The use of medical marijuana hits the Presidential arena: Ryan takes a stand with Obama for the States

What do Barrack Obama and Paul Ryan have in common (other than their United States issued birth certificates)? They both support the States controlling the use of medical marijuana. The Justice Department, under the Obama administration, agreed to continue the policy of allowing each state to mandate the use of medical marijuana back on October 19, 2009. Currently, 13 states have legalized the use of medical marijuana, and Paul Ryan agrees that’s exactly where the line should be drawn between the federal and state governments jurisdiction.

So what’s the big deal with the use of medical marijuana? Is it the image it casts (Cheech and Chong come to mind)? Or is it the influence it has over our culture, possibly sending a teetering message to society that it’s an “ok” recreational drug? Perhaps, it’s a little of both. Maybe, if we could better understand the origin of this drug for medicinal purposes, we might feel a little less apprehensive about its purpose.

History

Dating back to 2737 BC, the mystical Emperor Shen Neng of China became the first known public figure to endorse the use of medical Marijuana for everything from gout to poor memory (now that’s an oxymoron). Once this medicinal treatment caught on, cultures from Asia to Africa incorporated it into their medical regiment. Eventually, the use of marijuana spread beyond medicinal use as it was incorporated into various Hindu sects in India.

Between the 18th and 19th centuries, marijuana began making its way into the American culture, eventually becoming the drug of choice over other drugs like opium and morphine. By 1906, the “Pure Food and Drug Act”, issued by the FDA, finally set the first real drug control policies in place to protect the public. By 1914, the Harrison Act became the first law to define “drug use” as a crime, tiptoeing around State laws by implying a heavy sanction on certain legal drug products (like Opium) to be taxed so heavily that it would not make sense consuming it.

By 1937, almost half the United States had adopted state laws, outlawing marijuana for two primary reasons: Stop it from becoming the next drug of choice and to shut down the Mexican Cartel crossing the border (even back then) while profiting from their homegrown product. Sounds like a lot of the decisions around marijuana’s legalization stem more from who profits financially than the pro’s and con’s of its use (?).

Is medical marijuana a natural solution or just another “high”?

In my opinion anything you “smoke” and/or contains THC can’t be healthy for you. But then again, any drug for pain isn’t necessarily “healthy” for you either. What can’t be ignored is the need for having a balanced discussion on how it’s controlled, issued, the addictive qualities it possesses and the lasting side effects.

Speed fast forward and you’ll find the drug is commonly prescribed to remedy the after effects of everything from cancer treatment to general pain management. If this drug is so effective in managing pain then why is it so misunderstood? Perhaps, it’s the misunderstanding of what it’s primarily meant to benefit (medical pain) and that it has been declared illegal to possess outside of that purpose.

The primary control over its issuance is realistically another issue all together: Commerce. Wouldn’t it realistically make more “cents” collecting a tax on a drug that has been a medically approved method for treatment than not legalizing its use under certain conditions? Certainly, there are other equally addictive and concerning drugs issued to people every day (Demerol, Oxycodone, Percocet, etc.), that have just as many side effects and are proved to be equally addictive.

I’m not for recreational drug use; but, I am for common sense. If medical marijuana is a less harmful choice of pain management medication then it should accessible when prescribed and control should remain within each state.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Know the potential side effects of any drug you consume before you decide upon the drug of choice.
Quick Tips for Wellness ™ Copyright © 2012, All rights reserved

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Dangers of giving melatonin induced sleep aid to c...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Dangers of giving melatonin induced sleep aid to c...: Most cranky kids are usually just overtired and need one thing: Sleep; but not at the risk of their life. Synthetic melatonin, a sleep...

Dangers of giving melatonin induced sleep aid to children

Most cranky kids are usually just overtired and need one thing: Sleep; but not at the risk of their life. Synthetic melatonin, a sleep aid given orally, is the latest answer some parents are seeking when their child won’t go to sleep. A sleep aid should only be administered when prescribed by a medical professional. To assume that over the counter melatonin is a safe choice for your child would be a mistake. Low melatonin occurs when our body fails to produce naturally what we need for our sleep cycle.

