Terry Lloyd's Blog, page 39

The Alzheimer's Example.

It is quite likely that in every body’s life there will come a time that for your own good health you will be required to make a medical choice. In some cases it is an immediate stark decision of a medical operation or death... When it comes to long-term medical deterioration there can often be surprising options which at first are not apparent, but how do you get to know about them and what do you do when you learn the facts?

Mainstream medicine has a set process for treating recognizable conditions but what happens if a condition simply carries on deteriorating? Then it is down to the patient or the patient’s relatives to research the possibility of alternative treatment.

I am particularly interested in a real life instance of a mature lady who had a severe and deteriorating condition of Alzheimer's. The lady who had the onset of Alzheimer’s unfortunately also started to suffer from Epilepsy and a particularly bad episode left her prone to a rapid decline in her state of health. Losing her ability to take care of physical needs meant that she was taken into medical care. Distressed and not being able to recognise her own child, the lady started to make repeated calls for help and the situation became desperate for her son. Fortunately the relative did not accept the prognosis for their future and decided to look into the potential of alternative methods of treatment for his mother. He found that good results could be achieved by radially changing his mum’s diet and this along with chosen physical and mental exercises resulted in her condition improving dramatically and to such an extent that she after time regained fully her lost cognitive ability. Eventually the benefits of the regime meant that they could terminate prescribed medication and as a result of her mental recouperation, physical ability was regained.

The patient started the Mediterranean diet, but supplemented it with Walnuts, Brazil nuts and a good variety of greens, such as Spinach, Asparagus and Kale. Mental stimulus was a viable resource that when introduced to the lady brought about an astounding level of improvement, memories and recognition of important people in her life suddenly came back to her. The diet was implemented in conjunction with the stimulation of the mind and this demonstrated that the brain does have a remarkable capability of healing itself. Medication does not have to be the only answer. In some cases it might be reduced or in certain examples eradicated completely, this does depend on the circumstances as situations and severity can vary. However what has been proven is that if the body is given the right diet and the brain stimulated with activity even the most debilitating of conditions could be halted or improved upon. In this example the Alzheimer’s Society had since advocated the methods used to improve the lady’s health and has started to circulate the knowledge about their impressive journey. The tools of diet and knowledge about the power of certain foods has even been recognised by the son’s own place of employment, a law firm where you will now find an altered menu, one designed to highlight the benefits of the brain boosting ingredients. Interestingly as the son has suggested, many of these health promoting foods are in themselves shaped like brains, possibly nature’s own gentle reminder to us.

One particular case would not normally be sufficient to base future actions on but increasingly evidence has shown that the population is turning towards alternative superfoods and alternative active ingredients to put them on a naturally healthy route to improvement. Superfoods are of course well known and used throughout the beauty industry but sometimes more controversially applied to the world of health. Historically, since ancient times herbs, plants and natural resources have been used to promote health in the mind and body. It is heartening to see that when the mainstream medical profession state there is no known curer for the condition of Alzheimer's, there is such an inspirational example found in the endeavours of a patient and her family and their successful investigation into finding an alternative strategy that has re-written what was thought of as possible for them.

I strongly believe the body is a chemical storehouse that just needs the right conditions to naturally
rebuild and strengthen it’s vitality. I am not alone with this thought as Hippocrates the father of mainstream medicine is reported to have said Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food.

When mainstream medical institutions can offer no help to a successful treatment of their patients, do not think for a moment there is no way forward. It is important to be aware of your own circumstances and the potential of what might naturally be available to improve a condition. A true groundbreaking advance in medicine was achieved by a parent who took on the research to find a working cure for his child and this was when all medically known doors were thought to be closed to him. This I suggest is what makes us as humans strive for what may at first seem impossible.

Universe.

I have always been interested in the beginning of the Universe. Even from my early days facts and probabilities have constantly altered the shape and scope of this fascinating topic. There is still a point which has not yet been reached and this is a knowledge of all the physical variables that are necessary to answer with certainty, how the Universe began.

The current understanding is the Universe is inflating and a halo of radiation surrounds the perimeter of the Universe. Travelling back in time to the beginning of the Universe, it is suggested that there was a single tiny point of incredibly hot pre-plasma that inflated faster than the speed of light. Within this energy was chaos and order, this is logical as nothing of this Universe would survive without some inherent order. When some of the chaos has disappeared there still remains a balance of chaos and order. However there is a constant collision of galaxies, stars, black holes and meteors.

