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Magnesium stearate is a widely used excipient in drugs and herbal remedies. It has been used for many years without any safety concern. However, I have been investigating how magnesium stearate is made and I have come to the conclusion that it is better to avoid it. As a result, the Three Treasures and Women's Treasure remedies are now made without magnesium stearate and the only excipients used in their manufacture are potato starch and cellulose.
Magnesium stearate, also called octadecanoic acid, is a white powder which becomes solid at room temperature. It has the chemical formula Mg(C18H35O2)2. It is a magnesium salt of stearic acid. It is a salt containing two equivalents of stearate (the anion of stearic acid) and one magnesium cation (Mg2+).
Magnesium stearate is widely used as a diluent in the manufacture of medical tablets, capsules and powders. The substance has lubricating properties, preventing ingredients from sticking to manufacturing equipment during the compression of powders into solid tablets; magnesium stearate is the most commonly used lubricant for tablets and it is widely used in the manufacture of herbal remedies and other supplement. Magnesium stearate is also used to bind sugar in hard candies like mints, and is a common ingredient in baby formulas.
Manufacture of Magnesium Stearate
Magnesium stearate is usually manufactured from vegetable oils. Stearates can be produced by hydrogenation although some supplement manufacturers claim that they use magnesium stearate derived from non-hydrogenated, non-GM palm oil.
The commonly-used sources of magnesium stearate are palm oil and cottonseed oil after hydrogenation. Hydrogenated oils are a common source of magnesium stearate in tablets. Hydrogenation creates a hydrogenated partially saturated fat.
Hydrogenation - to treat with hydrogen - is a chemical reaction between molecular hydrogen (H2) and another compound or element, usually in the presence of a catalyst. The process is commonly employed to reduce or saturate organic compounds. Hydrogenation typically constitutes the addition of pairs of hydrogen atoms to a molecule, generally an alkene. Hydrogenation of unsaturated fats produces saturated fats and, in some cases, trans fats.
Production of hydrogenated fats increased steadily until the 1960s, as processed vegetable fats replaced animal fats in the US and other western countries. At first, the argument was a financial one due to lower costs; advocates also said that the unsaturated trans fats of margarine were healthier than the saturated fats of butter. This view has now been completely reversed.
Trans fat is the common name for unsaturated fat with trans-isomer (E-isomer) fatty acid(s). Because the term refers to the configuration of a double carbon-carbon bond, trans fats are sometimes monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, but never saturated. Trans fats do exist in nature but also occur during the processing of polyunsaturated fatty acids in food production.
The consumption of trans fats increases the risk of coronary heart disease by raising levels of LDL cholesterol (so-called "bad cholesterol") and lowering levels of HDL cholesterol (so-called "good cholesterol"). There is an ongoing debate about a possible differentiation between trans fats of natural origin and trans fats of vegetable origin but so far no scientific consensus has been found.
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) advises the United States and Canadian governments on nutritional science for use in public policy and product labeling programs. Their 2002 "Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids" contains their findings and recommendations regarding consumption of trans fat.
The NAS reached the conclusion that "trans fatty acids [whether of animal or plant origin] are not essential and provide no known benefit to human health". They also concluded that, while both saturated and trans fats increase levels of LDL cholesterol (so-called bad cholesterol), trans fats also lower levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol); thus increasing the risk of coronary heart disease. Because of these facts and concerns, the NAS has concluded there is no safe level of trans fat consumption.
In 1979, the FDA's Subcommittee on GRAS (generally recognized as safe) Substances (SCOGS) reported, "There is no evidence in the available information on ... magnesium stearate ... that demonstrates, or suggests reasonable grounds to suspect, a hazard to the public when they are used at levels that are now current and in the manner now practiced, or which might reasonably be expected in the future."
However, some research has shown that stearic acid suppresses T cells—the natural killer cells—which are a key component of the immune system. According to that study, stearic acid causes the collapse of cell membrane integrity—an effect that was found to be time- and dose-dependent—which, ultimately, can destroy cell function.
See http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1384169/
Another issue that has been raised in relation to magnesium stearate is the fact that the stearate is commonly sourced from hydrogenated forms of cottonseed oil. This crop is oftentimes genetically engineered, but even when it is not, cottonseed oil tends to have high levels of pesticide residues.
Other contamination can also occur during the manufacturing process of the magnesium stearate. According to a December 2011 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), several batches of magnesium stearate by a particular manufacturer were found to contain various levels of harmful contaminants such as calcium hydroxide, Bisphenol-A and Irganox 1010.
During the March 2010 session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives (CCFA), it was recommended that "magnesium salts of fatty acids" (ie magnesium stearate) be deleted from the Codex, as it has no known use in food. The following year, at the March 2011 CCFA session, the International Alliance of Dietary Supplement Associations (IADSA) submitted a request to reinstate magnesium stearate as a food additive. It was subsequently reinstated under INS number 470(iii).
See: http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article/food-additives-slow-progress-reflections-codex-alimentarius-committee-food-additives%E2%80%99-recent
However, it must be said that there are many voices in defence of magnesium stearate. They affirm that stearic acid is unique among all saturated fatty acids because it does not raise LDL cholesterol levels. They say that 10% - 12% of cocoa is fatty acids of stearic acid, one of the richest sources of stearic acid in the food supply. They say it is easy to get 5 grams of stearic acid (5,000 mg) by eating a bar of chocolate. By comparison, a dietary supplement capsule product typically contains between 1% - 2% stearic acid or 10 mg - 20 mg of stearic acid per capsule.
See http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/the_facts_on_magnesium_stearate/
In Canada, Health Canada has required that food labels list the amount of trans fat in the nutrition facts section for most foods. Products with less than 0.2 grams of trans fat per serving may be labeled as free of trans fats. In June 2007, the federal government announced its intention to regulate trans fats to the June 2006 standard unless the food industry voluntarily complied with these limits within two years. Effective September 30, 2009, British Columbia became the first province in Canada to mandate the June 2006 recommendation in provincially regulated food services establishments.
In January 2007, the British Retail Consortium announced that major UK retailers intended to cease adding trans fatty acids to their own products by the end of 2007. On 13 December 2007, the Food Standards Agency issued news releases stating that voluntary measures to reduce trans fats in food had already resulted in safe levels of consumer intake. Rejecting an outright ban, the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley launched on 15 March 2012 a voluntary pledge to remove artificial trans fats by the end of the year.
On July 11, 2003, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a regulation requiring manufacturers to list trans fat on the Nutrition Facts panel of foods and some dietary supplements. The new labeling rule became mandatory across the board, even for companies that petitioned for extensions, on January 1, 2008. However, unlike in many other countries, trans fat levels of less than 0.5 grams per serving can be listed as 0 grams trans fat on the food label.
The state of California and some US cities are acting to reduce consumption of trans fats. In May 2005, Tiburon, California, became the first American city wherein all restaurants voluntarily cook with trans fat-free oils.
The following countries have implemented a total ban on trans fats: Austria, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Switzerland.
Three Treasures, Women's Treasure and Little Treasures tablets
Given the doubts about the safety of magnesium stearate, itself a partially hydrogenated oil, the Three Treasures and Women's Treasure remedies are now made without magnesium stearate and the only excipients used in their manufacture are potato starch and cellulose. The Little Treasures granules are also free of magnesium stearate.
THE TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES WITH CHINESE MEDICINE - Part 1
AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES: A CHINESE MEDICINE VIEW
Autoimmune diseases comprise a large number of diseases (more than 200) which are very different from one another. The most common ones that we will see in the clinic are:
- Systemic lupus erithematosus (SLE)
- Sjogren's Syndrome
- Hashimoto Thyroiditis
- Graves' Disease
Chinese medicine does not have a single explanation of the autoimmune pathology as obviously ancient Chinese medicine could not have such a view of the immune system. One can of course use a Chinese identification of patterns for each of these diseases and treat them successfully, but that does not really explain the autoimmune pathology or whether there is a common thread in the treatment of these diseases. For example, we can treat Hashimoto Thyroiditis successfully without any reference to it being an autoimmune disease. However, is there a single, underlying pathology in all autoimmune diseases and a common thread in the their treatment?
From a Chinese medicine perspective, it is clear to me that we need to treat each autoimmune disease individually according to its pathology, aetiology, patterns irrespective of the fact that is an autoimmune disease. However, should we go a step further? Is there an underlying common treatment to all autoimmune diseases? The present article will endeavour to answer these questions.
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES IN WESTERN MEDICINE
An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue perceiving it to be "non-self". There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders.
Normally the immune system's white blood cells help protect the body from antigens such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and blood or tissues from another person or species. The immune system produces antibodies that destroy these harmful substances.
