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Post #10 Critical Analysis: Appeal to Authority - Thalidomide

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Post #10 Critical Analysis: Appeal to Authority - Thalidomide

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Define Problem:
The issue at hand was the Appeal to Authority from doctors and mothers having believed that Thalidomide was safe due to an authority above each promoting it.

Gather Information:
The source Thalidomide Victims Association Of Canada provides information regarding the history and effects of Thalidomide. It provides its arguments against the drug by providing said history and highlighting the tragic effects caused by its usage. It further supports its argument through photographic evidence of the deformities caused and by calling out the negligence of the authorities that promoted its usage.

Evaluate Evidence:
The source is indeed credible due to the involvement of first hand Thalidomide survivors providing information based off of their experiences. There is proof in the form of photographic evidence. The facts have been checked and the link between Thalidomide and birth defects has been confirmed due to the magnitude of its aftermath. The scale of its aftermath eliminated the need for the scientific method due to its clearness.

Recognize Assumptions, Emotions, Biases:
Personal assumptions. biases and emotions relating to the Appeal to Authority are a sense of ease and security caused  by receiving information from an authority who is assumed to be knowledgeable. The bias is towards those who claim otherwise but are ignored due to their lack of authority on the matter. The impact of the Personal assumptions. biases and emotions was the large scale usage of the drug and approval from authorities and doctors, giving the sense that it was harmless and that their judgement could be fully trusted.

Synthesize Evidence, Identify Alternatives:
Due to the turbulent history of anti-nausea medication for pregnant mothers, alternatives to Thalidomide should be proven safe over a longer period of time so that short term and long term effects can be accounted for. One such alternative is ginger. Ginger is proven to assist in reducing nausea and is completely harmless (excluding allergies), though it falls short due to having much more limited effectiveness as opposed to medications. As researched on pillcheck.ca, medications including Ondansetron are considered safe for use. Though recent studies have discovered a small yet concerning risk of oral clefts within the first trimester. Fortunately, there is no increased risk of overall birth deformities for infants. Depending on the mother's metabolism of the CYP2D6 enzyme, the drug can either have no effect or build up depending on how quickly it passes through the body.

Select Best Alternative:

The best alternative to Thalidomide in this situation comes down to ones own metabolism and willingness to take a risk. If one wishes for no risk at the cost of less effectiveness, then ginger is the best alternative. If one is willing to consider risk and wants greater effectiveness, then they should consider getting their CYP2D6 metabolism checked and take Ondansetron as their best alternative.

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Made by Noah Anderson, working independently.

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Definition:
A Red Herring is a clue or piece of information that serves the purpose of misleading or distracting from a present issue. This can be in the form of shifting focus to irrelevant evidence to distract from an investigation, or an irrelevant defense which serves the purpose of distracting opposition.

Connection:
This article contains information regarding Donald Trump's impeachment defense. House impeachment managers and  Senate Democrats wished to force additional testimony through witnesses. In response, Trump's lawyers claimed that any attempts to do would compromise the presidents ability to tend to his responsibilities of national security. This response was a Red Herring to prevent support against Trump.

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As the US Senate launches the first impeachment trial of a US president in the 21st century-and only the third in the history of the country-Donald Trump's defense team has offered new hints about how they plan to block the Democrats' case that the president abused the power of his office. They plan to argue that "national security" prevents a full airing of the evidence.

The telltale phrase appears all over the president's defense and the government's response to the impeachment charges. As Jonathan Swan and Alayna Treene of Axios reported over the weekend, "Trump officials say they feel especially bullish about one key argument against calling additional impeachment witnesses: It could compromise America's national security."

Trump's lawyers and Senate Republicans have similarly underscored that argument by pushing for any testimony from White House national security advisor John Bolton into a closed, classified setting-ensuring that his words are never directly seen or heard by the public. Anonymous administration officials told The Washington Post that "national security concerns" would justify such a move. Similarly, House impeachment manager Adam Schiff, who also chairs the House Intelligence Committee, has made public a long-standing conflict with the National Security Agency, which he accused of inappropriately withholding documents and intercepts that would comprise critical impeachment inquiry evidence.

It's not hard to see why the president's defenders are leaning so heavily on the "national security" MacGuffin: That constitutional duty to keep the country safe is a realm where US presidents have always had unique authority and discretion. Congress and the courts both often defer to the executive branch on such questions and have traditionally provided wide latitude to the White House to determine what is worthy of protection when it comes to national security secrets.

For scholars of presidential history, Trump's playbook and argument about leaning on "national security" concerns may also seem all too familiar. It's precisely how Richard Nixon tried to stonewall the Watergate investigation and prevent his now-infamous Oval Office tapes from ever being released.

Trump's cry-wolf strategy seems just as likely to be misdirection as Nixon's defense was.

Trump's lawyers are arguing that any attempt by the House impeachment managers and Senate Democrats to force additional testimony by witnesses-particularly from people like Bolton-would likely compromise the president's ability to do his job protecting the country. In fact, in outlining their defense of the president, Trump's team directly cites Nixon's defense from the 1970s, explaining that in US v. Nixon, the Supreme Court wrote that "courts have traditionally shown the utmost deference to presidential responsibilities" for foreign policy and national security.

