Monthly Archives: December 2012

Genetics, Health Reform, Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Healthcare Solutions

Unconstitutional Retaliation by Health Agency (NYSDOH) Cost Taxpayers $25 Million

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The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) agreed to pay the owners of the Beechwood Nursing Home, located in Rochester, New York, $25 Million dollars to settle litigation in which a federal jury had already determined that NYSDOH officials, in a context of malfeasant comportment, had illegally revoked the operating license of the facility in 1999 in retaliation against its owners, resulting in Beechwood’s closure. The jury was scheduled to decide how much to award in damages when the parties reached a settlement.

The NYSDOH, known for disregarding Fourteenth Amendment rights (such as the right to have witnesses for one’s defense) in its actions against the state’s health professionals, has been challenged to conform to proper judicial practices, most notably via bills introduced by the New York State Legislature. All bills were vetoed by Governor George E. Pataki in 2004. According to Dr. Gérard Sunnen, a New York psychiatrist with long experience caring for patients in city hospitals and nursing homes, “the closure of the Home undoubtedly tore apart the social fabric and the connective support sustaining its tenants and patients, likely resulting in serious stress reactions, with all attendant consequences, physical and psychological.”

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle filed this report on the unconstitutional retaliation settlement. According to its August 22, 2012 article, the presentation of provocative e-mails, written by NYSDOH officials in the wake of Beechwood’s closure, was a key point in the case. Jurors in the case “pointed to the e-mails as the proof they needed of the state’s malice.” Although Beechwood’s owners sued multiple NYSDOH officials at the outset of the litigation in 2002, five were eventually found liable for the illegal revocation of the operating license: current Health Department officials Susan Baker and Cynthia Francis, and former officials Laura Leeds, Sanford Rubin, and Sharon Carlo. These individuals will not be personally liable for the $25 Million settlement.

New York State taxpayers, however, are the ones to shoulder the burden of the full award.

Via EPR Network
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Alternative medicine, Disorders, Health Products, Healthcare Information, Healthcare Solutions, Online, Society, Sports Medicine, Therapies

Professional Tennis Player Overcomes Debilitating Anxiety & Panic Disorder Unconventionally

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The tennis world has seen many comebacks in the past but none as unlikely as this one. After 6 years Dennis Simsek a professional tennis player and teaching pro on the ATP tour has naturally been able to overcome Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder, after being moments from taking his own life. Emergency visits before and after important tennis matches, intense physical sensations that resembled serious illnesses during matches, and overwhelming fearful thoughts were just a few of the personal mental and physical battles.

The ‘Me vs Myself On & Off The Court’ eBook outlines natural and unconventional ways Dennis overcame his mental illnesses. The coping strategies such as anti anxiety pills were only a short term fix that didn’t lead to long term recovery, and this is causing a major roadblock for people suffering from intense panic and anxiety these days. The ups and downs of this inspirational story will give readers a glimpse into the life of a professional athlete that feared everything from crowded areas to up tempo music. Readers will be able to relate to these stories, gain strength to stay motivated to face their fears, and reach their dreams through my online blogs and 30 day fear eliminator challenge set to launch on Jan 1st.

This eBook as well as the many interactive tools were launched through The Anxious Athlete website on Dec 15th, and can be purchased through the website below. I am hoping you will be able to see the enourmous benefits that athletes and non athletes who suffer with mental illnesses will gain from reading this book.

Via EPR Network
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Cosmetic Surgery, Cosmetics, Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Plastic Surgery, Society

Leading UK Breast Enlargement Clinic, Aurora Clinics, Release a YouTube Video to Promote their Unique Three Point Plan

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Aurora is a Leading Cosmetic Surgery Clinic with a Number of Clinics Operating Throughout the UK. Specialising in Breast Enlargement Surgery, Aurora has Released their YouTube Video Explaining the Procedure and their Three Point Treatment Plan.

Aurora is harnessing the power of YouTube, now the world’s second biggest search engine, by releasing a new YouTube video that explains their unique three point treatment plan for those thinking about undergoing breast enlargement surgery.

“Our three point plan is designed to help our patients achieve the results they wish for in the safest possible environment.” explains Aurora’s spokesperson. All breast enlargement patients are entitled to unlimited free consultation appointments with the surgeon who will carry out their procedure, making sure that all of the patient’s questions are answered and no doubts about surgery remain in their mind.

