BBC - Secret life of the cat: What do our feline companions get up to

* Secret life of the cat: What do our feline companions get up to? ** The daily routines of dozens of domestic cats have been revealed in a study for the BBC's Horizon programme. Explore our route maps and watch cats-eye-view video to find out more about 10 of them. < http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/science-environment-22567526 >

Unemployed Black Woman Pretends to be White, Job Offers Suddenly Skyrocket

Unemployed Black Woman Pretends to be White, Job Offers Suddenly Skyrocket November 15, 2012 | Filed under: BizTechNews | Posted by: admin http://www.techyville.com/2012/11/news/unemployed-black-woman-pretends-to-be-white-job-offers-suddenly-skyrocket/ If you don’t believe that racism in the job market is real, then please read this article by Yolanda Spivey. Spivey, who was seeking work in the insurance industry, found that she wasn’t getting any job offers. But as an experiment, she changed her name to Bianca White, to see if employers would respond differently. You’ll be shocked and amazed by her phenomenal story. Before I begin, let me quote the late, great, Booker T. Washington who said, “Of all forms of slavery there is none that is so harmful and degrading as that form of slavery which tempts one human being to hate another by reason of his race or color.” For two years, I have been unemployed. In the beginning, I applied to more than three hundred open positions in the insurance industry—an industry that I’ve worked in for the previous ten years. Not one employer responded to my resume. So, I enrolled back into college to finish my degree. After completing school this past May, I resumed my search for employment and was quite shocked that I wasn’t getting a single response. I usually applied for positions advertised on the popular website Monster.com. I’d used it in the past and have been successful in obtaining jobs through it. Two years ago, I noticed that Monster.com had added a “diversity questionnaire” to the site. This gives an applicant the opportunity to identify their sex and race to potential employers. Monster.com guarantees that this “option” will not jeopardize your chances of gaining employment. You must answer this questionnaire in order to apply to a posted position—it cannot be skipped. At times, I would mark off that I was a Black female, but then I thought, this might be hurting my chances of getting employed, so I started selecting the “decline to identify” option instead. That still had no effect on my getting a job. So I decided to try an experiment: I created a fake job applicant and called her Bianca White. First, I created an email account and resume for Bianca. I kept the same employment history and educational background on her resume that was listed on my own. But I removed my home phone number, kept my listed cell phone number, and changed my cell phone greeting to say, “You have reached Bianca White. Please leave a message.” Then I created an online Monster.com account, listed Bianca as a White woman on the diversity questionnaire, and activated the account. That very same day, I received a phone call. The next day, my phone line and Bianca’s email address, were packed with potential employers calling for an interview. I was stunned. More shocking was that some employers, mostly Caucasian-sounding women, were calling Bianca more than once, desperate to get an interview with her. All along, my real Monster.com account was open and active; but, despite having the same background as Bianca, I received no phone calls. Two jobs actually did email me and Bianca at the same time. But they were commission only sales positions. Potential positions offering a competitive salary and benefits all went to Bianca. At the end of my little experiment, (which lasted a week), Bianca White had received nine phone calls—I received none. Bianca had received a total of seven emails, while I’d only received two, which again happen to have been the same emails Bianca received. Let me also point out that one of the emails that contacted Bianca for a job wanted her to relocate to a different state, all expenses paid, should she be willing to make that commitment. In the end, a total of twenty-four employers looked at Bianca’s resume while only ten looked at mines. Is this a conspiracy, or what? I’m almost convinced that White Americans aren’t suffering from disparaging unemployment rates as their Black counterpart because all the jobs are being saved for other White people. My little experiment certainly proved a few things. First, I learned that answering the diversity questionnaire on job sites such as Monster.com’s may work against minorities, as employers are judging whom they hire based on it. Second, I learned to suspect that resumes with ethnic names may go into the wastebasket and never see the light of day. Other than being chronically out of work, I embarked on this little experiment because of a young woman I met while I was in school. She was a twenty-two-year-old Caucasian woman who, like myself, was about to graduate. She was so excited about a job she had just gotten with a well-known sporting franchise. She had no prior work experience and had applied for a clerical position, but was offered a higher post as an executive manager making close to six figures. I was curious to know how she’d been able to land such a position. She was candid in telling me that the human resource person who’d hired her just “liked” her and told her that she deserved to be in a higher position. The HR person was also Caucasian. Another reason that pushed me to do this experiment is because of the media. There’s not a day that goes by in which I fail to see a news program about how tough the job market is. Recently, while I was watching a report on underemployed and underpaid Americans, I saw a middle aged White man complaining that he was making only $80,000 which was $30,000 less than what he was making before. I thought to myself that in this economy, many would feel they’d hit the jackpot if they made 80K a year. In conclusion, I would like to once again quote the late, great, Booker T. Washington when he said, “You can’t hold a man down without staying down with him.” The more America continues to hold back great candidates based on race, the more our economy is going to stay in a rut. We all need each other to prosper, flourish, and to move ahead.

Send a FREE ABC Father's Day E-Card

Send a FREE Father's Day E-Card http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ecard_page Feverfew Father's Day2Father's Day is almost here and ABC has the perfect way to celebrate — a free, beautiful, and (most importantly) thoughtful Father's Day e-card. The perfect way to say "thanks" for putting up with all the headaches you may have caused, ABC's Father's Day e-card features Feverfew — an herb that has been shown to help protect against migraines. ABC also has many other free Holiday, Birthday, and Health Awareness cards available for you to send your friends and family any time of year. Each E-Card features stunning photography from Steven Foster and science-based information on the herb and how it is used. Sending an ABC E-Card is easy and free. You just need to be an ABC member (helping support ABC's nonprofit mission) or a registered user of ABC's website (free). Note: If you are the original recipient of this message, you already are either an ABC member or registered user. You can peruse the entire library of beautiful, free ABC E-Cards here. We add new cards regularly. Cordially, The Staff of the American Botanical Council

$300,000 will be awarded to 10 grant recipients

Bob Vetere, president of HABRI, is pleased to announce there will be funding made available for high-quality research designed to better understand the human and animal health benefits of the human-animal bond in seven areas. Requests for pre-proposals are open now through June 28; approximately $300,000 will be awarded to 10 grant recipients. Pre-proposals should focus on the health effects of animals on humans with the following conditions: autism, cancer, cardiovascular disease, dementia/Alzheimer’s, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or childhood allergies and immunity. For additional details regarding application process and project requirements, click here and scroll to proactive research funding. http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/researchers/small-animal/

• Farm Sanctuary announces a call for grant proposals on observational research of farm animal emotions, behavior, and cognitive abilities in an approved setting (such as a farm animal sanctuary). Grants will be awarded for amounts ranging from $1,000 to $20,000. Proposals must be submitted by either July 15 or October 15; click here for more information. http://www.farmsanctuary.org/get-involved/call-for-proposals/

Call for Papers - *Spontaneous Generations: A Journal for the History and Philosophy of Science*

Call for Papers - *Spontaneous Generations: A Journal for the History and
Philosophy of Science*
http://spontaneousgenerations.library.utoronto.ca/

*Spontaneous Generations* is an open, online, peer-reviewed academic
journal established by graduate students at the Institute for the History
and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto. It has
produced six issues (the seventh is forthcoming) and is a well-respected
journal in the history and philosophy of science and science studies.  We
invite interested scholars to submit papers for our eighth issue.