“Melatonin’s main job in the body is to regulate night and day cycles or sleep-wake cycles. Darkness causes the body to produce more melatonin, which signals the body to prepare for sleep. Light decreases melatonin production and signals the body to prepare for being awake. Some people who have trouble sleeping have low levels of melatonin. It is thought that adding melatonin from supplements might help them sleep.” (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/940.html)

So why are our kids struggling to go to sleep? Perhaps it’s just as simple as a few things:

*Nutrition. Nothing helps the body more than natural nutrition. Preservatives in food contain residual effect products that have slow release reactions in our body. High fructose corn syrup (a common sweetener used in most packaged foods) and refined sugar should be avoided.

*Overstimulation. From computers to television, our kid’s brains are on overload.

*Light. Some children are afraid to go to sleep in the dark and insist on leaving a light on to go to sleep. Darkness helps stimulate the melatonin while light resists the production.

*Stress. Children are exposed now more than ever to a stressed-out, both economically and socially. Many families lives have been disrupted by the uncertainties that many now face, transfering that stress to their children behind closed doors.

So what can you “naturally” do to help your children get a good night’s sleep?
• Feed them healthy whole food.
• Stop late night snacking and if they absolutely must have something to eat, give them almonds, walnuts or some form of complex carbohydrates.
• Have more one on one time with them before they go to bed. Talk about their day, their feelings and what’s on their mind. Sometimes something as simple as allowing your child to “release” their thoughts while reassuring them that you’re there, and they’re safe, does wonders to help them cope with their surroundings.
• Create family time. Play a board game. Turn off the television, computers and music. Read a book together. Go for an evening walk. Schedule evening workouts together at home.
• Buy them a journal. Teach your kids to write down what they did that day, how they feel and what their hopes and dreams are for their future.

When we engage in our children’s lives, we teach them how to cope with life, manage stress and work through their problems, naturally. Many times, sleeplessness is a result of physical and psychological stress. Kids are not immune to the same emotions adult’s experience. Before you try a synthetic answer, reach for a natural remedy. The body naturally produces melatonin when surrounded with a natural, healthy environment. Synthetic melatonin can only provide temporary relief; however, it’s not solving the root of the problem. Unless your child has psychological disabilities and has been prescribed medication for treatment by a doctor, don't assume the over the counter drug is the answer.

Some of the side effects from synthetic melatonin have been reported to include: Headaches, nausea and irritability. Overuse of a synthetic product can produce unknown buildup in our body, which may later produce a resistance to its effectiveness. What we never know about a supplement is how it will affect everyone and/or how over time it will create other side effects.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Before you reach for a pill, reach for an answer that will provide natural results.


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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Does fitness make you smarter?

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Does fitness make you smarter?: Most parents are considerably worried how they’ll be able to afford sending their kids to college, especially in the economic times we’re ...

Does fitness make you smarter?

Most parents are considerably worried how they’ll be able to afford sending their kids to college, especially in the economic times we’re facing today. But what if you found a better way to “save” for your kid’s college education through practicing two things? Would you do it? And what if you found a way for your child to learn more effectively in the classroom? Would you be willing to be a pioneer for change in the outdated academic setting that is way overdue for drastic change?

Science has proven that children, who are nutritionally fed and stay physically active during the learning process, are more likely to have higher test scores and better opportunities academically. Now think about that statement for a moment and ask yourself two questions about your children’s current academic setting:

*Does my school serve “healthy lunches and snacks” or am I sending my child to school with a healthy lunch/snack? By healthy, I’m implying that the food served is not processed, fried and/or sugar coated but is whole, fresh food. Most importantly, does the school promote or allow soda vending machines/sugary drinks and junk food snacks? If a school systems allows us to feed our kids junk during the day, shame on them.

*How often, throughout each class, is my child physically moving and interacting? If your kid is sitting still for more than about 25 minutes, that’s too long. If PE is one class during the day, that’s not enough. If the teacher's academic plan doesn’t include intermittent physical activity but requires that students “sit still”, that’s ridiculous.

