dhanteras 2021: Dhantrayodashi Significance, Time, Shubh Muhurat and Puja Vidhi

The Devas and the Asuras both wanted the nectar to become immortal, which led to a fight between the two mythical groups. It was Garuda, often depicted as a large eagle-like bird, or a half-human, half-bird creature, which protected the nectar from the Asuras.

Ayurveda has been practised in India since ancient times. It involves various concepts of immunity but the most important ones are Bala - the concept of strength, Vyadhi Kshamathwa - the concept of resistance to illness development and Ojas - the concept of supreme resilience. Given the importance of a strong immune system, many have turned to Ayurveda to aid the fight against the novel coronavirus.

AS PER AYURVEDA, FOLLOWING ARE SOME WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY:

Every Indian must have heard the word kadha at home. Kadha is an Ayurvedic concoction made by mixing various herbs and spices which are boiled in water for over ten minutes so that all the medicinal benefits of these herbs could be extracted. Kadha is a popular home remedy during cold and dry seasons and can help boost immunity.

This herbal concoction can be made by adding Tulsi (Basil), Dalchini (Cinnamon), Kali Mirch (Black pepper), Shunthi (Dry Ginger) and Munakka (Raisin) into water. You can add jaggery or natural honey to this concoction if needed. You can also add half a teaspoon of turmeric powder in 150 millilitres of hot milk. These concoctions should only be had once a day.

According to Ayurveda, yoga is necessary to relieve physical stress and calm the mind. Meditating on a daily basis can help in reducing both physical and mental stresses. You can start by sitting in a comfortable place and meditating for at least 10 minutes daily.

You can practice yoga asanas such as savasana, sukhasana and siddhasana for 20 minutes a day, two to three times a week to maintain your nervous and endocrine systems. You should also practice pranayama every day to calm your mind.

According to the Ministry of AYUSH, there are certain ayurvedic procedures which are believed to improve your immunity against respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. You can practice procedures such as Pratimarsh Nasya where you have to apply sesame oil, coconut oil or ghee in both the nostrils in the morning and evening.

Another procedure is oil pulling therapy, where you have to put one tablespoon sesame or coconut oil in your mouth and swish with it for 2 to 3 minutes, then spit it out. Rinse your mouth with warm water after and practice this therapy once or twice a day.

There are many medicinal herbs that are known to improve immunity and have also been mentioned in Ayurveda. Some of these herbs are:

Kalmegh: Kalmegh is a bitter-tasting plant leaf which has high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This herb is known to help fight cold, flu and other upper respiratory tract infections.

Guduchi Giloy: Guduchi Giloy possesses anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Giloy is also considered a natural fever suppressant which also reduces the stress and anxiety levels.

Chirata: Chirata is a common Ayurvedic herb which is considered to have strong anti-asthmatic and expectorant properties. Chirata is helpful in getting rid of chest congestion.

(With inputs from myUpchar.com)

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Excerpt from:
Ayurveda Day 2021: History, Significance on Dhanteras and Tips That Can Help Boost Immunity Amid COVID-19 - News18

November 1, 2021

Alareece Collie

Iam passionate about traveling. When I was in seminary, I took a trip to the Middle East with a group of seminarians. It was my first visit. I was extremely excited. My childhood fantasy of being like Indiana Jones was becoming a reality.

We went to Jordan: visited places like the ancient city of Petra. We went to Israel, took a dip in the Dead Sea, enjoyed a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We went to Turkey: visited the cities of the seven churches in Revelation, including Smyrna, the focus of this article.

Smyrna, now the modern-day city of Izmir, can trace its roots to Alexander the Great. Also, many believe that it is the birthplace of the poet Homer. In Smyrna one of their main streets was called the Street of Gold. Other interesting data on the city include the meaning of its name: Smyrna means myrrh, an aromatic potion that thrice figures in the Gospel records of His life: first as a fragrant spice given to the baby Jesus, then twice in relation to his crucifixion and burial (see Mark 15:23; John 19:39).