We welcome submissions from scholars in all disciplines, including but not
limited to HPS, STS, History, Philosophy, Women's Studies, Sociology,
Anthropology, and Religious Studies. Papers in any period are welcome.

The journal consists of four sections:

   1. A focused discussion section consisting of short peer-reviewed and
   invited articles devoted to a particular theme. The theme for our eight
   issue is "Science and Social Inequality: Gender, Race, and Class in Science
   and Technology Studies"* (see a description below).  Recommended length for
   submissions: 1000-3000 words.
   2. A peer-reviewed section of research papers on various topics in the
   field of HPS. Recommended length for submissions: 5000-8000 words.
   3. A book review section for books published in the last 5 years.
   Recommended length for submissions: up to 1000 words.
   4. An opinions section that may include a commentary on or a response to
   current concerns, trends, and issues in HPS. Recommended length for
   submissions: up to 500 words.

****Science and Social Inequality: Gender, Race, and Class in Science and
Technology Studies*

*Christine V. Wood and Simon N. Williams*, Guest Editors

Science and technology reflect and create social inequalities -
inequalities related but not limited to race/ethnicity, gender, and social
class.  Over the past several decades, scholars in science and technology
studies, particularly those engaged with feminist and critical theories,
have questioned the ways that inequalities among the ranks of those
producing the knowledge affect the kinds of knowledge that is yielded.
This special issue aims to encourage science and technology studies to
focus on inequalities within scientific practice, professions, and
knowledge production.  We will feature work across a variety of disciplines
that aims to better understand the experiences of individuals, particularly
women and people of color, in trajectories leading or related to science
work.   We seek scholarship that pushes STS to re-engage with questions
surrounding science as a professional “field” and, in particular, as one
that remains stratified in practice by inequalities of race, gender, and
social class.

We welcome research that interrogates the various and intersecting forms of
inequality that shape power structures in science and technology.
Following the “normative turn” in STS, the issue also seeks to probe the
normative and ethical concerns of why diversity is “good” or meaningful for
science, given science’s orientation as “value-free,” objective, and
universal.  We seek research comparing various arenas of scientific
practice.  Submissions can focus on a variety of institutional and national
contexts, can use both historical and contemporary cases, and can draw on a
variety of critical and methodological perspectives.

Those considering submitting manuscripts are encouraged to make
pre-submission enquiries to discuss their submission with the guest
editors, who can be reached at c-wood@northwestern.edu

Possible topics might include, but are not limited to:


   1.   Critical perspectives on inequalities within scientific practice,
   including for example Feminist theories and Critical Race Theories
   2.   Studies looking at diversity and inequality within
   inter/multi/trans-disciplinary scientific collaboration and “Team Science”
   (inclusive of academic and non-academic science teams).
   3.   Studies looking at the role of gender, race/ethnicity and
   socio-economic status in scientific education and training across the
   educational spectrum.
   4.   Research exploring the normative and instrumental value of
   diversity in science: why is scientific diversity a good thing?  Have
   diverse scientific teams produced better science?

Submissions for the eighth issue should be sent no later than *October 1st,
2013*.

Authors are asked to conform to all style guidelines specified in the
“Submission Preparation Checklist:”
http://spontaneousgenerations.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/SpontaneousGenerations/about/submissions#authorGuidelines
For more details, please visit the journal homepage at
http://spontaneousgenerations.library.utoronto.ca/

Please distribute freely.  Apologies for cross-postings.

ABC Free Black Cohosh webinar Online — Thursday, June 13 at 2PM Central

You cannot register for this right now because this webinar page has been registered as an attack site. Adulterated Herbs: Black Cohosh Presented by Mark Blumenthal and Steven Foster FREE Webinar Register Now - Free ABC's Mark Blumenthal Mark Blumenthal blank_spacing Trustee-Steven Foster Steven Foster Interest in the use of black cohosh as a treatment for menopausal symptoms has been increasing steadily for many years. As interest increases, so does the potential for accidental or deliberate adulteration with low-cost Chinese species with similar names but different chemistry. A recently published paper on black cohosh, “Exploring the Peripatetic Maze of Black Cohosh Adulteration,” by noted botanical medicine expert, author, and photographer Steven Foster, sheds light on confusing naming and identification, market economics, history of alleged liver toxicity possibly associated with the adulterants, and analytical tests available to ensure correct identity of black cohosh. Join us for a fascinating discussion with Steven Foster and Mark Blumenthal of the American Botanical Council as we look in more detail at adulteration of black cohosh and what it means for consumers of herbal products. Register Now - Free Within a few days of this webinar, a free recording will be availabl

