We love our furry friends, but too often we are less taken by the sweetness of their scent. Whether it's air fresheners, essential oils or carpet fresheners, pets have a different perspective on the matter.Many contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds, which have many I'll effects, causing:*Eye, nose and throat irritation.*Headaches, loss of co-ordination, lethargy and nausea.*Damage to liver, kidneys and the CNS.*Some are known to cause Cancer's in animals and humans.*Skin irritations.Un-neutered animals are prone to territorial marking. The only solution is prompt and adequate cleaning.

Smelly pets

If you frequently use household scents, it's possible you might have become nose blind. Ask a friend who isn't insured, to take a sniff. A house isn't really meant to smell like a floral bouquet, so consider opening some windows first.Their noses can be highly sensitive. What may seem fragrant to you could be overwhelming them.They may withdraw from the area, experience coughing, sneezing, discharge coming from the eyes/nose, vomiting, diaorreah, lethargy or lack of appetite.A few small pots containing bicarbonate of soda works wonders.Simmer pots make a superior, natural alternative

The solution 

Support your local traders.

The children at a kindergarten in rural Columbia say they don't like to bathe in the adjacent pool anymore. One boy tells how his grandmother was chased by the 3,000lb "village pet". They're talking about an animal native to sub-saharan Africa. The Hippopotamus.With vast profits from his Cocaine trafficking business and a Noah fantasy, legendary drug lord Pablo Escobar stole a Russian cargo plane, had it flown to Africa, filled with local wildlife and hastily returned before the sedated animals awoke.Plentiful food, a lack of predators, an ideal environment and climate make it Hippo heaven.

The kingpin who would be Noah.

What started with a single male and 3 females is now classified as an "invasive species" of 80 Hippos. Highly territorial, they can reach 20 mph on land, taking out anything in its path including lions and about 500 people each year.Without the natural breeding constraints provided by seasonal conditions in Africa, their numbers have grown expeditiously. Castration is dangerous, expensive and difficult. When one was culled, there was a public outcry. Having no experience of the true danger and influenced heavily by Disney images, it seems Hippopotamus Escobaris isn't going anywhere.

A new subspecies.

Hippos are not ballerinas. They're dangerous wild animals.

technologyandthefuture

Technology & The Future

The Poor decisions of men.

Introduced as a safe new sleeping pill, "Z drugs" are possibly more devastating than any drug ever.In the 1960s, there were barbiturates, such as Seconal and Tuinal. However these were found to be addictive and have a high chance of overdose. The lethal injection ingredient Pentobarbital illustrates this.Benzodiazepines were found to be a safer alternative. These include Valium (Diazepam), Klonopin (Clonazepam) and Xanax (Alprazolam). But those are used to treat anxiety disorders. Nitrazepam (Mogadon) and Temazepam (Normison) are hypnotics, but benzodiazepines created their own set of dramas

Early Sleeping Pills.

Benzodiazepines were found to be highly addictive with severe withdrawal symptoms, including seizures and even death. But the biggest concern was their popularity for recreational purposes. In the US Xanax is the most common choice, often because of its effect when used in conjunction with other drugs and alcohol. As a central nervous system suppressant, it presents a particularly high risk of death.In the UK, Temazepam was notoriously misused, especially in its initial liquid filled capsule format. In 1997 police said it was responsible for a surge in violence and deaths among heroin users.﻿

A Safer Option??

Nonbenzodiazepines, Zopiclone, Zimmovane, Zolpidem and Zaleplon were adopted as a safer alternative. Known as Ambien, it's hugely popular in the US. 40 million prescriptions are issued for it annually, but there's a vast black market trade. Like Oxycodone, it's been wildly overprescribed.From the early days, people were reporting strange side effects, which were dismissed as "rare", but I know plenty of people who disagreed with that. Patients would believe they had a good, full night's sleep. But they exhibited uncharacteristic behaviour, appeared awake but weren't and remembered nothing.

Safer, So They Say.