Ancient ruins can seem outdated and irrelevant. We relegate them with That was then; this is now! But Smyrna does have lessons for us. Such as faithfulness: Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).

I read these words and wonder: whatever became of faithfulness? In a world of frantic busyness, increased skepticism, and broken vows, faithfulness sometimes seems outdated, like ancient ruins.

The message to the church of Smyrna reminds us that faithfulness is fundamental to the Christian journey, a lesson learned by looking at the cross, the church, and the crown.

First, the message to Smyrna reminds us about the significance of the cross: These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life (Rev. 2:8). Jesus was faithful unto death, death on a cross (Phil. 2:8). In faithfulness to His mission, He is an example for us today. The cross remains a symbol of hope for us because of His substitutionary sacrifice, and a source of inspiration because of His example of unflinching faithfulness. And He speaks with unique authority: as the First and Last. Alpha and Omega. Beginning and End and everything in between; Lord of the past, present, and future.

Hear His voice in Isaiah: Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last (Isa. 48:12). He speaks with the authority of someone who has experienced persecution and was called to be faithful to death. His commitment and love sustained Him through intense sacrifice, rejection, and pain. Likewise, in every generation His followers are called to be faithful, enduring until the end (Matt. 10:22).

The church of Smyrna knew persecution well. They experienced it from Jews who lived there, and from the Romans. Jesus warned that it would worsen (Rev. 2:10). Polycarp, once Smyrnas Christian bishop, understood the cost of his refusal to call the emperor his Lord. He left us memorable lines: For eighty-six years I have been his servant, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?1 And: I bless you, Father, for judging me worthy of this hour, so that in the company of the martyrs I may share the cup of Christ.2

For some Christians, persecution for our faith may seem distant. However, in other parts of the world, our brothers and sisters are losing their lives because they want to remain faithful to Jesus. In India several Adventist pastors have been beaten or killed. In China a recent law has forbidden the sale of online Bibles,3 and there continue to be new laws that restrict religious freedom for Christians.4

Nevertheless, the light of hope burns even in Jesus call to faithfulness. For faithfulness until means that a time is coming when Smyrna will no longer have to suffer. And the promise is for all who reach that point: faithful until death? Heres your crown of life (Rev. 2:10). Smyrna will share the victory of their Lord, He who was dead and came to life again. Years before John wrote, the city of Smyrna had been destroyed and rebuilt. Smyrnas saints could understand that though there is death, there will be life again.

How do we learn from Smyrna, when many today never even dream of persecution for our faith? Im free to express my beliefs and not be persecuted. How can I show faithfulness to faith in the absence of threat? It seems that the real question is not about willingness to die for Jesus, but about commitment to Him whatever the circumstance. Polycarp came to martyrdom only because of who he was in life. Am I as committed as Polycarp to living for Him?

How do we learn fromSmyrna, when many today never even dream of persecution for our faith?

A friend of mine told me of sailing from the island of Cozumel in Mexico to the mainland. A sign on her boat said, Warning. Waters could get rough. And just as the sign said, the waters got rough. She, along with many other passengers, was throwing up. She felt so bad that she wished she could jump off the ship. Her husband, not nearly as sick, leaned over and said, Keep your eyes on the horizon. She did. Staring at the horizon restored her sense of equilibrium, and she was able to complete the journey with no more seasickness.

We need to keep our eyes on the cross. We will be tempted and tested daily, but we, with Smyrna, may remain faithful, and emerge victorious. Jesus, our Savior and Guide, has been here before: He has experienced the tests, tribulations, and temptations; He can bring us through. With Him, after life and death, there is life again, a more abundant life. Keep your eyes on the cross, symbol of love and faithfulness.

The message to Smyrna reminds us that we are called as a community. Attachment to, dependence on a community, is becoming rare. Loud praise of individualism seems to drown out the beckoning call of community. And yes, the choice to follow Jesus is personal: no one can choose for us. But our call also has collective significance. Were in this together, a togetherness that further molds, and yes, tests our faithfulness. Community can be frustrating at times. It can also spur growth, strength, and healing. There is something about people gathering together with one focus and mission. We strengthen each other to be faithful.

