Honey 'could help fight cancer'

Honey and royal jelly could become part of the arsenal of weapons against cancer, researchers say.

A team from the University of Zagreb, in Croatia, found a range of honey-bee products stopped tumours growing or spreading in tests on mice.

Writing in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, they say human cancer sufferers may also see benefits.

But they said the products should be considered for use along with, not instead of, chemotherapy treatment.

Tumour growth

The researchers looked at the potential benefits of bee venom and honey.There is no doubt that honey has beneficial properties and can be very good for you Dr Emma Croager, Cancer Research UK

They also examined compounds found in propolis, or bee glue, a resin-like substance which is used in the hive to varnish over rubbish in the hive - a bit like brushing the dirt under the carpet.

And they also looked at royal jelly, produced by the hypopharyngeal glands in the head of the worker bee - used as food for young larvae,

Tumours were generated in the mice via the injection of cancer cells, and each bee product was given to different mice before, at the same time, or afterwards.

It was found that giving honey orally appeared to inhibit the development of tumours when it was given before the injection of cancer cells - although if given afterwards, it appeared to fuel the development of secondary cancers.

Injecting the mice with royal jelly at the same time as they were injected with tumour cells significantly reduced the spread of the cancer.

Online Bullying Rising in Youths

nternet harassment is becoming more common, affecting nearly one in 10 online adolescents, new research shows.

Back in 2000, a national survey showed that 6% of online youths aged 10-17 reported being harassed online.

That percentage jumped to 9% in 2005, based on a telephone survey of 1,500 adolescents who use the Internet.

Another new study estimates that 11% of online middle school students are bullied online; nearly half of those students don't know their Internet bully's real name, since screen names can hide a person's identity.

Online bullying and online harassment typically happens through chat rooms, text messages, and emails, and it generally happens when teens aren't in school, the studies show.

The findings appear in a special edition of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

ABOUT ACNE

“Acne is a chronic condition that affects people of all ages and skin types. Though not curable, it is highly manageable and controllable. My acne regimens are scientifically proven to address all the factors that can cause acne and skin breakouts.”
Why over-the-counter products don’t work

Many acne products contain Benzoyl Peroxide, a harsh ingredient that can irritate and dry out your skin – and even make your breakouts look worse. Murad Acne products, such as Acne Complex® do not contain Benzoyl Peroxide and are specially formulated with hydrating agents, anti-inflammatories, antioxidants and specific acne-fighters which work together to provide the best environment for achieving optimal health.
Acne Overview

Whether a single blemish or face full of multiple lesions, it’s all acne and Acne Complex® can help.

Acne can occur on the face, neck, chest, shoulders and upper back. The most common skin disorder in the United States, acne (acne vulgaris) is a chronic condition that affects all ages, every ethnicity and both sexes. Though not curable, it is highly manageable and controllable.
How does it happen?

Acne affects nearly 17 million people in the U.S., making it the most common skin disease in the country. But why does it happen? When skin is functioning optimally, the sebaceous glands produce oil that empties onto the skin’s surface. At the same time, dead skin cells are shed at a normal rate as newer, fresher cells rise to the surface. Sometimes, these dead cells shed too fast, clump together and clog the pore. This is called non-inflammatory acne. If this plug stays below the skin’s surface, it is called a “closed comedone” or whitehead. If the plug reaches the skin’s surface and is exposed to air, an “open comedone” or blackhead forms. Contrary to popular belief, the black color is not caused by dirt but rather is due to a process of oxidation.

Besides these non-inflammatory blemishes, you may also have larger, more inflamed breakouts. Inflammatory acne starts when the combination of excess skin cells and oil cause pore-aggravating bacteria to develop. This leads to pimples, redness and overall irritation. The ingredients in Acne Complex® will help cleanse, sooth and revitalize your skin.
The Murad difference

There are also a number of skin conditions that resemble acne such as, eczema, perioral dermatitis and folliculitis. All of this can also be eleviated with Murad’s Acne Complex®. While they may not involve all of the factors that cause real acne, they do have one thing in common – inflammation.

The good news is that Murad Acne products, including Acne Complex® address ALL of the factors of acne and skin breakouts, reducing cell build-up, excess oil and inflammation. Every product contains the three key ingredients in the Murad recipe, hydrating agents, anti-inflammatories, and antioxidants, along with specific acne-fighters, which work together to provide the best environment for achieving optimal skin health. In keeping with Murad’s inclusive health™ philosophy, the acne line also features a patented internal supplement to treat acne breakouts from the inside.

So, whether you have real acne or something that just looks like acne, Murad’s Acne Complex® can put you on the path to healthy, beautiful skin.

Consumer Report: Facial Creams Tested

n your quest for the fountain of youth, you may be swayed to buy a product or two - but before you shell out big bucks on a face cream, CBS 2's Consumer Reporter, Kirstin Cole, has the results of a new study that put some to the test.

You've seen the commercials, promising you doctor's office results of younger skin without using a knife, a needle or a laser. But what can you really get from a jar and what's just marketing hype? There are hundreds of creams available to women. ShopSmart magazine put 9 of some of the most popular to the test. They recruited 200 women to road test them for 12 weeks.

"We had technicians look through high-powered microscopes to see if fine lines were diminishing," said Lisa Freeman, Editor-in-Chief, ShopSmart Magazine. So which, if any, can actually reduce wrinkles? One of the best, according to Freeman, Olay Regenerist three part system for $57. "It's not that expensive you can get it at the drugstore and everyone seems to like it," said Freeman.

Up next? "The second best performer was Lancome and that was about $200," said Freeman. Lancome Paris Renergie day and night cream also tested well as a favorite face firmer. But before you wrinkle your nose at ever going to a dermatologist's office again, know that while these products do work, the most you'll get is a smoothing of fine lines and it was a subtle result, a result confirmed by medical experts.

Bees raring to go

COVENTRY Bees make a rapid return to Reading tonight at the start of a week which could put them into an even stronger position in their quest for a top-two finish.

The Buildbase Bees won at Smallmead as recently as August 1, and although tonight's meeting is a tougher one against full-strength opponents, it is a circuit where they have a terrific recent record.

With a trip to Lakeside coming up on Wednesday, Bees have the opportunity to increase their total of away wins to nine - a figure which their nearest rivals will struggle to match.

Reading were beaten 51-39 at home by Poole on Friday, but the Pirates took advantage of several absentees amongst the Racers, all of whom should be back tonight.

Matej Zagar, who has been struggling with a groin injury, and young Pole Krzysztof Buczkowski will both return, along with reserve Sam Simota who was racing in the European Championships at the weekend.

UK lags behind on cancer survival

ONDON (Reuters) - Cancer survival is improving in Europe but Britain and Denmark are lagging, with lower rates than countries that spend the same amount on health care, according to two new studies published on Tuesday.
(Advertisement)

The latest Eurocare studies -- which include data from 83 cancer registries in 23 countries -- also suggest that wide differences in survival rates among countries are narrowing.

"Increases in survival and decreases in geographic differences over time, which are mainly due to improvements in health-care services in countries with poor survival, might indicate better cancer care," Italian researcher Franco Berrino and colleagues wrote in The Lancet Oncology.

Survival for the four most common cancers -- colorectal, lung, breast and prostate -- and ovarian cancer was best in central Europe and most Nordic states. South Europe was in the middle, followed by Britain and Ireland and then eastern Europe.

The researchers, using data on 2.7 million cancer patients, said if all countries had the mean survival rate of 57 percent of Norway, Sweden and Finland, there would be about 150,000 -- or 12 percent -- fewer deaths in the five years after diagnosis.

They also mostly found, as expected, the more a country spent on health care, the better its survival rates, except for in Britain and Denmark.

In Britain, the five-year survival rate was about 42 percent for men and 52 percent for women, versus the European average of about 45 and 55, respectively.

UK 'lags behind' on cancer deaths

Cancer survival in the UK is still below the European average, despite recent improvements, a report says.

Survival rates in lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer were lower in the UK compared with everywhere except eastern Europe.

The Eurocare studies of 23 countries looked at the outcome of 2.7m new cases between 1995 and 1999.

Government cancer "tsar" Mike Richards said poor results in the UK had been due to delays spotting the disease.

The studies, published in the Lancet Oncology journal, are the largest international projects to compare the survival of patients from 11 different cancers.

See the main results

100% Pure, Fresh (not freeze dried)

Boost Your Vitality, Increase Your Energy and Strengthen Your Immune System

Royal Jelly is a broad spectrum supplement of the highest order, revered throughout history for it’s health enhancing properties and ability to aid recovery after ill health

Royal Jelly provides you with a rich source of natural nutrition, it is highly bio-available and easy to digest.

When you choose a pure, natural and fresh Royal Jelly, all of the precious health benefits are retained (freeze dried / processed Royal Jelly is simply no substitute). This is a cost effective and convenient way to enjoy the wonderful properties of Royal Jelly - just one a day needed.

Royal Jelly is literally bursting with healthy nutrition, just some of the nutrients identified include 22 amino acids, (8 of which are considered essential for your good health), vitamins A, B, C, D and E, an array of essential minerals, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, inositol, folic acid, fatty acids, nucleic acids, enzymes, proteins and sterols

With so many nutritional aspects working together synergistically, it is no wonder that Royal Jelly is so good for you!

Royal Jelly has been revered throughout history for it’s health enhancing properties

Royal Jelly is a broad spectrum superfood of the highest order. A wonderful supplement that provides you with a rich source of complex, natural nutrition.

Royal Jelly is produced by worker bees for the queen bee. This life giving substance ensures that the Queen Bee lives for as long as 5 - 7 years, in comparison worker bees have just a 7 or 8 week lifespan! For the beehive to survive, the Queen Bee must be healthy and strong.