Increasingly, headlines exposed celebrity's shame from Ambien "blackouts". Racist tweets, trashing hotel rooms, physical assaults and challenging FAR bigger people to a fight. Dubbed "Ambien zombies", police reported people were driving and cooking while fast asleep. Who continues prescribing something so potentially dangerous?Then it happened. People were waking up to discover their partner lying dead, butchered by them. They will never remember. As people do, they'll spend every day imagining the worst. I think death is preferable.Merck have a new, safer drug at the ready. Don't believe it.

A Fate Worse Than Death.

For a few years, authorities have been calling for the discontinuation of this drug. Despite the vast profits, litigation would negate all that. Given that scientists agree that the phenomenon is real, Ambien will become a controlled substance.All those regular users are addicted and if I know, so do the cartels. They did the same with Oxycodone and Xanax. Where there's a fat profit, they appear with their fake pills full of fentanyl. This is America's next drug epidemic. No sleeping pills should be used for more than 2 weeks. It prevents complete sleep cycles, crucial for body and mind.

Big Money In Misery.

If you, or. Someone you know takes sleeping pills, please read this.

"On numerous occasions I would wake up to find my kitchen in total chaos - baking pans, skillets, knives, cutting…

health

Health

44 Ambien Stories That Will Creep You The Eff Out

I suffer from a lifelong, chronic auto immune disorder. But when I try to discuss the nocebo effect with fellow patients, they are overwhelmed with defensiveness, convinced I am set on belittling their suffering. It's understandable, as such conditions are often largely invisible and unless you've personal experience of it, the symptoms are impossible to comprehend.But the nocebo effect is very real. Remember that morning you woke feeling like you simply couldn't drag yourself out of the house? By going to work, you avoided lying in bed, focusing on how terrible you felt.

Be the boss of your own body.

Inserts from medication packs are obliged to list every possible side effect. Whether they were documented and directly attributed to the medicine in question, or self reported by a worried parent/carer with no definitive connection whatsoever. In more than two decades of using Methotrexate, a medicine often feared for the potential side effects, I personally experienced no side effects whatsoever. However, during this time, I honestly wasn't aware of the existence of most of them.I was lucky, but not alone. It's similar to how expectant first time mums, hear everyone's horror stories.

Expect to feel terrible and you will.

It, in no way alludes to a patient's symptoms, pain, suffering physical or mental manifestations being any less real or severe. In fact there is evidence to suggest that the worst outcome is more likely to occur when this phenomenon is at play.It's worth bearing in mind.Especially now we are beginning to appreciate the negative effects searching our symptoms with Dr. Google or on social media.Obviously, there are situations where no amount of mind control can save us. But positive thought definitely can influence wellness and strength, to fight infection. It can do no harm to take control.

Be the boss of YOU!!

Understand what the nocebo effect is. 🤯

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

https://youtu.be/wQ1QCbnUjPE

I probably have more health issues than most. A whole Bolognese of disasterous genetics. Lengthy periods in traction, emergency lifesaving surgery ,a world of toxic injections,pills and potions, that could kill a small country. One thing has made more difference than anything.Water.A few years ago, I stopped drinking anything but water. We live in a nation, that imposes tight restrictions upon the water that we receive in our homes. Amazing.There's almost nothing that didn't improve. Eyes, skin, circulation, hair, digestion, vital signs. Plus taste buds so refined I can't use metal cutlery.

The Single Biggest Benefit To My Health, Ever

Good quality, clean drinking water isn't as readily available for everyone (please don't believe that bottled water is necessarily clean).Many wonder how they will manage without their morning coffee, or soothing cup of tea.In truth, after just a week with only water, returning to that old favourite will have you rushing to spit it out. Now you can actually taste it fully, you wonder why you ever thought it was nice, let alone necessary.Try drinking it icy cold. It's nicer like this.Tea and coffee are diaretics, so enjoy hydration, better sleep, cleaner teeth and wellness.💦

You can try this free medicine too.

The health benefit that anyone can try. I guarantee, you'll have noticeable effects.