Smyrna had much to inspire. Science and medicine flourished. A library, stadium, and theater that seated about 20,000 people testified to prosperity. However, many believers were financially poor as a result of the persecution they were experiencing. Jesus knew of their struggle: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich) (Rev. 2:9). His message was that despite material poverty, they were succeeding where it mattered: they were spiritually rich. And they were because they had chosen to be faithful. Amid daily challenges, they supported each other, and rose together above their difficult circumstances.

Jon Cole, a colleague of mine, lived and taught in Izmir for a year. Recently, as we reflected on community, he shared a story. He needed to find the landlord to pay his rent in person. He found him playing backgammon with a group of friends, and apologized for the interruption. His landlord smiled and said, No problem; an uninvited guest is Gods guest. His message was that people and relationships are not an inconvenience.

The gift of community is celebrated in the We of one of my favorite songs, Were Marching to Zion. As the chorus says: Were marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful, Zion; were marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God.5 Were marching: Im marching, youre marching, were marching. Nobodys doing it alone. Were a community of faithfulnessto Jesus, to His cross, to our individual integrity, and to our church, the family of faith, in which we journey together and are faithful together. And we are not together to compete against one another: Whos holiest? Whos most faithful? Rather, we support each other all the way to until, when theres no more because weve reached the finish line. And everyone who covers the distance by faith in Jesus will receive a reward, the crown of eternal life.

Whether we experience turbulent skies or troubled seas, we are assured not only by each others presence, but, supremely, by the competence of the Captain of our salvation (see Heb. 2:10).

Some years ago I was heading to Puerto Rico from The Bahamas to take some classes at Antillean Adventist University. I flew to Puerto Ricos capital, San Juan, via Miami, Florida. Getting to Antillean Adventist University then required catching a connecting flight from San Juan. Arriving there late, I ran to the waiting area for my connecting flight to Mayaguez. There were four people there. I thought, Praise the Lord, I made it . . . Seems like Im earlier than most of the other passengers.

After some waiting, they called the flight. There were still only five of us. I wondered, Strange . . . Wheres everyone? Perhaps this isnt a full flight . . .

We walked out to the plane, and there it was, so small: This looks like a toy; a paper plane.

Five of us quite filled the plane. We strapped in, and off we went, flying over beautiful Puerto Rican beaches, some of the best beaches in the world. The skies were clear, and it seemed like a good day.

But then the winds picked up. The plane began to experience turbulence. It began to shake.

You could feel it struggling against the wind. I held on because thats all you could do. You cant always predict turbulence, and you cannot control it. It comes.

Then I saw a red light on the captains dashboard. The plane was so small, and I was sitting so close to the captainall the passengers were! I could easily see the dashboard. Then we heard a beeping sound. As if on cue, my seatmate and I both turned and looked at each other, communicating without words: What is that light? Why is there a light? What is that beeping noise? Im afraid. Are you afraid? OK, were both afraid.

For me, its one of the great reassurances in being on an airplane. Im never alone. Theres companyfellow passengers who feel the turbulence, who are afraid at times, just like me. And theres a competent captain. There, thousands of feet up in the air, in the midst of turbulence, were in community.

The flight continued: smooth skies; rough bumps; occasional terror; and a safe landing, eventually.

Whether the Christian journey involves troubled seas or turbulent skies, we are never alone. We have an expert Captain and fellow passengers on the journey: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us runwith perseverancethe race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus,the pioneerand perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross (Heb. 12:1, 2, NIV).

What joy? The joy of us for company, not just for a while, but throughout the victory celebration when the promise of our text finds its total fulfillment, as the Captain of our salvation crowns us all with immortality, the crown of life (Rev. 2:10).

Alareece Collie is executive pastor of the University church on the campus of Walla Walla University, College Place, Washington.

Excerpt from:
Adventist Review Online | Whatever Became of Faithfulness? - Adventist Review