Check Your Luck by Gemstones.....

Science is built on reason; reason alone deals with externals. But wisdom involves the inner heart"

Modern Science recognizes the potencies of gems in their technological uses, such as the use of crystals in watches, computers and lasers. However, the subtle uses to cure disease, balance human emotions and infuse other potencies to the wearer, are looked at with skepticism.

Though science may explain the chemical structures of stones, it is as yet, unable to fully explain their power. Sometimes, as one author says, it is a matter of a greater consciousness or perspective, and sometimes acceptance of their power through individual experience. There are certain basic laws of the universe that are to be utilized, recognized and respected. The use of gems for many purposes—one of them being healing—have been chronicled since ancient times, in various cultures of the world, and therefore, their contribution to healing needs to be explored.

From time immemorial, Gemstones have been used by all cultures of the world. Their inherent beauty is second to no other material in the mineral kingdom. The word Gem itself, used in any context, denotes a superiority and indicates exquisiteness.

There are three kingdoms, as we know them—the Animal kingdom, the Plant kingdom and the Mineral kingdom; each has its own living power in existence. The mineral kingdom is the body of the earth, and all growth stems from it. The stones that we term as precious, are nurtured in its womb - sacred process - for centuries, before they are prised away to satisfy human need.

These stones are manifestations of life and light, colors, textures, vibrancy, transparency ... and each one of them has, sealed within itself, a small piece of the earth's secret ... its magic, mystic and mystery. Believed to be created from the elements of the earth and cosmic influences, the human connection to the mineral and plant kingdoms cannot be denied.

Gem therapy is not a new-fangled notion. There is evidence to show that the healing properties of gemstones were recognized as far back as the days of the legendary lost city of Atlantis. The ancient civilizations of May and Hebrew, the Far East and Native America have all evidenced the use of these earthy gifts. History records systemic mining in Egypt, over 7000 years ago, as well as in the Oxis valley of Afghanistan prove this.

The Vedas have the greatest wealth of information on the metaphysical and physical properties of Gems and their correct application. They are acknowledged as the authority on Gems - their description, potencies and prescription for effective use. According to the Vedas, imbalances may be set right either by wearing the appropriate gems against the skin or, using them as an ingredient to make medicines and potions that are taken internally.

Gems, it is believed, were worn by royalty, apart from the obvious adornment, primarily for their powers to influence the powers of nature, protect the wearer. According to the sages of ancient times, they were worn to divert negative planetary influences. Instructions on their usage are given in the texts of Guruda Purana and Jyotish. The Brihad Samhita, Sarngadhara Samhita and Susruta Samhita - in the section of Rasayana, talks of elixirs for a long and youthful life of a thousand years - also mentions healing with Bhasmas, by incineration of metals or minerals.

Gemstones react differently with different people, and people use gems for different reasons. It is imperative to understand, based on existing evidences, how these little nuggets of the earth wield so much power!

Slumdog kids on the block

Starry-eyed, excited and wearing little tuxedos and dresses for the first time, a motley of Indian slum kids from Academy award winning 'Slumdog Millionaire' walked the Oscar red carpet with panache despite the stark contrast between their everyday living and the glitzy event. Take a look at the 'new kids on the block.'
It was a fairytale experience for nine-year-old Rubina Ali who starred in Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire'. Rubina now wants to become actor even though she might continue to live in her makeshift homes in Mumbai's slum. In photos: Rubina Ali Qureshi is seen in her uncle's home in a slum in Bandra, suburban Mumbai, India. Rubina played the young Latika in the Oscar-nominated film 'Slumdog Millionaire.'

