A summary of positive health news around the world

US: Army's post traumatic stress disorder treatment could be Transcendental Meditation

The United States Army is investigating ways to help the returning troops cope with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTDS), and Transcendental Meditation is one of the alternative healing methods that could be used to heal the troops. more

Meditation can lower blood pressure study seen around globe

A University of Kentucky study, which appears in the March issue of the American Journal of Hypertension, reports that Transcendental Meditation can effectively control high blood pressure without causing the possible negative side effects associated with anti-hypertension drugs. Since the study first appeared, it has been reprinted worldwide including in the US, India, and Estonia. more

Vastu: Practitioners design living spaces on ancient Indian principles based on harmony with nature

The ancient Vedic principles of architectural design have been revived to become the latest healthy trend in home building. more

Indian berries may fight dengue mosquitoes

Synthetic insecticides are increasingly useless in fighting disease-spreading mosquitoes, such as the Stegomyia aegypti that can spread dengue and yellow fever viruses. However, berries of a common weed found in India may be effective in fighting mosquitoes that spread dengue fever, a study has found. more

Czech Republic: Organic food consumption up 70 per cent in 2007

In 2006, Czechs spent Kc 760m on organic food, while in 2007 organic food consumption grew by 70 per cent to Kc 1.29 billion, according to a survey by the Green marketing agency. more

Australia to train Aboriginal doctors

Australia committed $17 million on Thursday to train Aboriginal nurses and doctors, and another $13 million to reduce tobacco smoking among Aborigines, as part of efforts to close a 17-year gap in the life expectancies of indigenous and other Australians. more

Vegan diet may help ease rheumatoid arthritis - study

A gluten-free vegan diet full of nuts, sunflower seeds, fruit, and vegetables appears to offer protection against heart attacks and strokes for people with rheumatoid arthritis, Swedish researchers said on Tuesday. 'These findings are compatible with previous results of vegetarian/vegan dietary regimens in non-rheumatoid arthritis subjects which have shown lower blood pressure, lower body mass index, and lower incidence of cardiovascular disease,' the researchers wrote in the journal Arthritis Research and Therapy. more

US: Report says shift to organic would cut pesticide risks in diet

Converting the country's eight million acres of produce farms to organic would reduce dietary pesticide risk by 97 per cent, the non-profit Organic Centre organization concluded recently. more

France: Auvergne aims at becoming country's first organic region

Auvergne has an ambitious plan to become the first organic region in France, including investing in development, distribution, and promotion of organic products. more

Most Russians feel happy, poll shows

A recent poll finds that Russians consider themselves happy, a statistic that has changed over the past 10 years from a 60 per cent happy population to 77 per cent happy. more

US: Wal-Mart's private-label milk to have no artificial growth hormones

Wal-Mart Stores Inc said on Thursday that its private-label Great Value milk is now being sourced only from cows that have not been treated with artificial growth hormones, such as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST). Wal-Mart said it made the change in response to customer demand. Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer. more

US: Oregon farmers press for more bee research

Growers, beekeepers, and others around the state of Oregon are holding a meeting next week in the city of Corvallis to make the case for increased research into honeybee health and pollinators in Oregon. Bees are critical for the pollination of signature Oregon crops, from pears to coastal cranberries. In the past, Oregon State University has been able to expand its research positions through endowments created with the help of private donors and supportive industries. more

Romania mulls national ban on Monsanto genetically modified maize

Romania's environment ministry wants to impose a national cultivation ban on Monsanto MON 810 genetically modified maize this year, minister Attila Korodi said on Thursday. more

Garden travel sees huge increase - 10 of the world's best botanical gardens

There has been a huge increase in garden travel according to Elizabeth Scholtz, director emeritus of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in the United States. Travel and Leisure magazine lists their top 10 botanical gardens in the world. more

India: April-February spices exports rise 16 per cent

India's spices exports during the April-February period rose 16 per cent in volume terms the Spices Board said late on Monday. In value terms, it exceeded the full year target of 36 billion rupees, according to a statement from the Board. India produces over 4 million tonnes of spices and exports around 180 spice products to over 150 countries. more

Qatar prepares ground for organic farming

The Qatar Department of Agriculture and Water Resources is looking to introduce organic farming -- rejecting modern agrichemical techniques. more

US: Bees look good so far in Ohio

In Ohio bees are plentiful this year. The numbers of honey bees surviving the winter across Ohio are up from last year by 85 per cent. The higher numbers so far this year are good news for Ohio farmers who rely on bees to pollinate more than 70 crops, including apples, strawberries, and pumpkins. more

Fiji: Pacific keen on organic farming

Worldwide demand for organic produce is growing and the Pacific's farmers are interested in marketing their organic produce internationally. more

China: Olympic Beijing tries to kick smoking

A ban on smoking in most Beijing public places, similar to efforts in major North American, European, and Asian cities, is expected to take effect in May, aimed at meeting China's pledge of a smoke-free Olympics. City Hall is expected to unveil the new rules soon. more

UK: Government considers measures to discourage young people from smoking

Britain's government is considering a string of measures to discourage young people from taking up smoking, including banning displays, removing cigarette machines from restaurants, and making nicotine patches and gums more readily available. The proposals are the subject of a public consultation to be launched in May. more

Read all Global Health News Summaries for 2008  Good News 2008

Read all Global Health News Summaries for 2007  Good News 2007

Read all Global Health News Summaries for 2006  Good News 2006

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DISCLAIMER: The information in this document is presented for the sole purpose of imparting education on Maharishi Ayurveda and neither the information nor the products are intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, or are pregnant or lactating, please consult a health professional and it is recommended that you speak with your physician before making significant changes to your diet or routine.