Organic Bytes writes about Monsanto

ESSAY OF THE WEEK OCA and Our Allies Pressure 10 Senators Who Voted Against States' Rights to Label GMOs Seventy-one senators voted against the Sanders Amendment to the Farm Bill, an amendment to uphold states’ rights to label genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our food. It’s time to take action. Phase I: We’ve selected 10 of the 71 senators. With help from several of our ongoing allies in the GMO labeling battle, along with MoveOn.org, and some of the state GMO campaigns, we’re launching a campaign to pressure these 10 senators to support their state’s right to enact a GMO labeling law. How? By organizing meetings at their Washington D.C. and home district offices. By submitting op-eds to their state newspapers. If your Senator is on the list, we need your help. We’ll be sending you an invitation soon to a meeting with your Senator. Please sign up to attend! In the meantime, you can start calling and emailing your Senator, posting on his or her facebook page, and writing letters to the editors of your local newspapers. Let’s find out why these Senators voted against states’ rights to label GMOs. More important, let’s get a commitment from each one of them that they will not support any legislation that would stomp out states’ rights to label GMOs. Read the essay ACTION ALERT Join the Twitter Rally Tonight! Tell Congress to Uphold States’ Rights to Label GMOs! TAKE ACTION: Tell Your Congress Member: Reject the King Amendment and any other rider or amendment to the Farm Bill that would take away states’ rights to label GMOs! Monsanto hoped that by pouring $46 million into defeating California’s ballot initiative to label GMOs last year, other states would be discouraged from launching similar campaigns. It didn’t turn out that way. GMO labeling laws have advanced in Vermont, Connecticut and Maine. Washington State voters will decide the issue in November, at the ballot box. Rather than try to defeat one state campaign after another, is the Biotech Bully looking to Congress for another handout? In the form of a sweeping ruling that would preempt states’ rights to label GMOs? On Wednesday, May 15, the House Ag Committee passed the King Amendment, a measure that some say, if it survives to the final version of the farm bill, could take away states’ rights to label GMOs. The jury’s still out on whether or not the King Amendment could be interpreted that broadly. But when it comes to Monsanto and its willingness to bend the law for its own purposes, the verdict is guilty. OCA is hosting a Twitter Rally tonight to let Congress know that we expect them to uphold states’ rights to label GMOs! Join us on twitter tonight, June 6 at 5 p.m. PST. It’s easy. Just login to your twitter account and type #LabelGMOs into your twitter search browser. From there you can follow the rally conversation and join in by adding #LabelGMOs to the end of your tweet. If you’ve signed our petition, thank you! Could you forward it to five friends today? ACTION ALERT Never Say Never: Monsanto’s GMO Wheat Goes Rogue TAKE ACTION: Tell the USDA: No More Field Trials of Unapproved GMO Crops! For years, Monsanto has said “Don’t worry” about their open-air field tests of unapproved genetically engineered (GE) crops. PR flacks and Monsanto-funded scientists all but guaranteed us that the biotech giant’s frankenseeds wouldn’t escape. But they did escape. And now the company’s Roundup-resistant wheat – never approved for planting in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world – has turned up on an Oregon farm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s predictable response? “Don’t worry.” The (illegal, untested) GE wheat is “safe to eat.” You gotta ask: If GMO wheat is supposedly safe to eat, what are the so-called "safe" residue levels of Monsanto's toxic pesticide, Roundup, that the EPA will allow on this wheat, if it were to be approved to market? And why is it banned in every single country in the world? Hoping to downplay the discovery that its GE wheat is growing in places it shouldn’t, Monsanto initially told reporters that the company had ended field tests of the unapproved crop in 2005. Not so, said Bloomberg, which reported that Monsanto continues to conduct open-air field tests of GM wheat in North Dakota and Hawaii. That’s on top of the hundreds of tests conducted before 2005, in 16 states, including Oregon. And the hundreds of tests still being conducted on other crops, in other states. The discovery of Roundup-resistant wheat in Oregon is troubling. But what’s a whole lot more troubling is that it may just be the tip of the iceberg. That’s why we’re calling on consumers to tell the USDA: No more open-air field testing of unapproved GMO crops! Read the press release TAKE ACTION: Tell the USDA: No More Field Trials of Unapproved GMO Crops!

Avaaz- vote on corporate tax loopholes

In days, world leaders will decide whether to plug a gigantic $1 trillion per year corporate tax loophole - and get enough money to end poverty, put every child in school and double green investment! Our messages to Harper last week caused a stir and a deal is close, but President Obama and Harper are being lobbied hard and are still on the fence - let's press them to stand up to corruption and end the massive yearly heist: Sign the petition In days, governments will discuss whether to plug a gigantic $1 trillion per year corporate tax loophole - enough money to end poverty, put every child in school, and double green investment! The Canadian Foreign Ministry told us they were blown away by the 20,000 messages we sent them last week, but Canada and the US are still on the fence. We need a final push now to get their support for a deal. $1 trillion is more than every country combined spends on their military. It's bigger than the budgets of 176 nations. It's $1000 each for every family on the planet. And believe it or not, it's the amount that our largest corporations and wealthiest individuals evade each year in taxes. This should be a no-brainer. To massively boost our public finances in a time of painful cuts and debt, all we need to do is ensure that everyone pays the taxes they're supposed to. But big corporations are fiercely lobbying to protect their dodgy practices. A massive global campaign will help identify and hold accountable the two leaders - Harper and Obama, who still could side with corruption over this gigantic step forward for the planet. Let's get to one million voices and then Avaaz will deliver our call to leaders and the media in the middle of the negotiations: http://www.avaaz.org/en/g8_tax_havens_p/?bOUfzbb&v=25600 Apple, one of the world's wealthiest companies, paid basically $0 in tax on $78 billion they made in recent years by setting up shell corporations in low-tax countries and posting profits abroad. This kind of global tax evasion gives multinational firms a huge advantage over smaller domestic companies. It's as bad for a healthy market economy as it is for democracy and economic stability. But in days, governments will consider a plan that would make it harder for companies and individuals to evade taxes by hiding their money offshore and in tax shelters. The plan would require countries to share information to expose where the money is hidden and require "fake" companies to reveal who's really behind them. If talks go well this week, the G8 could agree to the whole thing later this month. In hard times, when governments everywhere are cutting spending on vital social priorities, it's particularly galling that the wealthiest get a free pass from paying their fair share. (Even more so when the hard times were caused by massive government handouts to bailout banks owned by the same people). Governments are finally getting serious about plugging these holes in our finances, but the US and Canada could fall sway to powerful business lobbies. A large public petition that's well covered by the media will help highlight which countries are blocking the agreement, and make this a political issue for Obama and Harper to deal with. A powerful call from the world's people to choose to give a massive boost to our planet instead of preserving corrupt loopholes will also help these leaders to find their consciences and good sense. We can't let the lobbyists win this one in the shadows, let's bring the spotlight of public attention to this massive decision for our planet: http://www.avaaz.org/en/g8_tax_havens_p/?bOUfzbb&v=25600 Every week, our community strives in and often wins fights for human rights, democracy, conservation and more. But some decisions have the power to affect thousands of causes at once, often preventing many problems from ever happening. $1 trillion per year in public funding would make a massive difference in the lives of children who could go to school, lives that could be saved, peace that could be built, habitats that could be protected, and so much more. For the sake of all these future struggles that we might not need to fight, let's win this one. With hope, Alex, Jeremy, Christoph, Marie, Ian, David, Paul, Ricken and the whole Avaaz team PS - Many Avaaz campaigns are started by members of our community! Start yours now and win on any issue - local, national or global: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bgMYedb&v=25325 MORE INFORMATION: Europe's push against tax fraud gains momentum (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22627330 Canada years behind allies in global tax evasion (CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/05/10/tax-data-leak-canada-.html The missing $20 trillion (Economist) http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21571873-how-stop-companies-and-people-dodging-tax-delaware-well-grand-cayman-missing-20 The Corrosive Effect of Apple’s Tax Avoidance (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/business/making-companies-pay-taxes-the-mccain-way.html Factbox: Apple, Amazon, Google and tax avoidance schemes (Reuters) http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/05/22/eu-tax-avoidance-idINDEE94L07Z20130522 Tax havens are entrenching poverty in developing countries (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/14/tax-havens-entrenching-poverty-developing-countries Military spending by country (Economist) http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2013/04/daily-chart-9