The whole Universe is travelling in a specific direction at a speed of one point three million miles an hour. At the same time the galaxies are accelerating the inflation of speed as well.

The direction, speed and inflation of the Universe is not significant except for the potential creative energy in the motion of the Universe.

The Universe is both beautiful and extremely violent. Over the years to come although new stars are constantly being born and old stars dying eventually the Universe could become a cold void.

The really interesting point is the time before the Universe came into existence. How could that tiny compact incredibly hot spark appear and is there something on the earth that could give a clue as for it? It seems as if from nowhere a bolt of lightning hit the ground. As a matter of fact that bolt would have had to have been hotter than the surface of the Sun. So friction could be the clue.

We know that there are millions of galaxies. Could it be the same with Universes that are at different stages of existence, and all of them have an outer shell of radiation that has the potential if in near collision to each other, to create an enormously powerful spark for a new Universe.

Although it sounds dramatic a collision of two Universes would not mean total annihilation as there are vast areas of space, but gravity distortion could seriously interfere with any life forms.

As our Universe is approximately thirteen point eight billion years old it is quite possible that it has been part of the birth for a new Universe. Earlier Universes even in a dormant state could retain matter sufficient for friction to take place on a close encounter. At the moment it is not known how far time, before our time, existed in the past.

It could be that some form of matter that has not been discovered yet can cause enough friction to spark a new Universe into existence. Sometimes answers are there but rejected or ignored because they do not fully fit a preconceived notion of a unified system.

My aim to consider how the Universe began has meant that I have encountered intriguing theories and thoughts. Whatever the real answer might be, I conclude from present knowledge of the Universe that it points towards a repetitive cycle of motion, one that in the right situation can produce a phenomenal spark that inherently has the capacity for existence. Although this might not be an evaluation that is true for an infinity.

Fulfilling Life.

How difficult is it to have a balanced view on those monumental concepts of time and life? I remember the impatience as a child of wishing time to pass more quickly for birthdays and Christmas to arrive. Then as a teenager the eagerness and anticipation took over for that liberation time when I could drive a car. Yet as the years pass by the ever spectre of the inevitable twilight years approach. Now should I wish for time to slow down?

Be careful what you wish for as was apt in the famous Dorian Gray story by Oscar Wilde. The story features a special, painted portrait of Dorian who as a handsome young man was jealous that the portrait of him would not age and suffer the ravages of time. He wished that the portrait would reflect the ravages of his life while he remained timeless and unscathed. This of course happened but after some twists of fate Dorian met an untimely death only for the portrait to revert back to its former young depiction and the prostate body of Dorian was left to exhibit with examples of what can be life's cruel passage of time.

It is quite fascinating to think about the example of Rip Van Winkle who fell asleep for twenty years, the concept of the significance of time is somewhat intriguingly posed because of a character created by Washington Irving. If time could flash by and one could wake up in a later generation what new events and inventions could have taken place? It might be easy to think of this scenario as an exciting and enticing one yet on deeper thought what of your more personal links to the present day and for parents, what of their children, who would all too soon have become adults? Many people complain that time does elapse too quickly and especially when there is the association of the fleeting glimpse of youth. When those precious joyous years would be lost for ever, the notion of a Rip Van Winkle fortune might not look as rosy.

I learnt an interesting biological fact that has made me think. There is a predetermined maximum for potential length of human life. Cells naturally die and are replaced by duplicate cells. For some cells during this process there is an important physical part that shortens each time a new cell is created. That part can only replicate for a set number of times before it is used up. So it would appear the potential maximum number of years for human life is approximately one hundred and twenty years. Of course there are many accounts of people living substantially longer times but there is no independent verification of this taking place.

A population will have many factors that will influence average life in years but individual choice and activity can greatly alter an individual possible life span.