While order and organization are both necessary in a classroom, we’ve got it all wrong when we misunderstand the benefit of keeping kids “moving” while learning, as well as keeping their brains “fed”.

Exercise increases intelligence

A study by the Department of Kinesiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, investigated the relationship between age, aerobic fitness, and cognitive function by comparing high- and low-fit preadolescent children and adults. The study revealed the following:

“These findings suggest that fitness was positively associated with neuroelectric indices of attention and working memory, and response speed in children. Fitness was also associated with cognitive processing speed, but these findings were not age-specific. These data indicate that fitness may be related to better cognitive functioning in preadolescents and have implications for increasing cognitive health in children and adults.” (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16286868)

The Stroop Test & Exercise

There are several ways in which to measure intelligence, but one method known as The Stroop Test has been widely used since 1935. Using random color names, printed against opposite colors (for example, white is printed in the color red, etc.) the subject is presented with the task of identifying the color while overcoming ignoring the printed name. The results have shown it takes more time to switch the brain from being able to differentiate between the two while answering correctly. The purpose of the test is to determine “habitual responses” (reading) over less familiar/challenging tasks, like name the color versus reading the color name.

To test the theory that exercise increases brain intelligence, the Stroop Test was administered using teenaged children who were more physically fit. The results revealed that the more fit the student the higher they scored.

“A study published in the January 2008 issue of "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise" examined the relationship between aerobic fitness in adolescents and their performance on the Stroop Test. Researchers concluded that teens with higher levels of fitness performed better on the test than those with lower fitness levels.”

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/543538-does-exercise-affect-intelligence/#ixzz25gOAFeV1

Fitter kids = better academic scores

The annual Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting in Denver (May 1, 2011) revealed an amazing transformation and increased test scores when incorporating exercise and fitness in grade-school children: Scores were raised dramatically when fitness was incorporated with learning (from 55% to 68.5%). Teachers and students both benefit when incorporating fitness within the academic process. The more oxygen is supplied to the brain, the better. Short, intermittent breaks involving physical activity would do wonders in our children’s educational experience. Why educators have not fully incorporated this concept is beyond me.

I can personally attest to the academic benefits when incorporating fitness during the educational process. One of my children was diagnosed with ADHD and had fallen behind in school. Upon taking him out of the normal academic setting into a homeschooling atmosphere, I was able to integrate fitness and healthy snacks during his day. The results were dramatic: His reading level and test scores were above his peers by three grade levels at the end of the first year. You could say it was due to him having one on one education, but in truth, you can’t force someone to learn/absorb information. Period. What I did to incur such dramatic results was two things:

1) I taught him in 15-20 minute increments. After each session, he was given a quick fitness break or fed a small snack (i.e. Run in place, go outside and run around, eat an apple, etc). Not only did he benefit physically, his attention span increased, and his hypertension reduced.

2) Healthy snacks = A healthy brain. The brain, especially in the morning, needs healthy carbohydrates. Stabilizing blood glucose in the body through consuming healthy snacks benefits the brain.

3) The academic setting may not seem like a well suited one for what I’m recommending, but I cannot see why it would not be if given an opportunity to be tested. The average attention span of the brain is about 8 minutes. When we physically move, our brain’s hippocampus kicks into gear regenerating brain function. Demanding that anyone sit in one position and learn is outdated and doesn’t work for the majority of people. Academically it doesn’t make sense demanding more than what is natural or helpful to the body and the brain.

I’ve always said if the “smartest” amongst us only represents a small percentage of the population then something is horribly wrong with our academic structure. If a homeschooling mom can figure out that concept, then so should our school system.

Quick Tips for Wellness: Parents are a child’s ultimate teacher. Get involved (i.e. volunteer, be active in the PTA, offer your time and talent) in your child’s academic setting and don’t settle for anything less than what is in the best interest of their education.

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Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Affordable Care Act climbs in bed with the health ...