Of course, what Trump's lawyers fail to note is that Nixon's claims surrounding "national security" fell apart as his own impeachment unfolded.

The "smoking gun" tape of Nixon's conversation on June 23, 1972 with White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman-the tape that Nixon fought longest and hardest to prevent releasing, and whose ultimate disclosure in July 1974 precipitated the collapse of his political support and his resignation-reveals Nixon's first instincts about how to get the FBI to shut down its investigation of the Watergate break-in: Tell them it involves the CIA and the whole matter is a national security concern. Unfortunately for Nixon, the CIA was unwilling to play ball in the coverup, and the FBI was already following too many leads.

While Nixon and his allies failed at that initial attempt to button up the scandal, they spent the next two years arguing in one forum or another that national security concerns prevented a full and complete investigation.

As investigators zeroed in on the Oval Office tapes, Nixon's lawyer Charles Wright told judge John Sirica that one of the tapes investigators wanted could never be released without doing grave harm to the country. "There is national security material so highly sensitive that [President Nixon] does not feel free even to hint to me what the nature of it is," Wright told the judge.

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Trump's 'National Security' Impeachment Defense Is a Red Herring

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As the US Senate launches the first impeachment trial of a US president in the 21st century-and only the third in the history of the country-Donald Trump's defense team has offered new hints about how they plan to block the Democrats' case that the president abused the power of his office.

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Definition:
Mystical Energy is a common theme in pseudoscience that includes Life Force, Chi, Negative Energy and Positive Energy. Within pseudoscience, Mystical Energy is commonly treated as a spiritual energy that one can draw power from through the use of meditation, crystals or other means to heal themselves or to ward off negative emotions and evil spirits.

Connection:
The website linked within this post (reikiinfinitehealer.com), contains a service intended to teach individuals to become masters of a Mystical Energy technique called Reiki. Reiki involves meditations, "Reiki Breath", sacred symbols, healing techniques and crystals, which are all intended to "heal" the user. It also makes claims that crystal healing may cause physical problems to go away, as well states that experiences may vary. This extraordinary claim, followed by a no-guarantee disclaimer and the fact that it costs money as well as contains additional purchase options makes it a Mystical Energy red flag.

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Dave Nelson
Certified Reiki Master

Can you blame me for being skeptical?

I'd been teaching Reiki techniques professionally for over eight years...
I'd taught hundreds of students to heal themselves and others...

...and I didn't believe anything could replace the one-on-one instruction
I could offer my students. But I was about to be proven wrong!

My name is Dave Nelson, and I'm a fully certified Reiki Master. Before
I tell you about this jaw-dropping new method to learn how to use
the healing power of Reiki... I want to make sure you're in the right place.

It could push away pain, anxiety, and negative emotions that constantly hang over you... like parting clouds on a stormy day...

It may let you experience the joy of healing others, of watching for the first time their shock and astonishment at the healing power of Reiki techniques...

It could bring balance to your life, heal your Chakras, and fill you with contentment and a sense of deep understanding...

I know, because that's what it did for my students AND myself...

* Results may vary

A few years ago, if you had asked me how to become a Reiki master,
I would have told you the long and winding path I took to get there.

Choose a good teacher. Listen to him or her carefully. Go to classes diligently and practice, practice, practice. As time goes on, you'd gradually learn more about the techniques, and eventually climb the rungs of mastery. One step at a time.

The problem?

Traditional Reiki classes
are expensive!

And if the instructor didn't have an efficient system, it could take years to learn the material. That means most people just didn't have the time and money to learn how to do it... So when one of my colleagues told me of a new method he used to learn Reiki at home at his own pace without an instructor...

Can you imagine my reaction?
Can you blame me for doing what I did?
I scoffed.

There was no way reading some book or listening to some tape could teach people what I had to go to classes to learn. At least, that's what I thought at the time.

Then I learned...

Master Mikao Usui

The founder and pioneer of Reiki himself. For years, many of Master Usui's writings weren't available to anyone... They were hidden away or lost. But recently, one of his personal writings has been uncovered and translated.

In fact, it's the very piece of writing detailing exactly how he developed Reiki in the first place. So when I found out that this new method was drawn directly from this piece of ancient text... I sat up and paid attention. I read the translated text, and I almost couldn't believe the secrets I discovered...

Mount Kurama
Japan

Did you know that the founder of Reiki developed the Art of Reiki alone on Mount Kurama?

All by himself!

He didn't have an instructor to guide him, and yet he was able to learn to heal others. And he detailed exactly how to do it in this newly discovered writing... I couldn't believe it.

It took me years of in-person classes to become a certified master.

I had taught others using the same methods I used to learn Reiki myself... but Usui's method allowed him to start healing others all on his own. It didn't even require an instructor.

Even if you know nothing about Reiki... it's possible for you to learn to heal others using real Reiki techniques using the same method...

I had to find out.

Of course, I was already a Reiki healer and that's why I needed to somehow get people who wanted to learn Reiki to try it.

So I took the best parts from the original manuscript, broke it down, and made it into a step-by-step guide that's completely foolproof.

Then I distributed it to several interested students to see if it worked. The results made me rethink everything I thought I knew about learning Reiki.