In patients with an autoimmune disorder, the immune system perceives the body's own tissues as antigens and attacks them. The result is an immune response that destroys normal body tissues. This response is a hypersensitivity reaction similar to the response in allergic conditions. In allergies, the immune system reacts to an outside substance that it normally would ignore. With autoimmune disorders, the immune system reacts to normal body tissues that it would normally ignore.
What causes the immune system to no longer tell the difference between healthy body tissues and antigens is unknown. One theory is that some microorganisms (such as bacteria or viruses) or drugs may trigger some of these changes, especially in people who have genes that make them more likely to get autoimmune disorders. The possibility that microorganisms might trigger the pathology of auto-immunity is interesting because I believe that Latent Heat is often at the root of autoimmune diseases. Moreover, in my view, immunizations have a lot to do with the development of Latent Heat.
An autoimmune disorder may result in:
- The destruction of one or more types of body tissue
- Abnormal growth of an organ
- Changes in organ function
- An autoimmune disorder may affect one or more organ or tissue types.
Organs and tissues commonly affected by autoimmune disorders include:
- Blood vessels
- Connective tissues
- Endocrine glands such as the thyroid or pancreas
- Joints
- Muscles
- Red blood cells
- Skin
A person may have more than one autoimmune disorder at the same time.
Symptoms of an autoimmune disease vary enormously based on the disease and location of the abnormal immune response. Symptoms that often occur with autoimmune diseases include:
General ill-feeling (malaise)
From a Chinese perspective these three symptoms could be symptoms of Yin Fire or Latent Heat.
Before discussing the possible interpretation of autoimmune diseases from the Chinese perspective, I would like to discuss the Chinese medicine correspondent of the immune system or, to put it differently, what parts of Chinese Vital Substances and functions influence the immune system.
COMPONENTS OF IMMUNE SYSTEM IN CHINESE MEDICINE
Wei Qi
Ying Qi
Kidney (Yin and Yang)
Yuan Qi
Stomach and Spleen
It would be easy to identify the function of the immune system as a Yang function (protection, immune cells constantly moving and hunting for antigens) but it would be wrong. The whole humoral part of the immune system relies on Blood and Yin.
It is a very common misconception to attribute the immune response to Wei Qi which is natural since it is indeed the "protective" or "defensive" Qi that protects from exterior pathogenic factors. The following is the Chinese ideogram for "Wei".
The inside part is phonetic (wei) while the two outer parts together are xing, i.e. to move. Separately, they are the left and the right footprint and some say they suggest two guards patrolling back to back, hence Wei Qi being defensive Qi
Left foot print
Right foot print
These two parts together form the character xing 行 which means "to move" (and it also the character for "Element" as in the "5 Elements". The modern, simplified character for "wei" 卫 does not mean anything.
Chapter 18 of the Ling Shu says: "Ying Qi comes from the Middle Burner; Wei Qi comes from the Lower Burner." This may come as a surprise to some as we are used to think of the Wei Qi being associated with the Lungs and therefore the Upper Burner, which it is. However, it is said that the Wei Qi comes from the Lower Burner because it is associated with Kidney-Yang. Of course, it is also true that the Wei Qi is diffused in the Upper Burner by the Lungs, but its origin is in the Lower Burner.
Zhang Yuan Su (ca. 1151-1234) in the Yi Yuan "Origin of Medicine" says very clearly that the Wei Qi comes from the Lower Burner and the context can leave no doubt because he lists the three Burners, from Upper to Middle to Lower and therefore the third one (for the Wei Qi) could not but be the Lower Burner.
He says: "Zong Qi accumulates in the Upper Burner; Ying Qi comes out in the Middle Burner; Wei Qi comes out in the Lower Burner. Ying Qi follows the Zong Qi in the channels [mai]; the Wei Qi cannot follow the Zong Qi and cannot enter the channels. It therefore stays outside the channels, penetrating the space between the skin and muscles in the head, eyes, hands and feet."
He also says: "Ying Qi is clear, Wei Qi turbid; Ying moves in the channels, Wei moves outside the channels. The Upper Burner is like a mist; the Middle Burner like a cauldron; the Lower Burner like a ditch. Wei Qi depends on the Yang part of the Yin of the Lower Burner, it rises to the other two Burners [because it is Yang], but it comes from the Lower Burner."
Ying Qi is Yin, Wei Qi is Yang. We are used to think of Ying Qi as the one corresponding to food, nutrition and that is why it is called "Nutritive Qi". However, Wei Qi is also related to food and nutrition. In fact the Su Wen says: "Wei Qi is the rough [han] Qi of water and grains." The Su Wen uses the word "fierce, ferocious" [han 悍] that I translate as "rough".
The Ying Qi is also connected to "water and grains": "Ying Qi is the essence [jing Qi] of water and grains which enters the channels [mai]."
Although stemming from the Lower Burner, Wei Qi influences the Upper Burner, the Lungs, the Exterior, the Cou Li space, the pores and sweating.
Wu Qian says in the The Golden Mirror of Medicine (Yi Zong Jin Jian 1746): "Both Ying and Wei Qi derive from Gu Qi. The clear part of Qi forms Ying Qi, the turbid part forms Wei Qi. The Qi of Wei Qi is "rough"["fierce", "ferocious"]; the Blood of Ying Qi is an essence. In terms of location, we talk of Qi and Blood; in terms of movement, they are Wei and Ying. Ying Qi moves in the vessels [mai] and is Yin; Wei Qi moves outside the vessels and is Yang. The movement of Ying and Wei relies on the Pre-Natal Qi of the Kidneys."
He also says: "There are three Qi in the body: the Wei Qi exits in the Upper Burner and the Ying Qi in the Middle Burner: these are two Qi. These two Qi coalesce in Heart and Lungs to form the Zong Qi. Ying Qi is in the vessels and is close to Blood: Wei Qi is outside the vessels and is close to fluids. As Ying Qi is close to Blood, it is affected by Blood stasis: as Wei Qi is close to fluids, it is affected by fluid retention. To treat Blood, one must move and transform Ying Qi; to treat fluids, one must warm and move Wei Qi."
Please note that the statement here that the Wei Qi exits in the Upper Burner is not in contradiction with the earlier one (Zhang Yuan Su) that stated that the Wei Qi comes from the Lower Burner. Wei Qi originates from the Lower Burner but it exits in the Upper Burner where it is controlled by the diffusing of Lung-Qi.
Wei Qi and Lungs
Wei Qi goes to the Upper Burner and the Lungs "diffuses" it like an aerosol spray to the Upper Burner, the skin and the Cou Li space. Although we stress a lot the descending of Lung-Qi, the diffusing of Lung-Qi [xuan 宣] has an ascending movement.
Acupuncture: LU-7 Lieque, L.I.-4 Hegu, BL-12 Fengmen.
Wei Qi and Exterior
The "Exterior" is the space of the body that is outside the Zangfu and also outside the Main channels. It is the space where the Luo channels are. The Luo channels are the channels through which external pathogenic factors penetrate the body and the Wei Qi flows in the Luo channels performing its function of protection from external pathogenic factors.
Acupuncture: LU-7 Lieque, L.I.-4 Hegu, BL-13 Feishu.
Wei Qi and Cou Li Space
The term Cou Li is difficult to translate. Cou means "cavity" while Li means "texture" as in the texture or grain of wood. Although Cou refers to any cavity of the body, some large, some small, the term Cou Li is usually used (although not strictly correct) to indicate the space between the skin and muscles.
This is not literally and anatomically the space between skin and muscles but it must be interpreted energetically as a superficial space of the body, actually, apart from the skin itself, the most superficial. This is the space where the smaller and more superficial Luo channels flow [sun mai and fu mai].
The Cou Li 腠 理 space is the space between skin and muscles. The Luo channels are more superficial than the Main channels and they run in all directions, horizontally rather than vertically. Amongst other spaces, they fill the Cou Li space, i.e. the space between skin and muscles.
Wei Qi, pores and sweating
The Wei Qi influences the pores on the skin and therefore sweating. Sweat is in the Cou Li space. Th is space is regulated by the balance of Ying and Wei in it. When these are regulated, sweating is normal, i.e. normal sweating on exercise or when it is hot.
The Cou Li space may be "too tight" which means the pores are closed and the person does not sweat on exercise or when it is hot. It also means that if this person gets an invasion of Wind, they will not sweat and one must use Ma Huang Tang Ephedra Decoction.
The Cou Li space may also be "too relaxed" in which case the pores are open and the person sweats spontaneously. It also means that if they get an invasion of Wind, there will be slight sweating, which is actually due to a deficiency of Ying Qi in the Cou Li space; one uses Gui Zhi Tang Ramulus Cinnamomi Decoction to regulate Ying and Wei in the Cou Li space.
Ying Qi, the "nutritive" Qi is inseparable from Wei Qi. Although the two are always contrasted with each other, they are actually closely connected. The Wei Qi could not exist without Ying Qi.
The Ying Qi is called "Nutritive" because it comes from "water and grains": "Ying Qi is the essence [jing Qi] of water and grains which enters the channels [mai]." However, Wei Qi also derives from water and grains except that its Qi is more "coarse": "Wei Qi is the rough [han] Qi of water and grains."
Ying Qi also keeps the Cou Li space "consolidated"; if the Cou Li space is not "consolidated" it is prone to invasions of Wind. If the Ying Qi is weak in this space, there is slight sweating during an invasion of Wind.
Acupuncture: ST-36 Zusanli, Ren-12 Zhongwan, BL-20 Pishu, BL-21 Weishu.
The Su Wen relates resistance to disease to Blood in many passages. "When the Qi of Blood is not harmonized, 100 diseases can arise." Blood influences resistance to disease also due to its relationship with Ying Qi.
The point BL-11 Dashu is the point of the Upper Sea of Blood of the Chong Mai. I use it with direct moxa, also to stimulate resistance to disease and to external pathogenic factors.
Acupuncture: BL-11 Dashu, BL-17 Geshu (with direct moxa), Ren-4 Guanyuan, KI-3 Taixi, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, ST-36 Zusanli.
The Kidneys play a big role in the immune system and resistance to disease. First of all, Kidney-Yang is the root of the Wei Qi which stems from the Lower Burner. Resistance to disease from a Chinese perspective depends on Qi and Qi is movement and movement is Yang. Kidney-Yang is the root of the Yang of the whole body.
If we think of the B cells, T cells, macrophages, neutrophils etc, and how they move in the blood stream and the cells we get an idea of the need for Yang, i.e. movement (although the medium where it all happens is blood which is Yin). If we consider that the B cells produce highly specific antibodies at a rate of as many as 2000 molecules per second for four to five days, we get a very good idea of why it is a Yang process.
The Kidneys play a role in the immune system also due to Yuan Qi and bone marrow which will be discussed separately.
Acupuncture: BL-23 Shenshu, Ren-4 Guanyuan.