Royal Jelly keeps her immune system strong and health at optimum level.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Royal Jelly is held in great esteem for its ability to improve health and wellbeing, in particular for restoring strength after periods of ill health. Ancient Chinese folklore speaks of Oriental potentates who lived remarkably long lives on a diet of Royal Jelly.

You too can enjoy the same health enhancing power of Royal Jelly

Royal Jelly is rich in protein, B vitamins, minerals amino acids, enzymes and hormones, all in a highly bio-available form. Also present is inositol which helps to break down fat and lower cholesterol. Royal Jelly also possesses within its complex structure a natural antibiotic.

Royal Jelly is harvested using time honoured methods, with utmost respect for the bees and their home. Absolutely no harm comes to the precious natural laboratory or it’s inhabitants.

We supply only fresh, 100% pure Royal Jelly. Freeze dried / processed versions lose much of their nutrient quality and are nutritionally lacking. Choosing Fresh and Pure ensures you enjoy this product at it's very best

BIOFLEX Liquid Glucosamine 1500mg, Chondroitin 800mg, Collagen, MSM, Vitamin C & E

What is Bioflex Glucosamine Liquid?

Bioflex Glucosamine Liquid is a nutritional supplement that has been specially formulated to help support joint health; the liquid form provides an easy and alternative way to take Glucosamine, also making it more absorbable in the system. Dietary sources of Glucosamine are limited; therefore supplementation is essential especially when we get older as Glucosamine reserves tend to decrease in the body.

There are several forms of joint conditions, these are known as Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), such conditions may arise mainly through old age and general wear and tear of joints, however other factors such as excessive physical activity and sports injuries may contribute to the problem. Bioflex Glucosamine liquid combines specialised ingredients, which actively support the joints, these include, Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate, MSM, Collagen, Vitamin C and Vitamin E.

These work synergistically to help maintain healthy flexible joints, repair and strengthen cartilage, ligaments and connective tissue and help in the management to reduce pain and inflammation in and around joints. This is an ideal supplement for people with both Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.


What is Bioflex Glucosamine Liquid for?

The formula combines all the essential nutrients that help to support joint health, it eases joint pain and joint inflammation.

Primarily it is for:


Slowing the progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis, this is joint inflammation
Slowing the progression of Osteoarthritis, general wear and tear of joints
Improves collagen, glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s) and cartilage synthesis
Provides the building blocks to articuclar cartilage
Helps to keep knee’s, hips and joints strong, flexible and supple
It increases synovial fluid and aggrecan so to provide cushioning in and around joints
Provides support for post surgery recovery


Who needs to use Bioflex Glucosamine Liquid?


Generally the aged who develop Osteoarthritis
People with Rheumatoid Arthritis or autoimmune diseases.
People undergoing surgical operations on the joints or related areas
Those recovering from muscle, ligament or torn tissue injuries
Sports people and athletes who use their joints and experience injuries.
Senior citizens who experience prolonged joint pain and inflammation.
Those who work outdoors in the cold weather
The elderly that may find it hard to swallow tablets or capsules


How does Bioflex Glucosamine Liquid work?

There are different stages of Osteoarthritis; GP’s often scale them from 1 to 5. Stage 1 to 2 involve mild symptoms usually morning joint stiffness. This usually is due to loss of water from the joint tissue, thinning of synovial fluid and reduced elasticity, which means stiffer joints.

Stages 3 to 4 are moderate and involve more severe and prolonged discomfort. This may be due to the joint cells suffering poor nutrition and may become toxic, unhealthy cells stop making building blocks or toxic cells may trigger powerful inflammation of joints.

Finally stage 5 is the severe, which may result in joint replacements. This may be due to inflammation may worsen, bones may grind against bone and patients usually are in constant pain.

To understand more about joint health it is important to know what the structural elements are that make up the joints.

Joint Tissues: The main component of ligament, tendons, cartilages and spinal discs is collagen. Collagen is found in skin, bone, cartilage, ligaments and tendons and constitutes a white fibrous connective tissue. The name Collagen is derived from the Greek and means ‘to produce glue’. These joint tissues are in substances called ‘proteoglycans’; this acts as a framework in the making of collagen, resulting in cartilage flexibility and ability to resist impact

Proteoglycans are 95% glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s) and 5% protein. Proteoglycans act as a framework in the modelling of collagen. GAG’s are essentially polysaccharide sugars and also build aggrecan, which is found in cartilage of joints and is responsible for the shock absorbing quality of joint cartilage.

Understanding Arthritis: The early stages of Osteoarthritis are when synovial fluid viscosity, water content and tissue elasticity begins to breakdown. Synovial fluid and water are needed to lubricate, nourish and hydrate cartilage. Nutrients such as Vitamin C and MSM, which is naturally occurring Sulphur use these fluids to access cartilage, it also requires nutrients such as B-vitamin and minerals, without these, joint cells suffer poor nutrition and synthesis of GAG’s is less, furthermore this provides less shock absorbing properties. The lack of sufficient sulphur and other vitamin and mineral nutrition, slows down cell detoxification, this means cells have no vitality and inflammation occurs.

Comments wanted on glucosamine application

The Agency is consulting on the initial draft opinion, by its committee of independent experts the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes, on the use of glucosamine hydrochloride from the fungus Aspergillus niger as a novel food ingredient.

In August 2004, the ACNFP issued an opinion that Cargill's glucosamine HCl derived from A. niger was substantially equivalent to the shellfish-derived glucosamine that was already on the market in food supplements and foods with particular nutritional uses (PARNUTs). The same applicant now seeks approval to market its fungal glucosamine HCl in a range of products, mainly beverages and fermented milk-based products.

Before any new food product can be introduced on the European market it must be rigorously assessed for safety. In the UK, the assessment of novel foods is carried out by the ACNFP, an independent committee of scientists appointed by the Food Standards Agency.

Following an initial public consultation period and the discussion of this application by the ACNFP at its meetings between September 2006 and May 2007, the committee has formulated a draft initial opinion on this novel food ingredient, concluding that the application requires additional assessment.

Any comments should be sent to the ACNFP Secretariat by 15 July and will be passed to the committee before it finalises its opinion on this novel food ingredient.

www.food.gov.uk

Bees force plane to land

A passenger plane was forced to land after flying into a swarm of British bees. The Palmair Boeing 737, with 90 passengers on board, had to return to Bournemouth Airport in southern England shortly after take-off following an engine surge.

The pilot decided to abort the flight to Faro in Portugal and returned for safety checks. The plane's engine was thought to have become clogged with bees. Huge clouds of bees have been seen around Bournemouth these days.

Said a passenger Clive Parker, "one could see bees all around the plane, and then there was suddenly an announcement saying that the plane was returning to England."

Sweet news is DeSoto bees still healthy

As dark clouds threatened rain Friday morning, Charles Force cautiously checked his bee hives.

"Bees are mean on rainy days," said Force, a hobbyist beekeeper in Nesbit.

Force, one of five beekeepers in DeSoto County, has several hives throughout the Delta region and gives away jars of the golden nectar to his family and friends.

"After I retired, I got into my hobby full-time," said Force, who retired in 2000 after 33 1/2 years with Smith & Nephew. "I'm not a salesman. I just like messing with the bees."

A mysterious killer, known as Colony Collapse Disorder -- CCD -- has wiped out bee colonies in the past few months, killing one-quarter of the bees throughout the country, U.S. beekeepers have reported.

But CCD has not landed in DeSoto County, said area beekeepers and agricultural officials.

"I haven't lost any bees," Force said as he used a smoker to calm the bees at one of the five hives behind his Nesbit home off Starlanding Road. "CCD has hit the border states, but not in Mississippi."

Local beekeepers are thankful, saying honeybees do more than just make honey.

"They keep food on our table," said Walls beekeeper Tim Durham. "They pollinate our food, from peaches to apples, and them dying in other states has gotten all of us concerned."

Durham has been a beekeeper in the area for 30 years, and at one point had more than 900 hives throughout the county.

He has been so successful at his hobby that he turned it into a business and is president of Durham's Bee Farm.

Along with his wife and adult children, they use the honeycomb from his hives to make everything from medicinal products such as bee pollen, used to help with allergies, to a beauty cream made from bees' pure royal jelly.

They sell the products online and have customers from China to the United Kingdom, said Durham.

Harry Fulton, director of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, wrote in his Bee News and Views newsletter that he has conducted a survey among commercial and hobbyist beekeepers in the Mississippi area asking about CCD.

"I talked with several of our larger beekeepers a few weeks back when CCD hit the news and am glad to say beekeepers in Mississippi don't have a CCD problem this spring," Fulton wrote in the March newsletter.

CCD was reported to have started in November and has spread to 27 states, Canada, Brazil and in parts of Europe. The cause is unknown, but scientists have theorized the problem could be a disease or parasite.

"Mites could be the parasite, but no one really knows," said Force.

His honeybees have been thriving this spring. May is a good month for honey production.

In fact, his bees have made his youngest son's upcoming wedding next Saturday even sweeter.

His future daughter-in-law asked that bottles of honey be given away to wedding guests as a party favor.

Force's wife, Margaret, spent seven hours filling 150 four-ounce bottles with honey for the wedding.

"I thought it was neat idea to give the honey away at the wedding," Force said. "In fact, I was very pleased."