An interesting experiment on age association involved pensioners. A number of pensioners were studied and focused on was their outlook on life. Pensioners were concentrated on who had pre-existing ailments, many of which had not been treated but classed as symptoms experienced due to their age. Most of them were unhappy and depressed. Over the next few months all their physical ailments were properly treated and social pastimes were introduced into their individual lives. The change was unbelievable as the rejuvenation of motivation and mindset had transformed them into people looking forward to enjoying life once again. People who had been thought of as physically limited became fully active, participating members of society.

From this I would conclude it is not just the length of life but the quality of life that is important. Sometimes it is necessary to re-evaluate my own every day life and insure I am not just putting up with things that are devaluing the quality of life.

I would suggest life has good aspects no matter any age and to take advantage of the present opportunity to enjoy life to the full, this has to be the most fulfilling attribute that can be thought about and put into action.

The Why Question.

I remember as a young boy how I drove my parents mad with the dreaded constant why. Later in life my own daughter put me through an intellectual marathon of incessant why questions and at the back of my mind was the thought and realisation that she was actually playing with me.

Yet the why question is such a fundamental tool not just to understand the world as it is but to explore and re-evaluate things that are so easily accepted as the normal and correct way of life.

There are times as an adult when I realise living in a democracy has an appearance of freedom of expression yet like many societies it could be personally dangerous to voice a why to questions involving political, social or religious world views. Even the environment, animal rights and sexual expression can be a cause for violence rather than an in depth discussion.

Is the world becoming less tolerant and suppressing the why that is so important for social and cultural development? Maybe it is the technology and speed of instant news that could be distorting reality.

My grandmother was an avid reader of a certain national newspaper that specialised in reporting highly salacious stories that she would quote to all. My grandmother too would ask the question of why did they do that? I thought it was helping her to suggest she did not buy and read the newspaper but this was not the case. The newspaper was like a comic for my grandmother and it was a pastime that she enjoyed.

The simple why has propelled all human knowledge throughout civilisation. Striving to understand can not begin until the important why has been posed.

The important point about why is it is never ending and that really is a good thing.

International Relations.

There are times when being a member of the humble public is like being a witness to a repeated tragedy, where one is powerless but to see folly after folly carried out in the public's name. Yet it is so often true that these same decisions are proclaimed under the banner of morally or publicly right, as though somehow that will achieve an outcome of justice.

International relations are an integral part of the stability of world politics. Before starting an ever escalating course of action and reaction that is out of any one country’s control a specific goal and steps to achieve that aim should take precedence over acting in a way that clearly aggravates a disputed international position.

The adage to keep your friends close but your supposed enemies even closer comes to mind especially as there are certain parties intent on achieving Armageddon at any cost.

There are different scenarios that could account for things that at first appear obvious and then one has to ask that serious and significant question in regards to what is the best course of action? Quite often the cause of a dispute quickly becomes lost and overtaken by the fury of battle that will help nobody.

Believing a wrong has been done to members of the public and then actions taken that will surely result in far more of the public, not just in this country but a great number more countries potentially being harmed, is a brilliant way of handling international diplomacy. As a member of the public I trust the leaders in power to be capable of achieving justice in international affairs, and importantly attaining this without endangering the life of all living on this planet.

I accept being an armchair critic has not the responsibility of power but sometimes the silent majority need to make their feelings heard, especially when such an inept handling of many a life threatening situation is taking place.

How by accusation and being on the attack do the powers that be think it would achieve any other response than a decline in communication and a deterioration of public safety. History has shown that conflict can easily arise from a flippant remark or a misunderstood world scene.

The balance of achieving justice and endangering the world is thin and careful thought should be put behind any such route to negotiating relations between countries. I believe that politics is pivotal to prioritising a country’s code of conduct and consequently the behaviour that it represents to the rest of the world. Too quick to anger and the balance of order can be disrupted but too slow to act and failure in handling a situation ensured. Integrity and diplomacy has to be kept high up in the priority of a leading country’s International Policy because if not, one slip could mean that history is no longer the teacher that it has been but is the shameful reminder of lessons that have not been taken to heart or mind.

Scope of Visualisation.

How can a simple mind activity, such as directing visualisation, be so powerful? It has been used successfully and over history not just in sporting achievements but in gaining heightened states of relaxation and attaining specific goals in many areas of enterprise.

