Magnetic resonance imaging

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Magnetic resonance imaging
ICD-9-CM 88.91
MeSH D008279
MedlinePlus 003335

A strong magnetic field (B0) first aligns the spins of each atom of the human body (hydrogen is used in clinical MRI) precessing in a center frequency that is dependent of the strength of the magnetic field. As the magnetic field is directed down the center of the MRI machine, the hydrogen protons align either towards the patient's head or feet, with approximately 50% going either way, effectively cancelling each other out. A very small number of protons are unmatched and aren't canceled out, about 1 to 2 in a million. Next, a radio frequency (RF) pulse (B1) which is specific to hydrogen, is applied by the MRI machine toward the part of the body being examined. This pulse causes the unmatched protons to spin in a different direction at a specific frequency (the Larmour frequency). At the same time, a series of gradient magnets are cycled on and off, creating a field gradient, which changes the main magnetic field at a specific level, allowing cross-sectional images to be acquired. When the RF pulse ceases, the hydrogen ions return to their native state and release the energy absorbed from the pulses. This low energy (in the pW range) is detected by the receiver coils in the MRI and sent to a computer, where an Inverse Fourier transformation (IFT) converts the signal from the protons as mathematical (k-space (magnetic resonance imaging)) data into a picture that can be interpreted by the clinician. The technique is widely used in hospitals for medical diagnosis, staging of disease and follow-up without exposure of the body to ionizing radiation.

Medical uses

MRI is in general a safe technique but the number of incidents causing patient harm has risen.[4] Contraindications to MRI include most cochlear implants and cardiac pacemakers, shrapnel and metallic foreign bodies in the eyes. The safety of MRI during the first trimester of pregnancy is uncertain, but it may be preferable to other options.[5] The sustained increase in demand for MRI within the healthcare industry has led to concerns about cost effectiveness and overdiagnosis.[6][7]

MRI image of white matter tracts.

MRI is the investigative tool of choice for neurological cancers, as it has better resolution than CT and offers better visualization of the posterior fossa. The contrast provided between grey and white matter makes it the best choice for many conditions of the central nervous system, including demyelinating diseases, dementia, cerebrovascular disease, infectious diseases and epilepsy.[8] Since many images are taken milliseconds apart, it shows how the brain responds to different stimuli; researchers can then study both the functional and structural brain abnormalities in psychological disorders.[9] MRI is also used in MRI-guided stereotactic surgery and radiosurgery for treatment of intracranial tumors, arteriovenous malformations and other surgically treatable conditions using a device known as the N-localizer.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

MR angiogram in congenital heart disease

Applications in the musculoskeletal system includes spinal imaging, assessment of joint disease and soft tissue tumors.[18]

Liver and gastrointestinal MRI

Functional MRI

MR-Safe sign
MR-Conditional sign
MR-Unsafe sign

  • MR-Unsafe — Objects that are significantly ferromagnetic and pose a clear and direct threat to persons and equipment within the magnet room.

The MRI environment may cause harm in patients with MR-Unsafe devices such as cochlear implants and most permanent pacemakers. Several deaths have been reported in patients with pacemakers who have undergone MRI scanning without appropriate precautions.[27] Many implants can be safely scanned if the appropriate conditions are adhered to and these are available online (see MR Conditional pacemakers are increasingly available for selected patients. [28]

Projectile risk

The very high strength of the magnetic field can cause projectile effect (or "missile-effect") accidents, where ferromagnetic objects are attracted to the center of the magnet. Pennsylvania reported 27 cases of objects becoming projectiles in the MRI environment between 2004 and 2008.[30] There have been incidents of injury and death.[31][32] In one case, a 6-year-old boy died during an MRI exam, after a metal oxygen tank was pulled across the room and crushed the child's head.[33] If a gas cylinder falls to the floor, there is a risk that the impact may rupture the cylinder, or break off the valve, resulting in the cylinder becoming a projectile. To reduce the risk of projectile accidents, ferromagnetic objects and devices are typically prohibited in the proximity of the MRI scanner and patients undergoing MRI examinations are required to remove all metallic objects, often by changing into a gown or scrubs, and ferromagnetic detection devices are used at some sites.[34][35]

Genotoxic effects

There is no proven risk of biological harm from even very powerful static magnetic fields.[38][39] However, genotoxic (i.e., potentially carcinogenic) effects of MRI scanning have been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro,[40][41][42][43] leading a recent review to recommend "a need for further studies and prudent use in order to avoid unnecessary examinations, according to the precautionary principle".[39] In a comparison of genotoxic effects of MRI compared with those of CT scans, Knuuti et al. reported that even though the DNA damage detected after MRI was at a level comparable to that produced by scans using ionizing radiation (low-dose coronary CT angiography, nuclear imaging, and X-ray angiography), differences in the mechanism by which this damage takes place suggests that the cancer risk of MRI, if any, is unknown.[44]

Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)

Heating caused by absorption of radio waves

Every MRI scanner has a powerful radio transmitter to generate the electromagnetic field which excites the spins. If the body absorbs the energy, heating occurs. For this reason, the transmitter rate at which energy is absorbed by the body has to be limited (see Specific absorption rate). It has been claimed that tattoos made with iron containing dyes can lead to burns on the subject's body.[48][49] Cosmetics are very unlike, as well as body lotions since the outcome of the reactions between those with the radio waves is unknown. The best option for clothes are the ones made 100% of cotton. The MRI System must attend to periodic maintenance from the manufacturer, Gradients and RF transmit must attend factory specifications. In some systems there are parts responsible for the measurement of the power absorption limiter that must be periodically replaced for a new one (Recalibrate in factory). There are several position strictly forbidden during measurement such as crossing arms and legs, the patient body cannot create loops of any kind for the RF during the measurement. In case of unusual patient heating cases, it must be reported to the sanitary agency for further investigation.

Acoustic noise

Switching of field gradients causes a change in the Lorentz force experienced by the gradient coils, producing minute expansions and contractions of the coil itself. As the switching is typically in the audible frequency range, the resulting vibration produces loud noises (clicking, banging, or beeping). This is most marked with high-field machines[50] and rapid-imaging techniques in which sound pressure levels can reach 120 dB(A) (equivalent to a jet engine at take-off),[51] and therefore appropriate ear protection is essential for anyone inside the MRI scanner room during the examination.[52]

Radio-Frequency DOES NOT reproduce audible noises (At least for human beings), since the frequency of a system nowadays is above 14 MHz (0.2T System).

Claustrophobia and discomfort

MRI versus CT

MRI and computed tomography (CT) are complementary imaging technologies and each has advantages and limitations for particular applications. CT is more widely used than MRI in OECD countries with a mean of 132 vs 46 exams per 1000 population performed respectively.[63] A concern is the potential for CT to contribute to radiation-induced cancer and in 2007 it was estimated that 0.4% of current cancers in the United States were due to CTs performed in the past, and that in the future this figure may rise to 1.5–2% based on historical rates of CT usage.[64] An Australian study found that one in every 1800 CT scans was associated with an excess cancer.[65] An advantage of MRI is that no ionizing radiation is used and so it is recommended over CT when either approach could yield the same diagnostic information.[3] However, although the cost of MRI has fallen, making it more competitive with CT, there are not many common imaging scenarios in which MRI can simply replace CT, although this substitution has been suggested for the imaging of liver disease.[66] The effect of low doses of radiation on carcinogenesis are also disputed.[67] Although MRI is associated with biological effects, these have not been proven to cause measurable harm.[68] In a comparison of possible genotoxic effects of MRI compared with those of CT scans, Knuuti et al. noted that although previous studies have demonstrated DNA damage associated with MRI, "the long-term biological and clinical significance of DNA double-strand breaks induced by MRI remains unknown".[44]

Iodinated contrast medium is routinely used in CT and the main adverse events are anaphylactoid reactions and nephrotoxicity.[69] Commonly used MRI contrast agents have a good safety profile but linear non-ionic agents in particular have been implicated in nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with severely impaired renal function.[70]

MRI is contraindicated in the presence of MR-unsafe implants, and although these patients may be imaged with CT, beam hardening artefact from metallic devices, such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, may also affect image quality.[71] MRI is a longer investigation than CT and an exam may take between 20 - 40 mins depending on complexity.[72]

The European Directive on Electromagnetic Fields

Medical MRI scanner

File:TR TE.jpg
Effects of TR and TE on MR signal.

