Has a Cure for the Common Cold Already Been Discovered?

Researchers at University of Wisconsin, University of Maryland, and the Craig Venter Institute, recently announced that they have decoded the elusive genetic blueprints of the common cold, essentially demystified the enigma behind how all the viral strains are related to one another, thus enabling them to hone in on the culprit: the rhinoviruses.  The findings of this study, published in the Feb. 12, 2011 issue of Science journal, explains the nature of the human rhinovirus.  But while this is certainly good news for the millions of men, women, and children who contract the opportunistic virus (twice a year on average for adults, and up to ten times a year for children), many wonder why is it that with all the scientific advances in recent decades, a cure for this commonly-contracted disease wasn't found long ago?  After all, any number of deadly bacteria-related diseases have been cured, why not the common cold virus?  Read more . . .

Charity: Water (Bringing Clean Water to the World)

The brain child of New York City photojournalist and night club promoter Scott Harrison, charity: water is a non-profit initiative based in NYC focused on bringing clean, safe drinking water to people of developing nations.  Founded in 2006, it has to date helped fund 2,906 projects in 17 countries, benefiting over 1,277,430 people.  Overall, the organization has sent more than $10 million to developing countries as of February, 2010.  For Harrison, the path to charity: water began in 2004 when he committed eight months of his life to the poor and marginalized of Africa through volunteer service in Liberia, with Mercy Ships (the global charity organization founded by Don Stephens and Deyon Stephens). While in Liberia, Harrison was exposed to the harsh living conditions of the impoverished people and traced problems surrounding education, safety, and health back to the water, proving that 80% of all the diseases they encountered were attributable to unsafe water and poor sanitation.  Wanting to commit to a life of service, Harrison decided that the lack of clean water facing the poor of the world was something he could do something about it.  Read more . . .

Understanding and Coping with Children's Allergies

The ever-growing list of pollutants in the air, water, and land add to a long list of naturally-occurring allergens which constantly bombard our senses, forcing our adaptive mechanisms to adjust.  While many of us are able to make these physiological adjustments with relative ease, for many kids the adaptive process weakens them, pushing their total stress load beyond the healthy tolerance level.  The result for a growing number of children are allergies.  And with over 12 million artificial chemicals presently in use in the US alone, and an estimated 1000 new toxins being introduced into our environment every month, the incidence and rise of children's allergies and respiratory problems is nothing short of alarming--and is a concern of every parent.  Read more . . .