CHANGE DREAMS TO BEAT NIGHTMARES

If you have a bad dream, try changing the ending. Perhaps you remember doing this as a child. Now it has been proven as a treatment for nightmares, according to a report in the Washington Post.

Researchers worked with patients suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and all the associated ills - depression, flashbacks and nightmares, loss of motivation, avoidance of places and people associated with the trauma, increased irritability etc. They were divided into two groups, and one received dream therapy along with the standard drug and talk therapy.

The dream therapy had the patients write down their nightmares, then write a revised description of the dream, changing it so the outcome was the way they wished it to be. They then rehearsed their revised dream descriptions for 20 minutes a day, and met in small groups to discuss them. After three and six months, 65 percent of the dream therapy group reported significantly fewer and less severe nightmares and other symptoms. In the nondream therapy group 69 percent reported no change, or a worsening of symptoms.

THINKING REDUCES BRAIN SUGAR

The sugar levels in the brains of rats were studied by researchers at the University of Illinois. Rats were induced to find their way through a challenging maze to obtain a reward. According to their report published in the journal Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, the researchers found that in the brain area related to spatial orientation, sugar levels were reduced following the task, but in other brain areas, sugar levels were unaffected. Researchers found that brains of older rats suffered a greater reduction in sugar levels than did younger rats after resolving the maze. Sugar level in the younger rats returned to normal at a faster rate than it did in the brains of the older rats. Giving an injection of sugar helped the older rats perform better.

The researchers speculated that an implication of their findings was that a good breakfast might be important for children to do well in school and that perhaps snacks during the day would be helpful as well.

ADDING FLAVOUR TO SOUPS

Time to try something a little different since this soup is just for myself. A good opportunity to open that bottle of tomato puree with only basil added. It is imported from Italy where they grow wonderful tomatoes that are made into healthy "slow foods". The lid turned with a "thunk" so that means it has been safely sealed. The top layer in the jar looks a little darker than the rest but that is often seen at the top layer of many other canned fruits. I popped a heaping tablespoon into the already cooked mixed vegetables and I will have a new adventure I told myself because I haven't used basil flavouring before.

A little powerful and I'm not too impressed but not wanting to be wasteful I consume it for supper. Then I reach for my "Herb Book" by John Lust to see what he says about it. Sure enough, there is even a picture of the plant. He says it is helpful to relieve spasms or cramps; is an appetizer - excites appetite; a carminative - for expelling gas; a galactagogue - increases milk supply; a stomatic - stimulates digestion - and is taken for stomach cramps. It is used for constipation, and enteritis - inflammation of the small intestine. It is said to help relieve headaches and used when suffering from whooping cough.

I didn't have any of these problems that needed curing, particularly the word "constipation" tells the story of a busy evening that almost required running shoes. I should have read the information from the herb book before eating anything with basil in it. With hindsight I realize there was likely a good reason why the top layer looked a little darker. I think the Basil flakes had settled to the top. The cells within my digestion system must have gone into a tailspin, perhaps blaming the brain messengers, for not thinking of the excessive amount of basil coming down for them to handle. They all forgave me and let me get to sleep by midnight. I took note of another lesson to imprint in my brain box. My neighbour makes wonderful European foods and was happy to be gifted with the rest of the bottle (680 grams) contents.

ODE TO BRITISH COLUMBIA

In British Columbia, we have the best, Travel the world and give it a test. I zipped through the planets with a wise friend, Constellation Orion,
we were sure to attend.
Then back to B.C., and we both gave a cheer,
Best of all in the Universe, we still have right here.

Your place has such beauty, One star dweller said,
Once we visited Earth but, Back home we all fled.
Because of pollution, We ran out of air,
We could fix it for you, We'll show that we care.

We can translate thought patterns, With our nifty machine,
All languages too, Share with you, our routine.
Trade our knowledge for seeds, From your wonderful trees,
It will help many planets, And we all will be pleased.

TIPS FOR OVERCOMING ADVERSITIES

Crises and adversities are a common experience. It is a universal part of the human condition to encounter loss in several of its many, many faces. Also universal are the spiritual opportunities for growth hiding in these adversities. There is a developing trend in "life research" to identify principles for turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

A case in point is the book "How Long Till My Soul Gets It Right?: 100 Doorways on the Journey to Happiness" (ReganBooks) by the husband-and-wife counselor team Robert M. Alter and Jane Alter. They present brief case stories to illustrate the principles.

* The past must be faced, neither exaggerated nor covered up: to face the truth of childhood experience is a path to healing.

* It is important to be aware of our feelings without becoming them - we need to discover the silent peace in the center of the hurricane.

* Sometimes holding, or being held, is really important to healing.

*Learning to listen to another person is essential, and helps us, too, as we learn to heal ourselves.

(The Johns Hopkins University Press), by the project's initiators W. Daniel Hale, Ph.D. and Richard C. Bennett, M.D., the purpose of the project was to facilitate the healing power of religion by finding workable ways for the two institutions to work together.

The volunteers served as health educators, patient advocates, as well as bridge builders. Many of the volunteers were health care providers themselves and worked with great enthusiasm. Hospital personnel found the project successful and gave them added satisfaction and effectiveness to their work.

VOLUNTEERS CREATE HEALING MI NISTRIES

As part of an experimental program in Florida, church members were recruited to serve as volunteers to help bridge hospitals and religious institutions. These volunteers named the experiment Project REACH (Reaching out through Education to Advance Community Health). According to the book "Building Healthy Communities Through Medical-Religious Partnerships (The Johns Hopkins University Press), by the project's initiators W. Daniel Hale, Ph.D. and Richard C. Bennett, M.D., the purpose of the project was to facilitate the healing power of religion by finding workable ways for the two institutions to work together.

The volunteers served as health educators, patient advocates, as well as bridge builders. The volunteers worked with great enthusiasm. Hospital personnel found the project successful and gave them added satisfaction and effectiveness to their work.

CHINESE PROVERBS

If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person.

If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house.

If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.