Bone marrow depends on the Kidneys, more Yin than Yang. Jing is the organic foundation for the production of Marrow. "Marrow" (sui 髓) does not correspond to bone marrow of Western Medicine. "Marrow" in Chinese Medicine is a substance which is the common matrix of bones, bone marrow, brain and spinal cord.
The Ling Shu says in chapter 36: "The five flavours and fluids amalgamate to form Fat: this irrigates the cavities inside the bones, it tonifies the Brain and the Marrow and flows to the thighs".1
This statement is interesting in its reference to a form of "fat" formed by food and drink which goes to form bone-marrow and the spinal cord and brain. Therefore the bone-marrow, spinal cord and brain (all manifestations of "Marrow") are a dense, material type of Qi which the Ling Shu calls "Fat". Another interesting aspect of the above statement is the reference to the Marrow flowing to the thighs: therefore the ancient Chinese seem to have grasped the fact that long bones contain bone-marrow.
The Marrow is also the basis for the formation of bone marrow which nourishes the bones. Thus the Kidneys also govern the bone marrow and bones. The "Simple Questions" in chapter 17 says: "The bones are the Fu [organ] of the Marrow".2
The Kidneys store Jing which produces marrow: this, in turn, generates bone marrow which contributes to making Blood. A doctor of the Qing dynasty, Zhang Lu, in his book Medical Transmission of the Zhang Family (1695), says: 'If Qi is not exhausted, it returns essences to the Kidneys to be transformed into Jing; if Jing is not depleted, it returns to the Liver to be transformed into Blood.'3
It seems remarkable that the Chinese account of the blood-forming function of bone marrow, so similar to that given by Western physiology, was formulated during the Qing dynasty before the introduction of Western medicine into China. Lin Pei Qin, a doctor of the Qing dynasty, formulated the theory that 'Liver and Kidneys have the same source' and that Blood is transformed from Kidney Jing.
The connection between bone marrow and Blood is a primordial understanding of the role of bone marrow in the immune system since both B cells and T cells derive from bone marrow.
Acupuncture: BL-11 Dashu, G.B.-39 Xuanzhong, BL-17 Geshu, BL-23 Shenshu.
The Yuan Qi emerges from between the Kidneys. Chapter 66 of the Nan Jing is one of the earliest descriptions of the Yuan Qi. It says: "The Yuan Qi is the Motive Force [Dong Qi] situated between the two kidneys, it is life-giving and it is the root of the 12 channels."4
Yuan Qi can be seen as the dynamic motive force that arouses and moves the functional activity of all the organs. It does so because, like Jing, it is the foundation of vitality and stamina. As a form of Qi, it circulates all over the body, in the channels. It could be said to be the link between Jing, which is more fluid-like and related to slow, long-term cycles and changes, and the day-to-day Qi, which is Qi-like and is related to short-term cycles and changes.
Yuan Qi also facilitates the transformation of Gu Qi into Blood in the Heart. This is another way in which the Kidneys participate in the production of Blood.
Chapter 8 of the Nan Jing: "Sometimes the Cun Kou is normal and yet the patient dies. Why is that? The pulses of the 12 channels all originate from the Yuan Qi. This Yuan Qi is the root of the 12 channels, it is the Motive Force (Dong Qi 动 气) between the Kidneys, the root of the 5 Zang and 6 Fu and of the 12 channels, the gate of breathing and the origin of the Triple Burner. It is the spirit that guards against pathogenic factors (or evil influences). Such Qi is the root of humankind; if the root is cut stalks and leaves wither. When the Cun Kou is normal but the patient dies, it means that the Yuan Qi has been cut off internally."
This chapter establishes some very important principles. First, it talks about the Yuan Qi 原 气: this is essentially the meaning of the expression "Sheng Qi Zhi Yuan" which can be translated as the "Origin of Life's Qi" or "Origin that generates Qi". It says that Yuan Qi is between the Kidneys (like the Ming Men) and that it is the root of the 12 channels, the Triple Burner and the 5 Zang and 6 Fu.
This chapter also establishes the idea that the Yuan Qi (and therefore the Kidneys) is the root of the 5 Zang and 6 Fu, of the 12 channels and of the Triple Burner.
Secondly, this passage establishes the principle that the Yuan Qi (and therefore the Kidneys) play a role in the resistance to pathogenic factors. Interestingly, it calls the Yuan Qi the Shen that protect from pathogenic factors (or evils).
This is of huge clinical significance because it means that our resistance to pathogenic factors depends not only on the Wei Qi and therefore Lungs but also on the Kidneys and the Yuan Qi (and also Jing due to the extraordinary vessels). In any case, Wei Qi stems from the Lower Burner.
This is of clinical significance not only in resistance to pathogenic factors but also in the pathology of allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis, the root of which is also in the Kidneys, the Jing and the Yuan Qi.
As we shall see, a deficiency of the Kidneys also plays a role in the formation of Latent Heat and a deficiency of Yuan Qi plays a role in the formation of Yin Fire which are often at the base of auto-immune disorders.
Chapter 66 of the Nan Jing also discusses the Yuan Qi: "Below the umbilicus and between the kidneys there is a Throbbing Qi [Dong Qi 动 气] which constitutes a person's life [sheng ming 生 命]. This [Throbbing Qi] is the root of the 12 channels, also called Yuan Qi [原 气]. The Triple Burner is the envoy of the Yuan Qi [or it allows the Yuan Qi to separate into its different functions]. It is responsible for the passage of the three types of Qi in the 5 Zang and 6 Fu."
The "three Qi" mentioned here are the Yuan Qi, Ying Qi and Wei Qi of Lower, Middle and Upper Burner respectively. Yuan Qi is part of a triad of types of Qi, all which play a role in resistance to disease in the three Burners: Yuan Qi in the Lower, Ying Qi in the Middle and Wei Qi in the Upper Burner.
Acupuncture: Ren-4 Guanyuan, BL-23 Shenshu, Du-4 Mingmen.
We are used to think of Jing as the precious Essence that we inherit from the parents, that determines our constitution and that resides in the Lower Dan Tian. When described like that, the Jing sounds like an inert essence but, in reality, Jing circulates in the channels and plays an important role in resistance to disease.
It circulates in the channels through the extraordinary vessels. The influence of the Extraordinary Vessels on the space between skin and muscles implies their important role in protection from pathogenic factors. As the Extraordinary Vessels circulate the Kidney-Jing, this means that Jing plays a role in many physiological functions and, in particular, in the protection against external pathogenic factors.
A deficiency of Jing plays a role in the formation of Latent Heat and, in my opinion, in the aetiology of allergic diseases such as allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema and of auto-immune disorders. Indeed, it is in my opinion the aetiology of atopy itself.
The "Study of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels" by Li Shi Zhen says: "...when the Qi of the channels overflows, it flows into the extraordinary vessels where it is turned into irrigation, warming the organs internally and irrigating the space between skin and muscles externally."
The Qi of the Extraordinary Vessels "irrigates" the space between the skin and muscles where Defensive Qi circulates to prevent invasion of pathogenic factors.
Because all the Extraordinary Vessels derive directly or indirectly from the Kidneys, they play an important role in the defence against exterior pathogenic factors.
- Du Mai: SI-3 Houxi with BL-62 Shenmai, BL-23 Shenshu, Du-4 Mingmen, Du-14 Dazhui.
- Ren Mai: LU-7 Lieque with KI-6 Zhaohai, Ren-4 Guanyuan.
Finally, the Stomach and Spleen also play a role in the resistance to disease. This is quite obvious since they are the origin of nutrition and of Gu Qi which is the basis for both Ying and Wei Qi.
The Stomach and Spleen play a particularly important role in the immune system of children. Dr Shen used to say that there are only two aetiological factors in children: external Wind and nutrition (Stomach and Spleen). He then added that, the younger the child, the more there is only one aetiological factor and that is the Stomach and Spleen because they determine resistance to external pathogenic factors.
Acupuncture: Ren-12 Zhongwan, ST-36 Zusanli, BL-20 Pishu, BL-21 Weishu.
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THE 6 STAGES AND 4 LEVELS
The 6 Stages were developed by Zhang Zhong Jing in his book "A Discussion of Diseases from Cold Injury" (Shang Han Lun, ca. AD 220) while the 4 Levels were developed much later by Ye Tian Shi in his book "A Discussion of Warm Diseases" (Wen Bing Lun, 1742).
The patterns of both of these theories describe the progression of fevers from external invasions of Wind. Although these two theories are often contrasted to each other, they have many points in common as illustrated in the diagram below. The patterns in this diagram are colour-coded to show the connections between the patterns of the 6 Stages with those of the 4 Levels. In particular, there is a strong connection between the Yang Ming Stage and the Qi Level and many of the prescriptions used by Ye Tian Shi for the Qi Level are the same as those for the Yang Ming Stage in the Shang Han Lun.
COMPARISON OF 6 STAGES AND 4 LEVELS PATTERNS
I have been thinking about these ancient patterns and it occurred to me that they could be seen as a picture of the immune system and this idea is illustrated in the diagram below. For example, if we fall ill with a fever of external origin (we can think of influenza, for example) and, after the initial stage, we develop a higher fever, it indicates that the body is reacting and fighting the pathogenic factor: this is a good state of the immune system and it corresponds to the Qi Level of the 4 Levels or the Yang Ming stage of the 6 Stages.
Allergy, such as in allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis, represents a hyper-activity of the immune system that is reacting to allergens to which it should not: this could be represented by the Wei Level pattern in the 4 Levels or the Tai Yang Stage in the 6 Stages.
In chronic fatigue syndrome, the immune system is reacting to a viral infection, but not enough, so that the disease has a chronic course: this corresponds to the Gall-Bladder-Heat pattern of the 4 Levels or the Shao Yang Stage of the 6 Stages.
If our immune system is greatly debilitated, it may succumb to cancer and this corresponds to the Blood Level of the 4 Levels or the three Yin Stages of the 6 Stages.
In autoimmune diseases, the immune system has a deep dysfunction that leads it to attack the cells of the body, mistaking them for "other": this often (but not always) corresponds to Latent Heat.
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES in CHINESE MEDICINE
In my view, the presence of an auto-immune dysfunction of the immune system indicates an aetiological factor that is at a deep energetic level and that is different from normal exterior pathogenic factors. It indicates a more insidious form of pathogenic factor. The immune dysfunction also indicates a pathology of the Yin aspects of the immune system, i.e. Blood, bone marrow, Kidneys.