-- Yolanda Jones: (662) 996-1474

Skin Care Alternatives to Surgery: The Latest Skincare Trend - Acupuncture

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) April 28, 2007 -- Skin care and acupuncture normally don't go together but in Skincare-News.com's latest article, "Cosmetic Acupuncture: An Alternative to Plastic Surgery?" there are exceptions to the rule. http://www.skincare-news.com/articles.php?ArtID=297

According to the article, cosmetic acupuncture is the latest rage with the world's top celebrities:

Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cher and many others have allegedly turned to an age-old treatment, which replaces the traditional facelift - Cosmetic Acupuncture, which is also known as "acupuncture facial rejuvenation" or an "acupuncture facelift."

For those who are wary of going under the knife, this new procedure may be a more welcome option:

Rather than cutting the skin or using harsh chemical peels, acupuncture provides more subtle results that are noticed over time. How does it work? A practitioner will insert tiny, thin needles into wrinkles and frown lines. The needles stimulate energy to flow around the face; blood rushes to the surface, and the muscles relax. The muscles then tighten, which decreases sagging of facial skin. The needles also stimulate the cells to create new collagen fibers under wrinkles, filling in fine lines.

While the prices for this procedure vary, it is still important to take time when finding the right person to perform the job:

When searching for a practitioner, be wary to choose someone with a license who has studied with a qualified teacher, and is part of the American cosmetic acupuncture association.

According to the Skincare News Team's sources, this new trend is bound to stick around for some time but it's always better to play it safe and do research on the subject before committing to the treatments.

Skincare-News.com covers all skincare and beauty topics from head to toe. Check out these latest articles . www.bestroyaljelly.co.uk

Skin Care Mistakes: How to Keep Your Skincare Safe From Premature Aging

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) April 26, 2007 -- Skin care and anti-aging take some time to master but some bad habits may be defeating the purpose. Skincare-News.com's latest article, "Facial and Skin Care Faux Pas: How You May be Adding Years to Your Face", shows lists some of these behaviors as well as solutions to keeping your face looking young.

http://www.skincare-news.com/articles.php?ArtID=296

Practicing facial expressions were once believed to be a good thing but as the article points out, that couldn't be farther from the truth:

Contrary to popular belief, these very facial exercises can lead to early fine lines and wrinkles. Every time you make a certain facial expression, a groove forms beneath the skin's surface. As you get older and your skin begins to slack and lose elasticity, the grooves become permanently embedded in your skin.

Although it may seem obvious, smoking is one way to add more years to your face:
Skincare studies have also shown that individuals, who have smoked for a long time, tend to develop leathery and deeply wrinkled skin, compared to those who never smoked. So if you light up, just know that with each puff, you're sending your journey into old age at warp speed and should quit as soon as you can.

Even certain sleeping habits have been found to add signs of aging to your complexion:
If you continuously rest your face on your pillow the same way for nights in a row, your sleep lines won't disappear once your head is off the pillow. Instead they form into wrinkles. For women who sleep on their sides, these sleep lines often appear on their chin and cheeks, while men tend to get these lines on their foreheads, since a majority of men press their face down into the pillow when they sleep.

According to the Skincare News Team's sources, breaking these bad habits will keep anyone looking young and healthy for years to come.

Skincare-News.com covers all skincare and beauty topics from head to toe. Check out these latest articles:

"Skin Care & Beauty Basics - Part 1: Get to First Base…Foundation, That Is"
http://www.skincare-news.com/articles.php?ArtID=257

Too many women are intimidated by makeup and skin care. They say practice makes perfect so why not give it a shot? Put your makeup fears aside and check out these tips to help you get the flawless look you've been craving.

"Growing Impatient With the Hands of Time"
http://www.skincare-news.com/articles.php?ArtID=254

Do you feel as if you have done everything you can to improve your skincare, and yet you are still battling the years on your skin? Your problem may be solved more simply than you think!

"The Aging Neck…Skincare's Forgotten Frontier!"
http://www.skincare-news.com/articles.php?ArtID=258

Ever notice how the older we get the more often we choose a scarf or turtleneck to wear? Let's be honest, we're not doing it to be fashion forward. From now on, let's solve the problem of that aging neck, and not by hiding it behind knit and silk. Read this article and find out a few ways other than plastic surgery to start sporting a firm, beautiful, and glowing neck. Who wants to look like a turkey, when you can look like a swan?

"Skin Care & Beauty Basics - Part 3: How to Be a Powder Puff Girl!"
http://www.skincare-news.com/articles.php?ArtID=260

Powder is the finishing touch after applying the rest of your makeup. Read on to see how you can make the most out of the powder you use and learn tips to help you get it right every time.

Pure Fresh English Royal Jelly (50g)

Pure Fresh English Royal Jelly is 100% Natural Royal Jelly and is Fresh not Freeze-dried.

Freeze- died is used in most skin preparations, capsules and lozenges and looses all of its natural energy in the process.

Our Royal Jelly is gathered using traditional methods and in no way harms the Bees.

Royal Jelly has long been credited with miraculous rejuvenating and regenerating properties. Legends tell of Oriental potentates who enjoyed renewed sexual powers and lived remarkably long lives with a diet of Royal Jelly. Our Fresh Royal Jelly contains an abundance of Pantothenic acid a nutrient singled out in studies as having a longevity factor. Included in the complex structure of Royal Jelly is an antibiotic a quarter as active as penicillin but without the side effects. Its rich in vitamins A C D & E

Royal Jelly revives and stimulates the function of cells and the secretion of glands. It also steps up the metabolism and stimulates the circulatory system.


Royal Jelly is a hormone balancer and can help hormone related acne, migraine headaches, fluid retention, menopausal hot flushes, morning sickness and postnatal depression

Authorative sources now believe it is the interplay of all the complex factors present in Royal Jelly that work to preserve life and delay the aging process by retaining for as long as possible the physical freshness of the body, elasticity of mind and psychic buoyancy of youth.

Royal Jelly is the food secreted by the worker Bees which is given to the growing Queen larvae.
It contains vitamins, types of hormones and other revivifying substances.

It has a really complex structure. The effects of Royal Jelly on the Bees is nothing short of miraculous.




Royal Jelly can help keep your cholesterol down.


Royal Jelly also steps up the metabolism and stimulates the circulatory system

Royal Jelly contains aspartic acid and mineral silica both of which protect the nervous system. Royal Jelly could benefit those with MS



Recommended dosage ¼ teaspoon daily. Mix with cereal or Yoghurt.

Harvesting Royal Jelly

Royal Jelly - Here is the procedure How to harvest Royal Jelly:

* First you need a bee family without a queen!
* Give them a frame with added piece of wood with special cells.
* In these cells put 20 to 36 hours old bee larvas.

Because bees cannot live without their queen they try to raise a new one. They feed larvas with a lot of royal jelly, trying to make new queens.

* After 48 to 52 hours take these added cells away and take the royal jelly away with a special spoon
* Put new cells with larvas in the hive and bees will fill it again.

* Freeze harvested royal jelly and keep it in a dark room.

PROPOLIS Powerful, Natural Antibiotic

What is Propolis?

Honeybees gather propolis, a resin, from tree bark and leaves. They combine this resin with nectar, creating a mix of wax, pollen and bee bread. They then use this substance to seal their hives, protecting it from outside contaminants. They also use propolis at the entrance to the hive to sterilize themselves as they come and go.

Ancient Healer

While propolis is just now enjoying a rediscovery, its usefulness can be traced back to the time of Hippocrates, who used it to heal sores and ulcers, internally and externally. Through the ages historical documents record its use. Culpepper's Complete Herbal refers to ointments of Propolis for inflammation and fever. In WWII, it was used by the Soviet Union to treat battle wounds. Proppolis is an excellent natural antibiotic and immune system booster.

Nature's Penicillin

Synthetic antibiotics carry with them side effects - propolis, a natural antibiotic, has no such side effects. Propolis has also been shown to fight bacterial strains that have become resistant to synthetic antibiotics.

Active Compounds

from "Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis, and Honey," by Rita Elkins, M.A. Dr. K. Lund Aagaard who is considered a well qualified authority on propolis has said, "Nineteen substances of different chemical structure have been identified so far." These compounds include a number of substances which belong to the flavonoid family including betulene and isovanillin.

Vitmain and Mineral Content

from "Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis, and Honey," by Rita Elkins, M.A.
According to researchers at the Second Leningrad Scientific Conference on the Application of Apiculture (bee culture) in Medicine, Bee Propolis is rich in:

* Vitmin A (carotene)
* Vitamin B1
* Vitamin B2
* Vitamin B3
* biotin
* an array of bioflavonoids
* albumin
* calcium
* magnesium
* iron
* zinc
* silica
* potassium
* phosphorus
* manganese
* cobalt
* copper


NOTE: Propolis contains 500 more bioflavonoids (vitamin P) than is found in oranges.

Except for vitamin K, Propolis has all the known vitamins. Of the fourteen minerals required by the body, Propolis contains them all with the exception of sulfur.

Propolis is comprised of 50 percent to 70 percent resins and balsams, 30 percent to 50 percent wax, 5 percent to 10 percent Bee Pollen and 10 percent essential oils.

Like Royal Jelly and Bee Pollen, Propolis also contains a number of unidentified compounds which work together synergistically to create a perfectly balanced, nutritive substance.

Amino Acids
from "Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis, and Honey," by Rita Elkins, M.A.

Sixteen amino acids have been identified in Propolis.

Character:
from "Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis, and Honey," by Rita Elkins, M.A.
antibacterial, antiviral, antibiotic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant

What's the buzz on beekeeping?

As spring comes to Rock Hill, bees have begun to buzz. Across the nation, these workers have made national headlines because of an unknown disorder that is killing hives. Herald intern and Winthrop University student Adam MacInnis tells how he got into be
By Adam MacInnis · The Herald - Updated 04/10/07 - 12:26 AM

About six years ago, I picked up the newspaper and read that the Clemson Extension Office was offering a course on beekeeping.