The first step on their three point plan is all of Aurora’s patients and potential patients have access to a specialist surgeon in a convenient location for them. From that patient’s first appointment, they will meet the surgeon who will carry out their procedure. “We have developed a network of the best and most experienced breast enlargement surgeons throughout the UK” says their spokesperson. They offer breast enlargement London, breast enlargement Birmingham, as well as a number of other locations within the UK.

Included in the patient’s unlimited free consultation appointments is a sizing appointment. This appointment makes up the second step of the three point plan. In the sizing appointment, patients can bring different items of their clothing so their surgeon can try a variety of different makes, shapes and sizes of breast enlargement implants. Aurora’s spokesperson explains, “This enables the patient to get a really good idea of what their appearance will be post surgery and achieve the result they are looking for.”

Aurora Clinics and their surgeons know how important it is that patients have a realistic expectation of their appearance post surgery, and take into account the patient’s ideal outcome when advising on them on the best treatment to achieve this outcome. “All of the treatment options will be discussed in full at the patients’ consultation appointments. Not only do we offer breast enlargement, but we also carry out other breast surgeries such as breast uplift, inverted nipple correction and breast reduction. For example, often those who have lost a large amount of weight or have breastfed opt for both breast enlargement and a breast uplift to achieve their desired result. Our surgeons are highly skilled in advising patients what the most appropriate treatment is.” their spokesperson explains.

The third and final step of the three point plan is Aurora’s After Care Policy. As part of their after care policy, patients are given access to and are encouraged to use their 24 hour hotline. Patients are also invited to come back to their local clinic for free yearly appointments with their surgeon to check that their breast enlargement procedure remains fine.

Added to this, Aurora Clinics are now offering patients their initial consultation online. “We believe we are the first UK company to do this and it allows anyone thinking about breast enlargement to discuss this online with a specialist breast enlargement surgeon.” says their spokesperson.

In their YouTube video the Surgical Director of Aurora Clinics, Adrian Richards, takes viewers through their three point plan from their Buckinghamshire clinic. “We have a number of videos already on YouTube but with this we wanted to take a different direction and explain to people the full process of a breast enlargement treatment.” he explains. Accompanying this video are a number of other videos that answer some of the most commonly asked questions about breast enlargement surgery and related treatments.

For more information on Aurora’s three point plan, watch their YouTube video athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfNg2GveXzI. Alternatively, visit their websitehttp://www.aurora-clinics.co.uk/treatments_chest_breast_enlargement.html

Via EPR Network
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Cancer, Healthcare, Healthcare Professionals, Healthcare Services, Healthcare Solutions, Society, Therapies

EMS Healthcare forges ahead with new mobile cancer unit

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EMS Healthcare is helping The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre deliver care closer to the community with the development of a bespoke mobile chemotherapy unit.

Clatterbridge in the Community will take to the road from early January, delivering treatment to patients at the Sealand Tesco site as a pilot prior to a roll out across Chester and the Wirral, using its fully customised mobile medical unit to reduce unnecessary stress from travel and help to cut down waiting times.

Keith Austin, Managing Partner in EMS-Healthcare said: “We have been working closely with The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to develop a mobile facility that will ensure they can deliver first class patient care close to people’s homes, right in the heart of the community. The medical vehicle has been designed specially to meet their requirements and we anticipate that it will house the largest mobile chemotherapy treatment space in the country.”

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre is one of the largest networked cancer centres in the UK. From nine operating sites across Merseyside and Cheshire it treats over 27,000 patients a year, offering pioneering chemotherapy, radiotherapy and proton therapy treatments.

Kim Barrow, Head of Daycase and Outpatient Services at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre said: “Over the last few months EMS Healthcare has been working hard to turn our vision into reality. We are delighted with the progress and look forward to launching the new care unit to patients in the New Year.”

EMS-Healthcare’s work with The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre follows a successful health roadshow campaign delivered on behalf of cancer charity, Tenovus, which treated 15 chemo patients per day in South Wales. This mobile medical unit was the first of its kind in the UK.

Via EPR Network
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Anti-aging, Health Products, Healthcare, Healthcare Products, Pharmaceuticals, Society

Vital International Studies has Concluded that Aging can be Controlled

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Middle aged Americans are terrified of becoming old and many say they are obsessed with coloring their gray hair. The findings of most people becoming self-conscience about aging, in spite of the old adage of “luring gray is distinguished”, are surprising findings of more than 12 months of ongoing studies, discussions and ramped up product sales of the company’s resveratrol.