However, auto-immune diseases are so many and so disparate that it is impossible to prescribe a blanket treatment method for them. For example, the pathology of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and MS are so different that they really have very little in common.
The only thing they might have in common is the aetiology. In many, but not all, auto-immune diseases the aetiology is Latent Heat. This is the case especially when there are symptoms of Heat, with lassitude and possibly fever, they have something in common in their pathology. In other cases of autoimmune diseases, the main pathology may also be Yin Fire. Also, if we know we are dealing with an auto-immune disease, it gives us an important pointer from the point of view of prognosis.
However, there is an interesting common feature of some auto-immune diseases and that is the pulse. I have noticed this especially in MS, RA, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Crohn's disease. The pulse is of the Leather [ge 革] quality, i.e. it is superficial and "stretched" like a drum but empty at the deep level: it feels hard on the outside but empty inside, like a drum. The Leather pulse indicates severe deficiency of Blood, Essence or Yin. It also indicates Qi floating upwards because it is not rooted by Blood. This would indicate that the root of these autoimmune diseases is a Kidney deficiency.
APPROACH TO TREATMENT OF AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES
- No Chinese theory obviously.
- All diseases are very different and must be treated according to their specific pathology and patterns (e.g.
MS and Hashimoto's thyroiditis have nothing in common from Chinese perspective).
- Being auto-immune affects ease (or difficulty) of treatment and prognosis. They are more difficult to treat.
- Compare hyperthyroidism and Graves' Disease: latter has more severe symptoms and will be more
difficult to treat.
- In late stages of auto-immune diseases, there seems to be a common pulse, i.e. the Leather pulse which is
superficial but empty at the deep level. The surface is kind of "broad" and feels kind of stretched like a
drum. This indicates a severe Kidney deficiency.
- Must grasp aetiology, pathology and patterns of the disease ignoring its auto-immune nature. For _example, Sjogren's Syndrome, Hashimoto thyroiditis, Crohn's Disease, MS and RA have very little or _nothing in common in terms of pathology.
______Sjogren's Syndrome: Yin Xu of Stomach and Liver
______Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Phlegm, Spleen-Qi Xu, Kidney-Yang Xu
______Crohn's Disease: Damp-Heat in Intestines
______MS: Dampness, Stomach-Spleen Xu, Liver-Kidneys Xu
______RA: Damp-Heat in joints
- Must treat the Kidneys which are the root of the auto-immune process. This can be Kidney-Yang,
Kidney-Yin, Jing, Yuan Qi, Minister Fire.
- Must treat inflammation with at least one or two anti-inflammatory herbs.
- Check if there is Latent Heat or Yin Fire and treat them accordingly.
LIST OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY CHINESE HERBS5
Ba Ji Tian Radix Morindae officinalis
Bai Shao Radix Paeoniae alba
Bai Zhi Radix Angelicae dahuricae
Can Er Zi Fructus Xanthii
Cao Wu Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffi
Chai Hu Radix Bupleuri
Chi Shao Radix Paeonia rubra
Chuan Xin Lian Herba Andrographis
Da Huang Radix et Rhizoma Rhei
Da Qing Ye Folium Isatidis
Dan Shen Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae
Dang Gui Radix Angelicae sinensis
Dang Shen Radix Codonopsis
Di Yu Radix Sanguisorbae
Du Huo Radix Angelicae pubescentis
Du Zhong Cortex Eucommiae
Fang Feng Radix Saposhnikoviae
Fu Zi Radix Aconiti Lateralis preparata
Hong Hua Flos Carthami
Hei Zhi Ma Semen Sesami nigri
Hu Zhang Rhizoma Polygoni cuspidati
Huai Hua Flos Sophorae
Huang Lian Rhizoma Coptidis
Huang Qi Radix Astragali
Huang Qin Radix Scutellariae
Jiang Huang Rhizoma Curcumae longae
Jie Geng Radix Platycodonis
Jin Qian Cao Herba Lysimachiae
Jin Yin Hua Flos Lonicerae
Jing Jie Herba Schizonepetae
Ku Shen Radix Sophorae flavescentis
Kuan Dong Hua Flos Farfarae
Lei Gong Teng Radix Tripterygii wilfordii
Lian Qiao Fructus Forsythiae
Lu Hui Aloe
Lu Lu Tong Fructus Liquindambaris
Man Jing Zi Fructus Viticis
Mao Dong Qing Radix Ilicis pubescentis
Mu Dan Pi Cortex Moutan
Nu Zhen Zi Fructus Ligustri lucidis
Pi Pa Ye Folium Eriobotryae
Qiang Huo Rhizoma et Radix Notopterygii
Qin Jiao Radix Gentianae macrophyllae
Qin Pi Cortex Fraxini
San Qi Radix Notoginseng
Shan Dou Gen Radix Sophorae tonkinensis
Sheng Ma Radix Cimicifugae
Tao Ren Semen Persicae
Tian Ma Rhizoma Gastrodiae
Wu Jia Pi Cortex Acanthopanacis
Xi Xian Cao Herba Siegesbeckiae
Xi Xin Herba Asari
Xia Ku Cao Spica Prunella
Xian Mao Rhizoma Curculiginis
Xiang Fu Rhizoma Cyperi
Xiao Ji Herba Cirisii
Xu Chang Qing Radix Cynanchi Paniculati
Xue Jie Sanguis Draconis
Xue Yu Tan Crinis Carbonisatus
Xun Gu Feng Herba Aristolochiae Mollissimae
Ye Ju Hua Flos Chysanthemi Indici
Yin Yang Huo Herba Epimedii
Yu Xing Cao Herba Houttuyniae
Ze Xie Rhizoma Alismatis
Zhi Zi Fructus Gardeniae
Zi Cao Gen Radix Lithospermi
As one can see, this list is so extensive that practically every formula we use will have some anti-inflammatory herb in it. I believe it is very important to use some anti-inflammatory herbs in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. I especially use Mu Dan Pi Cortex Moutan. It is worth also noting that the anti-inflammatory herbs are found in many different categories of herbs, not just those that clear Heat: thus having an anti-inflammatory effect does not necessarily involve clearing Heat from the Chinese perspective. Indeed, it is very interesting (and somewhat surprising) that even Fu Zi and Cao Wu (extremely hot herbs) are anti-inflammatory.
http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2012/02/secrets-of-ancient-chinese-remedy-revealed/
The following is an online article from Harvard University about the effect of the Chinese herb Chang Shan Radix Dichroae febrifugae on autoimmune diseases.
For roughly 2,000 years, Chinese herbalists have treated malaria using a root extract, commonly known as Tu Chang Shan, from a type of hydrangea that grows in Tibet and Nepal. More recent studies suggest that halofuginone, a compound derived from this extract's bioactive ingredient, could be used to treat many autoimmune disorders as well. Now, researchers from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine have discovered the molecular secrets behind this herbal extract's power.
It turns out that halofuginone (HF) triggers a stress-response pathway that blocks the development of a harmful class of immune cells, called Th17 cells, which have been implicated in many autoimmune disorders.
"HF prevents the autoimmune response without dampening immunity altogether," said Malcolm Whitman, a professor of developmental biology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and senior author on the new study. "This compound could inspire novel therapeutic approaches to a variety of autoimmune disorders."
"This study is an exciting example of how solving the molecular mechanism of traditional herbal medicine can lead both to new insights into physiological regulation and to novel approaches to the treatment of disease," said Tracy Keller, an instructor in Whitman's lab and the first author on the paper.
This study, which involved an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital and elsewhere, will be published online Feb. 12 in Nature Chemical Biology.
Prior research had shown that HF reduced scarring in tissue, scleroderma (a tightening of the skin), multiple sclerosis, scar formation, and even cancer progression. "We thought HF must work on a signaling pathway that had many downstream effects," said Keller.
In 2009, Keller and colleagues reported that HF protects against harmful Th17 immune cells without affecting other beneficial immune cells. Recognized only since 2006, Th17 cells are "bad actors," implicated in many autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis.
The researchers found that minute doses of HF reduced multiple sclerosis in a mouse model. As such, it was one of a new arsenal of drugs that selectively inhibits autoimmune pathology without suppressing the immune system globally. Further analysis showed that HF was somehow turning on genes involved in a newly discovered pathway called the amino acid response pathway, or AAR.
Scientists have only recently appreciated the role of the nutrient sensing-AAR pathway in immune regulation and metabolic signaling. There is also evidence that it extends life span and delays age-related inflammatory diseases in animal studies on caloric restriction.
AAR lets cells know when they need to preserve resources. For example, when a cell senses a limited supply of amino acids for building proteins, AAR will block signals that promote inflammation because inflamed tissues require lots of protein.
"Think about how during a power outage we conserve what little juice we have left on our devices, foregoing chats in favor of emergency calls," said Whitman. "Cells use similar logic."For the current study, the researchers investigated how HF activates the AAR pathway, looking at the most basic process that cells use to translate a gene's DNA code into the amino acid chain that makes up a protein.
The researchers were able to home in on a single amino acid, called proline, and discovered that HF targeted and inhibited a particular enzyme (tRNA synthetase EPRS) responsible for incorporating proline into proteins that normally contain it. When this occurred, the AAR response kicked in and produced the therapeutic effects of HF treatment.
Providing supplemental proline reversed the effects of HF on Th17 cell differentiation, while adding back other amino acids did not, establishing the specificity of HF for proline incorporation. Added proline also reversed other therapeutic effects of HF, inhibiting its effectiveness against the malaria parasite as well as certain cellular processes linked to tissue scarring. Again, supplementation with other amino acids had no such effect. Such mounting evidence clearly demonstrated that HF acts specifically to restrict proline.
The researchers think that HF treatment mimics cellular proline deprivation, which activates the AAR response and subsequently impacts immune regulation. Researchers do not yet fully understand the role that amino acid limitation plays in disease response or why restricting proline inhibits Th17 cell production.
Nevertheless, "[the] AAR pathway is clearly an interesting drug target, and halofuginone, in addition to its potential therapeutic uses, is a powerful tool for studying the AAR pathway," said Whitman.
1. 1981 Spiritual Axis (Ling Shu Jing). People's Health Publishing House, Beijing, p. 77.
2. Simple Questions, p. 100.
3. Zhang Lu Medical Transmission of the Zhang Family (Zhang Shi Yi Tong), cited in Syndromes and Treatment of the Internal Organs (Zang Fu Zheng Zhi). Tianjin Scientific Publishing House, Tianjin, 1981, p.27.
4. Nanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine 1979 A Revised Explanation of the Classic of Difficulties (Nan Jing Jiao Shi). People's Health Publishing House, Beijing, p. 144.
5. Chen JK, Chen TT, "Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology", Art of Medicine Press, City of Industry, CA, 2001.
THE TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES WITH CHINESE ...