Pure Royal Jelly

Photo by Andy Burriss • The Herald

I was home-schooled at the time and a little bored, so I thought, "Why not?"

Taking the course was a great experience from start to finish. Through it, I learned what incredibly complex creatures bees are.

For example, in order for bee eggs to hatch, a hive must be kept around 90 degrees. So in summer, some of the bees will fan their wings to keep it cool. In winter, they cluster together for warmth.

The beekeeping instructors also took us on a field trip to open up the hives and get a hands-on feel for it.

At first, I was a little nervous about opening a hive with tens of thousands of bees inside, but I found out they are surprisingly quiet -- most of the time. Wearing a veil and suit does offer a degree of security.

To keep the bees calm, you light a smoker, which is usually fueled by burlap or pine needles. The smoke causes the bees to eat honey. With full stomachs, they are less likely to sting.

When all the world is crazy, there's something relaxing about going to the bees and seeing the order in a hive.

It's a great hobby.

The workers

The majority of bees in the hive are called worker bees. They have that name for a reason. These sterile female bees do all the chores in the hive from tending to the larvae, making comb, collecting pollen and nectar and protecting against intruders. In the summer, these bees will literally work themselves to death in three to six weeks. In the winter, when there is nothing to forage, they live about 4 1/2 months.

The queen

Every hive has a queen, but only one. A queen starts out like just like worker bees, but as a larvae she is fed royal jelly, which is high in protein, for a longer period of time. As an adult, the queen lays all the eggs for the hive. In the summer, this can be around 1,500 eggs a day. A queen typically lives about two years.

The drones

Drones are male bees. They don't have stingers and do absolutely no work in the hive. Their sole purpose is to mate with the queen. Worker bees tend to them throughout the summer. Come winter, the workers refuse to feed the drones, leaving them to starve to death. In the summer, a drone lives about three months.

-- Source: http://plantphys.info/Plants_human/bees/bees.html

An unknown disorder that is killing honeybee colonies in more than 20 states has spread to South Carolina.

The disorder called "colony collapse disorder" causes bees to abandon the hive, leaving only a few adults and the bee larvae.

Scientists are baffled about what is causing the bees to do this.

Last August, Charlie Johnson, a Rock Hill beekeeper and president-elect for the South Carolina Beekeepers' Association, said he had about 40 hives. Now, he has about 15. He believes the disorder is the cause of the deaths.

"You can have a strong colony of bees, and within a week or two weeks, either there are no bees at all left in the colony or else there is just a small handful of them," he said. "Within a few days, they're gone."

Although the problem has only been recognized nationally in the last few months, Johnson said he thinks it has been around longer and people just didn't know what it was.

"People had a few colonies here and there disappear, and they didn't think anything of it," he said. "There wasn't anything major. Now all of a sudden when they're bringing out the symptoms, we've got beekeepers coming to us saying, 'I've had hives like that for a year and a half, two years now.'"

Locally, he said several people have reported hive losses to the disorder.

"We're finding no dead bees," Johnson said. "They just disappear."

For crops such as apples and vine fruit that depend on bees for pollination, this creates a crisis, Johnson said. Wild bees were killed by mites in the 1980s, which created a dependence on beekeepers, he said. This disorder complicates things.

"We are in a severe shortage right now, and it is going to impact our fruits, especially vine crops," Johnson said.

Tuesday April 10, 2007 Home | Login | Place an Ad | Classifieds | Contact Us | MAKE HOMEPAGE LOCAL WEATHER: CLEAR 32°

Q. I have a comment regarding the lady whose sex drive doesn't match her husband's. Perhaps a better balance in household duties would create a better balance in their sex drives. She is exhausted from working all week and doing all the cooking, cleaning, and child care on the weekends. No wonder she doesn't have the energy! Grandpa needs to take a few things off her to-do list if he wants to have himself put on there! Maybe his energy level would match hers a little better that way, too.

A. You weren't the only one to react to the letter from the woman who felt overwhelmed by her husband's sex drive. Here is another reader's perspective:

"I read with interest the letter from the woman who wrote about her husband's high sex drive and her low one. Maybe her sex drive would improve if she came home from work, put her feet up and perhaps took a bath while her husband did the laundry and cooked dinner and then cleaned up the kitchen. But by then her husband would be asleep.

"She should get a checkup as you suggested, but I think the woman is just exhausted. When you are exhausted, the last thing you want is sex."

Q. My husband is taking a lot of medicines, including Lipitor and niacin for cholesterol control, atenolol for high blood pressure, prednisone for pain and Zoloft for depression. He is having memory problems as well as a lot of muscle weakness, pain and lack of energy. His balance is not good, and his doctor has diagnosed peripheral neuropathy. Could any of these problems be side effects from his medicine?

A. We cannot diagnose your husband's difficulties. Nevertheless, we have heard from hundreds of readers that statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs may cause memory loss as well as muscle pain and weakness. Depression and nerve problems like peripheral neuropathy might also be drug-related.

We discuss these issues in far greater detail and offer some alternative treatments in our new book, "Best Choices From The People's Pharmacy" (Rodale). Information is available at www.peoplespharmacy.com or at your local public library.

The combination of niacin and a statin-type drug such as Lipitor might increase the risk of a serious reaction called rhabdomyolysis.

Your husband's doctor should be informed of his symptoms. Your husband also should ask his doctor about atenolol; its effectiveness as a blood pressure-lowering drug is controversial, and it may sometimes cause fatigue and depression.

Q. I love to eat hard-boiled eggs, but do not like the yolk. Do I get any type of benefit just eating the white of the egg? The dog gets the yolk!

A. Egg white provides high-quality, low-fat protein. Your dog is getting all the cholesterol, plus the other nutrients such as lutein found in egg yolks.


People's Herbal Pharmacy
Q. I am a diet-controlled diabetic. I would like your opinion of a water extract product of cinnamon (Cinnulin PF). Is it safe and effective for lowering blood sugar?

A. Data suggest that a component in cinnamon can indeed help control blood sugar. We worry that some of the cinnamon in the kitchen spice rack might be contaminated with coumarin, a compound that can be toxic to the liver when ingested in large amounts.

Because Cinnulin PF is a water-extracted cinnamon product, it appears to be safer than ordinary cinnamon. It is available in health-food stores or on the Web (www.cinnulinpf.com). You will need to monitor blood sugar carefully and remain under medical supervision while trying this dietary supplement.

Q. I have arthritis in my fingers, and I'm sure using the computer has compounded the pain. I can't take anti-inflammatory medication due to an ulcer, so would you suggest other supplements that might help?

A. There are many herbs and dietary supplements that can ease inflammation. One person offered the following: "The combination of boswellia and glucosamine-MSM replaces nonsteroidal pain relievers and works well for me.

"Nine years ago I was literally falling down occasionally because of the pain in my spine. I heard someone say that the herb boswellia had 'saved her life' because of back pain. That Saturday, I started boswellia. In two weeks the pain decreased, and after a month there was an enormous difference. At last I could sleep and I could walk. Several years later, the arthritis increased, and I added MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin. I take them with boswellia and get good relief."

Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. E-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com

What is royal jelly

Hi Alice,

Could you please tell me what royal jelly is? What are the benefits and side effects of taking it?

Thanks! Polly



Dear Polly,

Royal jelly is the food of queens — not human monarchs, but Queen bees. It's actually a substance secreted from the glands in the heads of worker bees that's fed to bee larvae. After a few days, the larvae that have potential to develop into queens continue to be fed this nectar. Since queen bees are much bigger, live much longer, and are more fertile than all the other bees, this potion is believed by some to impart mystical qualities. In reality, royal jelly is comprised of 60 - 70 percent water, 12 - 15 percent protein, 10 - 16 percent sugars, and 3 - 6 percent fats, with vitamins, salts, and free amino acids making up the rest.

People who are allergic to bees and honey, and those who have asthma, can face real dangers if they take royal jelly. Reactions ranging from bronchial spasms, skin irritations, and asthma attacks, to more severe anaphylactic shock, and even death, have been reported from its ingestion. As with many supplements, pregnant and lactating women and small children need to refrain from using royal jelly. To be on the safe side, anyone with a compromised immune system also needs to beware.

So, what's all the buzz about royal jelly? This supplement has been taken for a host of ailments. In addition to its use as a general health tonic, people take royal jelly to:

enhance immunity
prevent arthritis and multiple sclerosis
treat asthma
slow the signs of aging
stimulate hair growth
improve sexual performance
reduce symptoms of menopause
heal bone fractures
lower cholesterol
alleviate cardiovascular ailments
remedy liver disease, pancreatitis, insomnia, fatigue, ulcers, and digestive and skin disorders
Whew. What a list! Unfortunately, good evidence does not exist for any of these purported health claims. Although studies with rabbits and rats showed a reduction in their cholesterol levels, and some human trials found a lowering of the bad LDL cholesterol levels, these reports have not been published, so it is impossible to evaluate their validity. Seems like royal jelly is just a royal scam.

Killer disease striking down Honey bees in US

By Bernie Mitchell
4 April 2007 -- Pick whichever name you like but at the end of the day honey bees are dying out at a horrendously fast rate in the US.

While it's been called Fall Dwindle Disease by some, others are referring to it as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). The essential point is that in 24 US states bees are dying.

CCD is the latest, and most serious, die-off of honey bee colonies across the US. It is characterized by, sudden colony death with a lack of adult bees in front of the dead-outs. Honey and bee bread are usually present and there is often evidence of recent brood rearing.