Contrast agents

Main article: MRI contrast agent

MRI for imaging anatomical structures or blood flow do not require contrast agents as the varying properties of the tissues or blood provide natural contrasts. However, for more specific types of imaging the most commonly used intravenous contrast agents are based on chelates of gadolinium.[78] In general, these agents have proved safer than the iodinated contrast agents used in X-ray radiography or CT. Anaphylactoid reactions are rare, occurring in approx. 0.03–0.1%.[79] Of particular interest is the lower incidence of nephrotoxicity, compared with iodinated agents, when given at usual doses—this has made contrast-enhanced MRI scanning an option for patients with renal impairment, who would otherwise not be able to undergo contrast-enhanced CT.[80]

Although gadolinium agents have proved useful for patients with renal impairment, in patients with severe renal failure requiring dialysis there is a risk of a rare but serious illness, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, which may be linked to the use of certain gadolinium-containing agents. The most frequently linked is gadodiamide, but other agents have been linked too.[81] Although a causal link has not been definitively established, current guidelines in the United States are that dialysis patients should only receive gadolinium agents where essential, and that dialysis should be performed as soon as possible after the scan to remove the agent from the body promptly.[82][83] In Europe, where more gadolinium-containing agents are available, a classification of agents according to potential risks has been released.[84][85] Recently, a new contrast agent named gadoxetate, brand name Eovist (US) or Primovist (EU), was approved for diagnostic use: this has the theoretical benefit of a dual excretion path.[86]

Magnetic resonance imaging was invented by Paul C. Lauterbur in September 1971; he published the theory behind it in March 1973.[87][88] The factors leading to image contrast (differences in tissue relaxation time values) had been described nearly 20 years earlier by Erik Odeblad (physician and scientist).[89]

In 1950, spin echoes were first detected by Erwin Hahn[90] and in 1952, Herman Carr produced a one-dimensional NMR spectrum as reported in his Harvard PhD thesis.[91][92][93] In the Soviet Union, Vladislav Ivanov filed (in 1960) a document with the USSR State Committee for Inventions and Discovery at Leningrad for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging device,[94] although this was not approved until the 1970s.[95]

In a 1971 paper in the journal Science,[96] Raymond Damadian, an American physician and professor at the Downstate Medical Center State University of New York (SUNY), reported that tumors and normal tissue can be distinguished in vivo by nuclear magnetic resonance ("NMR"). He suggested that these differences could be used to diagnose cancer, though later research would find that these differences, while real, are too variable for diagnostic purposes. Damadian's initial methods were flawed for practical use,[97] relying on a point-by-point scan of the entire body and using relaxation rates, which turned out not to be an effective indicator of cancerous tissue.[98] While researching the analytical properties of magnetic resonance, Damadian created a hypothetical magnetic resonance cancer-detecting machine in 1972. He filed the first patent for such a machine, U.S. patent #3,789,832 on March 17, 1972, which was later issued to him on February 5, 1974.[99]

The US National Science Foundation notes "The patent included the idea of using NMR to 'scan' the human body to locate cancerous tissue."[100] However, it did not describe a method for generating pictures from such a scan or precisely how such a scan might be done.[101][102] Meanwhile, Paul Lauterbur at Stony Brook University expanded on Carr's technique and developed a way to generate the first MRI images, in 2D and 3D, using gradients. In 1973, Lauterbur published the first nuclear magnetic resonance image[87][103] and the first cross-sectional image of a living mouse in January 1974.[104] In the late 1970s, Peter Mansfield, a physicist and professor at the University of Nottingham, England, developed the echo-planar imaging (EPI) technique that would lead to scans taking seconds rather than hours and produce clearer images than Lauterbur had.[105] Damadian, along with Larry Minkoff and Michael Goldsmith, obtained an image of a tumor in the thorax of a mouse in 1976.[106] They also performed the first MRI body scan of a human being on July 3, 1977,[107][108] studies which they published in 1977.[106][109] In 1979, Richard S. Likes filed a patent on k-space *4,307,343.

During the 1970s a team led by John Mallard built the first full body MRI scanner at the University of Aberdeen.[110] On 28 August 1980 they used this machine to obtain the first clinically useful image of a patient's internal tissues using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which identified a primary tumour in the patient's chest, an abnormal liver, and secondary cancer in his bones.[111] This machine was later used at St Bartholomew's Hospital, in London, from 1983 to 1993. Mallard and his team are credited for technological advances that led to the widespread introduction of MRI.[112]

In 1975, the University of California, San Francisco Radiology Department founded the Radiologic Imaging Laboratory (RIL).[113] With the support of Pfizer, Diasonics, and later Toshiba America MRI, the lab developed new imaging technology and installed systems in the US and worldwide.[114] In 1981 RIL researchers, including Leon Kaufman and Lawrence Crooks, published Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Medicine. In the 1980s the book was considered the definitive introductory textbook to the subject.[115]

In 1980 Paul Bottomley joined the GE Research Center in Schenectady, NY. His team ordered the highest field-strength magnet then available — a 1.5T system — and built the first high-field device, overcoming problems of coil design, RF penetration and signal-to-noise ratio to build the first whole-body MRI/MRS scanner.[116] The results translated into the highly successful 1.5T MRI product-line, with over 20,000 systems in use today[when?]. In 1982, Bottomley performed the first localized MRS in the human heart and brain. After starting a collaboration on heart applications with Robert Weiss at Johns Hopkins, Bottomley returned to the university in 1994 as Russell Morgan Professor and director of the MR Research Division.[117] Although MRI is most commonly performed at 1.5 T, higher fields such as 3T are gaining more popularity because of their increased sensitivity and resolution. In research laboratories, human studies have been performed at up to 9.4 T[118] and animal studies have been performed at up to 21.1T.[119]

2003 Nobel Prize

In the UK, the price of a clinical 1.5 tesla MRI scanner is around £920,000/US$1.4 million with the lifetime maintenance cost broadly similar to the purchase cost.[120] In the Netherlands, the average MRI scanner costs around €1 million,[121] with a 7T MRI having been taken in use by the UMC Utrecht in December 2007, costing €7 million.[122] Construction of MRI suites could cost up to US$500,000/€370.000 or more, depending on project scope. Pre-polarizing MRI (PMRI) systems using resistive electromagnets have shown promise as a low cost alternative and have specific advantages for joint imaging near metal implants, however they are unlikely to be suitable for routine whole-body or neuroimaging applications.[123][124]

Looking through an MRI scanner.