Rubina Ali, who still lives in the slums of Bandra, Mumbai, is optimistic about her life and feels that it will change for good, one day. In photos: Rubina Ali Qureshi, 9, left, straddles a blocked drain next to an open area strewn with garbage near her home in a slum in Bandra, suburban Mumbai, India. Rubina played the youngest version of the leading lady Latika, in the Oscar-nominated film 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
Rubina Ali was phenomenal as little Latika and was able to paint a true picture of life in slums and the difficulties they face everyday. In photos: Rubina Ali, 8, left, waves to her relatives at the international airport in Mumbai, India. Rubina played the youngest version of the leading lady Latika, in the Oscar-nominated film 'Slumdog Millionaire.'
Ismail, who essayed the role of young Salim, the protagonist's brother, was also thrilled with the dream-come-true Oscar experience. In photos: Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, center, stretches as his mother Shamim Begum, left, 35, father Mohammed Ismail, second left, 47, and friend Sonu look on outside Azhar's home in a slum in Bandra, suburban Mumbai, India. Azharuddin played the youngest version of Salim, the brother of the main character Jamal, in the Oscar-nominated film 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

It was a dream come true for Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail from Mumbai. Within days of wearing rags and staying in slums, he managed to join Hollywood's A-listers at the Oscar ceremony. In photos: Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, left, arrives at the international airport in Mumbai, India. Azharuddin played the youngest version of Salim, the brother of the main character Jamal, in the Oscar-nominated film 'Slumdog Millionaire.'

Rubina Ali was phenomenal as little Latika and was able to paint a true picture of life in slums and the difficulties they face everyday. In photos: Rubina Ali, 8, left, waves to her relatives at the international airport in Mumbai, India. Rubina played the youngest version of the leading lady Latika, in the Oscar-nominated film 'Slumdog Millionaire.'
Rubina Ali, who still lives in the slums of Bandra, Mumbai, is optimistic about her life and feels that it will change for good, one day. In photos: Rubina Ali Qureshi, 9, left, straddles a blocked drain next to an open area strewn with garbage near her home in a slum in Bandra, suburban Mumbai, India. Rubina played the youngest version of the leading lady Latika, in the Oscar-nominated film 'Slumdog Millionaire'.




Tanay Chheba has also acted in Aamir Khan's 'Taare Zameen Par' and has shown great promise as an actor. In photos: Young stars of "Slumdog Millionaire" arrive for the 81st Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. From left front are Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Rubina Ali, and Tanay Hemant Chheda.
Tanay Chheda said that he is excited and it is an amazing feeling to have won so many Oscars. In photos: Cast of 'Slumdog Millionaire', front left, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, Rubina Ali, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, back left, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar and Tanay Hemant Chheda arrive for the 81st Academy Awards in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.

It shouldn't have won

Frankly, I don't think Slumdog Millionaire deserved the Oscar for best film. And even more frankly, I don't think Resul Pookutty should have invoked "my country and my civilisation" in his acceptance speech for best sound mixing. India was not up there in the Kodak auditorium for approval. It was a British film financed by the indie subsidiary of an American studio which happened to be set in India and as a result they could not help but involve Indian actors (including Indian-origin Britishers) and shoot it in India. We crave too much for international recognition. A bit too much than is seemly. Even as all of us go around strutting, pretending to be a superpower.

Other than Slumdog, I have seen only one film out of the other four nominated. But I've read about all of them. The one that I saw is The Reader. The subject is far more intellectually challenging, emotionally moving and morally disturbing than Slumdog can ever hope to be. Not since A Last Tango In Paris has nudity (both male and female) been so necessary to a film's narrative, and so non-titillating and so touching. A film which stretches over 30 years and with essentially only two characters, and yet a film that is as gripping as a thriller. It's a film that, as my friend told me, demands and requires to be seen in one sitting, with no interruption by commercials and visits to the loo.

But look at the themes of the other movies that were nominated this year. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the love story of a man who is born as an extreme geriatric and keeps getting younger and dies as a newborn. Only for a brief period of time are the man and his beloved around the same compatible age. Of course it's an impossible concept and completely unbelievable, but it's a high concept. Milk is about the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States; Frost/Nixon about the first interview disgraced US President Richard Nixon gave, to has-been TV journalist David Frost. For both of them, it is a chance for redemption, for a somewhat sane life. These are all big themes. I am not doubting Slumdog's quality as a film in any way. Danny Boyle is one of the most talented directors around. But comparing Slumdog to The Reader is almost impossible. It's like comparing A Christmas Carol to Great Expectations.