In recent years, astounding results obtained in laboratories ion vertebrate and invertebrate mammals including mice and fish offer promises on many levels of health and wellness for humans. Consequently, Resveratrol has become the subject of more new scientific studies than almost any chemical compound on earth. …And for Americans, that seems to be more than suitable towards mitigating the signs of aging.

I have tried many products over the years but have never gotten the results that I am getting with your Resveratrol products!!! I have taken Vital-resV & Vital-flex as suggested -every day – two times per day for approx. 3 months.   At my recent medical checkup I got amazing results………HOORAY………THANK YOU

NICK “THE BEAR” KINZIGER

Resveratrol is a natural chemical compound found in the skin of red grapes, as well as a host of other plants and foods including mulberries, peanuts, and, of course, red wine.Resveratrol is a naturally powerful antioxidant that rids the body of free radicals. Laboratory studies have shown resveratrol protects the heart, may prevent cancer cells from forming, improves insulin sensitivity, increases the number of calories burned during exercise, and filters toxic minerals from the body.

Vital-resv.com provides consumer with the most effect form of resveratrol from its proprietary formula which includes Acai berry extract, Maqui berry extract and Grape seed extract. “The reason Vital-ResV is the most effective resveratrol, is amid the Company’s bio-enhanced technology for increased absorption”, says Chris Ingram, President at Vital International.

Vital International is working to provide consumers with a wider choice of supplements and multi-vitamin products. The Company’s Vital-ResV Resveratrol studies were comparatively mentioned on 60 minutes as featured on the Company’s website atwww.vital-resv.com.

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Chris Ingram, please call 877-500-1969 or email chris.ingram@vital-resv.com

Via EPR Network
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Biotech, Business of Medicine, Genetics, Healthcare, Healthcare Solutions

Microtissues® Inc. and Sigma-Aldrich® Sign Worldwide Supply and Distribution Agreement for the 3D Petri Dish®

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Microtissues® Inc. announced today the signing of a Supply and Distribution Agreement with Sigma-Aldrich® Corporation (Nasdaq: SIAL) for the worldwide sales and marketing of the 3D Petri Dish®, a new technology for the culture of living cells in three dimensions (3D). Invented at Brown University, the 3D Petri Dish® maximizes cell-to-cell interactions critical for replicating the function of natural tissues and organs. Shown in numerous peer reviewed papers to work with over fifty different cell types, including cell lines, primary cells and stem cells, the 3D Petri Dish® has applications in cancer research, drug discovery, toxicity testing and regenerative medicine.

“Researchers are rapidly recognizing the importance of 3D cell culture and its ability to reliably mimic in vivo function” said Brian Morgan, Director of Business Development, Microtissues® Inc. “The 3D Petri Dish® creates a natural 3D environment without artificial scaffolds and we’re excited that this distribution agreement will bring our unique and innovative line of products to the worldwide research community.”

Unlike the conventional plastic Petri dish where cells are grown as a thin layer on the surface of the dish, the 3D Petri Dish® forms 3D aggregates of cells. Spheroid size is controlled by the number of cells seeded and hundreds of uniform sized spheroids are formed in a single pipetting step. Spheroids are formed in a well ordered array in a stable platform suitable for long term culture. All spheroids are positioned on the same optical plane making them easy to image (phase contrast, fluorescent). Spheroid size is controlled by the number of cells seeded and a mixture of cells forms mixed spheroids, suitable for investigating tumor-stroma interactions. Spheroids can be grown from single cells, applicable to the study of cancer stem cells. For histology, Western blots and RT-PCR, spheroids are harvested by simply inverting the 3D Petri Dish®. No need to dissolve or digest the gel. The 3D Petri Dish® is a new fundamental tool for the world wide industry of life sciences research.

About Sigma-Aldrich®: Sigma-Aldrich® is a leading Life Science and High Technology company whose biochemical, organic chemical products, kits and services are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostics and high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich® customers include more than 1.3 million scientists and technologists in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals and industry. The Company operates in 38 countries and has nearly 9,000 employees whose objective is to provide excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich® is committed to accelerating customer success through innovation and leadership in Life Science and High Technology. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich®, please visit its website at www.sigma-aldrich.com.