In some cases, the queen and a small number of survivor bees may be present in the brood nest. It is also characterized by delayed robbing and slower than normal invasion by common pests such as wax moth and small hive beetles.

This phenomenon first became apparent among commercial migratory beekeepers along the East Coast during the last few months of 2006 and has since been reported nationwide.

The disappearance of nature's pollinators could have drastic affect on agriculture and horticulture industries.

Importance of Honey Bee Pollination
Honey bees (genus Apis) are the most economically valuable pollinators of agricultural crops worldwide. In the US, bee pollination of agricultural crops is said to account for about one-third of the US diet, and contribute to the production of a wide range of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, forage crops, some field crops, and other specialty crops.

The monetary value of
as commercial pollinators in the United States is estimated at about $15 billion annually. This estimated value is measured according to the additional value of production attributable to honey bees, in terms of the value of the increased yield and quality achieved from honey bee pollination, including the indirect benefits of bee pollination required for seed production of some crops.

About one-third of the estimated value of commercial honey bee pollination is in alfalfa production, mostly for alfalfa hay. Another nearly 10% of the value of honey bee pollination is for apples, followed by 6-7% of the value each for almonds, citrus, cotton, and soybeans.

A number of agricultural crops are almost totally dependent on honey bee pollination (90-100%), including almonds, apples, avocados, blueberries, cranberries, cherries, kiwifruit, macadamia nuts, asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, onions, legume seeds, pumpkins, squash, and sunflowers. Other specialty crops also rely on honey bee pollination, but to a lesser degree. These crops include apricot, citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangerines, etc), peaches, pears, nectarines, plums, grapes, brambleberries, strawberries, olives, melon (cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew), peanuts, cotton, soybeans, and sugarbeets.

Another study found that pollinators are essential for the production of some US-grown crops, particularly macadamia nuts, squash, and pumpkins.

In the United States, most pollination services are provided by commercial migratory beekeepers who travel from state to state and provide pollination services to crop producers. These operations are able to supply a large number of bee colonies during the critical phase of a crop's bloom cycle, when honey bees pollinate a crop as they fly from flower to flower collecting nectar and pollen, which they carry back to the nest.

Each year, an estimated more than 2 million bee colonies are rented for US crop pollination. Available limited information indicates that the greatest number of honey bee colony rentals are for apple and almond production, followed by clover seed, cherries, and pears.


About the disease
The current phenomenon was first called "Fall-Dwindle Disease," but has been renamed CCD because of the unusual characteristics of the honey bee colony declines. First, the condition is not only seasonal but manifests itself throughout the year. Second, the term "dwindle" implies a gradual loss; CCD onset is sudden. Third, the term "disappearance" has been used to describe other types of conditions, which differ from the symptoms currently being associated with CCD. Finally, the term "disease" is usually associated with a biological agent but none has yet been identified.

The first report of CCD was in mid-November 2006 by a Pennsylvania beekeeper overwintering in Florida. By February 2007, large commercial migratory beekeepers in several states reported heavy losses associated with CCD. Reports of losses vary widely, ranging from losses of 30-90% of their bee colonies; some beekeepers fear loss of nearly all of their colonies in some cases. Surviving colonies are reportedly weakened and may no longer be viable to pollinate or produce honey.

Honey bee colony losses also have been reported in Canada and Europe.

Symptoms of Colony Collapse Disorder
One of the key symptoms of CCD in collapsed colonies is that the adult population is suddenly gone without any accumulation of dead bees.

The bees are not returning to the hive but are leaving behind their brood (young bees), their queen, and maybe a small cluster of adults. What is uncharacteristic about this situation is that the honey bee is a very social and colony-oriented insect.

New Nature Made TripleFlex Rapid Relief Delivers Powerful Joint Comfort in as Little as Seven Days

NORTHRIDGE, Calif., March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Arthritis Foundation, nearly one in three U.S. adults experiences joint discomfort regularly, preventing them from enjoying everyday activities. Now there is a fast-acting, safe and effective way to alleviate discomfort and improve joint health. Nature Made(R) introduces its latest addition to the trusted TripleFlex(R) family, TripleFlex Rapid Relief, available beginning in February 2007 at grocery, drug and mass stores nationwide.

TripleFlex Rapid Relief is a powerful breakthrough in joint relief that combines glucosamine to rebuild cartilage, MSM for extra joint comfort and a proprietary blend of ingredients with white willow bark formulated to deliver joint comfort in as little as seven days. This is faster than glucosamine alone.

"TripleFlex Rapid Relief works with people's bodies to quickly improve joint comfort, mobility and flexibility," says Belinda Jenks, Ph.D., F.A.C.N., R.D., director of scientific affairs and nutrition education, Pharmavite LLC. "This product offers an option for people who want faster natural relief but without significant side effects."

TripleFlex Rapid Relief was developed by doctors based on more than twenty clinical studies showing effectiveness of the following ingredients on managing joint discomfort:

* Glucosamine (1500mg) is nature's basic building block for maintaining and rebuilding joint cartilage.

* Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) (750mg) is a natural source of dietary sulfur. Sulfur plays an especially critical role in maintaining the elasticity and flexibility of the connective tissue that make up joints.

* An all-natural proprietary blend (500mg) with white willow bark and ginger root is formulated to naturally ease joint discomfort in as little as seven days.


TripleFlex Rapid Relief comes in a convenient two tablets a day formula. The suggested retail price of TripleFlex Rapid Relief is $21.99 for a 60-count bottle. Consumers should not take TripleFlex Rapid Relief if pregnant, nursing or allergic or sensitive to aspirin. People taking a blood thinning medication should first consult their health care professional.

About TripleFlex

TripleFlex works with the body naturally to improve joint comfort, mobility and flexibility. TripleFlex is a proud sponsor of the Arthritis Foundation and a national sponsor of the Arthritis Walk(SM). Learn more about the Nature Made TripleFlex Family of products by visiting http://www.naturemade.com/, http://www.tripleflex.com/ or calling Nature Made's consumer affairs department toll free at 1-800-276-2878.

About Pharmavite

For more than 30 years, Pharmavite has earned and maintained the trust of pharmacists, consumers, and retailers by manufacturing high-quality vitamins, minerals, herbs and other dietary supplements that are safe, effective and science-based. As an industry leader, Pharmavite adheres to manufacturing standards recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), a not-for-profit organization that has set pharmaceutical and dietary supplement quality standards since 1820. In addition, Pharmavite participates in USP's Verification Program for dietary supplements. The dietary supplement industry is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as by government agencies in each of the 50 states.

The miracle of honey

MORE than 1,400 years ago Allah and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, told us that honey can heal a variety of medical problems.

Allah says in the Qur’an, “And the Lord inspired the bee, saying: Take your habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. Then, eat of all fruits and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you).’ There comes forth from their bellies a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men. Verily in this is indeed a sign for people who think.” (16:68-69)
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, has also told us of the healing found within honey for a variety of medical problems, including stomach ailments. One hadith, reported by Bukhari, states that a man came to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, because his brother had a stomach disorder. The Prophet said, “Let him drink honey.” The man returned a second time, saying his brother had stomach disorder, and again the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said, “Let him drink honey.” He returned a third time, saying again that his brother had stomach disorder. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, responded again, “Let him drink honey.” The man returned and said, “I have done that.” The Prophet then responded, “Allah has said the truth, but your brother’s stomach has told a lie. Let him drink honey.” He drank it and was cured.

Tirmithi, Ibn Majah and Baihaqi also reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said, “Make use of the two remedies: honey and the Qur’an.”

Modern medicine is only just learning of this fact. Traditional uses of honey have included honey mixed with lemon for sore throats. Honey coats the throat and reduces throat irritation. Research has already shown that honey blocks the growth of oral bacteria. Honey has also been used for stomach pains and problems. Modern research shows that honey is effective when used in the treatment of gastric or peptic stomach ulcers. Research has also revealed that honey is effective in the treatment of various wounds and infections because of its anti-microbial (anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal) properties.

Researchers are not absolutely sure why honey heals but they are learning new things about honey every day. We do know that honey contains a variety of sugars and minerals. Honey is also considered an antioxidant. This means it allows the blood to circulate better and provide more oxygen to areas of the body such as the brain. Honey can also be used externally to promote healing when applied to wounds, even post-operative wounds. Honey has also been effective in its use to treat burns. It has even been shown to be low in calories and useful as a sweetener for diabetics, people with heart disease or those overweight.

Although there is healing in honey for a variety of medical disorders, certain precautions should also be taken. Children under the age of one year should never be given honey due to the possibility of infant botulism. This type of food poisoning can be deadly, however, it only seems to affect infants under one year of age. Also, if you have any known allergies to specific plants, then you should make sure the honey you are using is not made from that plant. People with allergies to bee stings should also be careful when using other bee-related products such as propolis or royal jelly. If these precautions are followed, then honey may provide healing for you.
As Muslims, we must acknowledge and accept that Allah and His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, know better and have revealed the truth. We should, therefore, accept that honey can heal and make use of it. We should study the research that is available, not to confirm or deny the truth that has been revealed by Allah and His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, but to learn of new ways we can use honey.