Specialized applications

Diffusion MRI

Main article: Diffusion MRI

Magnetic resonance angiography

Magnetic resonance angiography

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is used to measure the levels of different metabolites in body tissues. The MR signal produces a spectrum of resonances that corresponds to different molecular arrangements of the isotope being "excited". This signature is used to diagnose certain metabolic disorders, especially those affecting the brain,[136] and to provide information on tumor metabolism.[137]

Functional MRI

Real-time MRI

File:Real-time MRI - Thorax.ogv
Main article: Real-time MRI

Interventional MRI

Main article: Interventional MRI

Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound

Multinuclear imaging

Moreover, the nucleus of any atom that has a net nuclear spin and that is bonded to a hydrogen atom could potentially be imaged via heteronuclear magnetization transfer MRI that would image the high-gyromagnetic-ratio hydrogen nucleus instead of the low-gyromagnetic-ratio nucleus that is bonded to the hydrogen atom.[141] In principle, hetereonuclear magnetization transfer MRI could be used to detect the presence or absence of specific chemical bonds.[142][143]

Molecular imaging by MRI

Main article: Molecular imaging

To achieve molecular imaging of disease biomarkers using MRI, targeted MRI contrast agents with high specificity and high relaxivity (sensitivity) are required. To date, many studies have been devoted to developing targeted-MRI contrast agents to achieve molecular imaging by MRI. Commonly, peptides, antibodies, or small ligands, and small protein domains, such as HER-2 affibodies, have been applied to achieve targeting. To enhance the sensitivity of the contrast agents, these targeting moieties are usually linked to high payload MRI contrast agents or MRI contrast agents with high relaxivities.[144] A new class of gene targeting MR contrast agents (CA) has been introduced to show gene action of unique mRNA and gene transcription factor proteins.[145][146] This new CA can trace cells with unique mRNA, microRNA and virus; tissue response to inflammation in living brains.[147] The MR reports change in gene expression with positive correlation to TaqMan analysis, optical and electron microscopy.[148]

Other specialized sequences

turbo spin-echo (T2 TSE MRI), double inversion recovery MRI (DIR-MRI) or phase-sensitive inversion recovery MRI (PSIR-MRI), all of them able to improve imaging of brain lesions.[149][150] Another example is MP-RAGE (magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition with gradient echo),[151] which improves images of multiple sclerosis cortical lesions.[152]

Magnetization transfer MRI

The most common use of this technique is for suppression of background signal in time of flight MR angiography.[153] There are also applications in neuroimaging particularly in the characterization of white matter lesions in multiple sclerosis.[154]

T1rho MRI

Fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)

Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI)

Neuromelanin imaging

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Further reading

External links


Loneliness and our new product

Loneliness is deep-seated in our very existence: this is one of the fundamental propositions in life. The feeling of loneliness plagues us starting at the very moment we are born until the very last day. We as a species are social animal in nature: every one of us has a community to which we belong, and we rely on each other for our existence. We have evolved to rely on others and these relationships to survive, therefore, it is intrinsically impossible to become free of this feeling called loneliness.

Of course there are temporary fixes in order for us to do away with the such a feeling: technologies that decrease our lonely feelings, and methodologies we can use to feel closer to others. Those are, to reiterate, merely temporary fixes. Essentially we have been and we are lonely still, and this poses an interesting challenge for all of us from the standpoint of logic, philosophy, spirituality, psychology, industrial structure, technological innovation, and biology. This is a long standing battle between us and loneliness.

Also, we do not truly know what would happen if we were to get rid of this feeling altogether. Loneliness in itself might propel social and biological development, and I dare say, doing away with it entirely might not be in our best interest in terms of enhancing productivity and chances for survival. This makes it difficult for us to deal with loneliness.

This feeling of loneliness continues to be the birthplace of numerous innovations, industries, and creativity. Many monetary transactions have been spawned and services exchanged because of this, and we can say that having this feeling has positively contributed to the development of our society at large. Therefore, it is debatable whether or not trying to overcome the feeling of loneliness is such a good idea to begin with.

At any rate, it is undeniable that how we handle this loneliness and how we go about solving it are certainly one of the most impotant agenda of IT and intellectual industries of today. It is also evident that this is an area of high importance and an innovative trend waiting to “happen,” just like search and social network did before.

Thanks to these “search” and “social network” trends that did happen, we are now able to search information whenever we want, and manage the information we obtained through the search however we want to. Yet, we are still unable to break free from the dark grip of loneliness.

Rather, the grip is getting stronger and stronger — in other words, the more information we can obtain via search and the more relationships we can easily manage via social networking, the more aware we become of the existence of loneliness. This is ironic, yet it is true.

We at Doki Doki want to present a new worldview shared via a worldwide empathety-sharing network.

And the product we are launching this year is a tool that enables us to bring about such a worldview. Naturally, this means our aim by launching this product is to try to answer the follwoing question: “how can we overcome the feeling of loneliness?”

Our “BABY” application is the first step towards answering this question. It manifests our effort to look at loneliness from a completely different perspective so that we can have a better handle on it. The idea behind it is rather simple: it is like a phone with which you can talk to anyone whenever we want.

We talk, everyday, with someone. This is a very simple, primitive act driven by our an innate desire to talk to someone, anyone, really. Our biggest challenge is to design application that fulfills such rudimentary human desire in a comfortable manner, with ease, and without stressing ourselves out too much.

Again, we humans talk. We talk to solve problems, to be social, to belong to a community, to maintain our relationship with others etc. Although communication media throughout history has changed a lot — from hand-written letters to emails, television broadcasting to video streaming, press report to image sharing, and the list is growing aspace — voice communication has always been a major part of our daily communication. The act of talking remains to be one of the most powerful social tools and media that have survived to this day.

The internet has changed the social infrastructure a lot. The infrastructure that the very act of “talking” is build and relying upon — social relationships and networks — has undergone a significant change in recent years. While this aspect of social infrastructure keeps evolving, the act of talking itself has not changed much. We have the tools and information technologies to connect everyone at the global scale, yet the act itself has not been updated at all.

Let us put this into the context of telephone: today we can talk to anyone on the phone IF we know their contact information in advance. In other words, we cannot talk to a total stranger on the phone. In the real, non-digital world, it is not quite uncommon for two complete strangers to engage in a casual conversation, and we often turn to such strange encounters to solve various issues we face everyday.

For instance, asking for directions: asking about the weather: engaging in a small talk on the street. These are the prominent examples of connecting with someone by initiating a conversation, and I bet it happens a lot in our everyday lives. Even when we collaborate with others mainly through digital channels, the first encounter often takes place in the real world, then the real world conversations help us build rapport and connect with one another.

Our product hypothesis that we are putting to the test is, therefore, “a couple of two total strangers can connect with each other immediately via a phone conversation.”

If we can in fact validate our hypothesis and create an environment where people, people who do not necessarily “know” each other, can open up and talk more freely, we can increase the chances for mutual cooperation. Furthermore, we may be able to discover a completely new approach to problem-solving: an approach by talking to someone before doing anything else. This is entirely different from other aforementioned approaches, namely, search (an approach to problem-solving by accessing information) and social networking (an approach by digitally managing human relationships.)

To put things into perspective, I believe this new approach has to do with the fact that we have reached two epochal points in history.

First and most important point is, simply put, social connections have become completely commodified.

The second point is the fact (and realization thereof) that we are getting more and more connected, as brethren, no matter who you are and where you are, you are a part of a large network connecting all of us. Retrace your social network path, and it would lead you to a person, one single link, a starting point eventually.

I think this means in the near future, we will live in a society where we understand and sympathize with a total stranger without spending a lot of time trying to build rapport or making social adjustments with the beforehand. No blocks to getting to know people, and people cooperate more naturally and spontaneously with one another — it won’t be an impossible fairy tale any more.

As Facebook’s penetration rate gets higher and higher, we are getting a clearer view on what needs to be addressed next: how can we connect with people we have no connection to begin with? Wouldn’t it be nice if saying hello to a stranger on the street will instantly establish closeness? That future is not too far ahead.

Tinder was ground-breaking indeed: all you need was geographic location and age information to get to know somone of the opposite sex nearby you. Sophisticated, complex algorithms and parameters (as Zoosk and other matchmaking apps often have) were not necessary at all. In this sense, Tinder is setting foot in uncharted territories of social networking.

The new worldview we are trying to present with our BABY application will offer a new experience: in this new world, a post-Facebook world in which social network has been commodified completely, people are connecting with people with much less procedural steps and premises.

Does that mean we can do away with the feeling of loneliness entirely? Not really — I do not think that is possible. Besides, like I said, saying ado to the feeling altogether will create other types of problems. It might kill creativity that only being alone can inspire.

With that said, though, I must fight against this lonely feeling that is eating me alive and continue on developing this product so that we can put our hypothesis to the test. I believe in my view, and someone must strive to realize a world free of invisible walls between us, even if it does not necessarily make us 100% lonely-proof.


Losing energy in classical, relativistic and quantum mechanics.