American Botanical Council photo contest

Are you interested in seeing one of your photographs in our beloved journal HerbalGram? Post your favorite plant photos to our Facebook page or our Facebook group and we will select the best to appear on the Photo Finish page of the next issue! The winner also will receive a FREE Professional level ABC membership (valued at $150). Please indicate the plant's species name and make sure you share photos of plants that have traditional and/or modern medicinal uses (so, in other words, not just a pretty flower). You can upload a lower-resolution to Facebook, but also have a high-res version on hand (at least 2500x3500 pixels at 300DPI/PPI — no iPhone photos, please). Submissions must be received by June 24, 2013 at midnight, CDT. If you are not on Facebook, you can email your photo submission to herbalgram@herbalgram.org with the subject line "HerbalGram Photo Contest." Let the contest begin! Cordially, The American Botanical Council

human evolution and the hand

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Colin McGinn is leaving Miami “amid allegations that he sent improper messages to a graduate student.” Advocates of Mr. McGinn, however, say that the correspondence may have been misinterpreted when taken out of context. Edward Erwin, a supporter of Mr. McGinn who is a professor of philosophy at the University of Miami, said Mr. McGinn was working on a book about human evolution and the hand. Part of the reason Mr. McGinn was sending messages that could be interpreted as sexually explicit, Mr. Erwin said, was probably because of communication about that research. http://www.mit.edu/~shaslang/GE/McGinnCHE.pdf

CSPI Letter to FDA Requests Ban of Ginkgo in Food and Dietary Supplements

(AUSTIN, Texas, June 4, 2013) Yesterday the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) sent a letter to the US Food and Drug Administration¹ (FDA) and issued a press release,² both “urging the FDA to take actions to protect consumers from” Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts, which, CSPI purported “[cause] cancer in animals and presumably in people.”

These developments come after the publication of a March 2013 National Toxicology Program (NTP) report³ linking the two-year force-feeding of an atypical Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) to certain cancers in laboratory mice and rats. One month after the report, CSPI downgraded the herb’s Chemical Cuisine safety rating to “avoid” from its previous rating of “safe.”

CSPI asked the FDA to give companies a “reasonable time” to recall from the marketplace any Ginkgo biloba-containing products, such as dietary supplements, after which point the group suggested FDA should seize any products remaining on the shelves.

Despite CSPI’s sense of urgency on this issue, the American Botanical Council (ABC) has made clear in a recent member advisory, news release, and an article⁴ in the May issue of HerbalEGram that animal toxicology studies have questionable relevance to humans. As the NTP report notes in the foreword, “Extrapolation of these results to other species, including characterization of hazards and risks to humans, requires analyses beyond the intent of these reports.” [Emphasis added]

ABC has identified three main areas of concern, including, but not limited to the following:

(1) the application of toxicology and carcinogenicity studies in rodent models has questionable and debated relevance to actual human use; (2) the extract used in the studies does not appear to conform to the GBEs listed in internationally recognized pharmacopoeias or other compendia*; and (3) such GBEs have been the subject of numerous preclinical studies and dozens of human clinical trials and have a reasonably long history of safe use and known benefits.

These points were first mentioned in ABC comments⁵ filed with the FDA in early 2012, when a draft version of the report was open to public comment.

Although CSPI has begun to make its case to the FDA, the final decision rests with the Administration. As reported in an article from The New York Daily News, FDA Spokesperson Tamara N. Ward hinted that more evidence might be needed for the Agency to take any drastic action.

“While FDA is concerned about the findings of the studies, and will consider the implications it may have for the safety of dietary supplements containing gingko biloba [sic], it is not scientifically valid to conclude with certainty that dietary supplement products containing gingko biloba are unsafe based solely on data from the new NTP study,” Ward was quoted as saying in the Daily News article. [Emphasis added] “In the study, rats and mice were fed amounts of gingko biloba extracts (by body weight) that may be considerably greater from those which a consumer would normally ingest from a dietary supplement product containing gingko biloba. In addition, there may be differences in the extract used in these studies in contrast to what is available on the market for gingko biloba dietary supplements.”

More information about the March 2013 NTP report’s findings is available online in the May HerbalEGram article.

* The CSPI letter takes issue with ABC’s comments to the NTP on this point.
References

1. Center for Science in the Public Interest letter to US Food and Drug Administration. June 3, 2013. Available at: http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/ginkgo-fda-letter-6-3-2013.pdf.
   
2. FDA urged to prohibit sale of ginkgo in wake of cancer study. [press release] Washington, D.C.: Center for Science in the Public Interest; June 3, 2013. Available at: www.cspinet.org/new/201306031.html.
   
3. Chan PC, Rider CV, Nyska A et al. NTP Technical Report on the Toxicology and Carcinogenesis of Ginkgo biloba Extract in F334/N Rats and B6C3F1/N Mice (Gavage Studies). National Toxicology Program website. Available at: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/LT_rpts/TR578_508.pdf.
   
4. Smith T. Experts question relevance of ginkgo toxicology report. HerbalEGram. May 2013. Available at: http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume10/05May/NTPginkgoreport.html?t=1367619440.
   
5. Blumenthal M, Gurley BJ, Kingston R, Low Dog T, MacKay D. American Botanical Council revised public comment on NTP draft toxicology report on Ginkgo biloba extract. National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/NTP/About_NTP/TRPanel/2012/February/PublicComm/Blumenthal20120125.pdf.

