Holistic thinking
Holistic thinking is the ability to see things as a whole (or holistically), to understand and predict the many different types of relationships between the many elements in a complex system, and also to perceive the whole picture through sensing its large-scale patterns. While thinking holistically is the opposite of analyzing something, which involves breaking down a larger system into its details, I believe that creative thinking (the ability to conceive new and innovative ideas), critical thinking (the ability to carefully evaluate and reflect on a situation), abstract thinking (the ability to use concepts to make and understand generalizations), analytical thinking (the ability to break down a complex problem into its parts and to examine the parts and their relationships), divergent thinking (the ability to generate new ideas or solutions by exploring many possible solutions), and convergent thinking (the ability to synthesize a single answer or solution from varying perspectives or different solutions) are tools of holistic thinking.
Too many Americans spend too much on supplements
We’ve all read or heard that Ben Franklin supposedly said, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” However, the exact date or context in which Franklin might have said this is not documented. Still, it seems like something he may have said, given his wisdom, diverse interests, and contributions to the advancement of science and technology. After all, he invented the lightning rod and bifocals.
Yet, Franklin was not only a scientist and inventor but also a skilled writer and publisher with an uncanny ability to effectively promote his ideas and achievements. He utilized his talents in writing and publishing to disseminate his ideas widely. His almanacs, newspapers, and pamphlets were instrumental in this regard, helping him reach a broad audience. Additionally, his engaging and accessible writing style helped popularize scientific concepts and made them more understandable to the general public. Franklin's strategic use of his publications was a key factor in building his reputation in America and abroad. Continue reading... |
Chamomile – The herb that keeps on healing
2020 was a true annus horribilis. In the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown in Spring, I had a tooth abscess that required a root canal treatment and replacement of a bridge. Four weeks later, I had another tooth abscess that required a root canal treatment as well, plus the replacement of a crown. To make matters worse, my immune system reacted to the bacterial infections underlying the tooth abscesses by developing huge wheals all over my body that itched like crazy. Once they were gone, I had an accident cleaning my pool cage and deck, causing a Lisfranc injury with torn midfoot ligaments.
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Linus Pauling – The man who birthed the vitamin C craze
Without a shadow of a doubt, Linus Pauling was one of the most brilliant scientists and activists of the 20th century. He is notable for being one of the few individuals to receive two Nobel Prizes and still is the only person to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes: the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its application to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 for his activism against nuclear weapons testing. Yet, Pauling's legacy is a complex one, marked by significant contributions to science and controversial stances in the field of health and nutrition, because he played a significant role in popularizing the concept of antioxidants and their potential health benefits. His influence in this area is mainly linked to his advocacy of high doses of vitamin C.
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