What is visualisation for me? It is memory and imagination. Visualisation is to see myself going through each stage of an activity and successfully bathing in its completion. In some instances for relaxation it can be to create a world of sheer delight full of a mixture of images that spark realms of extreme delight in colour movement and sound as well as the relaxing sensation of touch and warmth. The important fact is during the process the brain does not distinguish between reality and imagination so there is a steady flow of really good health promoting biological stimulus throughout the body.

The body is a natural store of beneficial hormones and knowing how to harness them is not difficult. I will highlight the mental side of the equation. Just taking the time to utilise the power of visualisation will give unbelievable positive benefits.

There is also a positive reason to explore enjoyable different scenarios in combating the physical and mental ups and downs of life.

An important feature of visualisation is memory and the two strengthens each other. Pictures really are powerful modes of information and combined with an active imagination are formidable tools.

Children are often told off for daydreaming when they should be doing something else. In the right circumstances this natural ability could be utilised with phenomenal results if actively directed with a clear objective. Learning could be a joy once turned into a game.

A real example occurred when a worried mother asked for help with her little seven year old boy as he was failing miserably at school lessons. The mother approached a private teacher who was talented enough to change lessons into enjoyable games where the little boy could utilise his natural imagination and live actively through walking down a Roman Road wearing a toga and sandals. In no time he was familiar with centurions and the mode of theatre at the time. He soaked the information up like a sponge and now delights in regaling his exploits in the streets of Rome. It was not long before he enjoyed the idea of lessons and of course was a completely different little boy as a result.

Like all things knowing something and not putting it to use will yield little of value. As my wife commented. “After collecting all these memory books, why did you forget where you left the car?” Was it my fault two multi storey car parks next to each other from outside looked exactly the same.

There is such a world of power in the human imagination which is little used by adults. It may be that in the pressure of every day life we may neglect our daydream potential and become wrapped up in pressing problems. I can assure that using directed visualisation works in a variety of spheres.

Quite simply spending a few minutes a day in private contemplation can give phenomenal rewards. Of course unlike daydreaming I start off with specific goal, that is either pleasure or a task. It is amazing that unresolved problems can after a session of visualisation pop up unexpected answers. After completing visualisation a little while later or in the next day or so, it can be surprising how a little focus and stimulation can resolve even the most difficult of problem.

The Power of Zen.

You hear about it in the media, literature and connotations about it have most definitely led to interpretations about the meaning of what the power of Zen actually implies. In fact you do not have to be a follower, a fan or have a particular focus to apply the philosophy of Zen into the wellbeing of a daily routine. It has been applied to certain publicity prone outlets and used to endorse an on-trend healthy lifestyle, it has become the buzz word of a particular moment in time but Zen stripped down to a basic principle is an extremely beneficial approach to looking at life.

It can be as encompassing as you would like for it to be and personally I think of it as an enhancement on how I view what is important. As is true for much in life, often it is not the what but how that becomes the dependant influence it has in life. I have come across a collection of Zen quotes from numerous sources and to me the inspiration is not the individual writing, although entertaining, but the collective wisdom displayed for all to see. The power is to incorporate by assimilating these worldly truths in every day life.

These are thoughts put into my own Quotes of Zen:

Zen is a way of thought in order to achieve happiness and inner peace.

Mindfulness is to be aware of a thought and reflect on past wisdom into future action.

True peace of mind comes from accepting things as they are rather than as they were or could have been.

Inner peace is attained once all points of contention are resolved.

Happiness is wearing the right glasses to appreciate the feeling of joy

I think it is interesting to show a contrast to Zen by creating my own interpretations with a wider view:

A place in any lifeboat, when departing from a sinking ship, can not be overvalued.

To limit your desires may give peace of mind at the cost of possible life’s ambitions.

If you wish to win a race you must put in the effort.

A way to survive force is to give way and redirect it.

A passive decision does not mean a lack of action for survival.

Existence is by chaos and order which are like two parts of a single nut.

An optimist and pessimist see the same things in life but draw different conclusions.

There can be more than one way of finding truth.

Within white light are all the colours of the rainbow.

Will the pieces of a smashed jar weigh any less than when the jar was whole.

A healthy philosophy needs care and attention.

What am I? Where am I? Why am I? Questions do not need to be answered in order to lead a good life.