I found that not only were these people able to learn the techniques through this new method, but that:

As much as I hate to admit it, they learned those Reiki techniques just as well as if I had been in my studio teaching them. And they learned this incredible healing system at home. It didn't cost them thousands of dollars, or even hundreds.

Frankly, it made me a believer.

Here was a way for people to learn Reiki that needs only a fraction of the energy, and money compared with formal classes. So I took the program and worked it around their feedback, made it even easier to learn and understand than before. I added parts to help improve understanding of the core concepts of Reiki...

And I threw in tons of supplementary material like Reiki music, eBooks, and personal support...everything you need to create an optimal Reiki experience...

What I came away with is Reiki Infinite Healer.

Gives you a working system for healing yourself, your friends and your loved ones...

Shows you how to practice Reiki from the comfort of your own home (no long commute to classes)...

Helps you discover the power of Reiki from Mikao Usui's original writing... a precise, eloquent and simple application of the art...

Gives you what you need to learn Reiki without face-to-face contact with a Reiki instructor (Mikao Usui himself clearly indicates what it takes to learn and become proficient at Reiki, and it does not include direct contact with a teacher or practitioner)...

Teaches you a direct and proven path to moving from Reiki practitioner to Reiki Master faster than you would ever believe...

* Results may vary

At your own pace

Easily

Affordably

It sounds crazy.

But if you give Reiki Infinite Healer a try, you may experience real, profound results. You could literally feel the energy as it flows through you. It's the most profound feeling and you would be shocked at how it starts to positively change things around you...

And you don't need to take my word for it. It's been over a year now since I released my Reiki Infinite Healer and the results have been stunning.

In fact, more people have succeeded in learning Reiki since Reiki Infinite Healer has been released than all of my years teaching people one-on-one.

People contact me all the time, without request for testimonial and completely unsolicited.

I've been teaching Reiki for over eight years and I still believe there is a place and time for master to student attunements...

But most of the time you are better off attuning yourself through personal meditation...

The same way Dr. Usui attuned himself when he developed the art. I have never had a student who has followed the self-attunement techniques in Reiki Infinite Healer come to me afterwards and tell me they couldn't attune.

So if you just want to start practicing techniques at your own pace, without spending a lot of money, then you're in the right place.

Alleviate emotional and psychological traumas brought on by difficult life events...
Many of us have had difficult even traumatic events occur in our lives that have left us, emotionally or psychologically scarred. Reiki could remove the energetic element that is attaching itself to your psyche; often removing the pain, anxiety and negative emotions these traumas left behind...

* Results may vary

You won't need to attend classes every week...

You won't need to work with a Reiki teacher or master...

You won't need to incur thousands of dollars in class costs...

My Reiki Level 1 Manual

My Reiki Level 2 Manual

My Reiki Level 3 Manual

A Full Body Healing Techniques Video

Over 2 HOURS of Reiki Music

My Full Body Treatment Hand Positions Flash Cards

Direct Email Support from Me, Dave Nelson

Certifications for All 3 Levels

How to quickly Master the 7 spiritual concepts behind Reiki...

How to balance and open your Chakras...

How to scan your aura for energy imbalances

How to "Reiki self treatment"

Using Reiki to heal the Endocrine System...

Using Reiki to heal the Lymphatic system...

How to: "Treat Others"

How to: Rapid Reiki Treatment...

How to: Group Reiki Treatment...

How to: Family Healing (Pregnancy, Babies & Children)

Watch a true Master demonstrate the power of Reiki!
Now included in my level one training is this video demonstration that makes it even easier to learn by watching a Reiki master in action. This alone removes a TON of confusion that level I students usually have.

Gassho Meditation...

Reiji-Ho the Second Pillar of Reiki...

Chiryo the Third Pillar of Reiki...

The Reiki Breath...

The Sacred Reiki Symbols...

Reiki Infinite Healer - Level 2...

A Traditional Distant Reiki Healing Technique...

Advanced Reiki practitioner Hand Positions...

Combining Reiki with other Healing Disciplines...

Animal Reiki Techniques...

How to Perform the Reiki Distant Attunements...

More Advanced Reiki Techniques...

Absent or Distant Reiki Attunements...

Perform Combined Reiki 1, 2 and 3 Attunement...

3rd Degree Usui Reiki...

Reiki and Symbolism...

The Traditional Usui Reiki Master Symbol...

The Reiki Attunement Ceremony...

As you complete a level, you will get a cert indicating the completion of that level.

Including:

Reiki Level 1 Certificate

Reiki Level 2 Certificate

Reiki Master Level Certificate

After completion of each section simply contact us online and we will evaluate and accept your application of certification. There is no additional charge for the certifications.

Reiki music is extraordinary in its ability to create balance in the soul, heart and physiology. As a special part of Reiki Infinite Healer, I am providing 10 tracks of authentic, extraordinarily powerful and enlightening Reiki music. Only authentic Reiki masters have the ability to make genuine Reiki music.

The combination of Reiki master and musical artist is rare indeed and true Reiki music actually can have the ability to transmit higher levels of spiritually healing energy to the listener.

These tranquil and beautiful melodies will help facilitate the process of learning, retaining and integrating Reiki practice as taught in this course.

This is the "ultimate Reiki learning tool" that could facilitate your ability to master the Reiki hand positions fast!

