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- Review of Beside Me Still: A Memoir of Law and Loss in WW II
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Beside Me Still: A Memoir of Love and Loss in World War II
Elizabeth R. P. Shaw
Manufacturer: US Naval Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1557509867 |
Book Description
Here is a compelling portrait of the other side of war--those who must wait at home, uncertain what the Fates will decide--and Elizabeth Shaw knows this side of war all too well. She waited first for one husband, VanOstrand Perkins, who was killed in battle in the Pacific, and then another, James Shaw, who ultimately survived. This is a story of two couples whose lives, interwoven by events beyond their control, were inexorably and radically changed by moments we now think of as history. A romance in the finest sense of the word, the memoir is set in the dramatic landscape of the nation's greatest war. It is filled with poignant scenes of devotion, hope, and resolve; rent with fear and tragedy; and redeemed by the resilience of the human spirit.
Shaw's beautifully written prose captures the emotions of the time, giving readers a thoughtful glimpse of an era now fading from memory. Her words erase the wrinkles and the gray from those of the "greatest generation," who are leaving us in ever-growing numbers, and for a time she restores their youth for us to see them as they were. We come to know their aspirations and anxieties, feel their strength, and suffer their sacrifices. Her historically accurate account leaves the reader with feelings of awe and a sense of gratitude for the way in which a generation of Americans affected--and was affected by--the challenging times.
Customer Reviews:
Review of Beside Me Still: A Memoir of Law and Loss in WW II.......2007-03-29
This is the most beautiful and powerful description of the impact of WW II on an American family that fought in WW II yet written. Truly a magnificent memoir and recollection of pre-war America, the War in the Pacific, the war years in America, the terrible loss that was sustained, and the ability of an extraordinary woman to reconstruct her life--after her husband, an American Naval Officer, was killed in action. It is far better than any novel I have read about WW II.
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On Shantaraksita (Wadsworth Notes)
Marie Friquegnon
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing
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Binding: Paperback
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When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics)
ASIN: 0534583598 |
Book Description
This brief text assists students in understanding Shantaraksita's philosophy and thinking so they can more fully engage in useful, intelligent class dialogue and improve their understanding of course content. Part of the Wadsworth Notes Series, (which will eventually consist of approximately 100 titles, each focusing on a single "thinker" from ancient times to the present), ON SHANTARAKSITA is written by a philosopher deeply versed in the philosophy of this key thinker. Like other books in the series, this concise book offers sufficient insight into the thinking of a notable philosopher, better enabling students to engage in reading and to discuss the material in class and on paper.
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The Tattvasangraha of Shantaraksita: With the commentary of Kamalashila
Santaraksita
Manufacturer: Motilal Banarsidass
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: B0006EKW4E |
Book Description
When someone suffers from depression, friends and family members naturally want to help-but too often their good intentions come out all wrong. This practical, compassionate guide helps readers understand exactly what their loved one is going through, and why certain approaches help and others have the potential to do damage. Talking to Depression offers specific advice on what to do and what not to do-and what to say and what not to say-to avoid frustration and give the kind of caring, effective support that will make a difference.
Customer Reviews:
I am lucky to find this book to read.......2006-12-26
excellent book ! well-structed, easy to read, practical manual that you can follow in the daily life. I just finished it and I really think i am lucky to find this book to read. It is the right one to help me to cope with the daily challenge,as i have been struggling in the support for the one i loved in depression, sometimes confused and sometimes frustrated. I hope more peopel in this need could read it coz it's really useful.
Great book for friends and family.......2005-06-15
When I got diagnosed my family immediately began researching depression and learning all they could. I just discovered this book at my parents' house, full of yellow highlighted passages. It was so touching to learn that they care that much about me and that they know me so well.
I found the book to be so very truthful on many levels. She describes many possible actions and reactions and thoughts and feelings of the depressed person. While not all of them related directly to me, I could see that my family had found the ones that did and really took them to heart. So, the list must be very exhaustive and you will surely find your loved one there, even if all the symptoms don't match.