The recent HALI Indaba in Rwanda, an engaging gathering of passionate, professional advocates for HALI students, had many "glad to know that" moments.
• Why context is important on the CSS/Financial Aid Profile.
When an American student reports that a parent owns a business, that implies that the business is appropriately registered and reports its income and expenses. For a HALI African student, the family business may consist of a roadside table of maize for sale with no record-keeping or filing of tax returns. Context is everything. Students should make use of the final CSS section, Explanation and Special Circumstances, "to explain all those zeroes" on their application. If you've reviewed a student's CSS and later discover you missed something, don't panic. Your student can amend the CSS, sending an email to explain any errors and submit corrections.
• Why grad school applicants should advocate departmentally.
Many graduate programs at public universities rely on their departments to make financial aid decisions for international students, so it makes sense for university applicants to reach out to admission officers in those departments to introduce and advocate for themselves.
• Why students need nudging to return home.
Janet Heinonen of the East African Scholars Fund listens intently at the recent HALI Indaba.
The premise of most programs assisting HALI students is that the students will eventually return to their home country or continent to contribute. Expectations—both of the student and his or her family—may get in the way. Some students may not want to leave high U.S. salaries and the lifestyle they buy. Others are acutely aware that the "burdens of privilege include parental pressure to stay abroad and make the most use of opportunities," noted an Indaba discussion leader.
While Indaba participants agreed in principle that HALI students should return, they acknowledged that graduate school and gaining work experience abroad delayed the process, making it more difficult as the years away accumulate. This could mean that the students lose most of their networks at home which makes it even harder to come back.
To reinforce the idea of social responsibility and maintain a closer relationship to home, students should be encouraged to return home on breaks, seek internships (ideally with funding from their colleges) or implement community service projects at or near home.
HALI Access Network Chairperson Rebecca Zeigler Mano added that students under pressure to send money home might commit to one tangible project such as paying for a sibling's school fees, an affordable amount which also lets the college student fend off other family requests.
• Why HALI students need an "Eric" in their lives.
While those at the Indaba were themselves advocates for HALI students, a discussion of a Malcolm Gladwell "Revisionist History" podcast "Carlos Doesn't Remember" emphasized the importance of advocates, using the case study of HALI student Carlos and benefactor Eric Eisher. Without Eric's interventions, Carlos's quest for higher education almost certainly would have been stymied by low-quality schools, a fragmenting family and four disastrous foster homes.
Eric identified Carlos as a brilliant fifth grader in South Los Angeles and advocated for him throughout the chaos of his home life. The personal details—which Carlos prefers not to remember—are representative of the struggles of HALI students everywhere to make their way into the meritocracy, and a reminder why so many never make it. Indaba participants shared some of their own "Eric/Erica" stories, highlighting the role their mentors played in guiding them to college.
Copyright 2016 HALI Access. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Home Plant Science How Plants Work – "Greatest Hits" of 2017 – April
How Plants Work – "Greatest Hits" of 2017 – April
plantguy January 4, 2018 January 4, 2018 Plant Science
4 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Herman
Plant-Microbe Symbiosis – From Agriculture to Evolution.
For April 2017, we apparently have another common theme among the most retweeted plant news stories, namely, plant-associated microorganisms.
"'While agriculture should certainly learn from nature, we mustn't be fixated on it. After all, agriculture and nature are fundamentally different.'"
Agriculture should not attempt to copy nature.
"Feeding a growing world population amidst climate change requires optimizing the reliability, resource use, and environmental impacts of food production. One way to assist in achieving these goals is to integrate beneficial plant microbiomes—i.e., those enhancing plant growth, nutrient use efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, and disease resistance—into agricultural production."
Research priorities for harnessing plant microbiomes in sustainable agriculture.
"Since the Industrial Revolution, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has rapidly increased. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire set out to determine how rising carbon dioxide concentrations and different climates may alter vegetation like forests, croplands, and 40 million acres of American lawns. They found that the clues may lie in an unexpected source, mushrooms.
Researchers Find Mushrooms May Hold Clues to Effect of Carbon Dioxide on Lawns.
"You've probably heard of an oak tree, but have you ever heard of a jabuticaba or boojum tree? Trees are important for timber, food, and medicine, but getting a handle on the world's thousands of tree species is a tough task. Up until this year, there's been no complete census. Now, researchers have published the first global database of tree species and their geographical ranges,…"
How many tree species are there? More than you can shake a stick at, new database reveals.
And the most popular plant news item at the HPW Twitter feed in April 2017 was:
"Walking through a grassy field or forest take a moment to consider what lies beneath the surface. A web of plant roots interacts symbiotically with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that extend their hyphae from the root system further into the earth, accessing nutrients such as phosphates to give to the plant in return for carbohydrates, tit for tat."
400 million years of a stable relationship: clues to the molecular basis of balance in AM symbiosis.
The favorite plant news item of May, 2017?….It involves something that you may be drinking right now. Visit here tomorrow to find out.
How Plants Work – "Greatest Hits" of 2017 – March
How Plants Work – "Greatest Hits" of 2017 – May
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If Algae Clings to Snow on This Volcano, Can It Grow on Other Desolate Worlds? https://t.co/az0JWBcwMn about 14 hours ago
Amazon rainforest: 'Once it's gone, it's gone forever'. https://t.co/VpU2FUHMzQ about 6 days ago
No escape for mosquitoes. https://t.co/uZcbvBGT38 about 1 week ago
Plants neither possess or require consciousness! https://t.co/Ibhck7wm7d about 1 week ago
Why plants don't die from cancer. https://t.co/YQaqjLBuMs about 2 weeks ago
When the dinosaurs died, lichens thrived. https://t.co/ytv6c2YQOr about 2 weeks ago
Investigating coral and algal "matchmaking" at the cellular level. https://t.co/m7snfqMvC8 about 3 weeks ago
New microneedle technique speeds plant disease detection. https://t.co/y9p8Zv5AC8 about 1 month ago
Loving the alien. https://t.co/U5217UkW6J about 1 month ago
Solving a leafy mathematical mystery. https://t.co/gqmCqA5PDz about 1 month ago
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
July 01, 2009 News & Views » Columns
Bridge battles
By News Hits staff
As the stretch of Interstate 75 closed by the Gateway Project is set to reopen this week, improving access to the Ambassador Bridge, legal squabbling over the project continues.
Last week, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) filed a lawsuit in Wayne County Circuit Court against the Detroit International Bridge Co. (DIBC), owned by Grosse Pointe bazillionaire Manuel "Matty" Moroun. The suit, an attempt to "enforce a contract" between the numerous public agencies involved in the Gateway Project and the privately owned bridge, claims the bridge company has made "unauthorized" changes to the project that are threatening $145 million in federal funding for the state.
We read unauthorized changes to mean prep work for the second span Moroun wants to build that has been stalled of late by the U.S. Coast Guard. But the state, in the suit, is sticking to narrow "contractual issues" of the Gateway Project.
"DIBC has unilaterally and materially abandoned the agreed terms and design. DIBC is failing to construct the facilities as agreed and is constructing alternative facilities," the suit states. Those changes both "frustrate the purpose" and "violate the contractual and legal rights of MDOT and third-parties" involved in the project, according to the complaint.
Bridge officials, meanwhile, called the lawsuit "surprising," in a statement issued last week.
"DIBC recently requested mediation and then submitted a formal demand to MDOT," the company says. "MDOT did not even respond, but instead filed this lawsuit."
Of course, the state is taking a page from the bridge company's own book. DIBC has sued MDOT claiming the state has delayed the opening of the project, of which the reopened I-75 stretch is just one portion. The total project includes reconstruction of interstates 75 and 96, 18 overpasses and 24 ramps. The project's goal is to improve access to the U.S.-Canadian crossing that carries an estimated 23 percent of all surface trade between the countries, according to MDOT.
The state, while a partner on the Gateway Project, is also supportive of the $3 billion Detroit River International Crossing proposed for a location further downriver from the Ambassador Bridge. It would compete with Moroun's businesses at the Ambassador Bridge.
News Hits is edited by Curt Guyette. Contact him at 313-202-8004 or NewsHits@metrotimes.com
Tags: Columns, Transportation, Law, News Hits
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Headset support. The Titan One's only other weakness is its lack of headset support. Depending on the system you're using this accessory with, you might or might not be able to use headsets at all.
I had to use my laptop, my XBOX one controller, the Titan one, and my PS3 controller to get it all working. Somehow after going through the installation process more than 12 times something clicked for my XBOX one. Unfortunately that was the only time this thing worked as intended.
Farm Sheds. The mighty Titan Ozbarn uses Titan Blue's column and Rafter design, and The Goldstar's steel stud frame half-trusses using Henrob Self-Piercing Industrial Rivets. 25% stronger steel Battens and the largest colour range.