Scrooge won, little Pip lost. But that's the way it has been with the Oscars. Sometimes the nominations reflect the mood of America's liberals, sometimes the winners reflect political correctness. In 2006, the following five films were nominated: Good Night and Good Luck, Brokeback Mountain, Crash, Capote and Munich. Good Night and Good Luck is about a TV broadcaster who took on the McCarthyist witch hunt in the 1950s; essentially about freedom of the press. Brokeback Mountain deflated the entire mythology of uber-macho frontiersmen by portraying a deep homosexual relationship between two cowboys. Crash interlinked several stories to study racism in all its forms and in startling ways. Capote was about the gay writer Truman Capote who travels to the South of the US to write a book on two multiple murderers. Munich told the story of the Israeli agents who hunted down the Black September terrorists who killed Israeli athletes during the Munich Olympics, and asked the question: To take revenge, do we become as base as the men who are our targets?

There's a clear pattern: anger over the Iraq war, the stifling of the media, the stranglehold of neo-conservatism, the contempt for minorities. The denizens of Hollywood were simply reacting to their world as they saw it. The other major critically-acclaimed movies of that year were Transamerica, about one man's battle to change his gender, and Syriana, which told Americans that their nation's policies were largely responsible for Islamist terrorism.

Then there's political correctness. Gandhi won Best Picture over ET. The Academy decided that the biopic of a great and influential leader was more "important" than the woes of a cute alien stranded on our planet. (This incensed Steven Spielberg so much that he decided to give the Academy the "important" films they felt comfortable with, and made The Colour Purple - which didn't win any Oscars - and Schindler's List - which raked them in.) Tom Hanks won his first best acting Oscar for Philadelphia, as much for his acting as for being the first major star to portray a gay man suffering from AIDS. In Hollywood, that's called "courage".

So The Reader can't win. After all, its female protagonist is a former Auschwitz guard who let 300 Jews burn alive in a locked church. The film's position on morality is too nuanced for the general Academy member to grapple with with any success. But Kate Winslet can be given the award for best actress. By taking this controversial role and baring her body so naturally for the purposes of art, she has shown "courage". Milk is about homosexuality, so Sean Penn gets the statuette for "courage", but not the film. Benjamin Button, which was co-produced by its star Brad Pitt, is probably seen as too much the case of an actor showing off, while being aided by more-than-state-of-the art visual effects. Frost/Nixon? Who's interested?

So Slumdog has won, and we should really rejoice for the six children who acted in it, for they are the real stars of the film. We should rejoice for AR Rahman, though the music he has got his two Oscars for is not even of his average quality, forget his sublime and exhilarating stuff. But the Academy has decided. But I really think it's a bit too much if we take this as a victory for Indian cinema. It's a non-Indian film which happened to have an all-Indian cast. We shoot entire films abroad nowadays, especially in the US, remember?

Moily confirms Azharuddin's induction into Congress

New Delhi, Feb 19 (ANI): Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin is all set to join the Congress Party.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Veerrappa Moily, in an interview to Times Now declared on Thursday that Azharuddin would be given primary membership in the party.

However, they are still to decide the constituency from where he will contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Justifying his induction in the Congress despite his involvement in the match-fixing case, Moily said, "There is no criminal case against Azhar. If there is a case at all, then it is only between the BCCI and him, which has been filed by Azhar himself against the ban."

"Remember, he served Indian cricket for nine years as a captain with outstanding performance. He has filed a case against the ban imposed by the BCCI and that is not a criminal matter," he added.

Moily's declaration came after Azharuddin had a late evening meeting with some of the senior party leaders on February 18.

There were speculations about the former cricketer joining politics since January 20, when he expressed his interest to contest elections 'from a prestigious seat'.

He had verbalised his interest in front of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, according to sources.
Moily confirms Azharuddin's induction into Congress

There were rumours last February, when Azharuddin had lunch with Telangana Rastra Samiti President K Chandrasekhar Rao, that he may campaign or contest elections for the Telangana Rastra Samiti in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation polls.