Conference innovative nutritional and botanical treatments for inflammatory and hormonal disorders

AARM's 11th Annual Restorative Medicine Conference will be in Mission Bay San Diego October 3-6, 2013. This year we will explore innovative nutritional and botanical treatments for inflammatory and hormonal disorders. We will once again have ABC's own Mark Blumenthal open the conference with his famously humorous satire on health-related issues, plus an update on news related to botanical and supplements industry.
We have managed to assemble a world-renowned group of speakers this year including hormone therapy experts Jonathan Wright, MD, David Brownstein, MD, Neil Rouzier, MD, and Jorge Flechas, MD. Tieraona Low Dog, MD will present nearly a full conference day on inflammatory states and treatments. We have naturopathic and herbal experts Joe Pizzorno, ND, Jill Stansbury, ND, Eugene Zamperion, ND, David Winston, and many others. And as always, there will be a conference track on Thursday to get Certified in Restorative Medicine by Michael Friedman ND, Denis Wilson MD, and others. With an unparalleled group of speakers in one conference, this promises to be another highly rated conference.
While the conference will be captivating, don’t forget that the conference is located at the beautiful Hyatt Mission Bay Resort, a spectacularly beautiful resort conveniently located near dozens of attractions and activities. We have even built some exploration time into this year’s schedule!
Approved for a maximum of 22.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

Several REGISTRATION options available.  EARLY BIRD registration now open for best prices!

Registration fee includes breakfast, snacks, and lunch on full days. Healthy organic food will be served, with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available.  Participate in social and networking opportunities including a welcome reception on Friday evening, social gathering Saturday evening, and discussion topic tables at lunches. Weekend afternoons are free time to enjoy sunny San Diego. Fun group activities will be planned for sailing, winery tours, and sight-seeing activities. Bring the family and come early or stay after to enjoy beautiful San Diego at great hotel rate.

Healing people Healing horses

Healing People Changing Your Energy Field Each body system, including the whole body, has a very unique field with different frequencies, wavelengths and colours, resulting in a "pattern" known as the aura. Each field is so unique that it can be considered a "fingerprint", in that no two energy fields look alike. Not only is each body system and organ surrounded by an energy field, but the particles and photons of which those parts are composed each vibrate at their own specific frequency. In fact, this is what creates all matter: the vibration and frequency of billions of energy fields. The frequency of vibration determines the identity of the substance and its shape, form, mass and colour. That's right - all matter, whether it is a physical body, a tree, a rock, a tomato, a table or a telephone is nothing more than a group of vibrating particles held together by light and intention. Therefore, setting any kind of intention or new belief system initiates change by feeding your energy field with new information which then alters the frequencies of the vibration. This is also how the energy field shifts when healers use heart-based or energy work practices. Then so long as you change your belief systems the healing is permanent. If you are suffering with a challenging health problem learn The Marijke Method - book or video. The Marijke Method "The Marijke Method" Consultations & Services SEMINAR & WORKSHOP Riva's Ranch - Armstrong, B.C. Friday, June 21st, 2013 Healing Animals with Nutrition & Natural Medicine Riva's Remedies Herbs Join Marijke for an informative day of healing animals (horses, dogs and cats) with therapeutic nutrition and natural medicine including diet, nutrition, herbs, homeopathic remedies and flower essences. Learn more... Saturday, June 22nd, 2013 ANIMAL COMMUNICATION Kava 2011 Marijke & AmosSophie facing left An absolute must for all animal lovers and those who want to experience their healing journey with the help and love of their animal friends. This is accomplished through intuitive animal communications and journeying through the world of the spirit... Learn more... Registration Form HORSE HEALTH PRACTITIONERS TWO DAY SEMINAR & WORKSHOP September 06 and 07, 2013 - Red Deer, Alberta Day 1: An informative seminar focusing on healing horses with diet, therapeutic nutrition, herbs, homeopathy and specialized nutrients. Learn to prevent and treat allergies, immune disorders, skin problems, cribbing, ulcers, parasites, metabolic syndrome, laminitis and more... Power point presentations, case studies, interactive discussions and success cases. Day 2: A day of practical instruction learning how to apply "The Marijke Method" - a four step method of kinesiology to determine the underlying cause(s) of the health problem(s) by assessing organ health, body system function and individual nutrition and remedy requirements to correct and restore health and wellness. Find Out More... Registration Form http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1103595147369-310/Healing+Animals+with+Nutrition+&+Natural+Medicine.pdf

Avaaz One tycoon, a whale massacre and dog food

Dear friends, One Icelandic man is about to start a hunt to harpoon fin whales, then chop them into pieces and ship their meat to Japan for dog food! The best way to stop this massacre is to shame the Dutch Prime Minister, who allows the traffic of whale meat through Rotterdam, to refuse this bloody cargo -- if the whalers can’t sell the meat, we can stop the hunt before it starts. They set to sea in days -- sign now and tell everyone: Click here to sign the petition Fin whales are magical giants of the sea. But in days, over 180 of these endangered species are set to be slaughtered by one tycoon and his buddies whose summer hobby is to harpoon them, chop them up and ship their meat through the Netherlands to Japan for dog food! There is one way to stop the hunt before it starts -- you can’t dock a boat full of illegal whale carcasses just anywhere. German and Finnish authorities have shunned the shameful trade. Now, the Dutch are the linchpin. They care deeply about their reputation as environmental leaders, and are hoping this bloody trade won’t get any global attention. But if we expose it now and demand the Dutch authorities refuse the transfer of whale meat in their port, we can stop the whale massacre! We have to act fast -- the whaling ships are due to start the hunt in days. Sign now and tell everyone to join -- let's build a one million strong campaign to Prime Minister Mark Rutte now warning him that we will create a media storm with giant whales on his doorstep unless he stops the transfer in Dutch docks: http://www.avaaz.org/en/days_to_stop_the_whale_slaughter_global/?bOUfzbb&v=25324 These majestic creatures are the second largest animal on earth, they can grow to be as long as three buses and move through water like lightning. Their incredible combination of sleek, elegant power and speed earned them the nickname "greyhound of the sea". Tragically, whalers like Kristjan Loftsson have slaughtered hundreds of thousands and over 70% of the global population was wiped out. But since the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the International Whaling Commission bans were instated, their population has significantly increased. We can help them back from the brink if we stop them from being butchered for dog food! Getting the Dutch to refuse Loftsson's bloody cargo in Rotterdam is the best way to stop the hunt before it starts as it will set a precedent for other European ports. So far the Dutch have allowed him to get away with this mass murder. Let's expose them now and put an end to this slaughter. Sign the petition and tell everyone -- let’s stop the trade before the first harpoon is fired: http://www.avaaz.org/en/days_to_stop_the_whale_slaughter_global/?bOUfzbb&v=25324 Avaaz members have achieved tremendous things for biodiversity, from opposing the ivory trade to winning a ban on pesticides that were killing record numbers of bees. In 2010, Avaaz members were central to keeping the International Moratorium on Commercial Whaling intact -- now let’s stop this horrific hunt and keep marching toward a more humane world. With hope, Pascal, Lisa, Oliver, Alice, Ricken, Allison, David, Alaphia and the whole Avaaz team PS - Many Avaaz campaigns are started by members of our community! Start yours now and win on any issue - local, national or global: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bgMYedb&v=25181 MORE INFORMATION Iceland is killing fin whales for Japanese pet treats (EIE) http://www.eia-international.org/iceland-is-killing-fin-whales-for-japanese-pet-treats Iceland to resume disputed fin whale hunt in June (Yahoo News) http://uk.news.yahoo.com/iceland-resume-disputed-fin-whale-hunt-june-152645167.html#mbpipwP For Iceland’s whale king it’s “just another fish” (AFP) http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h0e9RgyRi4AF-PqyF7nLp4ufPW1w Ceaseless Pressure on Whales (NYT) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/11/opinion/ceaseless-pressure-on-whales.html?emc=eta1&_r=1& Iceland’s creation of an endangered species trade (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society) http://www.wdcs-de.org/docs/WDCS_EIA_Iceland_Whaling_report.pdf