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

The single best health benefit

Self professed expert dog trainer, Niki French wants dog owners to stop the daily walks. Her preference is that you instead offer them more stimulating activities and "enrichment games". Apparently we are exhausting them.I wonder if we are thinking of the same species and how in the world, she has the audacity to pronounce this as proven wisdom, when it's her supposition nased upon a single rescue dog's behavioural responses.What happened to the scientific method of selecting suitable sample subjects, safeguarding controls and requiring replicable outcomes?

Stop walking the dog??!!!

The daily walks are so much more than mere exercise for canine and human. Like anyone, dogs will prefer to do their businesses somewhere other than their own territory. Along with the smell of poop, anal glands are expressed during the process, depositing a calling card, of sorts. We all know that doggy greeting ~ tails up!. Those highly sensitive noses make sense of the world, other animals and their place amongst it all, by the unique and revealing scents to be investigated as part of this exhausting exercise. Do consider the effect on them, using powerful air fresheners or essential oils.

Who's who of bum sniffs.

Not plopping in one's own living space is instinctive survival behaviour. Predators are discouraged and the health hazards associated with such contact needs no further explanation.Then there's the multitude of dog peculiarities to be enjoyed each time. Chasing squirrels, patrolling for cats, barking at the wind and chasing plastic bags are but a few. Occasionally, they may even get lucky and snag a discarded kebab. Don't they always taste better days later, having been squashed by cars and rejected by more discerning species?Most species, even ours, has evolved to depend upon routine.

The simple pleasures

I agree that some variation on location would be useful. But so many people rely on that bonding time with man's best friend, for health, companionship, avoiding becoming isolated and general improved quality of life for both parties.All too often, that cute puppy grows into a not so cute dog, that needs attention, care, feeding and yes, walking, but life gets in the way while they remain caged or locked in a kitchen. Or worse still, left to negotiate a motorway or fend for themselves.We have had a succession of rescue dogs. In my experience, the majority will happily walk all day long

Knocking those doing a great job.

What I would like to hear from a supposed "expert", is support to quell the breeding of purebreds. My first job was in a kennels with a Crufts winner. They aren't treated like dogs, but more like cattle. Only the selective breeding, causes congenital defects that cause horrific suffering. They often struggle to breathe, have painful, watering eyes, drool constantly or have skeletal issues. Their mercifully short lives will see their spine gradually crumble until all they can do is drag themselves from nowhere to nowhere else.The sorry existence of a bitch, devoted to breeding is yet worse.

An end to this cruelty.

There's no reason to continue causing such suffering. The notion of needing Labradors for guide dogs or German Shepherds for police dogs is nonsense. There are cross breds well suited to the work, that will live twice as long without the health concerns. A dog's nature is discerned by the way they are treated and purebreds are as likely to suffer mental and behavioural problems as the physical ones.People often ask "What's the best breed to have around children?" The answer lies in the behaviour of the children, more than the dog.

The right dog?

Despite the ridiculous desire to dress them up in miniature dress-up, dogs have a year round fur coat. There will be times they're hot, tired, tetchy or fed up of being poked, prodded and teased mercilessly by kids. We all did it! They can't say "leave me alone", only have claws and teeth with which to lash out.The key is that the dog have a space, ideally slightly out of the way of the noisy, busy areas in a family home, to which they can safely retreat. A "bolt hole". Somewhere it is fully understood, is just for the dog. No following. It's time out.<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">A dog is for life, not just an accessory.﻿</li></ul>

A member of the family

Man's best friend.

I hear one sad tale of unhappiness and discontent within the family home, after another, endlessly, it seems.Reports suggest that in the experience of nearly every young, homeless person, mealtimes as children were spent sat in front of the TV with a tray on their lap, or eating in their bedroom.Walk into many homes in the country and you will find a table piled high with clutter, chairs strewn about or used as coat hangers. Increasingly, there is no table to be found.Nobody would be surprised to discover every person in separate rooms, eyes transfixed on a screen

How families have become strangers in their own homes

How sad to hear people accept that they communicate with their immediate family via social media.Coming together to share food is a common practice across different cultures, whether it be just those in the household, more extended family or as a duty (dharma), for a Hindu.But it's so much more than just sharing food. It's time devoted to celebrating, thanking and supporting each other. A time for talking and listening. Solving problems collectively and sharing the ups and downs of our lives.It's where we meet new members of our family and get to know who they are. Where someone cares.