My family has responded in such a wonderful manner to me and seem to have given me exactly what I needed when I needed it. Underneath the depression I had marveled at how "good" they were at supporting me. Now I can see where they got the specific advice as to what to do and what to say and what not to say - right here in this book and it was SPOT ON. Thinking back, I can almost pinpoint when they read this because I distinctly remember when they stopped saying the "Things you should never say to a depressed person." I remember being thankful that they had finally stopped the useless advice(!)
It's a short book, an easy read but don't discount its helpfulness and usefulness.
I recommend this book highly. For you - if you're depressed - find yourself on the lists and show your family what will help and what won't; for you - if you have a depressed loved one. I have even recommended it to my counselor to recommend to the families of her other depressed clients.
good book; "light"; easy read.......2004-06-16
As someone who has suffered from depression for years, I found the book to be fairly accurate. It doesn't provide a lot of detail, but it gives enough information that non-sufferers can gain a little better understanding of the illness and how to deal with those suffering from it. At 200 pages it's a very easy read (I read it in two sittings). Not a bad book to get a quick overview on depression and some ideas on how you can help (and what *not* to do) when someone you care about is suffering.
Talking to Depression Review.......2004-03-22
First and foremost, Talking to Depression by Claudia Strauss is a map. It's a map for travelers in a tricky and sometimes dangerous land. If you have a family member, friend, or co-worker who suffers from depression, then this guidebook will serve as your navigator through troubled waters. While it offers an overview of depression in general, and a list of resources to contact at its close, its greatest strength lies in the concrete, down-to-earth tips it has to offer to individuals who are trying to help a depressed person. From conversation starters to non-verbal shows of support to "gifting," no avenue is left unexplored for the person desperately trying to cope with a depressed person on an every day basis.
Philosophically the author believes in a community approach to depression, not just in terms of teamwork on the part of the professionals who may be treating the depressed person, but also in terms of family and friends who have daily contact with the afflicted individual. Additionally, if depressed persons are made to feel part of that community of helpers, then they may be more likely to reach out to others and thus contribute to their own recovery.
Certainly, Talking to Depression can be read from cover to cover, but it's organized and indexed in such a way as to facilitate easy access to certain sections of interest to the reader. For example, there's a "Do Say/Don't Say" Cheat Sheet, a chapter on suicide, and a section on childhood depression, just to name a few. Ms. Strauss has gathered together quotations from a variety of sources, which she skillfully uses as epigraphs for each chapter. These quotations not only enlighten the reader, but also bring in the wealth of human experience to bear on the subject at hand. My favorite one that she employs is from Aristotle - "A friend is a second self." It says to me that if, as a depressed person, you can see a friend as a kind of mirror, then it's possible to see in your well friend a "possible you." In other words, there is hope.
The most poignant and moving section of this book, however, comes in Chapter Three which is entitled, "Seeing Through Their Eyes: What Depression Feels Like." Included in this chapter are quotes from actual sufferers who describe with fresh language and concrete metaphors the nightmare that is depression, thus allowing the reader a privileged glimpse into their world.
As someone who has suffered from depression herself, I found the book accessible and lovingly wrought. While some coping strategies and philosophical outlooks that I found helpful are not included in the book, this only highlights the point that each person's experience of depression, while universal in some features, is ultimately unique. Mary Arguelles
TALKING TO DEPRESSION: A Simple Guide For The Layperson.......2004-03-18
I highly recommend this compassionate handbook which gives simple, practical suggestions about how to help a person who is struggling with depression. TALKING TO DEPRESSION is not for therapists but rather for the rest of us--family members and friends who are in the trenches with a depressed person "in all the moments of every day." The book begins with a brief overview of depression written in plain language and goes on to provide a glimpse of what depression feels like from the inside as described by people who have actually experienced it. What I found most helpful was the author's specific advice about what to say and what not to say, about what to do and what not to do when trying to give comfort and support to someone suffering with depression. And the book closes with an excellent list of resources for further study and assistance. With TALKING TO DEPRESSION, Claudia Strauss has given us a gift--she reminds us that everyday people in everyday situations can make a difference, and she teaches us how.