Inspire Health Research Updates for June 2013

Research Updates for June 2013 Dear Reader, In this issue: Mora and Ciocon reported about a case where auricular acupuncture improved the symptoms and quality of life of a 90 year old woman suffering from leg swelling that was unresponsive to conventional therapy. Showalter and associates reported that breast cancer survivors should avoid sauna use in order to prevent arm swelling (lymphedema). Buttros and colleagues found that postmenopausal breast cancer survivors were at higher risk for developing metabolic syndrome than women without breast cancer. Wurtzen and colleagues reported that a mindfulness-based stress reduction program helped with depression and anxiety in breast cancer patients. Nakau et al. concluded that stress-reducing activities performed in urban green spaces are helpful for the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of cancer patients. Zhai and colleagues found that a traditional herbal medicine regimen reduced the risk of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after surgery. Braun and associates found that a naturopathic antioxidant treatment inhibited tumour response in men with prostate cancer who were undergoing radiation therapy. Campbell et al. found that increased physical activity before and after colorectal cancer diagnosis was associated with a decreased risk of mortality. In our study of the month, Cantarero-Villanueva and colleagues reported that a deep water exercise program effectively improved cancer-related fatigue and strength in a group of breast cancer survivors. Thanks, Jan. Click here to read June's Research Updates http://www.inspirehealth.ca/pdfs/research-updates/eResearchUpdates_June2013.pdf

Conferences on herbal medicine

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Annual Conference. July 10-13, 2013. Keystone, CO. Program topics for this conference will include vitalism, the connection between blood glucose and cancer, botanical medicine, and more. Early registration ends May 31, 2013. More information. http://www.naturopathic.org/content.asp?pl=10&sl=629&contentid=629 Colorado Integrative Medicine Conference Colorado Integrative Medicine Conference. July 12-14, 2013. Estes Park, CO. This conference will focus on improving patient care with up-to-date research for mind-body medicine and lifestyle management. More information. http://www.altermedresearch.org/Conferences.html Herb Society of America Annual Conference. June 20-22, 2013. St. Louis, MO. This conference will allow attendees to catch up with old friends and meet new ones while enjoying a diverse range of programs focused on herb use, botany, horticulture, and more. More information. http://www.herbsociety.org/events/conference-13.html Economic Botany Economic Botany 2013. June 28 - July 2, 2013. Plymouth, England. The theme of this symposium will be "What is Our Message — and Are We Getting It Across?" and its program will include field trips, symposia, and workshops centered around economic botany. Early registration ends May 31, 2013. More information. http://cms.gogrid.econbot.org/index.php?module=content&type=user&func=view&pid=45 New England Women's Herbal Conference. Aug. 23-25, 2013. Newfound Lake, NH. This conference brings together leading female herbalists, healers, and plant enthusiasts from throughout the country to share their herbal wisdom and knowledge of natural healing. Early registration ends May 30, 2013. More information. http://www.womensherbalconference.com/