The psychology of the kitchen table

As children, we usually visited one grandparent or another every weekend, where preparation of the meal, laying the table and washing up were all communal activities and with hindsight, they were valuable learning experiences.Even as lives became busier, with the pressures of modern living, we were called to the table at a specific time and required permission to leave. But as life becomes more stressful, that support that can only be found in the unity around the table, has never been more important. We all deserve to feel someone cares and that we are not alone in times of difficulty.

Never alone

A few years ago, my last remaining grandparent passed away. There was concern that without our weekly gatherings at nan's table, we would drift apart. She was the "glue", they said. But we moved the tradition to my parent's table. Despite some recent obstacles, without doubt, it's proven that it's the table that has at least, maintained that crucial connection so valuable in all our lives.Despite lifelong difficulties with eating, I would still at least sit at the table, sipping some water, listening, laughing and wallowing in the abundant love.

The family glue

Some believe the concept itself to simply be one of a bygone era and it's loss, a natural part of progression. Back in the 1970s, we had a lovely solid table with bench seats so invited friends and ad-hoc visitors could squeeze in.It also doubled as the place homework was done (for children and adults), a place boardgames or jigsaws frequently adorned and the place gifts were extracted from packaging and eagerly investigated.Our privacy and each person's private space was of considerable importance. But this was the place all were welcome and 5,000 could seemingly be accommodated with ease.

Changing times

Our clan shares a tale of the day I begged and pleaded for my gran, to make me some custard. As she arrived with it, I announced it was no longer wanted. My dad immediately upended the bowl and contents over my head. There I sat, with a bowl on my head and custard dripping down my face and golden pigtails.I am certain that story will transpire in my eulogy.Positions for seating have changed as have generations. I have a sneaking suspicion that my mum now does the unthinkable and allows the dog to sit with them, like a Coolidge painting.Her majesty's table may have the size, but ours wins

Room for everyone.

communication

Communication

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

Ending isolation.

It could be said, I'm a psychonaut. After 35 years of learning about methods of exploring the universe, why, how and when it occurs, I believe it's a title I've earned. It's not all sitting around taking acid and frying your brain. It actually involves very little use of mind altering substances and the kind of indepth learning you would undertake in a top university. It was 30 years of learning and introspection, self evaluation adjustment of values and hard work before I was fully ready to partake of what's known as "the spirit molecule".

You can't buy facetime with God.

Why go to all the effort? Instead tread the path cut by colonialists. With the mighty dollar, trample through the remote Amazonian rain forest, where 80% of the world's biodiversity precariously exists, introducing the countless dangers to a people, ecosystem and culture totally unprepared for it? Without all the years of learning, the possibility of completely losing ones mind, taking powerful halluciogens in an unprepared situation, is entirely understandable.Those isolated tribes that survived rubber tappers, colonialists and loggers face a new threat.

The short cut

Wealthy westerners seek a short cut to enlightenment, flocking to retreats that make a mockery of the complex spirituality being culturally appropriated. Increasing reports of disappearances and deaths emerge. No mention of the loss of life, from disease, the distancing of a people with their identity and the damage to the delicate balance within the region that is to the Earth, what a heart is to a human.Profiteers allege that it affords the tribes luxuries. Perhaps like giving a starving child a Fabergé egg.Eco tourism of this kind must end.

There's no winners in war.

The right to enlightenment must be earned.

Ayahuasca was a sacred medicine. Now it's a global 'it' drug, and the trendiness is threatening the source.

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

Millennials on Spirit Quests Are Ruining Everything About Ayahuasca

"Just say no!" they told us. "Drugs are bad", "they cause death, crime and corrupt the moral family values of our society".The drugs that cause the most death.. alcohol and tobacco, remain legal and freely available. Might the vast tax revenues contribute to this paradox?The "worst" drugs that strike fear into ever parent's heart are ones of immense value as medicines that we would genuinely struggle to live without.The reason they cause crime, is because we criminalise those struck down by the disease of addiction. We leave the management of a business worth $650 million annually, to gangs.

