FESTIVALS IN JAPAN - Jan 15

Dousojin Matsuri
A structure built expressly for the purpose is burnt to the ground in this truly dramatic festival of fire. An exemplary Japanese festival, it honors a Shinto deity known as Dosojin, who is said to protect against calamity.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mind-altering microbes: Probiotic bacteria may lessen anxiety and depression

Image
Professor John Cryan, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork (Credit: Image courtesy of University College Cork) ScienceDaily (Aug. 30, 2011) — Probiotic bacteria have the potential to alter brain neurochemistry and treat anxiety and depression-related disorders according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research, carried out by Dr Javier Bravo, and Professor John Cryan at the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre in University College Cork, along with collaborators from the Brain-Body Institute at McMaster University in Canada, demonstrated that mice fed with Lactobacillus rhamnosus JB-1 showed significantly fewer stress, anxiety and depression-related behaviours than those fed with just broth. Moreover, ingestion of the bacteria resulted in significantly lower levels of the stress-induced hormone, corticosterone. "This study identifies potential brain targets and a pathway through which certain gut organisms can alte
Read more

Probiotics Fight Cancer, Colds and Constipation

Image
It may not surprise you to hear that probiotics can reduce constipation (Italy, Amenta et al. 2006). But what may surprise you, is that probiotics play a role in cancer. They have been shown stimulate production of anti-cancer chemicals (Hatakka et al. 2008). The probiotics, Lactobacillus casei, have also been shown in Tokyo to reduce the risk of bladder cancer, depending on frequency and dosage (Ohashi et al. 2002). Numerous probiotics have been shown to fight viruses such as colds, the flu, rotavirus, herpes and ulcers. In New Delhi, 100 children ages 2-5 were given L. acidophilus for 6 months. These children have fewer incidences of colds, flu, diarrhea and fever than the placebo group (Saran et al. 2002). In Japan, Bio E has conducted several studies in hospital in the Philippines & South East Asia that has shown remarkable improvements & shortened days of recovery on children using Bio-15 & Biogenics MD probiotics.
Read more

GMO Sweet Corn - Buyers Beware!

Image
Monsanto and the EPA swore that the genetically engineered corn would only harm insects. The Bt-toxin produced inside the plant would be completely destroyed in the human digestive system and would not have any impact at all on consumers, they claimed. Alas, they’ve been proven wrong on that account as well, because not only is Bt corn producing resistant “super-pests,” researchers have also found that the Bt-toxin can indeed wreak havoc on human health. Bt-Toxin Now Found in Many People’s Blood! Last year, doctors at Sherbrooke University Hospital in Quebec found Bt-toxin in the blood of: • 93% of pregnant women tested • 80% of umbilical blood in their babies, and • 67% of non-pregnant women The study authors speculate that the Bt toxin was likely consumed in the normal diet of the Canadian middle class—which makes sense when you consider that genetically engineered corn is present in the vast majority of all processed foods and drinks in the form of high fructose
Read more