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Atkinson, David
preprint description
A Zenonian supertask involving an infinite number of colliding balls is considered, under the restriction that the total mass of all the balls is finite. Classical mechanics leads to the conclusion that momentum, but not necessarily energy, must be conserved. Relativistic mechanics, on the other hand, implies that energy and momentum conservation are always violated. Quantum mechanics, however, seems to rule out the Zeno configuration as an inconsistent system.


Yogurt dressing

Yogurt dressing

난이도 준비 시간
조리 시간 총 소요 시간 주문 번호
0분 20분
0 열량 0.0g 당 함유량 0.0g 지방 함유량 0.0g 단백질

In a bowl mix oil and vinegar to taste. Then add the mustard, stir again and finally mix in yogurt, seasoning and add dressing.

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If You Want to Live, Create Goals and Dreams!

If You Want to Live, Create Goals and Dreams!

I once read a book by a very wise man. In his book he said that a man without any goal or any purpose in life is a dead man.

The moment I read those words, I knew they were true.

Goals and purposes are what drive us through the time stream into the future. They give our lives meaning even when our goals seem insignificant to others.

When I first read those words, many years ago,  I was very sick. I started to cry because I realized that my illness had robbed me of every goal I had ever had for this life. I couldn’t do any of them and there was no hope in sight.

I read the sentence again and stared at the page while the full impact of what I was reading sunk in. I realized right then, that if I did not create a goal for myself, any goal, I was not going to make it. Up to that point, I had been literally dying and this book was telling me exactly why, and exactly how to turn it around.

At that point, I decided on a goal and set about trying to realize it.

Up to the point where I had gotten sick, I had been a musician and mom as well as working in Corporate America. One by one these jobs went by the wayside due to my illness and I realized that I had not picked up my violin or sung for a very long time.

The goal I set for myself then, was to become a music instructor. All I needed to achieve that goal was one student. Then I could call myself a teacher.

As fate would have it, once I made the decision to become a music instructor, I found an ad looking for a music teacher right there in my hometown.

I went to the school, interviewed and landed the gig.

And then, the funniest thing happened.

I started to get better.

It did not happen overnight; in fact it took several years to totally kick this illness, but it started the day I heard the words, “Please come for your first student on Thursday”.

I believe that many people who are depressed, or are doing poorly in life, have trouble with goals.

Sometimes they have goals forced on them, and that is as bad or worse than not having any.

Sometimes they cannot decide what goal they want to go after and are paralyzed by indecision.

Sometimes they have someone in their lives who invalidates their goals.

Sometimes they feel that they lack the self discipline to achieve their goals, and other times it just seems too hard.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

There are definite steps you should take to create and realize a goal.

1. Lay out your ideal future life.

Take a little time and write it all out. I find that having it written down makes it easier to see. Make sure you include EVERYTHING you want in even the most insignificant areas of your life.

For example you may want to work from home or have a job that is mobile, allowing you to travel and work from various distant places. If this is the case, you will need a profession that allows for that.

Once you write down everything you want in life, the goal(s) will come into focus.

Do not invalidate whatever goal you come up with at this stage. Just start going after it.

2. Decide what training you need to receive in order to achieve your goal.

If you are looking for a new profession that will support you and your dependents, you will need training. Find out what training is required and figure out how to get it.

In today’s world, there is so much information on the Internet, that you can train yourself fully in many professions without ever leaving your couch.

College educations are no longer prerequisites to having a great job, and self-starting individuals are doing amazing things. The opportunities today are almost endless if you really focus and work hard.

3. Give yourself a long-term target.

If your goal is to become an internet marketing expert, and you are starting from scratch, your long-term target can be landing a certain number of regular clients.

Now, long term is only relative. Even long-term targets don’t have to take a long time.

4. Give yourself daily targets that ultimately result in achieving your long-term goal.

And get them done. Then make new ones. Don’t worry if, while doing these, your goal morphs into something else. It’s all good!

5. Don’t worry about making the wrong goal or ending up in the wrong business.

Any decision you make, ever, can be changed and a new decision made. Resisting changing your mind is ridiculous. Every day we change our minds when faced with new information or just because we decide to do something else. There is no shame in that fact. In fact, a sane and dynamic individual changes his or her mind a lot.

Granted if we have people relying on us to bring in a paycheck, we can’t simply pack it in and start in again at the bottom, but we can change our plans and start working toward something fulfilling while also fulfilling our duties to those we have obligations to.

6. Realize that the pursuit of the goal is every bit as important as its achievement.

For every endeavor we undertake, we learn. We come away with new skills and these skills have a funny way of coming together in the future in ways we never imagine.

These learning experiences and the skills we take away from them also make our lives extremely rich and interesting.

Some of the most interesting and successful people I know have had several different careers in their lives. They seem to have an uncanny knack for making things work. They always have many irons in the fire and too many projects because they are so dang interested in life.

What many people don’t realize is that life is a living thing and by that, I mean it breathes, it changes, it is anything but static. Too many people try desperately to keep things the same. This is not healthy, and it never works.

If we think that any goal we have has to be one that sees us through our entire lifetime, we are limiting ourselves greatly. We have to allow for how we change and grow, and sometimes we grow out of goals that were once very important to us.

Don’t think that you have wasted anything if you change your mind, even if you change it about something very important.

Goals are one of the most important things in life. Without them we decay and die. If you know of someone struggling with goals, help them create some. If you need help, write to me.

Good luck!

More by this author

Trending in Productivity

1 How to Memorize More and Faster Than Other People 2 How to Stop Multitasking and Become Way More Productive 3 How to Be A Genuine Expert in Your Field 4 How to Get Unstuck and Get Back On Track to Achieving Your Goals 5 What to Do When Bored at Work (And the Reason Why You Feel Bored)

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Last Updated on September 20, 2018

How to Memorize More and Faster Than Other People

How to Memorize More and Faster Than Other People

That is so far from the truth, it’s running for office. If you want to memorize something quickly and thoroughly, repetition won’t cut it; however, recalling something will. The problem is that recalling something requires learning and we all learn in different ways.

So how to memorize more and faster than others?

In this article, you will learn how to master the art of recalling so that you can start memorizing a ton of data in a short amount of time.

Before you start, know your learning style

Before we start, you need to establish something: are you an auditory, visual, or experiential learner?

If you’re an auditory learner, then the most effective way for you to grasp information is by hearing it. As you can imagine, visual learners favor seeing something in order to learn it. Experiential learning types are more akin to learning from events and experiences (or, doing something with the material).

Try out this quick quiz to find out your learning style.

Most of us are a combination of at least two of these categories but I will denote which step is most favorable to your most agreeable learning style so that you can start to memorize things quickly and efficiently.

Step 1: Preparation

To optimize your memorization session, pay close attention to which environment you choose. For most people, this means choosing an area with few distractions, though some people do thrive off of learning in public areas. Figure out what is most conducive to your learning so that you can get started.

Next, start drinking some tea. I could link you to mounds of scientific studies that confirm green tea as a natural catalyst for improving memory. Mechanically speaking, our ability to recall information comes down to the strength between neurons in our mind, which are connected by synapses. The more you exercise the synapse (repetition), the stronger it is, resulting in the ability to memorize.

As we get older, toxic chemicals will damage our neurons and synapses, leading to memory loss and even Alzheimer’s. Green tea contains compounds, however, that block this toxicity and keep your brain cells working properly a lot longer.

Step 2: Record what you’re memorizing

This is especially useful if you’re trying to memorize information from a lecture. Use a tape recorder to track all of the acquired facts being spoken and listen to it.

If you’re trying to memorize a speech, record yourself reading the speech aloud and listen to yourself speaking. Obviously, this is most helpful for auditory learners, but it’s also handy because it ensures that you’re getting more context from a lecture that will help you learn the information faster.

Step 3: Write everything down

Before you start trying to recall everything from memory, write and re-write the information. This will help you become more familiar with what you’re trying to memorize.