Each flash card has a picture of the hand position and a detailed description of its use.... Use these hand position flash cards to make your Reiki learning experience even easier than you thought possible.

E-mail support directly from me, Dave Nelson, Reiki Infinite Healer Author and Reiki master. I want to make this as easy for you as possible.

If you have a question or are having any difficulties along your Reiki path just send me an e-mail. I'm including my personal e-mail address so I will get back to you with your solution... fast.

I check my e-mail multiple times a day so I will respond be there when you need me.

I want to give you everything you need to accelerate your learning process and develop your unique healing gift.

I want you to be one of the select few people who understands how to harness the positive energy of the universe and use it to help yourself and those around you... That's why, if you purchase the Reiki Infinite Healer Home Study Course now, I will immediately send you 4 BONUSES valued at over $200 FREE OF CHARGE...

These bonuses were carefully selected to further enhance your Reiki experience...and help you advance advance in this healing system! They are-in in my opinion-the perfect guides for beginner students. They are also FREE as a gesture of my faith in you and your exciting new journey with Reiki...

Note: To eliminate shipping costs, I will give these to you in digital form so that you can download them instantly!

#1: Crystal Healing

What if you could quickly strengthen your immune system, prevent health problems, and experience glowing vitality, all by knowing how to use the hidden energy within crystals? Crystal healing provides the simple and practical action steps to help you reach the potential of physical health that waits inside of you.

This amazing book explains, how to work with the three parts that are "you" (mind-body-spirit.) And when you balance these three, you may realize a harmonizing of your very essence using Crystal healing energy.

When practiced, users may experience vibrant health and see physical problems disappear!

Value: $64.99 Yours Free

#2: Herbal Healing for Everyone

Are you struggling with physical problems? Does the thought of changing your eating habits drastically bring you to your knees as you shiver in horror at the thought of leaving behind all those foods you love so much... Only to be left wondering, "how will I enjoy life without them?"

The author of Herbal Healing for Everyone may have the answer... and it's not what you expect! You may be able to enjoy the foods you love and improve your health using herbs in the way they were intended. This book shows you how!

Value: $99.97 Yours Free

#3: Learn More About the Amazing Art of Acupuncture

In this book "Amazing Art of Acupuncture" you'll discover an ancient and powerful health system.

These techniques, methods and practices date back to the ancient Taoists and Asian Health Science Practitioners, literally thousands of years ago. For centuries acupuncture practitioners have achieved amazing feats of body-mind-spirit connection, and have promoted health and longevity in individuals up to a century old or more.

Value: $24.95 Yours Free

#4: Yoga for You

"Yoga for You" puts the fun back into yoga. Who Says Yoga can't be fun? Forget everything you know about Yoga - introducing "Yoga for You" A Dynamic Method Of Practice That Can Help You Move Better And Feel Better While Learning Fun And Interesting Ways To Move Your Body.

You probably already know that practicing Yoga can help you increase flexibility and help you learn to relax. "Yoga for You" was created to develop the flowing energy during the practice of yoga, not just static poses. This flow is a quality of movement in which you can translate into your everyday life and health.

Value: $23.49 Yours Free

The total value of all these books is over $280.
But if you move forward today and give Reiki Infinite Healer a try....

...you receive all four COMPLETELY FREE

I want you to be completely delighted

Review all of the Reiki revolutionary learning material inside the course...take your time...and put it to the test... Evaluate and assess its true value to YOU...

I think you will be COMPLETELY delighted by how easily you've learned Reiki...you'll feel completely confident in your ability to heal and transform your life, using what you've learned from Reiki Infinite Healer.

If for any reason you aren't satisfied with your experience within 60 days I'll send ALL of your money back!

I want you to expand your horizons

If you don't think the discoveries and insights you have had about yourself through the expansion of your own awareness and consciousness from the teachings within The Reiki Infinite Healer course have given you profound advantages moving forward in your life, then simply let me know in the next 60 days and I'll quickly refund your money.

And as my way of saying thank you for taking this step to improve your life...you can keep the 4 Volume Set of Bonuses as my gift!

I want you to take your first step to a truly fulfilling life

As a Reiki master myself, I know that when you become a Reiki master yourself, you'll be aligning yourself with your true destiny as a universal healer!

This powerful training and healing become the "blueprint" of your life...a blueprint that gives you the inner strength and guidance you NEED to experience:

A deeper understanding of yourself...

The ability to heal yourself and others using Reiki...

A happier and more fulfilled life...

You could...

Feel the confidence and peace of mind you wish for, now fully aware your life is balancing, harmonizing and finally unfolding perfectly and effortlessly in the exact way the universe has always intended for you...

Realize the dream you've always held in your heart...the one you deserve of happiness, confidence, and love. All of this could become reality in your life!

Master Reiki as it was intended, in its original form, by using a training course derived from the direct translation of Mikao Usui and his "old Japanese" text. These master teachings could give you the power to help people with their most troubling physical, emotional or psychological problems regardless of their severity or length of time the problem has existed.

Feel a new reality permeating every inch of your being. Your physical body is alive with the vibrancy and new found energy of this new reality. Your optimism and excitement about your everyday activities facilitate and foster the creativity and joy to take on the world, happily and with purpose...