However, he had dismissed the speculation saying that he was only interested in working for cricket.

Later on January 22, Azharuddin's plans became all the more apparent when he had a long meeting with Moily, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and PCC president D Srinivas in Hyderabad.

The former right-handed batsman also runs an event management company and a health club in the up market Banjara Hills area of Hyderabad.

Azhar scored a total of 22 centuries in Test cricket at an average of 45, and 7 in ODI's at an average of 37. He scored a century in each of his first three Tests which is a record.

He won 103 ODI matches as the captain of the Indian team, which is still an Indian record. An excellent fielder, he took a world record 156 catches in ODI cricket.

In 1991 he was named 'Wisden Cricketer of the Year'.

However, towards the end of his career, Azharuddin was accused of match fixing and banned from playing by the BCCI.

Most Stylish Cities of the World

Whether it's their cosmopolitan culture or classy cuisine, history or architecture, great nightlife or a shopper's paradise, cities such as Rome, New York, London, Paris, Madrid, Sydney, Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona and Melbourne have been global style cities. Check out how all these cities are ranked when it comes to style...

10. Madrid, Spain - The Spanish capital city of Madrid has a fine mix of art and culture. Famous attractions such as 'The Royal Palace of Madrid', 'Royal theatre' and its many archeological and art museums, brings Madrid in the list of most stylish cities. In photo: Cars pass under the Christmas lights at Puerta de Alcala square in Madrid, Thursday Dec. 15, 2005. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

9. Amsterdam, Netherlands - The magnificent city of Amsterdam has a lot to offer for tourists. Be it its historic canals, museums or its coffee shops, Amsterdam has been drawing tourists with varied interests from far and wide. In photo: People skate and walk on one of Amsterdam's canal on a sunny winter day in the city centre, Sunday January 28, 1996. (AP Photo/peter Dejong)

8. Berlin, Germany - Germany's largest city, Berlin not only has an eventful history but also known for its style. The city has a lot to showcase through its sightseeing destinations, myriad restaurants and not to forget 'Reichstag', which gives a breathtaking view of the city. In photo: Berlin's famous landmark Brandenburg Gate is colourfully illuminated during the "Festival of Lights" Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Sven Kaestner)

7. Melbourne, Australia - The Australia city of Melbourne is known for a classy mix of contemporary and Victorian architecture. Melbourne is a multicultural society and also regarded as the sports and cultural capital of Australia. In photo: Under a sliver of a moon a men's singles match is underway on center court between Roger Federer of Switzerland, on court at right, and Attila Savolt of Hungary at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2002. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

6. Barcelona, Spain - Be it basking under the sunlight of Barcelona or admiring architect Gaudi's splendour, Barcelona oozes both style and substance. You can experience city's street performers in bicycle or even take the cable-car to 'Montjuic' a panoramic view of the city. In photo: Fireworks explode above Antoni Gaudi's unfinished Sagrada Familia, or Sacred Family cathedral in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday June 1, 2002 celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of this Catalonian architect.(AP Photo/Cesar Rangel)

5. Rome, Italy - The city of Rome has vibrant history and breathtaking architecture, which puts in among the most stylish cities of the world. The 'Roman Colosseum', 'Pantheon' and the famous Italian cuisine ensures the city is a tourist's paradise. In photo: Visitors walk down the steps of the internal courtyard of the Castel Sant Angelo, made famous by Giacomo Puccini's 'Tosca', during the first night Tuesday April 7, 1998 that museums were made open to the public until 10 p.m. in Rome. (AP Photo/Massimo Sambucetti)

4. New York, USA - If you're looking for a city that has music, business and entertainment all in one, look no further than the American city of New York. The 'Statue of Liberty', 'Empire State Building' and several other skyscrapers makes New York's skyline the most attractive. In photo: Fireworks explode over the New York replica, a $460 million hotel & casino Thursday night, Jan. 2, 1997, in LV. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