Doing this while listening to your tape recorder can also help you retain a lot of the data. This is most useful for experienced learners.

Step 4: Section your notes

Now that you have everything written down in one set of notes, separate them into sections. This is ideal for visual learners, especially if you use color coding to differentiate between subjects.

This will help you break everything down and start compartmentalizing the information being recorded in your brain.

Step 5: Apply repetition to cumulative memorization

For each line of text, repeat it a few times and try to recall it without looking. As you memorize each set of text, be cumulative by adding the new information to what you’ve just learned. This will keep everything within your short-term memory from fading.

Keep doing this until you have memorized that section and you are able to recall the entire thing. Do not move on to another section until you have memorized that one completely. This is mostly visual learning but if you are speaking aloud, then you are also applying auditory.

Step 6: Write it down from memory

Now that you can recall entire sections, write everything down from memory. This will reinforce everything you just have just learned by applying it experientially.

Step 7: Teach it to someone (or yourself)

The most effective method for me when I was in school was to teach the information to someone else. You can do this in a variety of ways. You can lecture the knowledge to someone sitting right in front of you (or the mirror, if you can’t convince anyone to sit through it) and explain everything extemporaneously.

If what you’ve learned needs to be recited verbatim, then do this in front of someone as well in order to get a feel for what it will be like to recite the text to the intended audience.

My favorite method for this is creating tests for other people. Take the information and predict what questions will come out of them. Use multiple choice, matching and so on to present the data in test format and see how someone else does.

All of this is experiential learning since you are actually practicing and manipulating the concepts you’ve learned.

Step 8: Listen to the recordings continuously

While doing unrelated tasks like laundry or driving, go over the information again by listening to your tape recordings. This is certainly auditory learning but it will still supplement everything you’ve shoved into your short-term memory.

Step 9: Take a break

Finally, let your mind breathe. Go for a short time without thinking about what you just learned and come back to it later on.

You’ll find out what you really know and this will help you focus on the sections you might be weakest at.

Try these steps now and you will find remembering things a lot easier and you’ll memorize more stuff than a lot of other people!

Featured photo credit: Pexels via

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Substitutes for Dill Weed and Dill Seed

Use These Swaps When You Run Out of Dill

Directly Above Shot Of Dried Dill Weed On White Background
Michelle Arnold / EyeEm/Getty Images

Working on a recipe that calls for dill weed or dill seed? If you don't have any on hand, there are several things that you can use in its place, including other forms of dill, tarragon, celery seed or caraway seed. Here's how to make a successful substitution, using what you have on hand.

Dried Dill vs. Fresh Dill Substitutions

Substituting fresh dill for dried dill (or vice versa) is easy to do. Just stick to these proportions, and you'll get great results:

  • Use one tablespoon of fresh dill weed for every teaspoon of dried dill
  • Use one teaspoon of dried dill for every tablespoon of fresh dill

Dill Weed Substitutes

Dill weed is sometimes also referred to as dill leaves. It's the bright green, feathery fronds of the dill plant. It's highly aromatic, and tastes of caraway or anise, with a bit of citrus thrown in.

When fresh dill is being used to flavor a recipe (as it is in pickles, soups, and sauces), use fresh tarragon in its place. To make the proper substitution, use an equal amount of fresh tarragon for the fresh dill, or dried tarragon for the dried dill.

You can also use dried tarragon as a stand in for fresh dill weed, but you'll need to adjust the quantities,  as it has a more intense flavor. Use one teaspoon of dried tarragon for every tablespoon of fresh dill called for in a recipe. Tarragon works well as a substitute for dill in seafood dishes and in salad dressings.

If dill weed is being used as a garnish for a dish, use fennel fronds instead. They look very similar. Fresh parsley can also be used as a garnish. It looks a bit different, but will still add that pop of green. If you don't have either, just leave the garnish off, or get creative with whatever you have on hand.

Dill Seed Substitutes

Dill seeds taste similar to dill weed, but they have a slightly bitter edge to them. They appear frequently in pickle, bread, salad dressing and soup recipes. While you might be tempted to use dill weed as a substitute for dill seeds, you'll get better results if you use caraway seeds or celery seeds in their place. Replace them measure for measure, and you should come close to the intended flavor.

Grow Dill in Your Garden

Dill is incredibly easy to grow, so consider adding it to your garden. It's an annual, but it reseeds readily. Just allow some of the flowers to go to seed at the end of the season, and it should come up on its own next year.

The dill flowers, stems, leaves and seeds are all edible. Enjoy it fresh, while it's in season. Then, dry or freeze your extra dill, so you'll have a stash to draw from while it's out of season. For the best flavor, pick your dill early in the morning.


Situational Awareness

Awareness is empowering. - Rita Wilson

Personal Security and Mental Preparedness

As Hurricane Katrina showed, when the government is unable to provided adequate assistance, many people will become desperate to find supplies wherever possible. And for some looting and rioting were the result. You should accept that the threat exist and you as a prepper could become a target. Its as simple as you have it, and they want it. In desperate times you need to realize that you are responsible for your security. All survival conscious people should be prepared for the probability of civil unrest during times of impending disasters and emergency situations.

You should be prepared both physically and mentally to protect your family and property from those who may wish to benefit from your preparedness. Part of being prepared is having a survival mind set, which includes being aware of your situation. The military developed a set of color codes which describe different levels of danger, Col. Jeff Cooper adapted it for personal "street" survival.

  • Yellow - Relaxed alert. No specific threat situation. Your mind set is that "today could be the day I may have to defend myself." You are simply aware that the world is a potentially unfriendly place. You use your eyes and ears, and realize that "I may have to defend myself." You should always be in Yellow whenever you are in unfamiliar surroundings. You can remain in Yellow for long periods. In Yellow, you are "taking in" surrounding information in a relaxed but alert manner.

  • Orange - Specific alert. Something is not quite right and has gotten your attention. Your radar has picked up a specific alert. You shift your primary focus to determine if there is a threat. In Condition Orange, you set a mental trigger: "If that goblin does 'x', I will need to do"x". Staying in Orange can be a bit of a mental strain, but you can stay in it for as long as you need to. If the threat proves to be nothing, you shift back to Condition Yellow.

  • Red - Condition Red is fight. Your mental trigger has been tripped. You should be acting on the scenarios you anticipated back in Condition Orange.

Apathy, complacency, and denial are all barriers to good situational awareness.

Scanning the clock

Ask yourself, consciously what is going on around you. After a while, your subconscious will take over. After this, once a day, make sure you do it consciously, just to make sure that you are reinforcing the habit. One method that can assist in your interrogation of your surroundings is called "The Clock Face". We have all heard the term "check your six", it originates from the clock face method. Imagine the face of a giant clock from a birds eye view, now place yourself in the center of the clock. You will always be facing the twelve o'clock position and your back to the six o'clock. When you interrogate your surroundings use the clock, whats happening at my immediate front (twelve o'clock), what about my left hand side (nine o'clock) or even the dreaded "six".

Another system tought in safe driving courses can de adapted for situational awarness and personal saftey, is called IPDE, pronounced Ip-dee. It is an organized system of seeing, thinking, and responding to threats

  • IDENTIFY - This is where you have identified a potential threat.
  • PREDICT - Interrogate, there's a high wall at my nine o'clock, my twelve o'clock there is a van along the curb, at three o'clock there's a alley, my six o'clock is clear. The potential for trouble could be three or twelve o'clock.
  • DECIDE - The third step in the IPDE method is to DECIDE what action you will implement. Should I avoid the alley way and cross to the other side of the street? What if the Van door opens as I approach? Make your decision on how you will respond to the potential threats.
  • EXECUTE - If the potential threat identified does materalize, you should execute your pre-decided response with complete detirmination. By responding with a pre-detirmined action, you reduce valuable time you would have taken in improvising a response. The time saved could make the differance in your surviving an assult.