Quick Tips for Everyday Wellness: Affordable Care Act climbs in bed with the health ...: If you thought “Big Brother” was just a figure head, think again. Tufts Medical Center received $88.5 million from the Federal Government ...

Affordable Care Act climbs in bed with the health Insurance Industry, lending a pilot program over $88.5 million of tax-payers money

If you thought “Big Brother” was just a figure head, think again. Tufts Medical Center received $88.5 million from the Federal Government to “try” an innovative idea that might just become the standard in the healthcare industry, should it work: Consumer controlled health insurance. This "model" will likely become the new standard for coverage. Doesn't sound so bad, does it? Empower the people to control their own health care and you have a win-win situation, right? Wrong. Here's why:

First, it must be funded by tax dollars (as if we're not already taxed enough). In the case of Tufts Medical Center's pilot program, we're the banker through government low interest loans. Why are we paying for it when the insurance industry is overwhelming wealthy? The Obama Administration knew that unless they “pony-up” some big support the health insurance companies wouldn’t be able to keep their end of the bargain to insure everyone. Thus they were promised practically free money in exchange for their compliance.

One pilot program says “yes” to a low interest loan paid for by you and me

According to a recent article by the Boston Globe, the Tufts Medical Center's pilot program is part of Obama’s solution to solve the healthcare crisis. However, even they’re saying “it could be a flop” and not work. The loan, which is offered at next to nothing interest, must be paid back in 15 years. But what if it fails? Does that mean $88.5 million buckaroos just went out the window?

In a nutshell, here’s what the government did to help fund the Tufts Medical Center health insurance plan:

*Awarded $88.5 million loan to create that state’s only member-owned health insurance plan, offering coverage in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, start January 2014

*The pilot program is focused on lowering premiums through barely complying with the Federal Government requirements

*Insurance products sold to individuals and small businesses through insurance brokers and the Massachusetts Health Connector


In addition, to underwriting the Massachusetts program, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved 20 “consumer operated and oriented” plans, as allowed under the Affordable Care Act to insurers not licensed before 2009.

“We don’t have anything on the market like this” in Massachusetts, said John ¬McDon¬ough, a Harvard health policy professor who had a hand in drafting the federal law. Depending on how it is implemented and received by consumers in the state, McDonough said, the program could become “a belly flop” or “a disruptive innovation worth watching.”



The whole idea of lowering insurance premiums runs on one cylinder: The over collected premium dollars go back into the plan to help lower premiums.

“Consumers who are members of this plan will ultimately participate and be in control of the governance long-term,” said Ellen Zane, former chief executive of Tufts Medical Center and chairwoman of the plan’s starting board.

But here’s the catch: Which hospitals, doctors and care facilities are onboard to participate? So far, it’s not looking so good. Only 17 doctors and hospitals have signed on to be included in the network of care providers. What that means is simply this: The less number of participants equals less access to “affordable healthcare insurance”.

The math is simple: If you take something away, you get less in the end.

The premise of the program rests on one theory: Doctors and hospitals must be willing to work for less compensation. In this case, less does not equal more. Healthcare providers, who are in business to make money, would never willing take less compensation in exchange for providing more accessible health care services. The math doesn’t add up and the outcome isn’t realistic.

Regardless of what you may think about what they (healthcare providers) charge, the Affordable Care Act is underwriting the insurance industry so that they’ll be able to meet the demand of including everybody, which is necessary to say the very least. However, why not just reveal to the public how the ACA is being funded? Politics. If Obama had not struck this agreement upfront, the health insurance companies would be screaming bloody murder!

And that, my friends, is why the insurance industry supported Obama-Care and the Affordable Care Act. Everybody knew that the insurance companies had to have a “win-win” in the end…..We just didn’t know it would be coming out of our own pockets.

Quick Tips for Wellness: The Affordable Care Act is the new banker for the Insurance Industry.

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Resource: http://bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2012/09/01/hospital-providers-develop-state-only-member-owned-health-plan/xUDnDa9dhWutgvmQroWY9I/story.html