:Forest Folk

According to recent published statistics, about 20-30 percent of men all around the world have problems related to premature ejaculation (PE). Despite of fact in many cultures this subject is a taboo issue, premature ejaculation is the most common male sexual disorder.

In a survey, men diagnosed with probable premature ejaculation reported the following problems (in order of prevalence):

1. poor self control over ejaculation;
2. low satisfaction during the sexual intercourse;
3. poor satisfaction related to sexual relationship;
4. low self-confidence regarding sexual and social abilities needed in a partnership;
5. actually low interest in having sexual activity;
6. serious difficulties in becoming sexually aroused;
7. disaffection for relaxing during intercourse.

The above lines highlight the negative impact of PE on quality of life, enjoyment of sex and sexual performance. Besides feelings of embarrassment and inadequacy in a partnership, PE can evolve to serious conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Due its high incidence, premature ejaculation should become a big social concern, because this distinct medical condition has a severe impact on quality of life, causing serious damages regarding emotional and physical well-being of sufferers and their partners. Addressing a social attention is very important as one in four men experience these kind of difficulties.

Valerian D is a freelance writer interested in health issues that requires a social concern and a special medical attention such as premature ejaculation

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Copyright 2006 Pauline Houle

Tracy is a very beautiful woman in her mid-thirties. She has a long painful history that she is working her best to leave behind, and she is doing a magnificent job. Now in therapy for some months, I helped her look at all she was left with after finally picking up her courage to leave a devastating marriage and a husband who had absolutely no desire for growth and change, let alone be a good loving human being. In a nutshell, “He was sure he was O.K. and also sure she was not O.K.”

It has been many years since her divorce and she is still picking up the pieces. Nothing she could do or be was enough, good enough, smart enough, long enough, short enough and also not ovulating enough! Tracy had been on a long fertility treatment. In her young days of marriage, and for years to follow, she was just not ovulating normally and had to be helped medically. Numerous miscarriages were had and she still kept trying.

Finally, the Miracle Baby happened! She saw that little angel as a miracle for all the hardship she was going through to help her pregnancy happen. Within the couple also reigned a nightmare for He was constantly bashing her for not even being “normal”.

After over 15 years, Tracy finally started to believe all those at work who were telling her how great she was, how good a person she was with friends and so on. She finally figured her husband’s constant criticism was not notified and, as he would not change, she could take no more. The separation is history.

However, since her separation, now that her little angel has grown and is attending school, she has become plagued with a very painful ovulation. Sometimes, it knocks at her door twice a month. She has no other symptoms than that nagging, regular, sharp reminder that she is a woman.

I invited her to take a deep look at all her history, too long to tell here, and imagine that there is a link to all her pain during ovulation and find out in what aspect her pain could become a distorted, insidious benefit or pleasure for her.

Like all the women to whom I present this approach, she could not see one at first. Given a good minute of silence and reflection, she realized how her ovulation simply meant she now KNEW she was NORMAL and that she could bear children if she chose too. No more need for medical help about her fertility. No more she would have to believe her ex-spouse that she was abnormal and not ovulating like “normal women do”.

A long look at all she went through during all those years of terrible psychological bashing and criticizing took her to realize that she now was on a path to accept and recognize she was O.K. A great ending for her session as she re-decided she did not have to allow pain to prove herself she was perfect as she was.

Our next session brought me the wonderful fulfillment feeling and pleasure to hear Tracy say she had had no pain whatsoever in her last cycle. Now, she also knew she was healed. Isn’t healing great? Blessings to you all.

Pauline Houle is Therapist with 20 years experience. She has a background in Social Work and Psychodynamic trainings that really make a difference in people’s lives. She has a Masters Degree in Transpersonal Studies, which has been a great help in keeping her focused on the big picture of PMS and what women need to know in order to heal it.
Contact: Pauline Houle: pms@paulinehoule.com
514-277-6097 or 518-563-6834
www.paulinehoule.com
www.pmscramprelief.com

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What do you do when you feel that your family is complete? This is a decision most couples eventually make. What steps should they take to avoid an unplanned pregnancy in the future? If they are really sure that they want no more children, then it is reasonable to choose a permanent solution to this possibility.