Find the true image of the life you were meant to live thanks to the Original Reiki Master Mikao Usui! Your energy may flow freely...and your consciousness may change as you become one with your new healing power... and my friend I will tell you...this experience is going to help you unfold an incredible part of the beautiful concept of "you" that you never knew existed!

* Results may vary

You might be thinking that all of this advanced training would cost you a proverbial arm and a leg...especially considering the cost of Reiki classes. I'm here to tell you-at least for now-that it won't!

You probably already know that going to school and learning in person is expensive (not to mention time-consuming). It typically costs a student between $1000 and $4000 to achieve teacher status... Master Reiki status is even more expensive! So you might be surprised to hear that the cost of this program is not $1000....

...and it's not even $500.

The entire Reiki Infinite Healer course is normally priced at an incredible $188-which is a fraction of what you would normally pay for formal training... However, I want EVERYONE to have the opportunity to experience the healing power of Reiki, and that's why I've decided - for a limited time - I'm going to lower the price EVEN FURTHER to just $47!

Think about this: For less than the price of a cup of Starbucks coffee every day for a month, you could change your life and help heal the people you love!

The following are individual experiences people have received. Your personal experience of the product may vary.

Perhaps it could help others physically and emotionally, as you always dreamed you could... Or maybe you can finally be healed, and overcome chronic problems that have worried you at times... You may be able to quickly and easily by able to use the healing energy of the universe to overcome ANY obstacle once and for all.

How would that make you feel? ...the possibility to be free of pain... ...the possibility to remove those stressful burdens...the possibility to see people's lives change before your eyes thanks to YOUR healing energy!

Please remember what I have told you up until now... The universe is knocking on your door... Are you listening? You are on the cusp of what could be... The greatest opportunity...for life changing positive and dramatic change in your lifetime... Grasp that opportunity now!

Take advantage of this offer and you'll
get ALL of these incredible products:

My Reiki Level 1 Manual

My Reiki Level 2 Manual

My Reiki Level 3 Manual

A Full Body Healing Techniques Video

Over 2 HOURS of Reiki Music

My Full Body Treatment Hand Positions Flash Cards

Direct Email Support from Me, Dave Nelson

Certifications for All 3 Levels

Try it risk free today! I believe in this program so much that I'm giving you complete access to the entire program and all the bonuses at my risk, not yours!

I'm willing to do this because I believe it could truly show you how to heal with Reiki. If you're not satisfied with the program, just let me know within 60 days of your purchase and I'll refund 100% of the price.

Q:

Do I need an attunement from a Reiki Master?

A:

Typically not. This is a common misconception among the modern Reiki community. Some people will tell you that you need to get attuned by a master, but in my experience this simply isn't true.

Attunement can be achieved by self-directed methods that Master Mikao Usui himself used. We'll show you exactly how it's done inside Reiki Infinite Healer!

Q:

How does Reiki affect my faith?

A:

It doesn't matter if you're Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu...Reiki is not a religion and does NOT conflict with any religious beliefs. It is merely learning to work with the energy that exists all around us...energy that ALL faiths embrace.

Reiki Infinite Healer has an unprecedented 60 day guarantee which completely eliminates any risk... You have nothing to lose! With this guarantee, you can rest assured that you can get the opportunity to use this powerful, quick, and simple path to learning Reiki... WITHOUT RISKING ANY MONEY.

If you purchase now you will receive all of my bonuses listed above too. These bonuses are a perfect adjunct to your growth and expansion of consciousness you may be experiencing with your Reiki Infinite Healer.

They may work in perfect harmony, as you expand your consciousness during your Reiki Infinite Healer practice... Allowing you to have an even deeper, richer and holistic experience. You might've noticed, I'm only allowing the most serious among you to participate in these bonuses.

This is why my offer is time-limited. I want to make sure you really want to grow and expand your consciousness using Reiki Infinite Healer, so I'm reserving these bonuses for those who are ready to move forward now.

See your life purpose... Maybe for the first time!

Feel the joy and peace of healing others

Address energetic root causes of your own physical and emotional problems

Banish the stresses of life!

Establish the powerful connection to your own life force and Chakras

Balance yourself physically and spiritually

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I'd been teaching Reiki techniques professionally for over eight years... I'd taught hundreds of students to heal themselves and others... ...and I didn't believe anything could replace the one-on-one instruction I could offer my students. But I was about to be proven wrong! My name is Dave Nelson, and I'm a fully certified Reiki Master.

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Definition:
There is a common misconception that All Natural substances and remedies are more beneficial than artificial ones and that they cannot be harmful. This belief can lead to consumption or usage of harmful substances believed to be safe due to them being completely natural and unaltered.

Connection:
An All Natural herb known as "Kava" has been used by Polynesians for centuries and was later adopted by the west in the late 20th century. This herb has been known to alleviate stress, help insomnia and reduce anxiety. Commonly being consumed as a beverage, it had been reported to cause liver damage due to its rising popularity supported by its All Natural status. The belief that natural remedies are always safe can be dangerous as many natural substances such as lead, mercury and even excessive consumption of nutmeg are harmful. Substances should always be researched and should not be dismissed if modified, as modifications can be solely for the purpose of removing the harmful attributes.

