theBoomeroom

Archive for July, 2009

Introduction

Information below contains basic information about goldenseal—common names, uses, and potential side effects. Goldenseal is a plant that grows wild in parts of the United States but has become endangered by overharvesting. With natural supplies diminished, goldenseal is now grown commercially across the United States, especially in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Common Names—goldenseal, yellow root

Latin Name—Hydrastis canadensis

What It Is Used For

•  Native Americans have used goldenseal for various health conditions such as skin diseases, ulcers, and gonorrhea.
• Goldenseal is now used for colds and other respiratory tract infections, infectious diarrhea, eye infections, and vaginitis (inflammation or infection of the vagina). It is occasionally used to treat cancer.
• It is also applied to wounds and canker sores, and is used as a mouthwash for sore gums, mouth, and throat.

How It Is Used

• The underground stems or roots of goldenseal are dried and used to make teas, liquid extracts, and solid extracts that may be made into tablets and capsules.
• Goldenseal is often combined with echinacea in preparations that are intended to be used for colds.

What the Science Says

• Few studies have been published on goldenseal’s safety and effectiveness, and there is little scientific evidence to support using it for any health problem.
• Clinical studies on a compound found in goldenseal, berberine, suggest that the compound may be beneficial for certain infections—such as those that cause some types of diarrhea, as well as some eye infections. However, goldenseal preparations contain only a small amount of berberine, so it is difficult to extend the evidence about the effectiveness of berberine to goldenseal.
• NCCAM is funding research on berberine, including a study to understand the mechanism by which it may act against tumors.

Side Effects and Cautions

• Goldenseal is considered safe for short-term use in adults at recommended dosages. Rare side effects may include nausea and vomiting.
• There is little information about the safety of high dosages or the long-term use of goldenseal.
• Although drug interactions have not been reported, goldenseal may cause changes in the way the body processes drugs, and could potentially increase the levels of many drugs. However, a study of goldenseal and indinavir, a drug used to treat HIV infection, found no interaction.
• Other herbs containing berberine, including Chinese goldthread (Coptis trifolia) and Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), are sometimes substituted for goldenseal. These herbs may have different effects, side effects, and drug interactions than goldenseal.
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid using goldenseal. The berberine in the herb may cause the uterus to contract, increasing the risk of premature labor or miscarriage. Berberine may also be transferred through breast milk, causing life-threatening liver problems in nursing infants.
• Goldenseal should not be given to infants and young children.
• Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

I watched Michael J. Fox late last night on TLC. I was deeply touched by his tenacity and devotion to his cause and family.

He has inspired me to strive to be a better person and hope he touches you in the same way.

I wish him the best and we will find a cure for Parkinsons in his lifetime. We all have to help!

With my Revell model kit of the Apollo 11 Command Module, Service module and Lunar Lander in hand, I gingerly opened the cellophane wrapper that possibly changed my life forever.

Meticulously opening the box, I saw a bunch of white styrene pieces attached to white styrene tubes. Yelling back at my mom I said ” It’s in a million pieces !!!!

My mom quietly said ” wait for you Dad to come home….. he’ll give you a hand”.

What, wait until suppertime. No way!!

Mulling through the semi- incoherent assembly instructions I decided I would be just like one of the NASA engineers and put the holy mess together myself!

Piece by piece, I persevered and Voila! I was ready for launch.

Everyday of the mission I would watch tv and recreate what happened that day.

I would hold the Command Module and the Lunar Module together in the docked position.

Using ants as my astronauts, I flew the spacecraft around my street daily until the day of the landing.

I glued myself to the tv with model in hand and in utter awe watched history being made!

I slowly detached the Lunar Module from the Command module and made my decent to the orange shag carpet lunar surface. (not so authentic but it did fine).

The Eagle had landed!

One small step for man….. one giant leap for Jeff.(err Mankind).

That event, as I try to recount to my children, was probably the most memorable time of my life.

My interests in Science, Engineering, Design, and teamwork all stem from that time in history.

I am grateful to have been there and grateful to be alive to recount this story to all  who read this blog.

It seems like just yesterday!

Jeff Pevzner

Ladies and gentlemen, they just might. Baby Boomers’ innovation, experience, expertise, and vast network of contacts may be the order of the day when it comes to breathing some life into our faltering national finances. How, you ask? Why, through the wonders of entrepreneurship, of course.
Americans Believe Entrepreneurship is the Answer

A recent poll conducted by the Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurship found that 56% of Americans believe that small business, rather than government, will lead us out of financial crisis and into stability. Over 70% of those surveyed believe that the vitality of the economy is dependent on the achievement of entrepreneurs, and 80% believe that the government should devote resources to encouraging entrepreneurship on a national scale. And who better to start a business than the ever-savvy, well-connected Boomers, who already constitute a disproportionately high number of the country’s self-employed workers? They’ve got some time on their hands, a wealth of knowledge, and a career’s worth of networking behind them…and now they’ve got the support of the U.S. Small Business Association, as well.

U.S. SBA Launches Website Dedicated to the 50+ Entrepreneur

This month, the SBA formally demonstrated its support by launching a website dedicated to the 50+ entrepreneur. Here Boomers can find everything they need to get their new venture off the ground: free online training, interactive communication tools, marketing support, advice on how to assess their readiness and get started, and more. It’s all online at http://www.sba.gov/50plusentrepreneur/

“The SBA is working hard to increase opportunities for small businesses of the baby boomer generation at every stage of their business development through better technology tools and effective services through the agency’s district office and resource partners,” says Acting SBA Administrator Sandy K. Baruah in a recent press release. “We believe 50+ entrepreneurs will drive significant new business growth in the coming years.”

Do Boomers have what it takes to turn our shaky economy around? Let’s look at the facts: this is the same generation that constitutes the biggest economic group in our country today. They control more of the wealth, earn more and spend more. They fought for civil rights and women’s rights, championed education and the environment, brought us the personal computer and the IPod, and heralded a resurgence of social activism. They’re educated and informed, and most of all, they’re used to bucking the system and coming up with creative solutions.

Folks, my money’s on the Boomers.