(Article by Vivian bint Joan Taylor, first published in Al Jumu’ah magazine)

Bees stung by insecticides in pollen

There are many pesticides which are highly successful in culling their target populations but which have a detrimental effect on other, more friendly forms of wildlife. One such agent is the insecticide fipronil which is used to control pests in crops, including locusts. It is also effective against domestic insect pests such as ants and cockroaches, as well as ticks, mites and fleas carried on animals. ( Royal jelly )

Much of the success of fipronil relies on the fact that it is slow acting. When it is mixed with bait, it is taken back to the colonies and spread about, accelerating the rate of kill. The predicted rate of kill after 3 days is about 95% for ants and cockroaches. It acts by attacking the central nervous system, disrupting the chloride channel that is regulated by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Unfortunately, fipronil, a phenylpyrazole type of insecticide, is also highly toxic to bees with a low 50% lethal dose (LD₅₀) of 0.004-0.006 µg/bee. Its long half-life on treated vegetation of 3-7 months ensures prolonged exposure for the bees, which can come into contact via the vegetation itself and through pollen and nectar. Even at sub-lethal doses, the insecticide adversely affects the feeding activity of bees and the ratio of inactive to active bees.

It is the combination of this high apiarian toxicity and widespread use that has prompted a team of Spanish scientists at the University of Valladolid to ask if fipronil is responsible for the current decline observed in the population of honey bees. Furthermore, if bees inadvertently collect fipronil and take it back to the hive, it will end up in hive-based products such as honey and royal jelly. While human health is not a primary concern because the World Health Organisation classifies fipronil as a moderately hazardous compound, extensive human testing has not been carried out.

The research team noted that there are several published methods for measuring pesticide residues in pollen but found only two specifically for fipronil. Recognising that extraction is an essential part of the analytical process, they set out to compare various sample preparation protocols for removing fipronil from pollen for subsequent analysis by gas chromatography with electron capture and mass spectrometric detection.

Three different generalised techniques were explored - extraction with organic solvents, solid-phase extraction (SPE) on cartridges or a Florisil column, and matrix-solid-phase dispersion (MSPD).

The solid-liquid extractions were carried out with a group of solvents that covered a wide polarity range - methanol, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, acetone, dichloromethane and hexane. After two-fold extraction, the best recoveries measured by GC/ECD were close to 66% for acetonitrile and ethyl acetate. Subsequent liquid-liquid extraction removed co-extracted impurities to give cleaner chromatograms. The GC/MS recoveries were artificially high (up to 200%) due to the presence of co-extracted matrix components.

For SPE, the acetonitrile or methanol extracts were cleaned up on 5 types of cartridge or the Florisil column. The best SPE performances were obtained by adding water to the extracts then using C18 or polymeric (styrene-divinylbenzene) cartridges, with recoveries of more than 80% measured by GC/ECD. With Florisil, the figure was more than 75%. Once again, matrix effects distorted the yields in GC/MS.

MSPD using Florisil mixed with pollen gave comparable recoveries but the chromatograms showed an irregular baseline and the presence of many co-extracted compounds which obscured the fipronil peak at lower concentrations.

The researchers recommended the use of SPE or Florisil chromatography of acetonitrile extracts as the best recovery methods. Although GC/ECD was able to determine fipronil at trace concentrations, they also advocated the use of GC/MS because it has the added benefit of being able to identify the insecticide peak. The use of matrix-matched calibrations using spiked samples corrected the abnormally high recoveries observed.

With this technique, detection limits of 0.07 µg/kg pollen were achieved, about 12-19-fold above the LD₅₀ value of fipronil in bees. The proposed method could enable an attempted correlation between pollen levels of the insecticide and honey bee populations.

Related links:

• Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Valladolid
• Journal of Chromatogry A, 2007 (Article in Press): "Comparative study of sample preparation procedures to determine fipronil in pollen by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric and electron-capture detection"

Article by Steve Down

The views represented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.

Baby chicks may come with salmonella

Giving a baby chick as an Easter gift to children could also carry the gift of salmonella poisoning.

Health officials warned Thursday about giving the popular gift.

Last year, three salmonella outbreaks were linked to several hatcheries across the country, including one in Washington.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, more than 80 people were sickened in 2006 after being exposed to baby poultry bought at agricultural feed stores.

The report showed the Washington hatchery, one of the sources for the baby poultry, was also a source of salmonella outbreaks in 1995, 1996, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

A CDC official said Thursday she could not release the name of the specific hatchery. Salmonella outbreaks connected to baby chicks also were reported in Michigan, Nebraska and Ohio.

Baby poultry such as chickens and ducks easily spread salmonella, which is carried inside their intestines, and causes fever, stomach ache and diarrhea. Children are exposed to the bacteria by holding the birds, then touching their mouths or faces. But some people have been contaminated at petting zoos simply from leaning on a fence, said Ron Wohrle, environmental veterinarian for the Washington Department of Health.

Royal Jely | Glucosamine Gel |

Pharmacy policy would ensure filling of orders

The Washington State Board of Pharmacy could vote as early as today on policy changes that would allow patients to get prescriptions filled even if pharmacists are opposed to them for moral, religious or ethical reasons.

It's an issue that's been debated since 2004 when reports began circulating nationwide that pharmacists were refusing to fill some prescriptions -- primarily those for the so-called Plan B, a birth control measure that needs to be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse.

The latest proposals essentially would require pharmacies either to deliver legally prescribed drugs, or make sure customers could get the medication elsewhere in a timely manner.

The morning-after pill prevents ovulation by blocking an egg from implanting in the uterus. Opponents compare taking the pill to abortion, although many medical experts rebut that claim.

At a public hearing on the proposals Thursday, advocates and opponents appeared fairly evenly divided.

Proponents -- women with babies, a group of about 40 women in pink T-shirts proclaiming "Access Delayed is Healthcare Denied" and other advocates for women's health care -- were among about 200 people packed into the Renton Community Center for a public hearing.

Glucosamine Liquid | Royal Jelly

Skin Eruptions: Is it a Pimple, Pustule, Carbuncle or Cyst?

By Christine Haran

Practically everyone has a story about an unwelcome pimple that managed to rear its ugly head on a day that involved a job interview, class photo or date.

One possible reason for the poor timing of breakouts is that acne can be caused by stress. And although we may be tempted to blame these eruptions on the chocolate bar or greasy hamburger eaten the night before, there's little scientific evidence to back up this old wives' tale or many of the other myths about acne.

It's well established, however, that teenagers are particularly unlucky when it comes to acne. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, nearly 100 percent of teenagers have pimples now and then, and 40 percent of teens have acne that is severe enough to require treatment. But it's not just a problem for adolescents: Acne can continue to be an issue into the 20s and 30s—and sometimes people get acne for the first time as adults.

Below, Diane Berson, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City, discusses what causes acne and how to treat it.

What is acne?

Acne can appear a lot of different ways. Usually it consists of blackheads and whiteheads, which we commonly refer to respectively as open comedones and closed comedones. It can also consist of papules, which are pink pimples, and pustules, which are white, pus-filled pimples, and sometimes more painful and larger nodules and sebaceous cysts. Carbuncles are infected cysts.

Are the characteristics of acne different in adulthood?
Usually it's the non-inflammatory, or blackhead and whitehead lesions, that start to come out during adolescence, when kids start getting oily in their T zones: their forehead, nose and chin. As people get a little older and the acne becomes more severe, they develop more inflammatory lesions that involve redness and swelling.

Adults, especially adult females, tend to have more acne breakouts on the lower half of the face, such as the cheeks, the jaw line, the chin and the neck. No one knows exactly why those are the areas that tend to break out more, but with adult women it's assumed that those areas might be more sensitive to hormones.

Where else on the body can acne appear?

Adolescents start out with acne in the T zone, and then get more inflammed acne that can migrate down to the chest and back and sometimes the buttocks. It might mean that there are excess hormones being produced in these areas, but we don't exactly know why acne follows this pattern.

What are risk factors for acne?

It's assumed that genetics and hormones play a role in starting acne. Other factors that might contribute to flares of acne include stress and certain skin

What causes acne?

We usually talk about the four most common factors that contribute to the development of acne. The first is increased shedding of cells that clog the hair follicle and the second is increased sebum, or oil, production; that oil accumulates in the clogged follicle. Usually increased sebum production occurs with the hormonal surge of puberty. The third factor is the growth of bacteria, which is most commonly referred to as P. acnes. The fourth factor is the development of inflammation, which is the body's response to having the pimple or the bacteria there.

When does acne lead to scarring?

The more inflamed acne is, the more likely it is to heal with scarring. Also, the longer the lesion has been there, the more likely it is to lead to scarring. Sometimes, the darker the skin tone, the more likely it is to lead to scarring.

What does good preventive care involve for teenagers and adults?

It really depends on whether they have the acne lesions yet or not. If they don't, it's just washing the face twice a day, and if they're a little oily, maybe using a cleanser or a toner that contains salicylic acid to help unclog the pores. But once they do develop the first sign of acne, we recommend that they see a dermatologist who can start them on a topical regimen to not only clear what acne is there, but to prevent further acne breakouts.

Are there over-the-counter products that you recommend?

For mild acne, I think the best ones that we usually recommend are those which contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

What are some common myths about acne treatment?

The two big myths are that food causes acne and that dirt causes acne. Unfortunately, a lot of teenagers think dirt does cause acne, so they tend to over-scrub their face and probably make their complexion worse.

Another myth is that sunlight will help treat your acne. It can dry out the pimples a little bit, and it can temporarily camouflage the acne by making you develop a sunburn and therefore get red, but it really doesn't help treat acne, and we all know that lying in the sun isn't good for you.

And picking or squeezing can traumatize the acne lesions and that will increase the chances of developing an infection and scarring.

How is acne treated?

Usually, dermatologists will prescribe a topical retinoid. And along with this, they'll usually prescribe an antimicrobial agent such as either topical benzoyl peroxide or a topical antibiotic.

Systemic treatments are usually oral antibiotics, which are added when there's more inflammation, and for those with more severe acne, oral isotretinoin is used. For women, we often also add hormonal therapy such as the birth control pill or antiandrogens, which block the effect of certain hormones that tend to stimulate acne.