Through a historical analysis of Japanese constitutions and key constitutional drafts from the Meiji Era to the present day, this article examines the relationship between the constitution of Japan and the rights of indigenous peoples. In recent decades, the constitutions of a number of countries have introduced clauses recognizing the culture or rights of indigenous people, but this still remains a lacuna in Japanese constitutional debates. After examining the continuing social problems which result from this lack of constitutional recognition, particularly from the perspective of the Ainu and Ryūkyū peoples, the article concludes with a call to oppose current government schemes for constitutional change by putting forward a radical alternative proposal to revise the constitution in a way that would recognize and celebrate Japan's ethnic, historical and cultural pluralism.
2012: Für Frieden & gegen Kriegshafen: 19.04.
2012: Änderung der Verfassung in Japan?
2014: Neue Sicherheitspolitik in Japan 1.7.
Japan auf dem Weg zu einer "normalen Nation" ?


text:
using System.Net;
using System.Text;
using System;
using System.IO;
using System.Collections;

namespace com.admeris.creditcard.api{
    public class CreditCardReceipt : AbstractReceipt {
        private ApprovalInfo approvalInfo;
        private AvsResponse avsResponse;
        private Cvv2Response cvv2Response;
        private PeriodicPurchaseInfo periodicPurchaseInfo = null;