About Microtissues® Inc: Microtissues® Inc. is a privately held company located in Providence, RI, advancing technologies and applications of 3D cell culture. Microtissues®, Inc.’s products are designed to serve the needs of researchers in a wide range of areas including cancer research, stem cell biology, toxicity testing, developmental biology, drug discovery, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Microtissues®, Inc. has an exclusive worldwide license from Brown University to US and international patent applications on the 3D Petri Dish®. For more information on Microtissues®, Inc., please visit www.microtissues.com.

Sigma-Aldrich and Sigma are trademarks of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC registered in the US and other countries. Microtissues and 3D Petri Dish are registered trademarks of Microtissues, Inc.

Via EPR Network
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Business of Medicine, Healthcare Software, Healthcare Solutions, Online, Society

Centralized Sent Mail Folder for Crypt-n-Send, Email Encryption Service

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MDofficeMail is proud to announce the release of new version of Compose-Webpage, Webmail, iPhone/iPad App and Android App for their HIPAA compliant Email Encryption Service, Crypt-n-Send.

Most advanced and advantageous feature of this new version is- Centralized Sent Mail folder.

With most of the email services, when email messages are sent from webmail, Outlook/other email client applications or smart phone email programs, messages sent are stored in different folders. For example if you have sent a message from Outlook of your home computer, you don’t have access to that message unless you have access to that particular computer.

To overcome this common problem, CryptnSend adopted a new software technology.

Secure email messages sent using any of the below given methods are saved in to the Sent Mail folder of your Webmail. Further, this folder can be accessed directly from your smart phone and Compose-Webpage without logging into your Webmail:
A. Compose-Webpage: Browse https://cryptnsend.com, compose a secure message, and send.
B. Webmail: Browse https://secure.cryptnsend.com, login, compose a secure message, and send.
C. iPhone/iPad and Android App: Download and install the app, login with your email id and password, compose and send message.
D. MS Outlook/Apple Mail/Any other Email Client program: Configure your CryptnSend account in your email client program and send secure, encrypted messages.

About Crypt-n-Send Email Encryption Service from MDofficeMail
To send any confidential information like PHI by email, it is necessary that
a)Both the sender and the recipient should have a secure email account.
b)The content of the message should not be in human readable format if it is accessed by someone else.

In general, many responsible senders like medical facilities will have secure email service at their end. However, they ignore the importance of security at recipient’s end. It is a known fact that majority of people use free accounts with no security at all. To handle this critical issue that is most often ignored, to maintain the end-to-end security of emails, MDofficeMail is presenting to you Crypt-n-Send.

Crypt-n-Send is an innovative service for encrypting and delivering email with end-to-end security. You can use any email account to SEND secure email. The recipient’s email account need not be secure.

In addition, this process doesn’t involve the hassle of installing additional software, security certificates, or keys. However if you choose MS Outlook to send secure and plain messages, you can install Crypt-n-Send Add-in for MS Outlook as an option.

How Crypt-n-Send works
Continue to use your existing email account as before and subscribe to Crypt-n-send service for your existing email id.

Other important features of Crypt-n-Send include:
New recipient validation: By selecting this option while composing a message, the sender can restrict a new recipient from viewing the message without a security token. This token can be given to the recipient over phone.

Password reset authorization: Unless the sender authorizes, recipient cannot reset a forgotten password to view a secure message.
Validation of recipient to reset password: Optionally, the sender can validate the recipient requesting for a reset of a forgotten password.

Sender has the option to send encrypted message or plain message to any email recipient.

Access logs: Access logs can be viewed for each user, as required by HIPAA

Force expiration of sent messages: In case incorrect information is emailed by error, sender can force expire the message. Force expired message will no longer be available to the recipient.

Fixed life of sent message: Messages are automatically deleted from MDVault after 30 days irrespective of whether it is already viewed by the recipient or not.

Downloading and storing: If the recipient wants to save important messages for future reference, they can download and save the message on their computer.

Secure reply: Recipient of a secure message can send a secure, encrypted reply.

Automatic session time-out.

Change-Password Reminder: Users are reminded to change their password every 90 days to maintain the HIPAA compliance.

Attachments: Attachments can be sent using Compose Webpage, Webmail and MS Outlook.
Attachments are encrypted and can be downloaded from MDVault secure site. Recipients can include attachments in their replies as well.

Limitations with Crypt-n-Send Service from MDofficeMail:
Message headers, including the subject are not encrypted and will get delivered to the recipient in the notification. Be careful not to include sensitive information in the subject line.

Messages held by MDVault will be removed after 30 days for better security. So, it can’t be used as a long-term secure message storage.

