As the rains raged on in 1340s Europe, most of the crops rotted, leading to food shortages in a colder environment. Amidst the malnourished population, rodents, fleas and perhaps even lice were spreading a disease that had most likely never before infected humankind, and would wipe out up to half of Europe within five years. This is the vision of the Black Death that scientists put forth in a new study in the journal Nature . For the first time ever, they have reconstructed the genome of an ancient disease based on skeletal remains. They found out that the medieval plague is not so genetically different from its modern descendant, a disease that exists today in certain parts of the world. They are both caused by variations of the bacteria strain Yersinia pestis but the kind they discovered in the medieval remains appears to no longer exist . "They’re almost identical," said the study's senior author Johannes Krause of the University of Tübingen, Germany, at a press teleconference Tuesday. "Even a mother and a child show more [genetic] differences than the ancient Black Death strain and the modern plague strain." Researchers examined skeletons from East Smithfield  Cemetery in London, where approximately 2,500 Black Death victims were buried in mass graves. They looked at the inner pulp chamber of teeth of individuals buried at this site. That’s where there remains, even after hundreds of years, a dark black powdery material composed of dried blood and nerves. This is a gold mine for DNA excavators. The next step is separating the DNA of the disease from human DNA, other bacterial DNA and whatever else might be in there from the soil. They then used the modern version of the plague bacteria strain, Yersinia pestis, to look for its ancestor. They found the ancient Black Death strain in three individuals and a close variation in a fourth skull. It's expected that a pathogen will undergo mutations during an outbreak, Krause said. Researchers published their initial proof of concept in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in August . This new study shows the nearly complete genetic reconstruction of the Black Death. The new evidence suggests that the Black Death was the first time plague had infected humans. That would mean Plague of Justinian in 541 A.D. may have been an entirely different pathogen. Alternatively, it could have been caused by an extinct strain of Yersinia pestis. The Black Death may have come from China and spread along the Silk Road to the ports of Italy and France, where it traveled throughout continental Europe. Most of the victims were poor, since many wealthy people fled to country homes and shielded themselves from the disease. People at that time had no idea what this disease was or how to treat it. But in later outbreaks, cultural adaptations helped lower virulence, Krause said. "They had developed quarantine, they had developed some kind of first aid and how to treat patients with the symptoms," he said. Today, there are about 2,000 cases per year, worldwide, on average, of the modern version of the plague. Rats and rat fleas, like in medieval times, seem to spread it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . And the World Health Organization has called it a "reemerging infectious disease.” Modern antibiotics can treat the plague today, and probably would have effectively controlled the outbreak of the Black Death, according to scientists. Unfortunately for millions of Europeans, tetracycline wasn’t invented until 1952.

Even if the pain is severe, episodes of back pain – and pain from ongoing back conditions – can be somewhat relieved with some first aid methods you can do at home. read more

We’re all familiar with medical first aid kits. But, have you ever considered putting together a mental health first aid kit? It might contain a reminder to breathe deeply, a small bottle of lavender essential oil and, perhaps, even an inspirational quotation or two. Herbal teas could also be included. A few that immediately come Related posts: Lemon Blueberry Muffin Recipe Herbal Sleep Study Results Chewing Gum for Stress Relief

The CDC’s zombie apocalypse just won’t die. As the Health Blog told you here on Wednesday , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention decided to spice up its tired old advice on preparing for hurricanes and other disasters with a “Zombie Apocalypse Preparedness Guide.” That warning, posted Monday on a public health blog by Assistant Surgeon General Ali Khan, appears to have joined the world of the Undead. As of Friday afternoon, the CDC reported the post — advising people to stock up on food and water and first aid supplies to survive a zombie attack — had gotten nearly 1.2 million page views, compared to about 1,000 to 3,000 hits a CDC blog post usually gets over its entire lifespan of 10 days or so. Rear Admiral Khan’s zombie post is currently more popular than the CDC’s homepage, and traffic is “steadily increasing,” the CDC says, adding that “CDC” and “Zombie Apocalypse” were among the top 10 trends on Twitter Thursday. Now the CDC is following up Khan’s message with a  video contest. The agency is asking people to create 60-second videos showing how they’re preparing for any emergency (“hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, zombies…”) and send them to  www.twitter.com/CDCemergency by June 3. Winners will be chosen by the “CDC Zombie Task Force.” Best of all for Khan, who admits to posting the blog without approval from government higher-ups: his real message seems to be getting through. “People who read the blog actually are going out to get an emergency kit and make an emergency plan,” an excited Khan tells the Health Blog, citing informal data and reader posts. “This has been off the charts. Who would ever think a server would crash because people were trying to get public health information?” ( As we noted , the page with the blog post crashed midweek because it got so many hits.) The CDC cites reader responses such as the following as proof: “For high school graduation, we are now giving a medical kit and tool bag as gifts.” Of course, Khan might have trouble fending off the zombies, should they invade. The CDC’s budget was slashed 11% in fiscal 2011, putting it among the hardest-hit government agencies, with significant cuts for emergency preparedness. Khan has $1.4 billion in fiscal 2011, more than $100 million less than in the previous year, meaning fewer dollars to state and local health departments to protect the public from threats like “pandemics, Hurricane Katrina, or the unexpected,” he says. “This hurts our ability to provide support.” Public health preparedness dollars have been cut more than 30% since 2005, he notes. Fortunately, the zombie apocalypse preparedness campaign cost “zero,” Khan says — or rather, no more than it costs to come up with a regular public health blog post. What’s next? “I’ve been toying with an alien invasion for next year,” Khan says. Image: Everett Collection