What is the current thinking on the use of the acne drug Accutane?

Dermatologists still think it's an incredibly valuable drug for those who have acne that hasn't responded to other therapies or who have acne that's very severe.

There are certain side effects and the main issue is that a woman who's of childbearing age must completely avoid pregnancy while she's taking it, because if a woman were to become pregnant while taking it, she could give birth to a baby with birth defects.

Accutane and depression have been associated, mostly in adolescents, but there's not a clear-cut relationship. There are adolescents who become depressed about their acne and depression is common in adolescents, so it's not clear if the depression is due to the Accutane. And when they go off the drug, does their depression lift because it was caused by Accutane or because their acne is better? But depression is something dermatologists are aware of and when I counsel an adolescent, I make them aware that there might be some depression or moodiness, and that they must contact me if they experience this.

How is scarring treated?

The traditional ways are with chemical peels or dermabrasion. Because peels or dermabrasion peel or abrade off a whole layer of skin, there's a lot more downtime associated with it. One of the newer ways you can try to treat scarring is with certain lasers such as the Smoothbeam and the CoolTouch. With some of these laser treatments, you can resume your normal lifestyle right afterwards.

Does acne ever reflect an underlying medical condition?

Well, certainly it can. Young girls or even adult women who present with sudden acne and also have excess facial hair growth or thinning of their scalp hair and maybe irregular menstrual cycles might have an underlying hormonal abnormality, such as an adrenal problem or an ovarian problem. You can also develop acne after taking certain medications such as lithium, antidepressants and steroids.

Is there sort of a typical length of treatment that people need?

It can take four to six months for acne to improve. It's important that especially adolescents understand that, because it's not something that's going to get better overnight. It requires a commitment to the regimen and knowing that if it doesn't get better right away, it still can and that you should stick with the regimen.

Dry Skin Care - how to use royal jelly

With too many roles for woman to juggle in today’s fast paced, high pressured lifestyle, there is very little time for her to pamper herself.

With tension, worries, anxiety and age, the skin become less active leaving it drier, fragile, prone to wrinkle, lines near the eyes and mouth and losing the youthful colour and glow.

Failure of oil glands failing to release enough oils to moisturize and protect the skin results in dry skin. Environmental causes like dry air, harsh wind, hormonal imbalance, usage of aggressive chemicals, cosmetics or excessive bathing with harsh soaps saps the moisture from the skin making it dryer, flakier and chapped during winter.

Caring for Dry Skin

- Cleanse and Moisturize: The dry skin should be cleansed with a cold cream and alcohol-free skin fresheners to remove the cream. After cleansing, the skin needs a lubricating emollient or a moisturizer when the face is damp after the wash.

- Splash your face with cold water or gently wipe the skin with rose water to tone the skin nicely.

- Avoid using highly alkaline soaps and detergents like washing sodas and powders.

- Avoid the sun, harsh winds and hot baths. Use oil-based creams and make-up products only. Use soft towels or wash cloth to avoid irritation to the skin while wiping it.

- Smoking deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients it needs for good health making the skin dry and leathery.

- Chapped or cracked skin - increase consumption of water. Keep chapped areas well lubricated and protected from the elements using a good nourishing cream or moisturizer.

- Use creamy, mild, pH-balanced products such moisture based cream gels, lotions, etc for dry skin care.

A well balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds and nuts provides the body with all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed for healthy skin. Drinking water and reducing solar exposure to a minimum is also beneficial. Garlic, onions, eggs and asparagus help to keep the skin smooth and youthful. Carrots, apricots, rich in vitamins A, C keep the skin supple. Increase intake of foods like leafy raw green veggies, dairy products like yoghurt, milk. Lessen fried foods, soft drinks, sugar, chocolates, junk foods, alcohol, caffeine and other foods that have diuretic effecting causing the body and skin to loose fluids, vitamins and essential minerals.

How to Create Your Own Natural Skin Care Recipes

Ever thought of experimenting with your own natural skin care recipes to combat that dry flaky skin?

You have to know that skin basically does everything alone. This means that it can produce enough oil from the sebaceous glands to make it shine and work together perfectly. The problems appear when it becomes dry.

Keeping this in mind there are several solutions you can apply using ingredients already found inside your home or at the local grocery shop.

Remember that what you eat is very important and bad diets or insufficient nutritional ingredients damage every part of the body. To be healthy and have perfect skin a balanced diet is the first factor that has to be taken into consideration. Perfect glowing skin can be achieved.

Have you heard of proteins? Well, they are very important for one’s skin regeneration and repair. Processed food rich in preservatives and salt will take moisture out of your skin. They can also cause the dreaded dry skin everybody is afraid of. Why not eat fish (salmon is the best), turkey, chicken or include in your diet vegetable protein? The all hated vegetables! They contain vegetal protein which is perfect for the body. Avoid frozen food! Vegetables are especially good if fresh.

Why not include in your natural skin care recipes ingredients such as garlic, onions or eggs? The contain Sulfur in a natural form and this substance is very important for the skin. Several multi-vitamins out there also contain sulfur and should be taken into account if your diet is lacking it.

Is your skin cracked? Have you considered being careful that your body receives enough vitamins A and B? Lacks of them cause this. Include in your diet food that contains these vitamins and eat carrots.

Beta-Carotene can be found in them and it’s good not only for your eyes. It plays a significant role in skin care as well.

What you also have to include in your diets number:

* Alpha-Hydroxy acids
* EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids)
* Lactic Acid
* Supplements
* Vitamin E
* Aloe Vera

Another important rule is: Avoid Junk Food! It is simply not good for you from all point of views.

Natural skin care recipes are available everywhere. Some work, some don’t! The best method of choosing one is to ask friends that use them. Also keep in mind that what works for somebody may not work on you! Don’t be discouraged and keep trying.

The best way to keep your skin perfect is by eating healthy and give your body every vitamin and mineral it needs. In most cases there is no need of expensive creams or lotions. A good moisturizer can replace them all if combined with a healthy way of eating.

About The Author

Jerrick Foo has been researching and developing all dry skin care the purpose of offering men and women safe, dry skin care tips. He have created Dry Skin Care Guide to share his 10 years of combined expertise with you. Visit http://www.dry-skin-care-guide.com for essential skin care tips.

3 Easy And Convenient Natural Skin Care Solutions

Natural skin care solutions may seem hard to find, or too overwhelmingto decide which is best for your skin. You wander the aisles trying tofigure out which ones are a real skin care solution. You trycucumbers or tea bags over your eyes, and other recipes and advise fromfriends, but none of their skin care solutions are working for you. Noneed to fret!

Here are 3 easy solutions for you:

1. A mixture of lavender, German chamomile, frankincense, wheat germ,grape seed, jojoba and olive oils can make great skin care for your face.It can reduce or help prevent wrinkles. You can also use these oils tocreate your own body oils and lotions. The best thing about naturalskin care is you get to customize it just for you!

2. For exfoliation, you can use any of the oils mentioned above, orothers that you enjoy and mix with a salt scrub. Use this to exfoliate yourskin for soothing and relaxing, natural skin care solution.

3. Some perfumes can aggravate your skin, giving you unsightly rashesand even effect your allergies. This happens because of the chemicalsused in most manufactured perfumes. You can create your own naturalperfumes with a jojoba oil base and various blends of essential oils. Mix andmatch, experiment to create a natural perfume that you enjoy.

Essential oils are excellent for the creation of your own natural skincare uses. It’s also fun to make your own natural skin care solutionsusing different oils and bases! Have fun while taking care of your skinwith products that you know what ingredients are being put in it. Youcan take control of your skin care with your own natural skin caresolutions!

About The Author

Jerrick Foo has been researching and developing all dry skin care the purpose of offering men and women safe, dry skin care tips. He have created Dry Skin Care Guide to share his 10 years of combined expertise with you. Visit http://www.dry-skin-care-guide.com for essential skin care tips.

Herbal Skin Care

Skin care is not a topic of recent times; it has been in practice since ancient times, when herbal skin care was probably the only way to take care of skin. However, skin care has transformed in a big way. Herbal skin care routines have been replaced by synthetic/chemical-based skin care routines. The herbal skin care recipes which once used to be common place are not so popular today (and even unknown to a large population). This transformation from herbal skin care to synthetic, can probably be attributed to two things – our laziness (or just the fast pace of lives) and the commercialisation of skin care. Even herbal skin care products have been commercialised. These commercial herbal skin care products have to be mixed with preservatives in order to increase their shelf-life, hence making them less effective than the fresh ones made at home. However, it seems that things are changing fast and more people are now opting for natural and herbal skin care routines. But still, none want to make them at home and hence the commercial market of herbal skin care products is on the rise.

So what are these herbs or herbal skin care mechanisms?

Aloe vera, which is an extract from Aloe plant, is one of the best examples of herbal skin care product. Freshly extracted aloe vera is a natural hydrant that helps in soothing skin. It also helps in healing cuts and treating sun burns.

A number of herbs are known to possess cleansing properties. Dandelion, chamomile, lime flowers and rosemary herbs, are a few examples of such cleansers. Their herbal skin care properties get invoked when they are combined with other herbs like tea.

Antiseptics are another important part of Herbal skin care. Lavender, marigold, thyme and fennel are good examples of herbs that are known to possess antiseptic properties. Lavender water and rose water also form good toners.

Tea plays an important part in herbal skin care. Tea extracts are used for treatment of skin that has been damaged by UV radiation.