I hope the above themes are a cause for thought. Like all ideas I do not necessarily agree with a stated view but from it I utilise the spur to contrast my own ideas.

Zen is linked to meditation which for me can be divided into two mental states. The first is productive thinking on particular themes, the second is complete absence of thought that invariably ends in falling off to the most enjoyable sleep and both can be a means for fulfilling potential.

World Views.

True it is, that at some point in most people’s lives up will pop, the drum roll questions of why do I exist and what is the purpose of life?

They are rather large questions and they may well have been at the heart of many a philosophical age but I believe the answer does not necessarily need to be found from the one source. There are numerous and varied institutions that are intent on claiming unchangeable versions of the one and only truth to answer the aforementioned questions. I have tried to make some sort of sense out of the competing philosophies by dividing the belief of an afterlife and creator from those that promote a way of conducting their own human behaviour. Some theories simply pose the question of where is the evidence for a supernatural entity?

It could be said that the purpose of life is bound up with other people and that existence is a fact. However life came about, continuing life seems a good idea, the human form has a purpose and getting on with my fellow man appears to be a positive goal and many people may like to stop there...

I thought first, would it make sense to choose a set of moral values which to a certain extent already are reflected in the society established laws and social conventions? Yet I am still free to consider more complex moral decisions and on reflection make a considered judgement, this is important as circumstances can make a significant difference to the outcome.

What if my new-found moral compass should conflict with a particular life philosophy? Should I forgo that world view, lose whatever it may promise and stand true to my inner feelings? It is a convention that forms the need to state a person’s particular belief or non-belief? That is fine but what happens when it comes to political ambitions and there is an established history of only those of a particular view winning in that competition. It may well be a great number of people wear a cloak of stated world views although, if their conscience ruled, would act differently.

It was at school that for me the reality of life presented itself. I happened to be first in the line of children waiting to enter school. It was after break time, when a trio of fellow classmates barged me out of line. Outraged at their arrogance, I decided to reclaim my position. I had been reading Tom Brown’s School Days and Biggles, so having decided to act from their advice I concentrated on the leader of the trio who was shorter and lighter than me. I stepped forward with determination only to fly backwards over the crouched body of one of the others who had placed themselves directly behind my lower legs. The back of my head smacked hard on the tarmac of the playground and instantly I had a strange taste in my mouth. I had inadvertently bitten my own tongue. Before I could regain my feet the teacher had blown the whistle for the long line of children to enter school. From this event I gained wisdom. Being right does not automaticity guarantee victory. In fact there are better ways to sway opinion rather than by using direct force.

Choosing a world view could involve gaining knowledge of existing philosophies or creating a personal understanding based on science. It could mean fully appreciating the values used by followers of a stated behaviour. Often human actions do not reflect stated philosophies of passive benevolence to their fellow man. It could be that my world view must stand on its own to retain its integrity.

The purpose of life is a personal question and will have many different answers but what is clear is that imposing world views no matter what the conviction of truth on others, is for me, not morally justified.

Languages.

Some things in life I appear to take for granted, such as when thinking about ideas that have the most impact on society. My first thought was of electric power, cars and planes. Then it came to me, why did I never think of language? Language is so significant to individuals and to society, it incorporates the ability to communicate ideas and feelings, it can use the power of group ideas and make a record for future generations.

Language is an important skill and can take many years to expertly master. Introduced to people most often first as babies and then later as a student to develop, it is a contributor to how we overtly show our thoughts and give an impression of who we are. Flexibility and understanding in the nuances of words impart depth and complexities of personality. Being a great orator can move popular feeling and make history. Of course there are exceptions, blunders in use of grammar and the meaning behind phrases, significantly associated with people in positions of authority or power can only highlight the importance of a good language education.

Common use of language is constantly changing with words and phrases almost continuously dropped from current use and being replaced with more popular on-trend expressions. Reflective of the time, language can be a good indicator of favoured choice in public habits and culture. That is why some languages die out as they become superseded by new and evolving popular interests.

When thoughts focus on dialects, dialogue and diction, you might ask when was the first language created? It could well be that in the time of the Neanderthal certain sounds denoted a significance and that was the contributing factor to the basis of their early formative language. It is true that the overall brain size of the Neanderthal was considerably larger than that of modern man, and this might pose the question of how it impacted on the progression and development of language. The fact that the Neanderthal did not survive modern man is irrespective of language, as this skill and inherent knowledge could have been passed on to further generations something similar to the Neanderthal DNA.