Sign up for Crypt-n-Send service from the following link:https://cryptnsend.com/SecureOrder.aspx

For more information on Crypt-n-Send and MDofficeMail Email Hosting Service, please visithttp://MDofficeMail.com

Encryption technology used in Crypt-n-Send and MDofficeMail Email Hosting Service:

MDVault uses industry-standard AES-256 encryption in CBC mode with MD5 hash. Many federal agencies and financial institutions around the globe use the same class of encryption to protect very sensitive data. AES-256 encryption is so secure that there are no publicly-known attacks that will recover anything useful from an AES-256 encrypted file in any remotely reasonable amount of time.

Via EPR Network
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Alternative medicine, Biotech, Genetics, Healthcare

Is it a Moment or an Abuse: the Boom of iPSCs Research after 2012 Medicine Nobel Prize

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On Creative Biomart website, we can read a report about the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine regarding the two winners. They bring hope for organ or tissue repair for human or even for rejuvenation, i.e. for long life through induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

Since the first appearance in 2006, iPSCs became the hit and focus. But there are still lots of unknowns waiting for us before achieving the ideal status. Thus, numerous scientists, researchers and businessmen are struggling and investing for that goal. Here are some examples:

On Dec. 5, 2012, Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) announced today the launch of StemBANCC, a new academic–industry partnership that unites ten pharmaceutical companies and 23 academic institutions. Initiated and coordinated by Roche and managed by Oxford University, StemBANCC aims to use human induced pluripotent stem cells as research tools for drug discovery with the goal of using this ground-breaking new technology to develop human disease models and enhance drug development.

On Oct. 29, 2012, on the PANS Journal there is an article about Cartilage tissue engineering using differentiated and purified induced pluripotent stem cells.

On Oct. 4, 2012, on Cell Stem Cell, there is a report with the title be Genome Sequencing of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reveals Retroelement Stability and Infrequent DNA Rearrangement during Reprogramming.

On Jan. 30, 2012, on the PANS Journal, there is a report about modeling hepatitis C virus infection using human induced pluripotent stem cells, which make the individual and tailor therapy further.

Above are only a small part of such studies. People still wonder does it is the moment or an abuse on the iPSCs research. When someone reviewed one of the winners, Shinya Yamanaka, about his opinion on the challenge of iPSCs research, he said, “I have two research directions, the first is to establish human iPSCs bank that comply with clinical application standards. The second is to study the cell mechanism of iPSCs regenerating. And I think the current threat is still to be the safety problem as good research respects both scientific and ethical standards.”

But no one deny the great potential of iPSCs.

Via EPR Network
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Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Care, Dentistry, Doctors, Healthcare, Healthcare Services, Society

Sierra Vista AZ. Dentist Announces 2012 Holiday Free iPad Contest

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Dr. Steve Wolfington, of Cochise Caring Dentistry in Sierra Vista, AZ. announces their “2012 Holiday Free Contest for residents of Cochise County Arizona. “We selected the iPad for our first contest because it is one of the most popular items people are interested in” states Dr Wolfington.

Dr. Wolfington states, ”We wanted to thank all of our patients for their continued support and give back to our community, so we created our first annual Holiday Contest, where any one of our existing patients has several chances to win a free iPad when they refer a friend or family member. All they have to do is go to our Sierra Vista Dentist Free iPad Contest Entry Page and fill out a short entry form and they’re automatically entered to win. The drawing will be held on Dec 20th 2012 and the winner will be announced on our blog.

We keep our contests and referral offers pretty simple, all we ask is that a patient refers a friend or family member who may be interested in getting the best dental care in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The referring patient can enter our contest as many times as they want by entering a new friend referral each time.

Our entire staff wanted to do something for the holidays and we all thought the iPad would make someone a nice gift for this year’s holidays.

We treat many patients from Benson, Bisbee, Douglas and other outlying cities in Cochise County, even as far as Tucson in our dental office in Sierra Vista. Our Sierra Vista dental office has been in this location for over 30 years, and our staff members have treated and cared for 2 and 3 generations of our patient’s family and friends.