Book Description
Bradley Ogden is one of the young chefs who have changed the way America eats. His savory, classic fare with a sophisticated twist lends itself to home cooking, and in this, his first book, he shares an inspiring repertoire of more than 250 recipes for everyday meals and special feasts.
Here are hearty and healthy waffles, griddle-cakes, omelettes, muffins, breads, and biscuits to start a weekday right or to grace a leisurely Sunday brunch. (Don't miss Ogden's signature Rich Hot Chocolate with Bitter Chocolate Cream.)
For lunch and dinner, there are appetizers, entrees, and accompaniments to pair in the felicitous combinations that Ogden suggests -- or as you please. An invigorating Chilled Fresh Tomato Soup with Pepper Relish or a creamy but light Shellfish Chowder can launch an elegant menu or crown a simple one; likewise the array of salads, such as an unusual spicy Black Bean Salad or an elegant Seafood Salad with Blue Lake Beans and Sweet Corn, dressed with a delicate Saffron Vinaigrette. Appetizers, too, play a versatile role; tender Shrimp and Corn Fritters, for example, makes a succulent starter that doubles as a garnish for grilled fish.
With entrees, as elsewhere, the emphasis is on freshness above all, and the accents are at once traditional and inventive, international and down-home. There's the Mediterranean ease of Baked Red Snapper with Tomatoes, Peppers, and Onions; an earthy Roast Pork Shoulder with White Beans, Smoked Bacon, and Kale; and Ogden's version of Old-Fashioned Pot Roast with Herb Dumplings that goes his own mother's one better.
Desserts, of course, are an American forte, and Ogden has captured -- and reinterpreted for a grown-up palate -- the soul-satisfying goodness of the cobblers, crisps, puddings, and pies we loved as children.
Here is the best of contemporary American cooking, from the best of contemporary American cooks, in an original, inviting collection that's destined to become a culinary classic.
Book Description
Young chef Bradley Ogden has helped to change the way Americans eat. His savory, classic fare with a sophisticated twist easily lends itself to home cooking. Here he shares his inspiring repertoire of more than 250 recipes for everyday meals and special feasts--the best of contemporary cooking. 2-color throughout.
Product Description
On-the-go Instrction Because your time is valuable... All Audio All on the go! Beginning level instruction is presented in an all-audio format on 4 digitally-recorded CDs. You have the opportunity to learn on the go, taking advantage of time normally wasted. Study in your car, while exercising, doing yard work anywhere you can safely listen to a CD player. No accompanying books are needed to help you complete the lesson activities. Why can t learning be fun? It can! Linguaphone has chosen to present the allTalk series in an entertaining, soap-opera format. No dry old teacher with a monotone voice putting you to sleep, you follow the adventures of a visitor to a Spanish-speaking country as she interacts with individuals in a variety of interesting situations, learning the language and beginning to understand the culture. Actually learn the language Tired of spending money on language courses that don t work? Did you ever think the problem could be with the course and not you? With Linguaphone s unique learning sequence: Listen, Understand, Speak, you will find yourself actually using the language in no time at all! You are presented with a unit of the language, it is then broken down and explained to you, then you put it back together with greater understanding than just repeating what you may not have understood in the first place. . . . and learn it well! The all Talk methodology not only teaches well, but will have you speaking and understanding basic spoken Spanish in no time at all. Other popular all-audio courses require four times the cds, four times the money and four times the time to do what Linguaphone s allTalk Basic does with 4-one hour CDs.
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Your First Parrot
Ken Macintosh
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 185279044X |
Book Description
Debbie Bliss, author of the enormously popular Baby Knits, New Baby Knits, and Kids' Country Knits, presents instructions for more than 30 irresistible soft toys-- from pigs to cuddly teddy bears to dolls, sheep, and even a kangaroo.Beginning and advanced knitters alike will enjoy these easy-to-knit projects, many of which can be created in a matter of hours. Clear instructions and delightful photographs accompany every toy in the book.Children of all ages will adore these fun and imaginative soft toys.