3. Sydney, Australia - Australia's Harbour City, Sydney is also famous for 'Sydney Opera House', its beaches and also it's cosmopolitan landscape. With several tourist attracts and business-friendly environment, Sydney is an ideal destination to mix business with pleasure. In photo: Fireworks burst over the Sydney Opera Housethe night of Sept. 24, 1993 to celebrate the announcement Sydney would host the Olympic games in the year 2000. (AP Photo/Russell McPhedran)

2. Paris, France - The presence of the 'Louvre Museum', 'Eiffel Tower' and 'Notre Dame de Paris' puts Paris among the most stylish cities around the world. The romantic city of Paris is surely a lover's delight, with beautiful architecture and cosy hotels. In photo: Tourist walk under the replica of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas early Aug. 5, 2005. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch)


1. London, England - The city of Big Ben and Buckingham Palace has been rated as the most stylish cities. A favourite destination of tourists and businessmen, London has a fine mix of renaissance architecture and the modern day multicultural society. The city is London is all set to host the 2012 Olympics. In photo: Fireworks illuminate the night sky over the London Eye as they herald in the New Year, in London, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2005. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Global meltdown has hit IT sector hiring in India: Nilekani

Bangalore, Feb 16 (IANS) Infosys Technologies vice-chairman Nandan M. Nilekani Monday admitted that the global economic meltdown has affected hiring in India's IT industry.

'The IT sector is not seeing job buoyancy now compared to earlier years due to global economic slowdown,'

Nilekani said at a function in the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) in this tech hub. Delivering a lecture on 'India at the Crossroads: the Choices Before us',
Nilekani said the IT industry was facing unprecedented crisis and it was difficult to predict how long the economic downturn would continue. 'The recruitment was well-placed earlier when the growth rate was 30 percent in the IT sector. The crisis in the financial sector has automatically affected Indian IT firms,' Nilekani said.

Though software exports grew to a whopping $40 billion in FY 2008 from a mere $50 million in 1991, with a compounded growth rate of 30 percent over the last three-four years, the economic slowdown has reduced the growth to 20 percent.

'The IT industry grew rapidly on the back of high global economy growth. But in the long-run the sector will do well. The need for technology the world over has not reduced and India too is a large consumer of the technology,' Nilekani noted.

Referring to the various challenges the country was facing, the IT bellwether's top executive said there was a need to create 270 million jobs by 2035 to reap benefits of the demographic change. 'India has a large number of young people and jobs need to be created by integrating our economy with the global economy.

The potential of the youth needs to be harnessed to accelerate the economic growth rate,' he asserted. Recalling the growth witnessed by developed economies such as Britain, Japan and the US before and after the World War II, Nilekani said India was young when the rest of the world was ageing.

Seeking devolution of more powers and funds to urban and rural local bodies, Nilekani lamented that the local bodies had been denied powers due to vested interests of some political leaders at the state and central levels. 'The poor have not benefitted from food, power, farm, water and healthcare subsidies.

Measures have to be taken to distribute entitlements directly to the targetted beneficiaries since the subsidies are regressive and not progressive,

Beauty Tips For Eyes

SPARKLING EYES

Sparkling, beautiful eyes are the best assets a woman can have. Do take time to cater to the special care that eyes need regularly.

Eat enough of Vitamin A and C. Take special care in the choice of eye make-up. Don't use make-up that can irritate and harm the eyes. Avoid spending too much time in smoky rooms and don't neglect a check-up on a regular basis.

Tips 1:

Soak 1 tspn dry Gooseberry powder in a cup of water overnight. Strain this in the morning and add 1 cup of plain water to this. Splash the eyes with this or wash them with the help of an eyecup.

Tips 2:

Dip a pad of cotton wool in some Rose water to which 2-3 drops of Castor oil is added. Place these soaked pads on the eyelids and relax for 15-20 minutes.

Tips 3:

Splash the eyes with a weak tea solution, thoroughly strained and cooled.

Tips 4:

Cotton pads dipped in a cold tea solution and placed on the eyelids whilst relaxing.