        private String sanitizedCardNumber = null;
        private short storageTokenExpiryDate;
        private String responseHash = null;
        private int cardBrand;
        private String storageTokenId = null;

        private int fraudScore;
        private String fraudDecision = null;
        private String fraudSessionId = null;

        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Constructors
        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
		public CreditCardReceipt(String errorCode, String errorMessage, String debugMessage) : base(errorCode, errorMessage, debugMessage) {
	    }

        public CreditCardReceipt(String response) : base(response) {
            // parse the approval info
            if (this.isApproved()) {
                this.approvalInfo = new ApprovalInfo(
                    this.parseLong("AUTHORIZED_AMOUNT"),
                    (String) this.responseParams["APPROVAL_CODE"],
                    this.parseInteger("TRACE_NUMBER"),
                    (String) this.responseParams["REFERENCE_NUMBER"]);
            } else {
                this.approvalInfo = null;
            }
            // parse the AVS response
            bool avsResponseAvailable = this.parseBoolean("AVS_RESPONSE_AVAILABLE");
            if (avsResponseAvailable) {
                this.avsResponse = new AvsResponse(
					(String) this.responseParams["AVS_RESPONSE_CODE"],
                    this.parseBoolean("STREET_MATCHED"),
                    this.parseBoolean("ZIP_MATCHED"),
                    (String) this.responseParams["ZIP_TYPE"],
                    (String) this.responseParams["AVS_ERROR_CODE"],
                    (String) this.responseParams["AVS_ERROR_MESSAGE"]);
            } else {
                this.avsResponse = null;
            }
            // parse the CVV2 response
            bool cvv2ResponseAvailable = this
                .parseBoolean("CVV2_RESPONSE_AVAILABLE");
            if (cvv2ResponseAvailable) {
                this.cvv2Response = new Cvv2Response(
                    (String) this.responseParams["CVV2_RESPONSE_CODE"],
                    (String)this.responseParams["CVV2_RESPONSE_MESSAGE"]);
            } else {
                this.cvv2Response = null;
            }

			long periodicPurchaseId = this.parseLong("PERIODIC_TRANSACTION_ID");
			if (periodicPurchaseId >= 0) {
				PeriodicPurchaseInfo.State periodicPurchaseState =
					PeriodicPurchaseInfo.State.fromCode(this.parseShort("PERIODIC_TRANSACTION_STATE"));
				DateTime nextPaymentDate = this.parseDateTime("PERIODIC_NEXT_PAYMENT_DATE");
				long lastPaymentId = this.parseLong("PERIODIC_LAST_PAYMENT_ID");

				this.periodicPurchaseInfo = new PeriodicPurchaseInfo(periodicPurchaseId, periodicPurchaseState, nextPaymentDate, lastPaymentId);
			}else {
				this.periodicPurchaseInfo = null;
			}