The usual solution is that of sterilization of either the male or female. Obviously, because of the permanent nature of sterilization, it is not a decision to be taken lightly and should only be made after much discussion between the partners and their doctor. Both partners need to be absolutely certain that there is no possibility that they will want children in the future.

The male sterilization process is called vasectomy and is the equivalent to tubal ligation in the female. It is considered to be one of the most reliable methods of birth control and requires only minor surgery. The downside is that it is almost always irreversible.

Tubal ligation, the female equivalent to vasectomy, is a process where the fallopian tubes are either cut or sealed off so that the eggs cannot reach the womb, thus preventing pregnancy. This, too, is intended to result in permanent inability to become pregnant and should therefore be carefully considered before going ahead.

Generally speaking, men will normally only consider a vasectomy when they have already fathered children and feel that their family is complete. Often, this doesn’t happen until they reach middle age. Doctors normally insist that the man is entirely sure about the consequences of such a decision and also of the permanency of this surgery.

Realistically, this decision should be made jointly between the man and his partner. They need to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure and make this decision after careful consideration. However, the ultimate decision rests entirely with the man.

There are cases of successful reversal of a vasectomy but, in most cases, it is impossible. The surgery for reversal is also very expensive.

A vasectomy can be carried out in the doctor’s surgery as it is done under a localized anaesthetic. It is a relatively basic procedure where a small cut is made in two places about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart and the intervening section is removed. The ends are then folded back and tied with a non-dissolving material such as silk. The wound is then stitched. This procedure is done on both sides and only takes about a half an hour.

The wound generally takes a few days to heal and the stitches are then taken out. It may be a little bit sore when the anaesthetic wears off but that it quite normal. It may be advisable to avoid intercourse until the stitches are removed as it can be quite painful.

One matter of importance is the length of time between this surgery and the time when the man actually becomes infertile. Because some sperm are stored in the seminal vesicles, they are still capable of fertilizing the female ova for several months after the vasectomy is performed. This is because they have already passed up the vans deferens, the tube that is cut, before the operation took place. These sperm are usually used up after around three months but can last for up to six months, causing the possibility of pregnancy. The length of time is relative to frequency of intercourse and therefore to the number of ejaculations the man experiences after the procedure.

Normally, a specimen of semen is examined at eight and twelve weeks after the vasectomy to determine whether it is safe to have unprotected sexual intercourse. Other forms of contraception, such as condoms, should be used to avoid unwanted pregnancy during the time that the sperm are still present.

Anne Wolski has worked in the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. She is a co-director of http://www.magnetic-health-online.com and http://www.betterhealthshoppe.com which are both information portals with many interesting medical articles. She is also an associate of http://www.timzbiz.com which features many articles on internet marketing and resources.

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How many times have you hear the phrase “senior moments”, “fuzzy thinking”, “old-timers disease” or “mental-pauses”? How many times has it been in association with misplacing your car keys and an attempt to shrug off the fear that perhaps you are beginning to “loose it”?

In midlife, both men and women are concerned about what is happening to our minds. We look at diseases and conditions that affect older individuals and wonder what is to become of us? I’ve heard many people say they’d rather have a heart attack or get hit by a car than develop Alzheimer’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) or any of the dementias strike fear in almost all middle age, and virtually all older adults. Many have likened it to being imprisoned in a body with a mind that is no longer functions…like someone took away the key and lost it.

AD is a serious problem and it will become more of a problem as our generation - The Baby Boomers - age. While we do not have the answers as to what causes it, there are some things that can be done to protect our brains.

Briefly, Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes a gradual loss of a persons memory. It goes further than that in that it also causes personal and behavior changes. While there are several forms of dementia, AD is the most well known. The damage is irreversible and as of the time of this writing, there is no cure.