Good pratices for awareness:

Being aware of your surroundings means not only paying attention to what you see but often what you don't, comparing and assessing what is normal and looking for things that are irregular. Pay attention to your feelings. If something feels wrong or uncomfortable, shift from yellow to orange.

When entering establishments/businesses try to pause and scan the area for any threats, do a headcount and look for anyone who's out of place. If you are going to be staying try sitting so you face any entrance/exits. Scan for locations that can provide cover and safety if necessary. After your evaluation, insist on where you would like to sit. When exiting stop outside and let your eyes adjust, and scan for any potential threats.

Learn to recognize signs and "bad areas" that can be identified as potential danger zones. Gang graffiti is not just vandalism; it's a form of advertising and communication. The graffiti is used to mark territory and should be taken seriously.

Make sure the doors at home are always locked. The warning you get if someone kicks the door is far better than someone just opening the door and entering.

Get a dog. The extra eyes and ears help, and most will likely be deterred by a large barking dog. Train your dogs to come to the car to greet you. Their behavior will indicate whether everything is OK in the property. Dogs have body language, just like humans. In fact even more perceptible, so invest a bit of time in getting to know how your dog reacts to abnormal circumstances, like a stranger on the property.

When in traffic always leaving enough room behind the car in front of you so you are never boxed in.

Avoid dark parking areas. Park as close to the entrance as possible. Pull thru or back into the parking space so you don't have to back out in case you need to leave in a hurry. When approaching your car check for vans and cargo trucks that have parked near you, approach with caution. Before you enter your car check the back seat to make sure its empty. Once inside, lock the doors and leave immediately.

On Foot

Walk with your shoulders back, your eyes forward and your head up and on a swivel. Remember to check your "six" often. Only focus on a single item long enough to determine its threat level - avoid target lock. When walking around corners make wide turns away from the corner to give you time to react to what's around the corner.

If confronted, don't worry about being "rude." politeness can be interpreted by predators as weakness. Be clear about your space and insist that that space be respected. Treat anyone who violates your "space" as a potential serious threat.


Psychological Health Fee

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans experiences psychological health problems annually (18.5 percent). Mental health situations, akin to depression or nervousness, are actual, frequent and treatable. The coordinated surveys on emotional psychological health disorders, their severity, and treatments have been applied within the aforementioned international locations.

For example, behavioral abilities don’t develop as quick as motor or sensory abilities do. 29 So when a baby has an anxiousness disorder, they begin to lack proper social interaction and affiliate many strange things with intense fear. The time period ‘psychological health’ is sometimes used to mean an absence of a mental dysfunction.mental health

Individuals have this assumption that everybody with a mental problem, no matter how delicate or severe, is robotically thought of harmful or a legal individual. 19 Psychological wellness is mostly viewed as a optimistic attribute, even if the person does not have any identified psychological health situation.


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Sports Massage isn't just for Sports People Part 2

TherapiesPosted by Sally-Anne Fri, June 22, 2018 01:59PM
By Laura Kirkman, Professional Sports and Thai Yoga Massage Therapist

How did the receiver of Sports Massage get tight achy muscles in the first place?

All the examples listed below are based on my personal experiences of working with different clients through out my career so far and what I’ve found to be common problem areas with certain roles. I’ve tried to categorise them to cover a lot of different roles and I do apologise if I’ve missed some out.

Desk-based jobs

This covers literally any job that involves sitting at a desk. By sitting down at a desk for the majority of your week, this can put stress on the shoulder and neck muscles from typing, focusing on your screen and most likely slouching. Speaking of typing, in some cases people can even get repetitive strain (tendinitis) in their wrists and forearms. From being in the seated position this can also have a big effect on your thigh muscles and the lower back, as overtime the muscles get use to being in this position and can get gradually shorter and tighter.

Driving jobs or long driving commutes

Your body is in a similar position to someone doing a desk-based job so you may have similar problem areas but driving will have a bigger impact on your body. It is common when driving manual to utilise parts of your body more than others, which can put extra strain on the muscles that are used more frequently. For example your left leg for the clutch, left hand for gears and not to mention the rotation of the neck when performing manoeuvres.

Intensive manual labour jobs

This includes electricians, plumbers, builders, plasterers, and tillers Etc. These kinds of jobs may seem great because they are rather physical but apart from that a lot of the work can be very repetitive, usually requiring the tradesman to be in awkward positions and spaces for long periods of time which is not the norm for the body. Some of these jobs may require the use of one dominant hand, which will cause an imbalance to the body as one side gets stronger and the other side can get stiff from the lack of use. Also remember some of these tradesman will also have to drive a long way to do a job as well and be affected by long commutes too. The muscle groups that are affected will vary with the trade.

High Stressed Jobs

Do you have lots of deadlines to reach that can sometimes seem inhumanely possible? Or your job is based in a fast paced stressful environment like any of the many roles in the food or retail industry? If you’re not relaxed and happy and feeling stressed in your workplace the majority of the time, your workplace qualifies as a stressful environment. Stress has many numerous negative effects on the body but today we will keep it muscle related. One of the most common areas affected by stress is the neck and shoulders as most people unconsciously hunch and hold their shoulders up causing tight and knotted muscles in the shoulders, which then in turn effects the neck causing it to be tight which can then in some cases lead to tension headaches.

Health Professionals

Doctors, vets, nurses, hair dressers and groomers alike are sometimes under huge amounts of stress (depending on what your role entails), each day to help and care for others but often in the process they forget to care for themselves. Some of these jobs could involve being on your feet for long periods of time, wearing correct footwear can help a lot but this can still have a big effect on the leg muscles. Some of these roles can involve desk time and probably a lot of it as well with a big workload to take care of which relates back to other examples. Let’s not forgot the roles, which involve moving heavy or non-heavy objects/people/animals even with the health and safety measures to how you do this correctly and it can still definitely have a big toll on all the muscle groups that are used in this actions in the long run.

Post Pregnancy and Parenthood

Whilst your body is going through pregnancy and in the later stages of the baby growing, your body is constantly adapting to the babies weight and size. So your centre of gravity is constantly off balance and can take some time for the body to get back to normality afterwards. The muscles that are greatly affected through all this changes to the female body are the majority of the back and the majority of the leg muscles. As these are the muscles that adapt the most to help the female body be able to carry a baby and still be able to move around, also the back muscles are probably achy from not being able to sleep properly at night time.

Then into parenthood you now have this little precious bundle of joy that requires you as a parent to pick up a lot and to also pick up after them. So your body is now doing all these extra movements that the body is just not use to yet. Well your arms are probably going to be the first thing you notice are now in pain more often, followed closely by the rest of your body and lest not mention the effects that lack of sleep does to us.

Sports People in all your glorious forms

Even though this is an article looking at certain roles that aren’t sport but there is also an equal amount of sports people that would probably benefit from a sports massage. Sports people; regular gym goers, joggers/runners, all types of contact sport, football, swimming, hiking, cycling, semi pro to pro athletes and any other sports. Whatever your status sometimes help is required to help you perform better, shorter recovery time or to help with an injury. Sports Massage can help pre and post event to help your muscles warm up or to assist with cooling down. Through sports massage I can help identify areas that you need to work on more, either by stretching or strengthening techniques. As each sports person in their own field uses very different muscle groups to one another I cannot provide an example of which muscle areas are affected the most.

So what do we need to think about...

Most of the modern lifestyles don’t allow the time for you to truly look after yourself and to connect with your body. Sports Massage can help to release the built up tension and to help you feel happier and healthier. Maybe enough to motivate you to going to that gym or yoga class you always wanted to try, start going on regular walks in nature. No matter what you do in life always try to look after your body as you only have one and it's best to take care of it.

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Sports Massage isn't just for Sports People Part 1

TherapiesPosted by Sally-Anne Fri, June 22, 2018 01:15PM
By Laura Kirkman, Professional Sports and Thai Yoga Massage Therapist

Sports massage consists of a range of techniques that are proven to be really effective for alleviating any postural imbalances or to help particular muscles that get stiff and achy and are not performing as well. A postural imbalance can happen from a number of reasons but it generally means a particular group of muscles are being overused or underused and it causes a knock on effect to other muscle groups, as they will have to work harder to compensate for the imbalance. When you have been out of your natural posture for a while it can gradually start to affect you, you could start to feel pain and discomfort in area’s that are usually fine.