grants in medicine and psychology

Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science Posted: 28 May 2013 08:58 AM PDT Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science The Vilcek Foundation will award three prizes of $35,000 each to young foreign-born biomedical scientists who demonstrate outstanding early achievement. Eligible work may be in basic, applied, and/or translational biomedical science. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science, applicants must meet all of the criteria listed below: 1. Applicant must have been born outside the United States. 2. Applicant must not be more than 38 years old as of January 1, 2014. 3. Applicant must be a naturalized citizen or permanent resident (green card holder) of the United States. 4. Applicant must have earned a doctoral degree (MD, PhD, or equivalent). 5. Applicant must intend to pursue a professional career in the United States. 6. Applicant must hold a full-time position in an academic institution or other organization. Eligible positions include the following: Assistant or Associate Professor, Research Scientist, or equivalent. The applicant must be directly responsible for the design and execution of the work submitted for consideration. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows working under the supervision of a mentor are not eligible. 7. Applicant must not be a past winner or finalist of the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise. Application Requirements An online application must be submitted by 11:59pm EDT, August 14, 2013. Please be advised that you will be required to: 1. Provide personal information 2. Upload a PDF of your résumé 3. Upload a PDF with documentation of your immigration status 4. Upload PDF or Word files of your publications 5. Complete three essay questions 6. Request two letters of recommendation through the online application system Call for Nominations: 2014 Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine Posted: 28 May 2013 08:45 AM PDT Call for Nominations: 2014 Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine For Notable Achievements for Innovation, Creativity and Potential for Clinical Application The Harrington Prize, presented by the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, honors a physician-scientist who has moved science forward with achievements notable for innovation, creativity, and potential for clinical application. Prize: $20,000 unrestricted honorarium Eligibility: Must hold an M.D. or equivalent degree Need not be an ASCI member No age or citizenship criterion. International physician-scientists are eligible Self-nomination is not permitted Must be available to deliver a lecture at the 2014 ASCI/AAP Joint Meeting on Saturday, April 26 Must submit a review article for April 2014 publication in the JCI Judging Criteria: Quality of Science Innovation Potential for Clinical Impact Nomination Guidelines: Completed nomination form, including a 250 – 500 word description of achievement notable for innovation, creativity and clinical application Investigator’s NIH/similar-format biosketch Brief bibliography of up to 10 best references Letter from the nominee confirming availability to lecture at 2014 joint meeting One letter of support from the Dean, Provost, or President of the investigator’s institution Deadline: June 28, 2013. Incomplete nominations will not be presented to the nomination committee. For more information about Harrington Prize nominations, ASCI, and the Harrington Discovery Institute, please visit www.HarringtonDiscovery.org or contact Natalie Haynes, Harrington Discovery Institute Program Manager, at 216-368-1038 or Natalie.Haynes@UHhospitals.org. Frances M. Culbertson Travel Grant Posted: 28 May 2013 09:47 AM PDT Frances M. Culbertson Travel Grant This grant supports women from developing countries who are in the early stages of their careers by providing travel funds to attend international regional conferences in psychology. Deadline: February 15, 2014 Sponsor: American Psychological Foundation The grant provides reimbursement for registration and travel expenses up to U.S. $1,500. Recipients of the grant also receive a two-year affiliate membership in the American Psychological Association. Eligibility Woman from a developing country, as defined by The World Bank; Five to ten years postdoctoral degree; Preference for attendance at the following conferences: International Council of Psychologists (ICP). International Congress of Applied Psychology (sponsored by the International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP)). International Congress of Psychology (sponsored by the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS)). Participation in the conference program is not required. How to Apply Submit a completed application online with the APF Web Form. Call for Nominations: Theodore Blau Early Career Award for Outstanding Contribution to Professional Clinical Psychology Posted: 28 May 2013 09:35 AM PDT Call for Nominations: Theodore Blau Early Career Award for Outstanding Contribution to Professional Clinical Psychology This award honors a clinical psychologist for accomplishments and promise in clinical psychology. Deadline: November 1, 2013 Sponsors: Society of Clinical Psychology; American Psychological Foundation Accomplishments may include: Promoting the practice of clinical psychology through professional service. Innovation in service delivery. Novel application of applied research methodologies to professional practice. Positive impact on health delivery systems. Development of creative educational programs for practice. Other novel or creative activities advancing the service of the profession. Funding is available up to $4,000 and is sponsored by the American Psychological Foundation (APF). Nominations are now being accepted. The Society and the American Psychological Foundation encourage applications from: Nominees should be no more than 7-years post doctoral degree. Individuals who represent diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability and sexual orientation. Candidates can be simultaneously considered for multiple awards, although a psychologist may receive only one Division 12 award in any given year. No voting members of the Division 12 Board of Directors will be eligible to receive awards from the Division while serving their term. Self-nomination is permitted. Nomination Requirements A CV. At least one letter of endorsement. Self-nominations are permitted and should include at least one external endorsement. Submission Process Please submit nomination materials electronically to Awards Committee Chair. Inquiries should be directed to the Division 12 Central Office at (303) 652-3126 or via email. Pearson Early Career Grant Posted: 28 May 2013 09:26 AM PDT Pearson Early Career Grant The Pearson Early Career Grant encourages early career clinicians to work in an area of critical societal need. Pearson partnered with APF to ensure psychology addresses critical needs in society. One $12,000 grant is available. Deadline: December 31, 2013 Sponsor: American Psychological Foundation; Pearson The program's goals are to support psychology's efforts to improve areas of critical need in society, including but not limited to innovative scientifically based clinical work with serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, incarcerated or homeless individuals, children with serious emotional disturbance (SED) and adults with serious mental illness (SMI); and to encourage early career psychologists to devote their careers to under-served populations. Applicants should be: Psychologists with an EdD, PsyD or PhD from an accredited university. No more than seven years postdoctoral. Submission Process Application materials must be submitted online. Please contact Parie Kadir, program officer, for more information.