Forgetting where you have left your keys, or that something was in the oven is not necessarily a sign of AD. More likely, those are signs of living a stress life and tying to do many things at once. Despite popular belief, we do NOT multi-task very well.

While the cause is not known, we do have a few pieces to the puzzle.

On average, it seems that 1/3 of the risk for dementia is due to genetics. That means that 2/3 of our risk is due solely to our environment and life style choices that we make today! In other words, it appears we may have a good amount of choice in reducing our chance of developing AD.

Here is a list of things you can do now to keep your brain happy.

• Keep your body healthy. Protecting your body against illness that damages your blood vessels (high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, smoking, strokes, etc) will also contribute to the health of your brain.
• Avoid substances that have toxic effects on your brain such as air pollution, lead, smoking, excessive alcohol, and street drugs. Think of these things as “brain pollution”.
• Avoid injury. That means avoiding falls, wearing helmets and seatbelts, and avoiding motor vehicle accidents.
• Learn to manage stress. Excessive exposure to stress causes negative long term effects in the brain and the body.
• Exercise your brain - use it or loose it applies here! (See below)
• Include foods in your diet that are high in antioxidants such as prunes, raisins, blueberries, cranberries, spinach, broccoli florets, avocados, oranges, red bell peppers and eggplant to name just a few.
• Consider taking antioxidant supplements to protect your brain. This can include a MVI, Vitamins C and E and omega 3 fatty acids. (Discuss this with your health care provider to see what is appropriate for you).

Your brain is no different than your body. It needs exercise in order to stay fit. There are lots of programs, under various names out there, and basically they do the same things. You want to burn new neural pathways, stimulate the release of chemicals and just give it a good workout. Make sure it’s something challenging.

Here are some suggestions to get you started.

• Use the opposite hand when you brush your teeth and hair in the morning.
• Go through a certain portion of your routine with your eyes closed.
• Travel a different route to work.
• Learn a new language
• Puzzle books - words, math, brain teasers

With proper care and feeding of your brain, it should continue to serve you well for years to come.

©2005, Barbara C. Phillips, Nurse Practitioner and founder of OlderWiserWomen inspires women to embrace the freedom, magic and wisdom of Successful Aging. Visit http://www.OlderWiserWomen.com for your copy of “Celebrating You: 50 Tips for Vibrant Living”.

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95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. It has been estimated that more than 3000 different chemmcials are used in fragrance production. Do these figures shock you? Yes, manufacturers are very clever - we see the packaging and the adverts showing flowers and nature, and we assume (as the manufacturer intends us to assume) that the fragrance in the product is derived from nature, but most fragrances are chemically derived. They do not use essential oils because they are too expensive. They do use synthetic chemicals because they are cheap.

We are exposed to perfume or fragrance throughout the day. We may not wear perfume ourselves, but our shampoo, soap, shower gel and cosmetics are likely to contain synthetic perfumes, unless we look at the label and shop carefully.

We encounter more smells in our household products - cleaners, washing powders, polish, air fresheners, etc. If we go out, we experience these smells on other people and in offices and stores.

Perfume mixes added to products are listed in the ingredients as ‘parfum’ or ‘fragrance’ depending on the part of the world you live in. Even some products that appear to be unperfumed will contain synthetic perfumes in order to cover an unpleasant odour from one of the active ingredients, or to ensure that the product always smells the same. The exact composition of these may vary over time even for the same product, as the manufacturer adjust the fragrance mix in relation to variations in the smell of the raw ingredients.

Even some essential oils are not entirely natural, as harsh chemicals may be used in their extraction process. Chemical solvents such as hexane and heptane are used to extract the maximum amount of oil from the plant, so it is important to buy good quality oils from a source you trust.

Allergies to fragrances are very common. The main organs affected are the skin and the respiratory system, but neurological damage has also been reported. Some people feel that we should have a right to fragrance-free air as well as tobacco-smoke-free air. There are also concerns about the impact of synthetic chemicals on the environment, as they do not necessarily break down easily.