On a more personal theme, I recollect as a child the feeling of understanding speech although I lacked the ability to actually talk. It could be I am transferring the feelings of speech back to my memories or a more interesting phenomenon could be a genetic transfer of knowledge something similar to automatic behaviour akin to that of birds to building nests or baby turtles, the bale of hatchlings, knowing which direction to take for their first dip into the sea.

When it comes to language between different species, for instance a person and a dog, I am sure that all pet owners are convinced of a two-way communication. This belief can exist even though normally the dog can not talk audibly and can communicate by reaction.

The progression of civilisation I believe is interlinked with language, as the ability to express ideas would be greatly hampered without a formal recognised basis of word and written translation of thoughts. Language is integral and important to individuals and to how this fits in with community and society. I think in words although it is triggered by feelings and inspiration.

Strokes.

One of the features of modern life, for many, is stress. The pace of a fast and frantic lifestyle can take a toll on health. Most people know about the importance of taking time out to evaluate their decisions and the impact that this might have on their health but in a practical everyday reality often the pressures of a frenetic schedule can mean that this is not always possible. There are many factors that can influence the state of one’s health and their attitude towards it but the sad truth is that an unhealthy lifestyle can result in the likelihood of sustaining a stroke or other circulatory condition.

There has been a significant improvement in the treatment for cardiovascular disease and the consequence has been in the increased rate of saving lives but the results of long-term mental deterioration from serious trauma can be very detrimental to the quality of life. Recent studies have shown the plasticity of the brain, with appropriate attention, can regain lost functionality. I know this to be a fact as my own mother suffered a stroke that affected her ability to talk. Over time her mental awareness significantly improved and although she succumbed to other medical problems her ability to communicate was a significant indication of the brain’s healing process.

The brain is like a muscle, the more it is used the healthier it becomes. As is the rule with all muscles, good rest is important as the brain during sleep carries out important biological activities of repair. There is no set formula that fits everybody when it comes to strengthening mental capabilities and capacity. However physical exercise, if possible, can greatly boost results. Part of the recovery in stroke related or cardiovascular conditions is overcoming a loss of function in the body. As human beings we rely heavily on our ability of speech as a main point of contact and there might well be embarrassment and frustration, after a stroke, at the elusive correct words disappearing only to be replaced by unconnected sounds as the tongue seems to have a mind of it’s own. One of the most useful experiences that we had during the rehabilitation process was of, perseverance and understanding, this is required by all as a must in order to make progress.

As a boy, my father suffered with what in hindsight could have been, a stroke although it was not diagnosed as such at the time. His symptoms meant that he was greatly influenced by what we now would consider the side effects of a stroke. The affects of his illness had interfered not just with his speech but hearing and to make matters worse he knew something was wrong as he was a musician and unable to hear his own music. When he asked me about the quality of his music I felt compelled to lie as I thought the truth would be too distressing for him. Things come to a head when doors got mixed up with windows and muddled words became difficult to decipher. The frustration was plain to see but at that time I was unaware of the remedial possibility available for people with this condition.

It is hard to imagine the psychological frustration of suddenly being made to feel as if you are a different person to your former self. Basic needs of walking and talking can be lost after a stroke and stumbling and mumbling can become frustrating barriers to overcome. To find yourself trapped in a memory maze of jumbled words, impressions can be incorrect, about who someone is or what they can achieve. Individuals who have a high level of intellect, in some cases might have a loss of control of limbs and facial expressions, this can lead to people making wrong assumptions about what they do or say. In these situations, as I have experienced, each is very much individual but there can be a sense of difficult endurance and many will ask the question of when will there be an end to this living nightmare? That is when the help of other people can reassure and actively individuals can participate in the long and hard road to recovery.

It is true that with a little applied effort the brain has a limitless ability. It is important to remember that even with such bodily traumas as a stroke or cardiovascular conditions, the body has the potential to recover and even strengthen as a result of it. If given the opportunity, the body can astound and the mind can be a marvel, it can be a tough road but one that can highlight human perseverance.