Oils prepared from herbal extracts present another means of herbal skin care. Tea tree oil, Lavender oil, borage oil and primrose oil are some popular oils used in herbal skin care. Some fruit oils (e.g. extracts from fruits like banana, apple and melon) find use in shower gels (as a hydrating mix)

Homeopathic treatments and aromatherapies also come under the umbrella of herbal skin care remedies.

Herbal skin care is good not only for the routine nourishing of skin but also for treatment of skin disorders like eczema and psorasis. Most herbal skin care products don’t have any side effects (the most important reason for preferring them over synthetic products) Moreover, herbal skin care products can be easily made at home, hence making them even more attractive. So, herbal skin care is the way to go. However, this does not mean that you totally discard the synthetic products. Some people go to the extent of debating with their dermatologist, if he/she suggests a synthetic product. You should accept the fact that some skin orders might need usage of clinically proven non-herbal skin care products.

Many skin care tips and articles: http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com/beauty/skin-care.htm

Copyright http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com

About The Author

Ellen Biddle for http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com. Find lots of makeup and beauty tips here with many useful articles on skin care (http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com/beauty/skin-care.htm). Also learn how to get rid of dark circles under eyes (http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com/dark-circles.htm).

Winter Skin Care Strategies

As the cold weather approaches, it may be time to consider your skin care strategy for the winter months ahead. Dry air and cold wind can have a significant effect on the health of your skin, and you will want to do everything you can to protect your skin from the harsh winter elements. Give some serious consideration to the following information, and be proactive about the health of your skin.

Even though you will be bundled up in winter clothing, you should still consider using a sunscreen of some sort. For daily use, it may be a bit extreme to cover yourself in sunscreen in the winter months. Instead, try to use a moisturizer or makeup with an SPF of 15. If you are going to be out on the slopes, you ought to use a sunscreen with an SPF as high as you would use in the summer. The snow on the hills reflects an incredible amount of sunlight. Don’t forget to use a quality lip balm, too.

Try to avoid taking long, hot showers this winter. We all know how wonderful a hot shower can feel on a cold day, but try to resist the urge as best as you can. Hot showers can strip your skin of its natural moisturizers. Instead take a short, warm shower. Try to pat your skin almost dry, and apply a moisturizer while your skin is slightly damp. This is a great strategy to help you avoid dry skin.

Another thing to consider is your home heating system. As your furnace will be in constant use in the colder months, the air in your home can become extremely dry. If you do not have a humidifier built into your heating system, you should invest in a portable humidifier. Using a humidifier can prevent your skin from drying out, and it can help you avoid dry nasal cavities. If you do suffer from a dry or bleeding nose in the winter, apply some petroleum jelly for short-term relief.

In my opinion, the best way to deal with dry skin is to hydrate from the inside out. Drink as much water as you possibly can, regardless of the time of year. Drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water per day, will flush countless toxins from your body and will help keep your skin healthy and fresh. By following these suggestions, you can have beautiful skin all year round.

About The Author

Alisha Burke loves spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys going for walks in the park with her dog and shopping for vintage clothes with her friends. When she finds herself with some free time, she writes for yourskin101.com – an online resource dedicated to helping you care for your skin, with information including Skin Care Facts, Skin Care Basics, Getting Rid of Acne and more.

Natural Skin Care

As the cold weather approaches, it may be time to consider your skin care strategy for the winter months ahead. Dry air and cold wind can have a significant effect on the health of your skin, and you will want to do everything you can to protect your skin from the harsh winter elements. Give some serious consideration to the following information, and be proactive about the health of your skin.

Even though you will be bundled up in winter clothing, you should still consider using a sunscreen of some sort. For daily use, it may be a bit extreme to cover yourself in sunscreen in the winter months. Instead, try to use a moisturizer or makeup with an SPF of 15. If you are going to be out on the slopes, you ought to use a sunscreen with an SPF as high as you would use in the summer. The snow on the hills reflects an incredible amount of sunlight. Don’t forget to use a quality lip balm, too.

Try to avoid taking long, hot showers this winter. We all know how wonderful a hot shower can feel on a cold day, but try to resist the urge as best as you can. Hot showers can strip your skin of its natural moisturizers. Instead take a short, warm shower. Try to pat your skin almost dry, and apply a moisturizer while your skin is slightly damp. This is a great strategy to help you avoid dry skin.

Another thing to consider is your home heating system. As your furnace will be in constant use in the colder months, the air in your home can become extremely dry. If you do not have a humidifier built into your heating system, you should invest in a portable humidifier. Using a humidifier can prevent your skin from drying out, and it can help you avoid dry nasal cavities. If you do suffer from a dry or bleeding nose in the winter, apply some petroleum jelly for short-term relief.

In my opinion, the best way to deal with dry skin is to hydrate from the inside out. Drink as much water as you possibly can, regardless of the time of year. Drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water per day, will flush countless toxins from your body and will help keep your skin healthy and fresh. By following these suggestions, you can have beautiful skin all year round.

About The Author

Alisha Burke loves spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys going for walks in the park with her dog and shopping for vintage clothes with her friends. When she finds herself with some free time, she writes for yourskin101.com – an online resource dedicated to helping you care for your skin, with information including Skin Care Facts, Skin Care Basics, Getting Rid of Acne and more.

Good health as men behave badly

Men's health is one of the UK's most familiar oxymorons. Where physical well-being is concerned, the battle of the sexes is no contest. While women are on first-name terms with every crevice and contour of their bodies, most men are lost in a Neanderthal darkness and emerge blinking into the light only when they are on the verge of a near-death experience.

Men's health is something of a joke down under, too. Except it's a joke of an entirely different order, a joke that men even want to laugh at. Having realised that no matter how often and earnestly doctors repeated the central tenets of basic health awareness most men studiously ignored the message, a few Australian doctors decided four years ago to try another tack. "We call it health by stealth," says Dr Greg Malcher, a GP in Daylesford, an old mining town of about 8,000 inhabitants 70 miles outside Melbourne. "We wanted to get to men in their comfort zones, where they might be more receptive to the message."

The favourite comfort zone of the average Aussie male is the bar, so that's where Malcher organised a series of men's health nights. He assembled a line-up of prominent Aussie sports stars and assorted entertainers and promised liberal quantities of beer. Before long he had a full house of nearly 400. Even then Malcher adopted a softly, softly approach. "We started off with Simon Madden, an Aussie Rules Football player, talking about his health, before I talked about heart disease and basic preventative medicine," he says. "We then had a drag act and a bar break before moving on to more difficult topics, such as depression and suicide."

Men's nights have caught on in other areas of Australia with similar results. Malcher is not claiming an overnight transformation in the male psyche and he is aware that much more needs to be done for men in the 20-55 age group, but he does think that he is building up a bedrock of awareness; a significant number of his patients no longer regard the surgery as a no-go zone and most now know there are lifestyle choices that can affect their health.

This Men Behaving Badly approach has knocked on to health programming on Australian TV. Out have gone the camera-friendly TV doc magazine shows and in has come a stand-up, or rather sit-down, health show presented by John Clarke and Bryan Dawe, the Australian equivalents of John Bird and John Fortune. "The public seemed to respond well to the idea of two blokes who knew next to nothing about the subject talking about their health," laughs Dawe. The show, which can be seen on the Discovery Health channel in this country, drew excellent ratings in Australia and at the very least had an effect on Dawe. "A viewer stopped me in the street and asked why I still smoked," he says.

"I couldn't think of a good answer so I quit."

So how would a similarly laddish approach go down here? A few nurses have been known to hold Wellman clinics in pubs, but what would happen if we went the whole hog and stuck Martin Clunes and Neil Morrissey at the head of a men's health campaign? TV doctor Mark Porter is far from convinced it would make much difference. He believes that most men are just as interested in their health and that the problems of male diagnosis and treatment are structural as much as psychological.

"Most GPs arrange their surgeries at times that are highly inconvenient for working men. Similarly, government funding for raising awareness and improving treatments for male-specific diseases has been ridiculously low. Breast cancer and prostate cancer have similar mortality rates, but until recently breast cancer received £10 million per year while prostate cancer got just £40,000." He also reckons that magazines, such as Men's Health, which could play an important role in promoting health issues, tend, instead, to pander to the narcissistic tendencies of their readers and advertisers. "You get a lot about the perfect abs and biceps and how to satisfy your partner, but not much else."

Where Dr Porter is somewhat measured in his responses, Dr Keith Hopcroft, author of A Bloke's Diagnose It Yourself Guide to Health, is far more outspoken.

"There are a lot of myths talked about men's health and this new body fascism is only going to turn men off," he says. "Most men know that smoking and drinking too much are bad for them and don't need to have it rammed down their throat, and going on and on about testicular and prostate cancer is more likely to create a bunch of male neurotics. Testicular cancer is actually very rare and is usually accompanied by an identifiable ache, so endless bouts of self-examination are only likely to turn up harmless abnormalities that cause sleepless nights. Similarly, prostate cancer is almost unheard of in the under-fifties so talking endlessly about it is only going to clog up the surgeries with people demanding tests for an ill-ness they almost certainly don't have. Even for the over fifties, the test creates as many problems as it solves, as it can only indicate the possibility of an abnormality and, in any case, there is no evidence that early treat-ment of prostate cancer improves the outcome.

"The message for men has to be: if you think you've got a problem see your doctor. If you don't, stay away."

Some people, of course, may take this a little too literally. Dr Malcher referred a patient to get a mark on his forehead seen by a skin cancer specialist and was concerned when the appointment wasn't kept. "The patient told me that he'd gone out to the garage and removed the mark with a soldering iron," smiles Malcher. "He said it had smoked a bit but it hadn't reappeared, so he reckoned it must be OK." I guess there's men's health and then there's real men's health.