Outside of our first annual Holiday Contest we maintain our “Smile-A-Mile” Program. This is an on-going program we created to support our community year-round. Smile-A-Mile reimburses our patients for their round trip cost of gas for each visit. We calculated the mileage from each of the cities like Benson, Douglas, Tombstone, Bisbee and more, to ourSierra Vista Dentist Office. We used the average miles per gallon that a typical family vehicle gets according to statistics, and the average cost of per gallon of gas throughout Cochise County Arizona, and came up with our “Smile-A-Mile Program”. As an example, our Benson Arizona Patients are now being reimbursed $7.00 for each and every visit to our Sierra Vista Dental office, and all they need to do is bring in a water, electricity or phone bill to show proof of residence”.

At Cochise Caring Dentistry, we strive to be the most affordable Family Dental and Cosmetic Dentistry Practice in Cochise County. For all of our New Patients, we offer 50% off our Exams and Cleanings and 50% off our Professional Opalescence Teeth Whitening treatments for all patients to assist our customers in attaining quality dental health”.

Via EPR Network
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Alternative medicine, Healthcare Products, Homeopathic Treatment, Online, Public Health, Society

New Book, “Bush Medicine of the Bahamas” is the 2012 Recipient of Mary W. Klinger Book Award for Outstanding Book of the Year

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Ethnobotanist, Jeffrey H. McCormack, Ph.D., says that what makes “Bush Medicine of the Bahamas” unique is its innovative, multi-faceted, cross-cultural approach that integrates oral history with botany, anthropology, and pharmacology. Its integrative approach and readable style make it especially appealing to Caribbean travelers, herbal practitioners, and educators. It also serves as a guide to medicinal flora.

The residents of the Bahamas practice a form of traditional medicine using tropical plants for curing diseases and treating ailments. On his website (http://www.bushmedicine.org) lead author, Jeffrey H. McCormack, Ph.D., writes that the enslaved African ancestors of the Bahamian people brought to the New World a practical knowledge of medicinal plants, and a legacy of “medicinal plant literacy” that helped them “read” and recognize the potential healing qualities of the many new and unfamiliar plants of the Bahamas. Under the influence of European and colonial practices, their diverse beliefs and healing practices were then simplified, distilled, transformed, reformulated, and further refined by generations of experimentation. This distinctive form of medicine is of value today for what it tells us of a unique culture, traditional healing, and the therapeutic value of their plants.

“Bush Medicine of the Bahamas” is the recipient of the 2012 Mary W. Klinger Book Award for outstanding book of the year, awarded annually by the Society for Economic Botany. The book has also been selected for the 19th annual Virginia Festival of the Book held in Charlottesville, Virginia, March 20-24, 2013.

Dr. McCormack says that the book is a comprehensive treatment of Bahamian bush medicine, dedicated to the preservation and continued use of this knowledge before it is lost. Chapters explore the cultural roots, principles, and practice of bush medicine. The materia medica covers 120 medicinal plants and 22 non-botanical remedies, including details of administration and dosage, pharmacology, and cross-cultural uses of bush medicine. Throughout the book, colorful oral histories provide details of the healers’ practices and glimpses of the culture of San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. What makes the book sing are the oral histories and personal stories. As internationally-celebrated nature writer Gary Paul Nabhan has written, “… what beautiful stories they are, some of them with healing power in their own right.”

This book can also serve as a field guide to medicinal flora and will therefore be of interest to nature-minded travelers throughout the Caribbean. Currently, it is available through several distributors in the Bahamas and U.S., and online at http://www.bushmedicine.org/orders-retail.html

Published by JHM Designs Publications, Charlottesville, VA, this is a large hardcover book (9” x 12” x 1”) of nearly 400 pages, including 161 illustrations (104 in color). Additional illustrations include photographs of bush medicine practitioners and island landscapes where they harvest their plant medicines. A dictionary of Bahamian dialect is included in the appendix. There are four indexes including common name, scientific name, subject index, and index of medicinal plants according to principal uses.

Excellent advance reviews from Gary Paul Nabhan, James A. Duke, Rosita Arvigo, and Roy Upton. For example: “This is the most comprehensive and richest ethnobotanical presentation on traditional bush medicine that I have seen …”

The lead author, Jeffrey Holt McCormack, Ph.D., is formerly a faculty member at Middlebury College, and the University of Virginia. Trained in natural products chemistry and physiological plant ecology he has worked in the fields of sustainable agriculture, genetic preservation, plant breeding, and ethnobotany. Co-author, Kathleen Maier, P.A., RH, is a nationally known herbalist, and recipient of the first Medicinal Plant Conservation Award bestowed by the United Plant Savers. Co-author, Patty Wallens, M.A., has a background in medical interviewing and home-based counseling.

Via EPR Network
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