Herbal Quality Consortium Publishes Major Article on Black Cohosh Adulteration

Herbal Quality Consortium Publishes Major Article on Black Cohosh Adulteration (AUSTIN, Texas, May 28, 2013) Interest in the North American herb black cohosh (Actaea racemosa; synonym, Cimicifuga racemosa) has increased immensely during the past 60 years, and with it, incidences of accidental and economically motivated adulteration with lower-cost Chinese species whose scientific names may appear similar. “Exploring the Peripatetic Maze of Black Cohosh Adulteration,” a new report by noted author and photographer Steven Foster, has been published in the latest issue of HerbalGram, the peer-reviewed journal of the nonprofit American Botanical Council (ABC).1 The article is the latest in a series from the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program. The report thoroughly examines the many facets of the real concern of black cohosh adulteration, including confusing nomenclature, market economics, history of alleged liver toxicity possibly associated with the adulterants, and analytical tests available to ensure correct identity of black cohosh. Black cohosh frequently is used to treat symptoms of menopause, in addition to other conditions related to female reproductive health that have been supported to various extents by published clinical trials. In the United States, it is unlawful for any herb other than Actaea racemosa to be sold as black cohosh. The article states, “Any designation of a botanical material or finished product in the US by the common name of ‘black cohosh’ on product labels (and presumably in the supply chain) is required to be Actaea racemosa and no other species.” To apply the name “black cohosh” to any other species violates federal law, resulting in misbranding of the finished product offered to consumers. Such a product is considered adulterated under the law. “The sheer volume of offerings, prices ranges, varied specifications, and differing species listed as ‘black cohosh extract’ from Chinese sources requires that the daunted buyer [in the herb industry] attempting to source black cohosh work closely with a qualified analytical lab to authenticate black cohosh extracts before securing any supply source,” the report says. In 2002, reports of alleged liver toxicity related to black cohosh began to appear. According to the report, adulteration of black cohosh with other plant species is likely to blame, at least in part, for those incidents, as later analyses found the association of true black cohosh with liver disease to have a weak or uncertain causal link or no causal link at all. The report states that, “Mislabeling or confusion may be due to simple language and translation variations, or, in some cases, the actual intent to sell a lower-cost material that is not an acceptable substitute for authentic North American black cohosh. However, these are possibly moot points as all of the identification and authentication scientific tools necessary to distinguish authentic black cohosh from any other plant materials of any origin are readily available.” A number of laboratory authentication methods are outlined by Foster, including various types of chemical testing and the more recently developed DNA fingerprinting. The report also cites the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia’s (AHP) 2002 black cohosh rhizome monograph, a comprehensive resource on known adulterants that includes botanical, microscopic, and chemical analyses of black cohosh.2 AHP executive director Roy Upton, editor of the AHP Black Cohosh Rhizome monograph stated, "This issue of black cohosh adulteration is not new. The black cohosh monographs of AHP and the U.S. Pharmacopeia, as well as a number of analytical papers published the past few years, provide the primary tools needed by industry to develop appropriate specifications and implement the necessary quality control processes to keep adulterated materials from entering into the consumer product market. The key is to get this information disseminated to management, quality control, analytical, and purchasing personnel in the herb and dietary supplement industry. This is the goal of the Botanical Adulterants Program." “From this point on, there is literally no excuse for any manufacturer or reseller of herbal dietary supplements to purchase raw material or extracts labeled as being ‘black cohosh’ without conducting appropriate analytical procedures to verify and authenticate the herb’s proper identity,” said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of ABC, and editor-in-chief of HerbalGram. “In our view, anyone offering for sale the Chinese species of Actaea (primarily A. cimicifuga, A. dahurica, A. heracleifolia, and A. simplex) as ‘black cohosh’ is most likely knowingly selling adulterated material. This is likely fraud, and such sellers of these adulterants should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “The first priority in quality control of botanicals is ensuring proper identity,” Blumenthal continued. “There are many ethical and responsible manufacturers of black cohosh dietary supplements that produce authentic products. It is highly unfortunate that this traditional North American herb has been adulterated by suppliers of inauthentic raw materials.” Blumenthal added that, “The purpose and intention of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program is to educate the botanical dietary supplement industry and its related stakeholders regarding the presence of confirmed botanical adulterants within the global supply chain. This helps manufacturers ensure that they detect adulterated material so that their products contain properly identified, authenticated herbal raw materials and extracts. Ultimately, this Program’s vision is that consumers will have access to more reliable dietary supplements and related herbal products.” “It is past time for all members of the herb and dietary supplement industry in the United States, and the botanical products industry around the world, to institute and adhere to appropriate quality control measures related to properly identifying and authenticating black cohosh products, as well as all herbal products,” wrote Blumenthal in his Dear Reader column in the same issue of HerbalGram.3 This comprehensive black cohosh adulteration report contains several tables and 91 references, is the fifth article in the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program series, and is the fourth that has been written by Foster. Foster’s previous articles in the series include the history of adulteration of herbs, spices, and botanical drugs during the past 2,000 years; the adulteration of skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) with germander (Teucrium spp.); and the adulteration of commercial bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) extracts. The series also includes a review article by John H. Cardellina II, PhD, of analytical studies on so-called “grapefruit seed extract,” which has been shown to be adulterated with synthetic industrial disinfectants. References 1. Foster S. Exploring the peripatetic maze of black cohosh adulteration. HerbalGram. 2013;98:32-51. Available at: http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue98/hg98feat-blackcohosh.html. 2. Upton R (ed). Black Cohosh Rhizome, Actaea racemosa L., syn. Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt.: Standards of Analysis, Quality Control, and Therapeutics. Santa Cruz, CA: American Herbal Pharmacopoeia; 2002. 3. Blumenthal M. Adulteration of black cohosh [Dear Reader column]. HerbalGram. 2013;98:6. Available at: http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue98/hg98dearreader.html. About the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program is a consortium of independent nonprofit organizations whose mission relates to education, scientific research, and quality of botanical dietary ingredients and related plant-derived materials. The consortium is underwritten or endorsed by more than 100 natural product industry companies, independent analytical laboratories, contract research organizations, nonprofit and professional organizations, trade associations, accredited institutions of education in natural medicine, law firms, and media companies — which are involved in the production, supply, manufacture, distribution, marketing, analysis, research, and/or education of herbal dietary ingredients and supplements, in the United States and internationally. Companies, organizations, foundations, and/or individuals interested in supporting this program are invited to contact Ms. Denise Meikel, ABC development director, at (512) 926-4900, ext. 120, or by email.

Riva recommends for horse health

Lactating Mares Nutrition Tip Some mares don't produce enough milk to nourish and sustain the foal. Here is what Riva's recommends: Alfalfa pellets - 2 cups daily (provides protein and calcium) Whole oats - 1 cup daily (nutrition and encourages milk production) Riva's Five Herb Digest - 1/4 cup daily Contains caraway, catnip and comfrey leaves as well as fennel and fenugreek - both of which effectively increase milk production. Five Herb Digest will also calm a nervous mom, improve digestion and sooth the intestines. No need to rush weaning the foal - they need their Moms for good nutrition and emotional bonding. No wonder the feral mare feeds her youngster for up to 2 years! SEMINAR & WORKSHOP Riva's Ranch - Armstrong, B.C. Friday, June 21st, 2013 Healing Animals with Nutrition & Natural Medicine Riva's Remedies Herbs Join Marijke for an informative day of healing animals (horses, dogs and cats) with therapeutic nutrition and natural medicine including diet, nutrition, herbs, homeopathic remedies and flower essences. Learn more... Saturday, June 22nd, 2013 ANIMAL COMMUNICATION Kava 2011 Marijke & AmosSophie facing left An absolute must for all animal lovers and those who want to experience their healing journey with the help and love of their animal friends. This is accomplished through intuitive animal communications and journeying through the world of the spirit... Learn more... Registration Form HORSE HEALTH PRACTITIONERS TWO DAY SEMINAR & WORKSHOP September 06 and 07, 2013 - Red Deer, Alberta Day 1: An informative seminar focusing on healing horses with diet, therapeutic nutrition, herbs, homeopathy and specialized nutrients. Learn to prevent and treat allergies, immune disorders, skin problems, cribbing, ulcers, parasites, metabolic syndrome, laminitis and more... Power point presentations, case studies, interactive discussions and success cases. Day 2: A day of practical instruction learning how to apply "The Marijke Method" - a four step method of kinesiology to determine the underlying cause(s) of the health problem(s) by assessing organ health, body system function and individual nutrition and remedy requirements to correct and restore health and wellness. Find Out More... Registration Form In good health, Marijke & Sapphire Marijke & Sapphire. Marijke van de Water, B.Sc., DHMS * Equine Health & Nutrition Specialist * Homeopathic Practitioner * Medical Intuitive & Healer * Teacher & Author