So as a Sports Masseuse my main aims are to effectively get the muscles back into a good working order by massage and personalised after care, so that you are back in alignment with your natural posture and feel pain free again. Depending on the state of your muscles, further treatments could be required to get the best possible results for your body. This will include discussing a treatment plan that suits you the best with how frequently you can have treatments and roughly how long you would like to receive them. At the end of each session I will go through stretching and strengthening exercises that can help maintain the effects of the treatment. I cannot stress enough how much of a difference actually doing the exercises can help with your overall treatment!

It could mean a shorter treatment plan if you continue these exercises and if you really implement them into your lifestyle anyway that you can. You will always be feeling better and experiencing less pain than before, you will also have the knowledge to effectively manage your own pain. I will also be much happier to see you in the future as well for any further top-up treatments.

Common professions that would benefit from a Sports Massage include (but are not exclusive to..)
* Desk-based jobs
* Driving jobs or long-driving commutes
* Intensive manual labour jobs
* High-stress jobs
* Health Professionals (Drs, Vets, Therapists etc...)
* Parenthood

I will be covering each one in a little more detail on my next blog (part 2) if any relate to you - please click on and have a read. Finally I just want to say that Sports Massage can help to release the built up tension within your body and it's my job as a Sports Masseuse to help with that process so that you can feel happier and healthier.

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Is your Base Chakra out of balance…? Ten ways to find out…

TherapiesPosted by Sally-Anne Fri, April 13, 2018 11:47AM

By Anne Marie Allen Reflexologist, Reiki Practitioner & Massage Therapist

From the previous blog we know the base chakra is about the basic survival such as security, health, safety, food, warmth but how can you tell if you’re out of balance…?

Here are seven ways to tell if your base chakra is out of balance:

1. You have hoarding or overeating tendancies.

2. You never feel like you have enough food, money, sex or material possessions often feeling worried about things such as money and work.

3. You often feel restless, you may find it hard to stick to things such as the same job for very long drifting from one thing to another.

4. You often experience feelings of insecurity, anxiety and feeling frightened.

5. You find it hard to let go and trust.

6. You can often find yourself being quite negative and critical either towards yourself or others.

7. You suffer from pain/discomfort in the legs, knees, spine or sciatica. You may have varicose veins.

8. You may have experienced depression or suffer from low moods.

9. Issues concerning bowel problems, constipation frequent need to use the bathroom, impotence can be indicators of your root chakra being out of balance.

10. Problems moving forward in life and/or feeling stuck in a rut.

These are just some of the ways a base chakra imbalance can show itself - the good news is there are so many ways to balance this chakra, throughout April I will be posting daily on my Natural Touch Facebook Page different ways that you can help to balance your base chakra. A balanced base chakra will leave you feeling safe, comfortable, abundant and secure, feeling able to live in the present with passion while moving forward in life.

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Root Chakra Healing for Beginners

TherapiesPosted by Sally-Anne Tue, March 20, 2018 12:34PM
By Anne Marie Allen Reflexologist, Reiki Practitioner & Massage Therapist

The base chakra also known as the root chakra or Muladhara Chakra is the first chakra and is located at the base of the spine. The base chakra is your foundation - without a balanced base chakra you won’t have the security, stability or rootedness which is needed for true, lasting change.

It is linked to the basic survival needs such as security, survival, warmth, food and safety and the colour of the base chakra is red.

Whether you feel secure and safe now often isn’t the cause of the imbalance, situations from the past even as far back as childhood can be the cause of the imbalance.

Imbalance in the root chakra can show itself as:

Restless, frightened, insecurities, greed, resentfulness, envious, criticism, pushing your body too far, not resting when you need to, gossiping, putting self or others down, negativity, procrastination, problems letting go e.g. fear, mistrust, anxiety, fears, nightmares, constipation, eating disorders, grounding to the earth, living in survival mode all the time, feeling like you can’t get enough. You may also experience problems with food for example overeating or starving, money problems, sex, and hoarding material things.

The root chakra is associated with your:

Colon, bladder lower back, legs, feet, knees, sciatica, prostate, gonads, ovaries, testes and sacrum.

How to balance and heal the base chakra:

There are several ways to balance the base chakra, here a few suggestions you can try but for more information or to book in for a Reiki session to assist you with this please get in touch!

- Yoga

- Meditation

- Sounds

- Colours

- Crystals

- Affirmations

- Essential oils

- Reiki

- Reflexology

- Diet

- Exercise

Special offer - a free Red Jasper Crystal with your Reiki Treatment!

Over the next four weeks I’ll be posting lots of affirmations, tips and blogs to help you balance your base chakra as well as posting some questions that you can think about to help you unearth any blockages and go really deep to find out which beliefs and past experiences are stopping you from moving forward. As from April - when you book in for a Reiki Teatment each person will recieve an organza bag with a Red Jasper Crystal to take away with them and keep absolutely free to help them work with their base chakra balancing! (This only applies to one treatment and expires at the end of April). There will also be weekly competitions to win a free treatment so make sure you don’t forget to like and follow us to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

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Against the Backdrop of Feminism: The Images of Men in Female-authored Novels

Keywords: Feminism, Literature, English Language, Female Authors, Female-authored Novels.

Feminism is a literary concept that agitates and demands for equal rights and justice for men and women in the society. In the words of Nnolim Charles: “Feminism, as a movement and ideology urges, in simple terms, recognition of the claims of women for equal rights with men–legal, political, economic,
social, marital, et cetera” (135). Obviously true is the fact that women in the recent past have suffered great injustice, domination, suppression and relegation from their male counterparts in a world that regards man as the symbol of power, life and authority, being the first creature whom God, Himself breathed life into and he became alive. Woman rather was made from a rib taken or rather 'stolen' from man (for this was done without his consent) and the Creator named her wo-man.
That is the biblical history for us.


Autoantibodies against BAFF, APRIL or IL21 - an alternative pathogenesis for antibody-deficienciesReportar como inadecuado

Autoantibodies against BAFF, APRIL or IL21 - an alternative pathogenesis for antibody-deficiencies - Descarga este documento en PDF. Documentación en PDF para descargar gratis. Disponible también para leer online.

BMC Immunology

, 18:34

Cellular immunology and immune regulation

BackgroundThe ability of anti-cytokine antibodies to play a disease-causing role in the pathogenesis of immunodeficiencies is widely accepted. The aim of this study was to investigate whether autoantibodies against BAFF important B cell survival signal, APRIL important plasma cell survival signal, or Interleukin-21 important cytokine for immunoglobulin class switch present an alternative mechanism for the development of the following primary antibody deficiencies PADs: common variable immune deficiency CVID or selective IgA deficiency sIgAD.

ResultsTwo hundred thirty-two sera from patients with PADs were screened for autoantibodies against cytokines by ELISA. Statistical data analysis yielded a significant difference p < 0.01 between the healthy donor sera and both PAD cohorts. The analysis was deepened by subdividing the patient collective into groups with distinct B cell phenotypes but no significant differences were found. For selected sera with notable high ELISA-read outs functional analysis ensued. Anti-BAFF and anti-APRIL antibodies were further examined by a B cell survival assay, whilst the functional relevance of putative anti-IL-21 autoantibodies was investigated by means of a STAT3 phosphorylation assay. However, the results of these experiments revealed no discernible functional effect.

ConclusionWhilst statistical analysis of ELISA results showed significant differences between patients and healthy controls, in our set of patients functional tests yielded no evidence for an involvement of autoantibodies against BAFF, APRIL, or IL-21 in the pathogenesis of CVID or sIgAD.