DARK CIRCLES

Tip 5:
Grate 2' piece of cucumber. Squeeze through a muslin cloth and extract the juice. Dip cotton pads in this and place on eyelids. Relax for 15 minutes.

Tip 6:
Take 1 tspn Tomato pulp,1 pinch of Turmeric powder ½ tspn of limejuice and 1 tspn of gram flour. Make a paste and apply gently. Remove gently with moist cotton pads after ½ an hour.

Tip 7:
Soak 2 Almonds overnight. Peel and grind to a smooth paste. Add a few drops of limejuice to this Apply for 20-25 minutes. This should be followed daily and gradually after 2 weeks, every 3rd day and finally when the difference is visible, to once aeek. A paste of Almonds can be stored in a clean bottle in the 'fridge.

Tip 8:
Apply a paste made by crushing a handful of Mint leaves.

DEEP SUNKEN EYES

Tips 9:
Apply 1 tspn of Honey with ½ tspn of Almond oil. Apply at bedtime.

Tips 10:
Soak 5 Almonds overnight. Peel them, eat them by chewing well followed by a glass of milk. Done first thing in the morning for 21 days should definitely help

EYE PUFFINESS

Tips 11:
Slice a raw Potato, circle the closed eyes gently with these halves. Or else grate a raw Potato and place on Muslin cloth squares. Place these on the eyes and relax for 15-20 minutes.

Tips 12:
Dip cotton pads in chilled milk and place on eyelids while relaxing.

Tips 13:
In a bowl of chilled water add a few drops of Vitamin E oil.Dip cotton pads in this and place on the eyes while relaxing for 20 minutes.

Healthy glowing hair is a crowning glory for a woman today. To keep it this way is not very simple given to-days living conditions. The heat and dust and also working for long periods in air- conditioned surroundings. The hair treatments like perms, tinting, and hot rollers also affect the healthy luster of your hair.

The best way to atone for this would be to go "Totally Natural" from time to time. Just like plants hair too needs proper nourishment. You need to eat a proper protein rich diet.

The scalp should be clean before oiling the hair. Do brush hair as a daily routine, with firm downward strokes. Wet hair should not be brushed, as hair is weak when it is wet, and breaks easily. Take care and the time to massage the scalp while oiling hair, as this will increase the blood circulation around the roots.

Dandruff is the shedding of dead cells from the scalp. It sometimes leads to boils and pimples too. These are some ways in which we can get rid of dandruff.

Tips 1:

Keep the scalp clean. Oil hair on alternate days and shampoo.

Tips 2:

Mix 2 tspns of Brandy in 1 cup of water. Apply with the fingertips to the roots of hair. Wash after ½ hour with shampoo.

Tips 3:

Mix 1 egg with 1 cup of yogurt and apply on the scalp. Leave for ½ an hour and wash.

Tips 4:

Mix 1 tblspn of Olive oil with 1 tspn of limejuice. Apply well on the scalp and cover the head by tying an old scarf. Keep it on overnight and shampoo the next morning.

Tips 5:

1 tspn of Fenugreek seed powder mixed with an egg. Apply and leave for ½ an hour before shampooing the hair.

Tips 6:

1 tspn fenugreek seed powder mixed with 1 cup of yogurt. Apply and leave for ½ an hour before washing.

Tips 7:

Take 2 tblspns of Beetroot juice and add 1 egg and 1 tspn limejuice to this. Apply and leave for ½ an hour before washing.

Tips 8:

Oil hair well before going to bed. Next morning mix 1 tspn limejuice with ½ tspn salt. Rub this on the scalp with the peel of a lime turned inside out. Leave for 1 hour before shampooing.

Hair lose in women

If you are a woman whose hair is suddenly and rapidly thinning, you are not alone - hair loss (Alopecia) - may be less obvious in women than in men, but it is almost as common and much more emotionally devastating. The good news is that if you proactively try to understand why you are losing hair and go for suitable treatment, you have a better chance of being able to stop your hair from falling than men generally have.