Of course, there is a role for fragrance. The power of aromatherapy oils to heal and lift the spirits is well documented, but the widespread use of synthetic fragrances should be seen as pollution of both our bodies and our environments.

Jane Thurnell-Read is a writer and researcher on health, stress, allergies, happiness and alternative medicine. More of her writing can be viewed at www.healthandgoodness.com

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So you want a soulmate do you? Okay not necessarily something
that big and cosmic but ‘happily ever after’ would suffice just
fine. Maybe you have somewhat of an idea the type of person
you’re looking for and you want to place your order with the
cosmos - ‘one true love meant for only me, please and thank
you.’ Let me ask you this - are you ready? Are you worthy? Do
you have the freedom to fall madly head over heals in love? Have
you made a space for that one true love to fit so beautifully
nested into your life? Don’t be foolish and assume that all
things will just naturally fall into place once they show up.
Come on now, you know better than that. Life doesn’t play like
that.

The rules of manifesting dictates that you have to make room for
that which you are wanting to attract into your life. You know
that two things cannot occupy the same space. When we want new
clothes, we have to first clear out the old ones from our
closets as part of letting the universe know that we are making
ready a space for that new wardrobe. Nature abhors a vacuum;
something will come to fill that space. The closet never stays
empty for very long does it?

So have you made a space for your beloved? Are you single and
free? Free to fall doesn’t just mean that you are technically
not dating or married. You can be married to your job, your
hobbies, your workout routine, your children, your pets, your
church, your parents, or the memories of someone you are no
longer intimate with. You can have these things in your life and
walk within balance knowing that they are not the one true love
that feeds that place in your soul that only a romantic partner
can fill. However, when you replace the love of ‘happily ever
after’ with your career or with parenting, then you have given
your beloved’s special place away to another. You are married in
essence to that which has taken the place of a strong romantic
bond.

Are you married or involved with someone else while calling your
soulmate to you? Perhaps you want your new love to rescue you
from your current situation. Perhaps you feel too vulnerable and
afraid to be single until the right one comes along. Perhaps you
are simply selfish and don’t want to do without someone in your
life. Whatever the reason, you want to create a new love before
leaving the failed relationship.

It’s no good. You are telling the universe that you do not trust
it to provide you with real love. You are also telling the
universe that you are not strong enough to hold up your end of a
relationship. If you cannot show integrity towards the one you
are ending with, then how are you supposed to be honest with the
new one? If you are not strong enough to be single and walk
alone until the right one comes along, then you do not deserve
your soulmate’s presence. Soulmates are not magical healers and
fixers of life. They are your twin soul. They are you in a
second body. If you are not strong enough to wait for that one,
then you cannot have that one.

“Okay,” you say, “then just give me a really nice person that I
can happily spend the rest of my life with. You are right, I’m
not all that strong and I’m not really able to be alone for any
length of time. So, just give me a very nice person that’s not
quite a soulmate.” Relationships created in desperation, need,
and greed very rarely work out. What you’ve just told the world
is that you’re desperate and anyone will do. And that’s what
you’ll get, anyone - not the one. You must be romantically
unattached when you begin your search for love. It’s karma, it’s
trust, it’s morals, it’s only fair.

And what of your overall worthiness - are you worthy? This is
not a beat yourself up question. Imagine that special person is
alive and real flesh and blood person out in the world searching
this very moment for ‘happily ever after’ just like you are. Are
you the kind of person that you would spend time searching for?
If the person meant for you was indeed your perfect match, what
would they look like? How would they behave? How would they feel
and respond? Look into the mirror my friend - are you what you
are looking for? Until the person you see in the mirror is
worthy of your love and attention, then you will not recognize
your twin soul. For they share your essence. Become the type of
person that you would want to find and in so doing so you will
become the kind of person that your rightful partner wishes to
find. Now you will be able to recognize each other and accept
each other. Trust me, there is nothing worse than finding your
soulmate when you are both screwed up and dysfunctional -
intense and ugly, rather than intense and beautiful.