KeywordsAutoimmunity Autoantibodies Cytokines Primary antibody deficiency Common variable immunodeficiency Selective IgA deficiency BAFF APRIL IL-21 AbbreviationsAPRILA proliferation inducing ligand

APS-IAutoimmune polyendocrinopathy I

BAFFB cell activating factor

CMCChronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

CVIDCommon variable immunodeficiency

IFN-gammaInterferon gamma

IL-21Interleukin 21

sIgADselective IgA deficiency

Download fulltext PDF

Autor: Marian-Christopher Pott - Natalie Frede - Jennifer Wanders - Lennart Hammarström - Erik-Oliver Glocker - Cristina Glocker -

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What happened on November 21 ?

Choose another date »

235 - Anterus is elected Pope.

1272 - Following Henry III of England's death on November 16, his son Prince Edward becomes King of England.

1789 - North Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution and is admitted as the 12th U.S. state.

1861 - American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoints Judah Benjamin secretary of war.

1916 - The HMHS Britannic sinks in the Aegean Sea after an explosion from an unknown object, killing 30 people.

1920 - Bloody Sunday during the Anglo-Irish War

1922 - Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia takes the oath of office, becoming the first woman United States Senator.

1934 - Cricket: The MCC alters the lbw rule so a batsman can be lbw to a ball pitching outside off stump. The change is later blamed for many problems developing during the 1950s - primarily negative bowling outside leg stump to a field of short-leg fieldsmen.

1934 - Ella Fitzgerald makes her singing debut at age 16 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.

1942 - The completion of the Alaska Highway (also known as the Alcan Highway) is celebrated (the highway was not usable by general vehicles until 1943, however).

1953 - Authorities at the British Natural History Museum announce that the "Piltdown Man" skull, held to be one of the most famous fossil skulls in the world, was a hoax.

1962 - The Chinese People's Liberation Army declared a unilateral cease-fire in the Sino-Indian War.

1964 - The Verrazano Narrows Bridge opens to traffic (at the time it was the world's longest suspension bridge).

1964 - Second Vatican Council: The third session of the Roman Catholic Church's ecumenical council closes.

1969 - The first ARPANET link is established.

1969 - US President Richard Nixon and Japanese Premier Eisaku Sato agree in Washington, DC on the return of Okinawa to Japanese control in 1972. Under terms of the agreement, the US is to retain its rights to bases on the island, but these are to be nuclear-free.

1970 - Vietnam War: Operation Ivory Coast - A joint Air Force and Army team raids the Son Tay prison camp in an attempt to free American POWs thought to be held there (there were zero Americans killed, but the prisoners had already moved to another camp; All US POWs were moved to a handful of central prison complexes as a result of this raid).

1971 - Indian troops partly aided by Mukti Bahini (Bengali guerrillas) defeated the Pakistan army in the Battle of Garibpur.

1974 - The Birmingham Pub Bombings by the IRA killed 21 people. The Birmingham Six were sentenced to life in prison for this and subsequently acquitted.

1974 - George W. Bush is honourably discharged from the US Air Force Reserve.

1977 - Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Allan Highet announced that 'the national anthems of New Zealand shall be the traditional anthem 'God Save The Queen' and the poem 'God Defend New Zealand', written by Thomas Bracken, as set to music by John Joseph Woods, both being of equal status as national anthems appropriate to the occasion'.

1979 - The United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set alight, killing four. (see: Foreign relations of Pakistan)

1980 - A deadly fire breaks out at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada (now Bally's Las Vegas). 87 people are killed and more than 650 are injured in the worst disaster in Nevada history.

1980 - Who Shot JR? - The Dallas Episode "Who Done It?" aired on US television. It was one of the highest-rated episodes of a TV show ever aired.

1990 - Charter of Paris for a New Europe refocusses the efforts of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europeon post-Cold War issues. The successor to the Family Computer; the Super Famicom was released in Japan.

1991 - "The Apple of God's Eye", an undercover investigative journalism piece exposing the fundraising practices of American televangelist Robert Tilton, airs on ABC's Primetime Live newsmagazine show for the first time.

1995 - The Dayton Peace Agreement was initialled in the Wright Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio, ending three and a half years of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The agreement was formally ratified in Paris, on December 14 that same year.

1995 - Toy Story is released as the first feature-length film created completely using computer-generated imagery.

1995 - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 5,000 (5,023.55) for the first time.

1999 - Saundra Santiago of Miami Vice fame marries Roger Squintero

2002 - NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.

2004 - The second round of the Ukrainian presidential election is held, unleashing massive protests and controversy with regards to the election's integrity.

2004 - The island of Dominica is hit by its most destructive earthquake in history; the northern half of the island receives the most damage, especially in the town of Portsmouth. It is also felt in neighbouring Guadeloupe, where one person is killed as a result.

2004 - The Paris Club agreed to write off 80% (up to $100 billion) of Iraq's external debt.[1]

2004 - The Nintendo DS was released in United States and Canada

Events Births Deaths Holidays


Q. Why do I need to go to a chiropractor?
Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the need to maintain the health of their spines or that the health of their spines have a huge impact on their general health. Vertebral Subluxation (VS) is a condition that is a severe detriment to a person’s spinal and general health. Chiropractors are the only health care professionals specifically trained in the art and science of correcting Vertebral Subluxation.

Q. What is a Subluxation?
In simplest terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation or VS for short) is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of the bones in your spine. This pressure or irritation then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with signals traveling over them.

Q. How does a Subluxation affect my life?
Your nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions of your body. Your spinal cord and spinal nerves are the link between your brain and your body. If you interfere with the signals traveling over the spinal cord and spinal nerves, parts of your body will not get the proper messages and will not be able to function 100% of their innate abilities. In other words, some part of your body will not be working properly.

Q. What causes Vertebral Subluxation?
In the simplest terms, Vertebral Subluxation, is caused by the various stresses of life. There are major categories of stresses in a person’s life.
  • Physical – These are easiest to identify and include: Car accidents, slips and falls, and repetitive use or overuse injuries (e.g. the mailman walk miles everyday with a heavy sack hanging from the same shoulder for many months or years). Less obvious members of this category include, undetected birth traumas, mothers carrying their children, The small falls of childhood (children are estimated to fall 3,000 times before their third birthday), the impacts and bumps of sports, and many more.
  • Mental/Emotional Stress – To understand how this type of stress might effect our spines, picture a cat when it feels threatened or is about to fight. Emotional stress creates a change in our posture and muscle tone that can change the position of our spinal bones. Examples of these kinds of stresses include: financial stress, work stress, stress with family or spouses, lose of a loved one, moving of your home, pressure for adolescents and children to fit in, and many more. It is not unusual for a person to carry specific stresses with them for many years or even decades.
  • Chemical – In our everyday lives we are exposed to toxins that are irritating and poisonous to our bodies. These toxins include: preservatives in our food, spoiled foods, second hand smoke, fumes, dust and chemicals in the work place. Exposure to such toxins can create stress responses in the body similar to those described above.

Q. What are some signs that I may have Vertebral Subluxation?
These are some outward signs that Subluxation is present in a person.
  1. Postural changes – What many people call bad posture is really your body’s attempt to take pressure off of one of more regions of the spine. Examples of this are:
    • Craning forward of the head, shoulders that are held high, are uneven, and/or are rounded forward.
    • Loss or exaggeration of a low back curve. Buttocks appear flat or overly rounded.
    • Uneven hips. One hip is held higher than the other, or when lying belly down, one hip is pushed backward further than the other.
    • Uneven legs. One leg is longer than the other.
    • Head tilt/ rotation. When viewing a person head on, their head appears to turn slightly or tilt to one side.
  2.  Loss of range of motion – Examples of these are: inability to turn one’s head when backing out of a parking space. Inability to straighten up (one feels stooped over)
  3.  Injuries that don’t heal – This includes muscles spasms that are constant, or come and go, in the same area of the body. Numbness and tingling that comes and goes. Tightness in the neck, back, shoulders, or hips.
  4.  Loss of Vitality or Energy