Customer Reviews:
Cute designs for people with sewing/finishing experience.......2006-09-18
I'm a relatively new knitter and I bought this book thinking I could make a toy for my nephew. The toys are very cute and come in a variety of easier and more complex styles.
I had no problem with the knitting (except there were one or two minor errors in the pattern I tried).
Making up the toy was harder for me. People with experience with sewing or with finishing knitted projects could probably put together toys quickly and easily, but I had some difficulties. There are no diagrams showing how the pieces fit together, so I had to figure it out by trial and error from written instructions, and it was harder than I expected.
Also there are no instructions on how to seam the toys to produce the tidy edge shown in the photos. I was able to find such instructions instructions in other knitting books, but it would have been nice for them to be included here.
spotty information, but very cute designs.......2005-12-13
The patterns in this book are all knitted in flat pieces, on straight needles (usually US #3 with DK weight yarn). This means that there is a lot of sewing to do to finish them.
I've only started one of the projects, but I already found an error: half of Chart 1 for the cow is missing. (I've decided to fill in the chart myself, copying from the photo where necessary. Hey, it's only a cow spot.) The debbie bliss website (debbieblissonline.com) has errata from her patterns, but this mistake isn't on the list. The website has no contact information(!) but I've sent a note to the publisher, St. Martin's.
As another reviewer said, this book has somewhat confusing directions (the style takes some getting used to) and the lack of schematics can be confusing. On the cow, I learned that you have to join the back legs with the slanted, not straight, portions toward the middle. The directions are ambiguous about this point, but if you don't get it right you'll have to frog or dismantle a lot of knitting to correct it.
About half the designs in the book are teddy bears and bunnies (they come in different sizes and wearing different costumes). The other half include some very cute and ingenious designs - a reindeer, a camel with a saddle, anthropomorphic mice and rats, a monkey with a fez, several farm animals, and a "farm set play mat" that includes miniature versions of the cows, sheep, pigs, and piglets. The miniatures are about 4 inches long; the larger size farm animals are 12-16 inches long. (I'm looking forward to making some little sheep out of wool scraps!)
If you buy this book, join me in pestering the publisher about errata - without schematics or clear directions, it can be hard to tell when you've gone wrong.
Love the Ballerina Rabbit.......2005-06-03
I have just finished the ballerina rabbit for my little ballerina's 6th birthday. It came out excellent, and only took a few evenings to make. I substituted yarns with no problem and added buttonholes for buttons because I don't like the ties. Next project from this book will be the dalmation, changed to blue with white spots. It looks like it will tuck very neatly into my 3-yr-old son's arms. A tip: try using leftover matching yarn to stuff knitted animals; that way you won't have to worry about any white stuffing showing through.
definitely not for beginners.......2004-02-17
My main complaint about this book is that there are no graphics/schematics/charts to show the beginner what the individual pieces should look like, and some of the pieces are quite complex in shape, e.g. the top piece of the sheep. Woe to the beginner who encounters an error but is inexperienced and thus doesn't recognize it - I predict lots of frogging! I'm far from being a beginner, but I've had to frog twice on one toy!
My other complaint is the weird notation, e.g. "Inc 1 st in next and 3 foll 3rd row." HUH?? For goodness sake, just say, "Inc 1 st in next row. Knit 2 rows straight. Inc 1 st in next 3 rows."
Take a pass on this book and buy instead World of Knitted Toys by Kath Dalmeny.
So Cute!.......2000-09-05
This is a comprehensible, adorable knitting book that even I (i'm not very good) could make. The toys are SO CUTE!
Book Description
In Medicine Quest, Mark Plotkin moves beyond the Amazon rainforests of his classic Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice to describe the ongoing race to find new medicines for intractable diseases such as AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and tuberculosis in far-flung places all over the world. While highlighting the unlikely marriage of natural products, indigenous wisdom, and biotechnology, Plotkin details discoveries that are producing stunning results in the laboratory: painkillers from the skin of rainforest frogs, anticoagulants from leech saliva, and antitumor agents from snake venom. An entertaining and educational weave of medicine, ecology, ethnobotany, history, exploration, and adventure, Medicine Quest will thrill scientists, naturalists, and armchair explorers, and heighten our appreciation for the inexhaustible therapeutic potential of our natural world.