Uncle Sam wants YOU to be prepared for a zombie apocalypse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, known best for stamping out health threats like Ebola and E. coli, is now advising people how to prepare for a zombie invasion . A blog post by Assistant Surgeon General Ali Khan instructs readers to stock up on food and water, not to mention first aid supplies (“Although you’re a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use these supplies to treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado or hurricane,” the agency says). And figure out “where you would go and who you would call if zombies started appearing outside your door step,” the CDC’s post says. Okay, the agency really is just looking for a clever way to get people to heed its advice on how to prepare for emergencies such as hurricanes  — which on its own, let’s face it, is rather dry. The tactic seems to be working: the site announcing the new zombie preparedness plan crashed today and even a cached version is down. Or as one Facebook fan put it, “There are so many people on the site now it’s crashed! The zombie attack has begun!” Were zombies to attack, the CDC says for its part it would be prepared: “If zombies did start roaming the streets, CDC would conduct an investigation much like any other disease outbreak,” the agency reports. “CDC would provide technical assistance to cities, states, or international partners dealing with a zombie infestation. This assistance might include consultation, lab testing and analysis, patient management and care, tracking of contacts, and infection control (including isolation and quarantine).” Zombie preparedness is the brainchild, so to speak, of communications staff who noticed that traffic took off when zombies were mentioned during one of its Twitter sessions on Japan and radiation, says Dave Daigle, a CDC spokesperson who led the new campaign. The CDC in fact does have a history with zombies — at least on TV. Its fictional headquarters were blown to smithereens in an episode of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” after a group of survivors tried to take refuge. Many people we informally polled are giving the zombie campaign a thumbs-up. “Way to stay topical, CDC! This would have been pirates back in the ’00s,” writes one. “I am glad they chose zombies as a theme and not vampires,” says another, who is clearly not on Team Edward. But some found the CDC’s advice lacking. “Their suggestion for a zombie apocalypse preparedness kit is sorely lacking: Where’s the sawed-off shotgun?” asks Gawker.

The sad outcome of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan hit close to home for many around the world. It also may have reminded you that the need for an emergency plan and kit for your family is essential. But there’s much more to consider than the three days of food and water supply you need to keep on hand. While it may not be pleasant to think about, making a kit helps ensure you are best prepared for the unexpected. So what are you waiting for? Check out the list of essential medication and health-related items you need to have in your emergency kit after the break.

Some of the best gifts you can dole out this holiday season are the kind that come straight from your oven. They can also, however, be the most dangerous kind. When whipping up a batch of whole wheat biscotti or chewy brownies, it’s best to be cautious of and prepared for any burns that may happen along the way. Take my quiz to see if you know the dos and don’ts of first aid for burns. Take the quiz

TribLocal Lake and McHenry counties announce partnership to transform mental health … TribLocal (from left) McHenry County Mental Health Board Compliance & Quality Assurance Manager Cathy Garrey, Superintendent at the … Care Plus NJ Presents Mental Health First Aid: A Toolkit to Assist Veterans … ParamusPost.com all 4 news articles »

The secret about natural remedies for anxiety is that they have very few or no side effects. If they are taken in conjunction with counseling or therapy, then there is a much better chance of getting over an anxiety disorder than by being prescribed anti anxiety medications. The medications are really just an emergency first aid kit but unfortunately the patients become dependent on them and that is why natural remedies for anxiety never really get much attention. Recognizing the early symptoms of an anxiety disorder is the first step in getting effective treatment for this condition. These symptoms can be many and varied and can differ from individual to individual. A patient may suffer from a disturbed sleep pattern, be fatigued and complain of chest pains which is why anxiety is often confused with angina or some other heart condition. There may also be indigestion, bloating together with irritability and restlessness. These are usually the signs that a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is present What then are the natural remedies for anxiety and why are they so effective in the long term ? Both St. John’s Wort and the Passion Flower have been shown in several studies that they are effective in reducing anxiety and indeed in many cases they are just as effective and safer than the anti anxiety drugs such as Xanax and Zoloft. There have been mild side effects such as sweating, dizziness and nausea associated with these herbs. However, the side effects of anxiety natural remedies pale into insignificance when you compare them to the some of the debilitating effects of the prescription drugs for anxiety such as weight loss or gain and loss of libido. There are also worries about an increase in suicidal thoughts and hostility and aggression. Other anxiety natural remedies include any from of exercise, deep breathing exercises and relaxation techniques. Shiatsu and massage therapy including aromatherapy can really help to reduce tension and improve sleep patterns and are very beneficial. The best oils are bergamot, jasmine, lavender and sandalwood. Food allergies and too much caffeine can increase anxiety symptoms in some patients so these are best avoided if this is the case. It is interesting to note that a deficiency in magnesium can cause anxiety, irritability, fatigue and depression and this is a very common deficiency in the Western world so the anxiety could be caused just by that. It is certainly worth bearing this in mind. Some patients can decrease their anxiety just by taking a magnesium supplement and they can improve their sleeplessness by taking Valerian. Find out which are the best natural remedies for anxiety to suit your lifestyle, by clicking on the link below. Want to learn more about natural remedies for anxiety ? Robert Locke has written extensively on Mental Health for many years. Related Blogs Dance Away Stress & Depression: Dialectical Behavior Therapy … Violence and Anxiety | Anxiety and OCD Exposed Obama Bars Abortion Coverage From Pre-Existing Condition Insurance … Scott Stringer Talks West Side Issues | West Side Spirit The Anxiety of Connection | HiLobrow

Mental health seminar Wednesday Summit Daily News The Summit County Community Wellness Series continues Wednesday with a discussion on ? mental health first aid.? The session is slated for 5:30-6:30 pm in … Analysis: Mental health funding at critical point SunHerald.com (registration) Community Mental Health Centers expanding roles Hawaii 24/7 all 3 news articles »