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Natural herbs can be just as effective as OTC meds, but that doesn't mean they come without risks. Find out which four might do more harm than good.

Contributing Writer

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Many ailments-such as achy muscles, a weak immune system, lack of sleep, and anxiety-can be alleviated with natural remedies. More than one third of American adults use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (the most common being natural supplements), according to the National Institute of Health . While herbal remedies have grown in popularity in the Western world for some time, native cultures have been using natural cures for centuries. Modern herbs, in general, continue to be safe, however, we may not be harvesting or consuming them like our ancestors, which is where it starts to get dangerous.

The strains of plants that are grown, the method of harvesting, and the dosage at which they're ingested aren't necessarily the same as when the plants were first used medicinally, explains Michael Tims, Ph.D. , academic director of the herbal program at Maryland University of Integrative Health. Because the FDA classifies herbs as "dietary supplements," it only takes responsibility for regulating the safety of each ingredient. This means it is not necessarily monitoring adulterated formulas as closely as with traditional prescription medications.

Related: How Can I Treat Eczema Naturally?

"Herbs need a proven record of safety for the FDA to approve their use," Tims explains. For traditional herbs, their use over thousands of years is enough of an epidemiological trail to earn them the FDA's GRAS ("generally recognized as safe") designation or to be accepted under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act as "Herbs in Commerce." New dietary ingredients require a much more robust presentation of data to prove their safety, he adds. While the FDA supervises the safety of individual ingredients, the majority of the responsibility for safety and compliance falls on the manufacturer.

The bigger problem: Some herbs interact with prescription and OTC drugs, something which indigenous cultures never had to worry about, Tims says. While herbs can significantly improve your health, certain combinations can have harmful effects. For example, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine recently found that around 5 percent of people who take a supplement of the herb aristolochia-which has traditionally been used to increase sex drive, boost immune function, and help menstruation-experience side effects as serious as cancer of the kidneys, liver, and bladder. The onus is on supplement manufacturers to report these adverse reactions to the FDA so they know to reconsider their stance.
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Luckily, the FDA has banned all products that may contain the harmful aristolochia herb as well as other plants that have been proven toxic. But the study authors from Baylor warn that herbal remedies pose a global health hazard, and indeed there are a handful of all-natural treatments still on shelves in the U.S. that can be bad for your health. Here are four of the biggest threats to watch out for.

Sometimes called "kava kava," this herb has been used by the Polynesians for its hypnotic and calming properties for centuries. The Western world caught on to the herb's ability to alleviate stress, anxiety, and insomnia in the 90's. A 2007 study published in American Family Physician recommended short-term use of kava for moderate anxiety disorders.

Health hazard(s): As popularity of the herb (often ingested as a drink) increased, so did reports of liver damage-enough that Canada and a handful of European countries banned the supplement in the early 2000's. The U.S. never did, and some countries, like Germany, have since lifted the ban.

What went wrong: "The issue isn't necessarily the herb itself, it's how it is used and being altered from tradition," Tims says. Growers and producers began to use black kava, which was easier to harvest than the traditional white variety; they started using shavings and parts of the plants that hadn't been used before; and they began to extract it in a non-traditional way that concentrated less on water-soluble lipids, altering the way our bodies absorb the herb. Plus, the plant was being ingested at such a rate that, when combined with other factors like pharmaceuticals and excessive alcohol intake, it was tearing up people's livers.

Related: A Nutritionist Explains the Health Benefits of Tea

2. HERB: Green Tea Extract

Green tea is one of the best herbs for your health. For the most part, the antioxidants in the drink help reduce your risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer, among other diseases. And the popularity of green tea extract in weight loss supplements has skyrocketed in the past few years.

Health hazard(s): The American College of Gastroenterology released a warning in 2014 that said, when the supplement form is taken at a high dose, the herb can be toxic and actually cause liver failure. The herb can also be dangerous when combined with certain drugs, like amphetamines or prescribed medications such as MAOI antidepressants and quinolone antibiotics, which interact with the natural caffeine in the extract to overstimulate your body, increasing high blood pressure, nervousness, and headaches.

What went wrong: It's difficult to know because, while the potential issues with green tea have been reported, most remain unverified."There are natural variations in the tea-whether it was harvested during monsoon season, for example-as well as variations in how it's extracted," Tims says. The problem could also be from excessive caffeine (the tea already has some, but weight loss supplements often add more for a metabolism boost) or from an overload of EGCG and other catechins that give the herb its detoxifying power.

St. John's wort is a highly effective natural antidepressant. Its chemical makeup encourages the uptake of key neurochemicals, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.

Health hazard(s): The happiness-inducing herb is also well-known for reducing the efficacy of certain prescription medications. In fact, more than 70 percent of all prescription medications are potentially affected by St. John's wort in one way or another, according to a 2012 study published in Planta Medica. Plus, an Australian study last year found that St. John's wort can sometimes cause side effects similar to those seen in people taking Prozac, namely anxiety, panic attacks, dizziness, nausea, and spikes in blood pressure.

What went wrong: St. John's wort binds to enzymes in the liver, some of which are the same enzymes other drugs bind to. This crossover alters the chemical structure of the second drug, creating potential for you to reach a toxic dose very quickly or, conversely, never reach an effective level, Tims explains. The most prevalent problem: The plant makes birth control less effective. Women taking both St. John's wort and oral contraception report an increase in irregular bleeding and, much more alarming, an uptick in unplanned pregnancies.