First, something about normal hair loss – healthy women with a head full of hair can expect to lose 50-100 strands daily. If you are losing more than this, or if it seems that the hair you lose is either not being replaced or it’s getting replaced by thinner, finer hair (a process called miniaturization), you have a problem.

Most women notice that their ponytail or braid is getting thinner, or that their part line is expanding. This is a good time to start treatment – the earlier you start, the better your chances of holding on to the hair you have and avoiding more extreme loss.

But before starting treatment, you need to understand why you are losing hair – treatment is more effective when it’s geared to the real cause. For this, it is often useful to divide hair loss into categories depending on the pattern of loss:

1. Diffuse thinning

Most women lose hair like this – a form of general thinning all over the scalp - unlike men who begin to lose hair in a characteristic pattern beginning from their temples and the top of their heads.

Diffuse thinning may be caused by:

Medications: Hair loss can happen as a side effect of medication for birth control, slimming, high-blood pressure, mood disorders, thyroid problems, and diseases like cancer

Diseases:
Hair loss can also be a symptom of something going wrong in your body, and is one of the manifestations of a range of conditions including polycystic ovaries, thyroid disease, insulin resistance, anemia, lupus and general malnutrition.

Lifestyle choices: A poor diet (especially crash dieting) has been linked to unhealthy hair which falls easily.

Life stressors: Childbirth, illnesses or injury can cause hair fall. The hair stops growing, and, two to three months after the event, the root dies and the hair falls out. This kind of hair fall is usually easily replaced so long as the stressor is avoided.

Hormonal imbalances: A delicate balance between body hormones keeps your hair looking good. When the hormones are out of whack (one reason among many may be high androgen index birth control pills), hair starts to fall or begins to miniaturize. The hormone at the ‘root’ of the problem is DHT(dihydrotestosterone, a derivative of the male hormone testosterone), the presence of which in the hair follicles is linked to eventual follicle death.

Genetics: Most women lose hair as they age, and hair loss seems to run in families, with some families tending to have thicker hair than others. Though the mechanism of genetic hair loss is also DHT (by a process scientists don’t understand yet), genetics makes some follicles more sensitive to the effects of DHT than others.

2. Localised hair loss

In this distressing condition, less common than diffuse hair loss, women lose hair in patches all over the scalp. But this is both more treatable and more amenable to surgery than diffuse hair loss.
Again, a doctor will usually try to find out why this is happening before she suggests a course of treatment.

Traction alopecia: The hair is literally pulled out – usually by styles that involve stretching the hair tight, like ponytails or braids, and sometimes by surgical procedures like the facelift when the skin is ‘tightened’. If the style has been maintained a long time, sometimes the follicles die and surgery may be the only option. Otherwise, a change to a freer hairstyle can replace the hair within a year.

Alopecia areata: In this unusual condition, the hair falls out in patches leaving smooth, bald skin. This is thought to be an auto-immune disorder, when the body’s immune system begins to attack its own hair follicles. Sometimes the condition resolves by itself, sometimes treatment with follicle-stimulating drugs and steroids will help.

Skin diseases: Eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and fungal infections, among others (when they affect the scalp), can cause hair fall. Usually the place where the hair falls off will show a rash.

3. Male pattern balding in women
A small number of women will lose their hair in the typical male pattern – going bald over the temples and in the crown of the head and eventually all over the head. This can wreck a woman’s emotional and social life, but fortunately this is more treatable than the common, diffuse pattern of hair loss among women. The cause is usually a combination of hormones and genetics.

Pak registers case against Kasab and 13 others

Pakistani authorities on Wednesday registered a case against Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive during the Mumbai attacks, and 13 others in connection with the terror strikes.

The case was registered on the basis of the probe conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency and the decision made by the defence committee of the Pak cabinet during its meeting on Monday, TV channels quoted unidentified sources as saying.

The case was registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act, Geo News channel reported.

It quoted sources as saying that the case was registered at the Dockyard Police Station in Karachi. The news channel also said that among the others named in the case were three persons who were arrested in Karachi. Nine more persons had been identified but were yet to be taken into custody, the channel reported.