Customer Reviews:
Indigenous Wisdom.......2006-02-24
This book is a sort of sequel to "Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice". In it Dr. Plotkin analyses the therapeutic potential of what the shamans know. We are in a race to learn about the creatures of the earth before they are exterminated by our modern world. These creatures can save our lives. We have learned so much, yet we know so little. The book is so well written that once you start, you can't put it down.
Reads like a text book.......2005-09-06
While Mark writes with a sense of humor, I prefered the story style of Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice.
Medicine Quest Review.......2002-01-02
... Medicine Quest was an awesome book that taught me a lot, but was also very interesting. It was the kind of book you pick up dreading to read but then love it. It started out with a story about a medicine man who found a way to help diabetes. Then it went on it talked about different medicines such as penicillin which was produced from fungi, different pain killer from frogs and snakes and antibiotics from plants and even bugs. Overall I thought that it was an amazing book and I recommend it to anyone who is interesting in learning about medicine or even to someone who just wants to sit down with a good book. In this review I will map out the main points and provide an evaluation so you can see whether you want to read this book or not.
Main Points
· Some Poison for Your Pain- Poisonous reptiles and amphibians are knows to have venom that help kill pain for people. Some Scientist studied frogs and snakes and found a new treatment for pain, but a lot of what they found was to toxic for humans so their next task was to try to change the treatment to work. Venom have taught scientist a lot about the body and how medicines function in them.
· The Eternal Quest- Scientist used to think that humans were the only ones who used to use medicine but they were proved wrong after finding a Neanderthal with seven medical species of plants in a ring around his body. Scientist are now looking for answer from other animal to see what kinds of medicines and adaptations they can give us. Also past things are giving scientist clues, such as the discovery of the ice man, and finding myrrh which was an antibiotic used in the ancient world.
· The Fungus Among Us- Fungi is sometimes know to scientist as a "lower organism" but actually it is responsible for 5 of the top 30 medicines. Penicillin is the most well known medicine. It has saved millions of lives though out the world today. It was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 when it grew in his petri dish. Then he couldn't figure out how it had grown and couldn't grow it again, but finally someone did. Fungi are known as one of the most ancient lives on earth.
· Drugs from Bugs- Many discoveries have been made from bugs that help with sicknesses. In native tribes they use ants to help with their arthritis pain, bedbugs are used for treating external wounds, beetles are used for the steroids in their glands and spiders not only contribute venom to this world but also other things like their ability to capture their prey. Bees wax from honeybees has been used for medical ointments, plasters and even suppositories.
· Hideous Healers- Scientist estimate that there are over 650 species of leeches all around the world. They have been used in ancient medicines for Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Indians and Chinese. They are used for therapeutic purposes, its saliva is used as a blood thinner that helped with clotting. Maggots are used for the treatment of bone infections and other deep wounds.
· The Snakes in the Caduceus- Snakes have served as fascination to some and fear to other human cultures. Snakes poison has been used as an agent for capital punishment, murder, suicide, torture and even welfare. Snakes medicine also dates back to the ancient times. Snake oil is the most antique term of snake medicine. Some of these oils were ineffective, some were poisonous, and some were addictive. Snakes best quality is its venom used for many medicines. Even though the venom varies form species to species they all serve a great purpose.
· Under the Sea- Scientist believe that over 80% of species will be found under sea due to the fact that 70% of this earth is covered in water and ocean. That give a great chance that the sea is a great place to look for medical advantages. Coral has been know to have a compound that helps with the cure/ treatment of cancer. Its compound is called eleutherobin and scientist have been having a hard time working with it because it is so hard to obtain. The lowly sponge provides us with great things, such as a cleaner to keep patients clean and so no bacteria is around, also it has shown to be a great treatment for leukemia.