Extraction of this root is taken for both its anti-inflammatory properties to ease problems, like constipation, and antimicrobial properties to prevent the common cold and upper respiratory tract infections. If you think you've never taken it, check out your all-natural allergy med-goldenseal is often formulated with Echinacea.

Health hazard(s): While the herb is great at fighting infections, it also curtails the activity of two major enzymes that help your body remove toxins and drugs, CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, according to the above-mentioned study from Planta Medica. Plus, the Cleveland Clinic warns goldenseal may affect blood pressure and increase your risk of bleeding when you take blood-thinning drugs, like warfarin.

What went wrong: The herb can affect how quickly your body processes and removes active ingredients of medications and other herbs. A 2008 study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research found that this remedy affected these enzymes enough that the researchers recommend folks who are on goldenseal steer clear of prescription meds that are metabolized by CYP2D6, like serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), beta-blockers, opiates, and antiarrhythmics.

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4 Herbal Remedies That Are Potentially Dangerous - Sonima

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Natural herbs can be just as effective as OTC meds, but that doesn't mean they come without risks. Find out which four might do more harm than good. Contributing Writer SHARE: Many ailments-such as achy muscles, a weak immune system, lack of sleep, and anxiety-can be alleviated with natural remedies.

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Divorce rate in Maine correlates with Per capita consumption of margarine (US)

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Post #2 Red Flag: Confusion of Correlation With Causation

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Post #2 Red Flag: Confusion of Correlation With Causation

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Definition:
Correlation means that two variables move in the same direction, though this does not mean that either affect one another or are even remotely related.  Confusion of Correlation With Causation is when one believes that the variables are similar because of causation between then despite them not influencing each other at all.

Connection:
The graph shown (Found from tylervigen.com) connects to the Confusion of Correlation With Causation Red Flag. It shows the correlation between the divorce rate in Maine and the USA per capita consumption of margarine. There is no way these two can be related because the divorce rate within one state cannot influence the entire nations consumption of margarine. Vice versa, the national consumption of margarine cannot cause divorce within a single state. This goes to show that correlation does not always suggest causation and the belief that it does can be misleading. One should be sure to analyze the variables and acknowledge how they may or may not be affecting one another.

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Definition:
Appeal to Authority is a fallacy/argument using the claim that because something is approved, supported or believed by an authority, it must be true. This can be incredible common within endorsements, religion and the media.

Connection:
Thalidomide was a drug marketed in 1956 which then spread to many countries around the world and was described as a "miracle" drug that was intended to alleviate pregnancy nausea with no risk. Thousands of samples were given to medical professionals which were then encouraged to prescribe it. Due to it being considered safe by said professionals, its credibility was trusted by consumers. Only four years after its release as a nausea drug, reports of side effects affecting the nervous system and severe birth deformities were reported. Despite this, the drug was not pulled off of all markets until 1963. This tragedy caused by the Appeal to Authority stretched from doctors being influenced by authorities and then consumers being convinced of its safety by medical professionals goes to show how dangerous and tragic this red flag can be.

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Fetal impairment

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the impacts that thalidomide may have on the fetus when taken by pregnant women: bilateral limb atrophy (legs, arms or both) - a condition known as phocomelia, bilateral limb absence (amelia), missing fingers or toes, palmature of the fingers or toes, extra fingers or toes, total or partial hearing loss, partial or total vision loss, paralysis (usually facial muscles), malformation of the digestive tube, malformation of the duodenum (most of the time lethal, before or not long after birth), malformation or absence of the anus, vital organs injury (most of the time lethal, before or not long after birth), death.
Because of the aforementioned devastating effects, thalidomide is strictly contraindicated on pregant women or women and women at risk of becoming pregnant.

You can find more detailed information about congenital malformations linked to thalidomide in the Congenital malformations section of our website.

For more information on the hazards and side effects of the drug thalidomide, visit Health Canada's page on THALOMID.

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Here is a non-exhaustive list of the impacts that thalidomide may have on the fetus when taken by pregnant women: bilateral limb atrophy (legs, arms or both) - a condition known as phocomelia, bilateral limb absence (amelia), missing fingers or toes, palmature of the fingers or toes, extra fingers or

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Post #9 Reason for Belief: Emotional Connection

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Post #9 Reason for Belief: Emotional Connection

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Definition:
Emotional Connections can obscure reasoning, rational thought and logical conclusions. Emotional ties with an individual or event can cause belief based purely off of emotion, devoid of reason.

Connection:
The vulnerability that can be caused by deep Emotional Connection is commonly taken advantage of, notably by practitioners of psychic pseudoscience. Psychic scammers, are self proclaimed psychics that will prey upon the emotional vulnerabilities of clients. They will take advantage through giving readings that tell the client exactly what they wish to hear, whether it be a message from a departed loved one or a prediction indicating good fortune. The Emotional Connection will cause the client to return, to which the psychic will continue to capitalize off of said connection.