The myth, the stereotype and the judgement.

Addiction is a chronic disease that is present at birth and has no cure. A lucky few will learn to control their propensity, but it's always lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right opportunity to reclaim it's position of power.Decriminalisation is not legalisation. Consider "The British method", where opiate addicts could receive a controlled, prescribed supply until they were ready for change. Often the most dangerous element of opiates brought illegally is the poison it's mixed with.Not only was the supply safer, but patients could access healthcare, housing, education and rehab

As a result, illicit dealers had no customers, addicts had no need to resort to crime and they could be targeted for outreach programs and public health solutions.It was said that all the opiate addicts in the UK could fit into one room of a pub.Many long term addicts remain unnoticed because they eat well, have a secure home, healthcare and a notion of the pride felt after an honest days work.For many, their drug of choice happens to be legal. Because it's prescribed or because it's normal behaviour that's taken its place of control over the addict, treating addiction as sickness is key.

<ul><li>It's not the drugs that make a drug addict. It's the need to escape reality.</li><li>An addict can't quit for anyone other than themself, regardless of how much love exists between them. Costly residential facilities are worse than futile, just getting easier to fail each time.</li><li>Stigmatising, crimminalising and judging them for their disease only makes them less worthy of recovery.</li><li>Those who are lucky enough to avoid the pitfalls caused by the "war on drugs", will eventually tire of the horrors. An addict has to be truly ready to quit, with their whole heart. We just need to keep them alive until then.</li></ul>

We burn every farmer's crop, imprison the traffickers, punish the dealers, but if the demand exists, so will supply.Existing policy has failed miserably. Isn't it time to look at a new approach? When an addict has their habit extracted, a cavernous space remains to be filled. At more than $36,000/£44,000 per year to imprison a user, aren't they worth an investment that will produce a taxpaying member of society?Which of us is so righteous as to cast the first stone? judge not lest ye be judged. Addiction is a chemical response within the human brain and a trap that can ensnare the best of us.

The facts from a 30 year long functional heroin addiction.

The stigma of a chronic illnes

The thinking is that this virus, that caused global panic, on a scale not seen since the cold war, will become something we deal with routinely, much like the common cold.While you venture outdoors, to seek out the facilities still standing; a scene akin to a post zombie apocalypse film, there are some for whom life will never...can never be the same.One of the many people who live with a lifelong autoimmune condition that is normally managed privately, I had to discuss with my daughter, how she would cope with the survivor guilt, if she unwittingly infected someone with no immune system.

What will the new "normal" look like?

My friend bravely allowed me to share these images. The first is of her and her husband, enjoying their lives together. The second is of his casket being lowered into the cold, hard earth.A young, strong man, full of vitality. Affectionately called "viking", in no small part because of his warrior like appearance and lifestyle. The one who would always be bearing the casket on one shoulder, having dug the grave and carrying the weight of the world on the other.Her hope is that by sharing the reality of what can be lost, if just one life is saved, his death was not for nothing.

Something we never imagined could happen to us.

THANKYOU.....<ul><li>To all the frontline workers who took their lives in their hands everyday to minimise the tragedy.</li><li>To everyone who despite a degree of uncertainty, protected themselves and those around them by getting vaccinated. Imagine if nobody had been brave enough to try penicillin.</li><li>To everyone who helped neighbours and other members of the community who were, and possibly remain at risk</li><li>To everyone who self isolated. There was no lock on the door or isolation police. Only your compassion made this possible.</li><li>To everyone who has, and is still supporting those of us who are dealing with loss</li></ul>

A big thankyou.

As a "high risk" person, living through a pandemic I expected would take my life...Thankyou.

Support your local traders.

The Poor decisions of men.

44 Ambien Stories That Will Creep You The Eff Out

https://youtu.be/wQ1QCbnUjPE

The single best health benefit

Mx Kat Invisibilis