· Plants of the Apes- When studying the apes scientist found that some of them have a specific diet with allows them to fight off the bacteria that causes diarrhea. Also from studying animals scientist have discovered that animals themselves give off a poison to their body which helps them fight off snake bites or get rid of diseases. The apes themselves are very picky eaters which helps with the medical research. They found that the reason the apes were being picky is because they plant they were eating actually acts as an antibiotic which mean that to much could be potentially deadly.
This book taught me a lot about our world. It taught me that every creature and plant has a purpose for being here and a lot of their purpose is to help human life. I give this book 4 stars because anyone who reads this book will be amazed at all the different discoveries. Not only did the author do an excellent job at writing it but he made it interesting by adding little details that will astonish you.
I believe the author wrote this book for many reasons, one being to inform people about the uses, discoveries, and new about different medicines, also i believe he wanted to give credit to all the animals and other organisms out there who help us so much. I believe this book is intended more for the older readers or people who are really into the medical field. The point of this book is to help people better understand our world and so people can really appreciate what nature has done for us. This book is a pretty easy read, the chapters are sectioned off as stated above with different organisms being presented. This book is different in a way that is states the truth about things rather than really making a great story out of the whole book. It was a great book and I hope that everyone wants to read it.
Mark Plotikin's Medicine Quest review by a freshman at BEHS.......2002-01-02
Dr. Mark J. Plotkin's book, Medicine Quest (published in 2000 by Viking Penguin), tells about his research on medicine done all throughout the world. He travels in the North East Amazon rainforest for 15 to research new natural medicines; many times accompanied by native Shamans (tribes medicine men). Dr. Plotkin tells about many medicines used by native tribes that heal thing such as arthritis and why they should be investigated by pharmacologists (doctors studying natural medicines) in the U.S. There where many unknown animals, plants, micro-organisms, and venoms to the United States that could cure common illnesses if used properly.
Dr. Plotkin studied medicines of the Amazon's Shamans for 15 years to help American pharmacologists obtain new natural medicines to cure common illnesses and to help preserve the Amazon from being cut down. He collected venoms, plants, animals, bugs, and microorganisms to bring back to the United States to be researched. Some of the medicines used by the Shamans cure arthritis, heartburn, server pain, and high blood pressure. The catch is that some of the venoms contain toxins that are extremely dangerous to humans and can even kill, for example the poison arrow from has a toxin that can relieve pain but also has another toxin that paralyzes your heart and all other muscles in your body. So he is hoping that pharmacologists can extract that good toxins and use them as a non-addictive and non-side effect replacement for modern day medicines.
One of the first organisms that Mark discovers is a cone snail. "The snail shoots a poison-tipped harpoon into a fish's mouth, instantly killing the fish, which is then quickly devoured... 10 years ago a shell collector saw the shell of the cone snail and proceeded to collect the shell, he stuck it down the front of his pants because he didn't have a bag to put it in. He was later found dead" "A toxin within the poison initially known as MVIIB (now zi-conotide) attaches itself solely to a part of the spinal cord known as the dorsal horn, through which pass the nerve cells that convey pain signals from the body to the brain. MVIIB blocks that signal relieving the patient from pain." There Mark shows how one toxin within a poison can kill you and another can relieve your pain.
Another problem that occurs while trying to extract toxins from sea animals is the very little amount that one organism can make. "The anticancer compound ecteinascidin, from a sea squirt, offers promise as a treatment for melanoma and breast cancer. But a ton of these tiny creatures yields only a gram of the compound. One investigator began research on marine microorganisms forty years ago and needed to grow two thousand liters of the microbe to extract ten milligrams of the toxin being studied."
Dr. Plotkin's research is promising to be successful in helping people live through common day illnesses. I learned that there are many organisms that can help people and are so delicate. I evaluated it like that because people are just cutting down the rainforests and polluting the waters without thinking about the organisms that live there and can help people. I also found out that you can extract certain toxins to do certain tasks within one poison. I just always thought that if the whole poison would kill or harm you that the poison was useless to pharmacology.