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Psychic scams deprive citizens of both money and emotional well-being. In these schemes, spiritual scammers with no psychic gifts set out to make a quick buck. They are good at telling people exactly what they want to hear. They promise to remove a bad luck curse, bring people great fortunes in their future, or even help them find their soulmate. People who buy into these scams are being taken on an emotional roller-coaster ride that continues to require more and more money to reach their desired outcome. Of course, they never do. If you've unwittingly participated in a scam, you are not alone. Psychics and spiritual mediums scam millions of people every year and can seriously affect the lives of Americans and their families.

Psychic Scam
Psychic scams can rob you of your money and your emotional well-being. Watch to learn more.

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Clairvoyants & Psychic Scams - What You Need to Know| USPIS

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Psychic scams deprive citizens of both money and emotional well-being. In these schemes, spiritual scammers with no psychic gifts set out to make a quick buck. They are good at telling people exactly what they want to hear. They promise to remove a bad luck curse, bring people great fortunes in their future, or even help them find their soulmate.

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Description:
Agenticity is when reason or intention is assigned to invisible entities or organizations to otherwise explain natural events. This is heavily due to humans natural tendency to seek meaning behind actions and events.

Connection:
Due to the large amount of speculation as to how the Great Pyramids may have been built, many people attribute their construction to aliens through Agenticity. There was no methods of photography in ancient Egypt and this fact is falsely used as reasoning as to why alien construction may be a possibility due to no images proving otherwise. There is still many questions and speculations as to how the Egyptians had built their pyramids and the lack of an absolute answer causes individuals to assign the reasoning to aliens.

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Definition:
The Unexplained reason for belief is when one cannot explain an event, optical illusion or phenomenon, so instead they create their own explanation that may relate to greater or unseen forces, such as magic, ghosts or a far fetched semi-scientific reason. This can also tie in with Perception and Observation.

Connection:
Gravity Hills are optical illusions that were commonly attributed to supernatural forces or magnetism through the Unexplained reason for belief. Gravity Hills cause their illusion by obscuring the horizon, causing their small downhill slope to appear uphill due to the altered perception. This makes rolling objects such as vehicles appear as if they are being pulled uphill by a magnetic or supernatural force, an assumption made by the lack of a prior scientific explanation.

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A gravity hill is a place where gravity seems to be working against itself; where gravity seems to temporarily not work as it should. There are hundreds of gravity hills around the world and they are characterized as places where a geographical optical illusion has been created.

Gravity Hills: An Optical Illusion

Also known as spook hills, gravity hills are, at their core, an optical illusion. The landscape of an area can make a small downhill slope appear to be going uphill. Cars can be seen rolling uphill against the perceived gradient of the road, stunning drivers and spectators alike. One of the most important feature of a gravity hill is that the horizon line is partially or completely obscured, which blurs viewers' perception of up and down.

Some gravity hills are reported to not just be optical illusions, but sites of supernatural activity as well. Most of these are local myths and legends, but guides and fans of the local spots swear by their tales.

This gravity hill makes water appear to drain uphill, Magnetic Hill in New Brunswick. Photo: Water appearing to run uphill at Magnetic Hill in New Brunswick by Laurie Piskun, under license CC BY-SA 3.0, MediaWiki Commons.

Where are Gravity Hills Located?

According to researchers, gravity hills tend be located in areas where the stretch of road is relatively short (50-90 m), not too wide, and surrounded by a natural landscape devoid of buildings. These geographical aspects combine to create an optical illusion that gives visitors the impression that a downhill slope is actually uphill.

California, to name just one location of mystery spots and gravity hills, is chock full of anomalies ranging from old mining roads to the Golden Gate Bridge. One particular gravity hill, Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, has been attracting visitors since the 1930s and is the site of more than a few eerie feelings and misunderstood sightings.

Spook Hill, located in Lake Wales, Florida, is another example of a gravity hill. Spook Hill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019.

In South Bend, Indiana another gravity hill is the subject of folklore. In 1973 account, Stephen F. Zmyslo submitted a report about a hill outside South Bend, Indiana, where a car in neutral rolls up the hill backwards. Zmyslo noted that the legend claims that a ghost inhabits the location, and that if the motorist applies the brakes, the ghost will push the car up the slope or steal the gasoline.

How Do Gravity Hills Work?

Scientists will point to the facts when observing gravity hills- you can't see the horizon, the trees are bent in a different manner, the gradient of the road is offset by the geography of the surrounding hills. Our human perceptions are often not enough to discern what is right in front of us; our brains take in so much information and, in the process of filtering some of it out, makes us see things.

The wonder of gravity hills shouldn't be taken away by science, though. People around the United States and the world continue to marvel at their car parked in neutral rolling up what seems to be a downhill slope. People will pay to stand in line and experience the weirdness surrounding the Mystery Spot in California, while others will marvel at the stream that seems to be flowing uphill.

References

Bressan, P., Garlaschelli, L., & Barracano, M. (2003). Antigravity hills are visual illusions. Psychological Science, 14(5), 441-449. DOI: 10.1111/1467-9280.02451
Parts of this article have been supplemented with writing by Caitlin Dempsey.
Related Geography Phenomenon

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A gravity hill is a place where gravity seems to be working against itself; where gravity seems to temporarily not work as it should. There are hundreds of gravity hills around the world and they are characterized as places where a geographical optical illusion has been created.