Legal experts said Pakistan will need the cooperation of Indian authorities to proceed with the case and bring it to court. Pakistani authorities might also need to seek access to Indian witnesses to proceed with the case, they said.

During its meeting on Monday, the defence committee decided to register a case and conduct further investigations to bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice according to Pakistan laws.

The meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, said it would be ''exceedingly difficult to complete the investigation and proceed with the case'' without ''substantial evidence'' from India. It also decided to send further queries to Indian authorities.

Pakistan detained or placed under surveillance some 124 members of LeT and its front organisation JuD in the wake of the Mumbai attacks

Gone Those Days................

Know Your Body

The human body, with all its powers of endurance, its life preserving systems for combating disease and taking in nourishment, and its ability through the senses to interpret what is happening in the world outside it, is like some marvelously complex machine.
But unlike a machine, it also has the capacity for pleasure and sensitivity to pain. And no machine, however futuristic, could match the body's ability to grow and to repair broken bones and damaged tissues, or its even more remarkable ability to maintain or multiply the human population by generating new life.

All these powers and capacities, all the strengths and intricacies of the body, could be reduced to a few handful of chemical elements such as oxygen, hydrogen, proteins, minerals, fats, trace elements and water which are all contained in the body's cells - microscopic structures, only a few hundredths of millimeter in diameter, but with the ability to absorb nourishment, grow, excrete wastes and increase in numbers by dividing in two.

SYSTEMS OF THE BODY
Various collections of cells make up body tissues such as skin, muscle and bone; and tissues are grouped to form organs, such as the heart, lungs and stomach. A set of organs make up a system, and the ultimate physical aim of the systems, working together, is to convert food into energy to keep the body working.

Foodstuffs are eaten; prepared in the mouth into a form suitable for digestion; broken down in the digestive system into smaller units by the action of chemical substances called enzymes; and absorbed into the body; where they are partly used as fuel.

For the burning of fuel in the body, as for any form of combustion, a supply of oxygen is needed. This is taken in from the lungs - a major function of the respiratory system - and distributed to the tissues by the blood, carried in the blood vessels and pumped by the heart.

The blood vessels and the heart make up the circulatory system, which also conveys foodstuffs and waste products round the body.

The body needs to get rid of waste products formed by the release of energy, the process known as excretion. Carbon dioxide and some water are excreted from the lungs in the air breathed out; a little water and salts are lost from the skin in sweat, and water and salts, together with complex waste products such as urea, and uric acid, are excreted from the kidneys.


These form part of the urinary system. This also includes connecting tubes, known as the Ureters (from the kidneys to the bladder) and the urethra (from the bladder to outside the body). The bladder itself is merely a reservoir of urine. Fibrous wastes and indigestible food residues pass out of the body in the faeces.

Some of the energy produced by the body keeps the various systems working and the rest is used for movement. This is carried out by the locomotor system, consisting of muscles, which act on the bony skeleton. The bones have an important role, not only in providing a frame work for the whole body, but also in protecting the vital organs, such as the lungs and the brain, from injury.


Acting on information provided by the sense organs, such as the eyes and ears, the brain and the rest of the nervous system can control a variety of bodily processes, either directly or by causing various glands to release hormones- chemical messengers, which in turn act on the tissues.

The release of the many types of hormones into the blood stream is controlled by the endocrine system, a series of glands in different parts of the body that regulate growth and the ability to reproduce.

The body also needs to be maintained. Treatment with medicines or surgery may be required to repair the damage by injury or disease, but often the body can cope with the problem by itself.

The body’s repair system consists of the normal continual process of replacing worn-out and damaged tissues. The ability to repair itself without outside help and the ability to grow, which is particularly obvious during childhood are two of the physical properties distinguishing the living organisms from a non-living organisms. A third is the body’s ability to perpetuate the species by reproduction - the role of the reproductive system. This involves the creation of new life by the joining of two sex cells - sperm and an egg from the parents, and the subsequent development while protected inside the mother’s body.