Mark Plotkin's book has introduced me to how other organisms can help us. He also made me realize that many chemically made drugs can be replaced buy a natural toxin that is not addictive and has not side effects. And that in order for them to help us, that we need to stop destroying their habitats by not polluting water and cutting down rainforests.
Medicine quest review.......2002-01-02
Medicine Quest Review
Medicine Quest was an awesome book that taught me a lot, but was also very interesting. It was the kind of book you pick up dreading to read but then love it. It started out with a story about a medicine man who found a way to help diabetes. Then it went on it talked about different medicines such as penicillin which was produced from fungi, different pain killer from frogs and snakes and antibiotics from plants and even bugs. Overall I thought that it was an amazing book and I recommend it to anyone who is interesting in learning about medicine or even to someone who just wants to sit down with a good book.
Mark J Plotkin
Medicine Quest
In Search of Nature's Healing Secrets
New York: Penguin Group
$22.95 pp208
Main Points
· Some Poison for Your Pain- Poisonous reptiles and amphibians are knows to have venom that help kill pain for people. Some Scientist studied frogs and snakes and found a new treatment for pain, but a lot of what they found was to toxic for humans so their next task was to try to change the treatment to work. Venom have taught scientist a lot about the body and how medicines function in them.
· The Eternal Quest- Scientist used to think that humans were the only ones who used to use medicine but they were proved wrong after finding a Neanderthal with seven medical species of plants in a ring around his body. Scientist are now looking for answer from other animal to see what kinds of medicines and adaptations they can give us. Also past things are giving scientist clues, such as the discovery of the ice man, and finding myrrh which was an antibiotic used in the ancient world.
· The Fungus Among Us- Fungi is sometimes know to scientist as a "lower organism" but actually it is responsible for 5 of the top 30 medicines. Penicillin is the most well known medicine. It has saved millions of lives though out the world today. It was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 when it grew in his petri dish. Then he couldn't figure out how it had grown and couldn't grow it again, but finally someone did. Fungi are known as one of the most ancient lives on earth.
· Drugs from Bugs- Many discoveries have been made from bugs that help with sicknesses. In native tribes they use ants to help with their arthritis pain, bedbugs are used for treating external wounds, beetles are used for the steroids in their glands and spiders not only contribute venom to this world but also other things like their ability to capture their prey. Bees wax from honeybees has been used for medical ointments, plasters and even suppositories.
· Hideous Healers- Scientist estimate that there are over 650 species of leeches all around the world. They have been used in ancient medicines for Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Indians and Chinese. They are used for therapeutic purposes, its saliva is used as a blood thinner that helped with clotting. Maggots are used for the treatment of bone infections and other deep wounds.
· The Snakes in the Caduceus- Snakes have served as fascination to some and fear to other human cultures. Snakes poison has been used as an agent for capital punishment, murder, suicide, torture and even welfare. Snakes medicine also dates back to the ancient times. Snake oil is the most antique term of snake medicine. Some of these oils were ineffective, some were poisonous, and some were addictive. Snakes best quality is its venom used for many medicines. Even though the venom varies form species to species they all serve a great purpose.
· Under the Sea- Scientist believe that over 80% of species will be found under sea due to the fact that 70% of this earth is covered in water and ocean. That give a great chance that the sea is a great place to look for medical advantages. Coral has been know to have a compound that helps with the cure/ treatment of cancer. Its compound is called eleutherobin and scientist have been having a hard time working with it because it is so hard to obtain. The lowly sponge provides us with great things, such as a cleaner to keep patients clean and so no bacteria is around, also it has shown to be a great treatment for leukemia.
· Plants of the Apes- When studying the apes scientist found that some of them have a specific diet with allows them to fight off the bacteria that causes diarrhea. Also from studying animals scientist have discovered that animals themselves give off a poison to their body which helps them fight off snake bites or get rid of diseases. The apes themselves are very picky eaters which helps with the medical research. They found that the reason the apes were being picky is because they plant they were eating actually acts as an antibiotic which mean that to much could be potentially deadly.
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In Pursuit of Potions.(Review): An article from: American Scientist
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ASIN: B0008J1FL6
Release Date: 2005-07-28 |
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