This video by Alan Watts tells you who you are British philosopher Alan Watts died in 1973. In recent years many of his inspiring talks have been turned into short videos. It is an inspiring library full of eternal wisdom. In this video Watts addresses our holistic connected existence in an original way. Watch it and in less than five minutes you realize again why you should be very happy to be alive. READ MORE
Environmental innovation: A New Zealand river has become a legal living entity This is international environmental innovation. A New Zealand river revered by the native Maori has been recognized by parliament as a “legal person”. The river will have its own legal identity with all the corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a legal person. In practical terms, it means the river can be represented at legal proceedings with two lawyers protecting its interests; one from the local Maori tribe that lives near the river and the other from the government. New Zealand has found a creative way to protect the environment, the commons, through giving it rights. Is this replicable in other places as an environmental strategy? READ MORE
The placebo effect works, that’s why doctors need to be trained to support it A growing body of research shows that people’s mindsets have measurable physical effects. People’s expectations of healing and the relationships with their doctors drive these placebo responses where a patient’s health changes without being treated. Despite this research, the benefits of these psychological and social forces are still receiving much less attention than drug and device treatments in health care. That’s why in a new analysis of the placebo-effect, a group of Stanford experts is calling on medical schools to develop more training that helps students use their personal strengths to connect with patients to help patients develop a more healing mindset. READ MORE
Deep brain stimulation provides lasting relief from severe depression Treatment with deep brain stimulation can provide lasting relief to patients suffering from previously non-treatable, severe forms of depression several years into the therapy or even eliminate symptoms entirely. This is the finding of the first long-term study on this form of therapy, conducted by scientists at the Medical Center ñ University of Freiburg. Seven of the eight patients receiving continuous stimulation in the study showed lasting improvements in their symptoms up … READ MORE
Forget your blanket: Why you should sleep in a cool bedroom For seven million years we have fought against hunger and cold. That’s in our genes. Now most of us have these problems under control but that may be too much of a good thing. Research shows that a little bit of starvation fasting is actually healthy for us. And it is also better for us to shiver a bit when we sleep cold is good for our bodies. Bottom line: If it gets too comfortable, it’s not good for our health. READ MORE