If you want to call a magical cosmic kind of love into your
life, then you must look at what your life is now. Is it
inviting and warm? Would it nurture or challenge true love’s
growth? Are you ready, really ready? Is the space in your heart,
in your life, in your bed where only one’s most treasured
beloved belongs cleared out and available for them to lay their
weary head once they do find you? My father used to tell me that
he had pockets sewn all over his heart and each of us had a
special pocket in which nobody else could fill. Is the ‘happily
ever after’ pocket of your heart big enough and ready? Is there
space for real love in your life? Are you free to fall?

Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow’s Edge

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Invitations should be ordered when you have all the details of
your wedding set… place, time of ceremony and reception, as well
as your guest list. Plan to place your invitation order at least
3-4 months in advance, some companies may require 4-6 months.
Especially, if you are ordering custom made invitations or
handmade invitations and coordinating ensembles. Depending on
the intricacy of your design and because they are not mass
produced, but rather assembled one by one it can take anywhere
from 4 to 10 weeks for your order to arrive. Also consider the
factor of the design process, possibility of errors, proofs and
changes in your design.

Ideally invitations are sent 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding. It
is best to send out-of-town guests their invitations 8 weeks in
advance, as this will allow for making travel arrangements.
Consider sending out-of-town guests save the date cards earlier,
with information on hotels, flights and car rental.

Keep in mind that you will need time to address your
invitations, ask family and friends for help. While doing it
yourself is the most cost effective way. There are other
alternatives you may want to consider: the invitation comapny
may provide this service for an additional fee or send the
envelopes to a calligrapher. A fun alternative would be to learn
calligraphy yourself, there are many books and materials readily
available.

Even though selecting your invitations may seem like a daunting
task with all the possibilities available, giving yourself
enough time will prove beneficial and a money saver.

It is never too early to start shopping around!

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Fashion is an incredibly fickle, but fashionistas of all ages
still love it! However, this can be a quite confusing topic, as
the must haves of last season should never see the light of day
for this season. If you find yourself wondering what’s in and
what’s out, you should be properly schooled in the latest trends
in fashion. By far, the best resource for finding the latest
fashion trends are the plethora of available fashion magazines!
Take time to flip through the fashion mags to see what’s in,
what’s out, who’s wearing what, and what you shouldn’t be
wearing at all!

In order to keep up with the latest trends in fashion, consider
building your wardrobe around staple items that are sure to be
in style regardless of the season. These basic pieces serve as
the foundation for your wardrobe, allowing you to spend a
minimal amount each season on stylish extras that may only last
a single season. By keeping the large pieces of your wardrobe
capable of shifting from season to season, you will be able to
work on any budget and stay as stylish as ever!

Invest in a couple pieces of trendy items for each season. None
of these purchases should be splurges, as you will only be able
to wear them for an extremely limited amount of time. Although
that designer bag looks like it will be around forever, it
probably won’t, so use the money to purchase something a bit
more sensible–and something else completely fun! Since many of
these items are it now, there is little chance of finding them
on sale. Consider shopping at discount stores or buying more
inexpensive items, regardless of their quality. Remember, these
items will be on the “out” list in a couple of months, so they
are not likely to wear out from excess use.

Everyone has those pictures tucked away in the bottom of the
photo box. You know the ones…with the outrageous elephant leg
bell bottoms, electric colored tops, fingerless gloves, and
even–eek–leg warmers! In order to avoid becoming a fashion
victim later on in your life as a fashionistas, consider going
easy on the fashion trends. Just because super huge hoop
earrings, splashy faux flower corsages, and cowboy boots are all
the rage this season, you by no means should wear them all at
once! Limit yourself to only one or two tremendously trendy
items per wardrobe in order to be fashion fabulous instead of a
fashion victim!

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