            // Parse newely added fields
            this.sanitizedCardNumber = (String) this.responseParams["CARD_NUMBER"];
            this.storageTokenExpiryDate = this.parseShort("STORAGE_TOKEN_EXPIRY");
            this.responseHash = (String)this.responseParams["RESPONSE_HASH"];
            this.cardBrand = this.parseInteger("CARD_BRAND");
            this.storageTokenId = (String)this.responseParams["STORAGE_TOKEN_ID"];

            this.fraudScore = this.parseInteger("FRAUD_SCORE");
            this.fraudDecision = (String)this.responseParams["FRAUD_DECISION"];
            this.fraudSessionId = (String)this.responseParams["FRAUD_SESSION_ID"];
        }

        //---------------------------------------------------------------------
        // Public Accessors
        //---------------------------------------------------------------------

        public ApprovalInfo getApprovalInfo()
        {
            return this.approvalInfo;
        }

        public AvsResponse getAvsResponse()
        {
            return this.avsResponse;
        }

        public Cvv2Response getCvv2Response()
        {
            return this.cvv2Response;
        }

		public PeriodicPurchaseInfo getPeriodicPurchaseInfo() {
			return this.periodicPurchaseInfo;
		}

    }//end class
}//end namespace

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


What's better than getting tubes in the mail? Getting tubes in the mail that you haven't paid for. Before you start muttering and cursing me under your breath, I'll have to pay for any I want to keep. The tubes will be returned to Thetubestore.com at the end of the shootout. Still, the short-sighted fantasy of free tubes is fun; it's something every tubeophile dreams of.
I'm chomping at the bit, and to speed up this process so I'm going to string three 6DJ8 tube-using components together so I can break in eight tubes at once. This will still take me about 12 days to do all six sets, twenty-four tubes in total.
I know myself well enough that if I procrastinate, I'll lose interest. That, and for nearly 25 years I worked for a company where, if you didn't deliver the goods, you would be out on your ear fast. In Tim's EL34 review from January 2016, he made mention of the fact that it was a drawn-out process. With all due respect to Tim (I've not met the man but I enjoy his writing), dragging things out isn't for me. Before I get started with the latest batch, I'm going to refresh my ears with my favourite affordable tubes so far.
For a one-tube solution the Tesla ECC88's are an easy choice, however they're about double (still not bad considering they're NOS) what the plain-pin JJ E88CC's cost. The JJ is a close second on sound quality, and the fact that it's the least expensive of all the tubes in this shootout is a bonus. The high performance yet frugal solution for the N-F-P line stage is to use two Teslas and two JJ's, see below.
My tweaker favourite for the N-F-P is a combination of the Teslas for the gain tubes and the JJs in the output position. Refer back to Part one for a full description of this.
Before starting in on the second batch of tubes, I'm going to refresh my ears with the Tesla/JJ combination, as they have the sound to beat, so far.
I'm starting off Part 2 with some of the Russian-made tubes. True confession time first; I've always had a tough time liking the Russian 6DJ8 equivalents. Any I've heard up to now have been from the Soviet (USSR) era, and either sounded bland and uninvolving, or kind of harsh and a bit fatiguing; but I'm willing to give them another go. Things have changed a lot, though some not for the better in Russia, since the Berlin wall came down in 1989. Many Russian tubes I quite like, the ones in my ARC gear come to mind specifically, and the Electro-Harmonix 6CG7 is my second favourite tube of this type – and only slightly bettered by a rare NOS GE.
NOS. Thetubestore.com $59.95 US ~$81 CDN.
Speaking of 1989, the 6H23p-EB tube pictured on Thetubestore's web site is date-coded as being manufactured in November 1989 – the month and year the Berlin wall came down! Just seeing the boxes they came in, with the Cyrillic text and "Made in USSR", made me want to get out my DVD of Roger Waters The Wall Live in Berlin.
Sound: The 6H23p-EB tube is refined, restrained and nuanced. Starting with the bass, the 6H23p-EB is slightly less forceful, but more controlled and articulate than the Tesla ECC88/JJ E88CC combination. The midrange is nicely detailed. Male and female vocals are more present and detailed as well. The twang of guitar strings in Knopfler's Golden Heart is more apparent. This increased detail is not at the expense of treble smoothness : it's nicely detailed, yet doesn't seem to overemphasize the vocal sibilance of the McLachlan and McKennitt tracks. There is, on occasion, a very slight treble hardness, but this is a minor failing in light of all the things this tube does well. I have about 90 hours on these tubes and it would not surprise me if this would smooth out a bit more by the 200 hour mark. Dynamically, these tubes are a bit buttoned down, compared to the Tesla ECC88/JJ E88CC combo. But the articulate midrange and treble draws you in to the music and makes the slight shortcomings easy to forgive. The price is reasonable for the performance offered, and certainly seems like a bargain compared to the high prices and questionable performance of some of the NOS tubes I reviewed in Part 1.
Conclusion: I wasn't expecting the 6H23p-EB to be this good; still, it's a bit pricey if you need more than a pair. I hope the current production Genelex and Electro-Harmonix can give it a run for the money.
Rating: 85 Recommended. I would score it higher, but it exceeds my US $50 self-imposed limit. If your system craves a bit of midrange magic that has eluded it so far, these might be just the thing, and the extra 10 or 20 bucks a tube might seem like a small price to pay to get it.
A wall of these is good!
Current production. Thetubestore.com $45.95 US ~$62 CDN.
Sound: This Russian-made tube comes hard on the heels of the Reflector 6H23p-EB. It sounds surprisingly similar in many ways. Generally speaking, the Genalex sounds a little more up-front than the 6H23p-EB. Compared to the 6H23p-EB, the bass of the Genalex is a bit more tuneful and controlled but very slightly less deep. The midrange is good, with nice guitar twang on the aforementioned Golden Heart. Male vocals are nicely present, but the female vocals in the McLachlan and McKennitt tracks are just a smidge less so, compared to the 6H23p-EB. I can't fault the Genalex – it's just that the 6H23p-EB is a little bit more, for lack of a better word, atmospheric. I'm really pleased to see, or should I say hear, a new production tube that sounds really good. It is a little pricey, but at least, or maybe I should say at last, there is current production tube that is good enough to be compared with any tube in the 6DJ8 family, new or NOS. It was also easy to get a good electrical balance on the quad of Genalex, see description below.
Conclusion: A winner. It's good to see a new production tube that can give the decent NOS some competition.
Rating: 85 Recommended. I'm scoring this the same as the 6H23p-EB, even though I like the 6H23p-EB a little bit more. It counts that the Genalex is almost $20 CDN a tube less.
To calibrate my ears, I put my personal set of Tesla ECC88's back into the N-F-P. Though still appealing, they are noticeably, though not by a lot, less nuanced than the Genalex and the 6H23p-EB. I do, however, like the way that the Teslas seem a little bit more exuberant and let go of the notes a little easier than either of the two buttoned-down Russians.
While I wait for the JJ E88CC gold pin and the Tesla ECC88 to break in, I want to describe the procedure I'm using to monitor tubes as I run them through the line stage. This falls into the, DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME, category. If you aren't comfortable probing around in a live component, don't try this. If you fry yourself or your component, don't blame me. You have been warned. Refer to the Aikido circuit diagram in Part 2 of my line stage series.
I measure the voltage across the cathode resistors, approximately 0.7 volt across R2 (1 for each channel) and approximately 0.5 volt across R11 (1 for each channel). Though this is not a definitive tube 'test' it will give you a rough idea of tube health. The Aikido circuit is direct coupled (no capacitor) between the input tube and the output tube. The current draw of the output tube will be influenced to some degree by the current through the input tube.
Even though the voltage you will be measuring is innocuous, there could be other dangerous and potential fatal voltages nearby. One wrong move and things could get ugly fast.
The Aikido circuit in the N-F-P line stage is pretty tame, with a B+ of 80 volts, so the risk in this case is fairly low. If you aren't comfortable doing this, don't try it. On a different component than the Aikido circuit in the N-F-P, the cathode resistors will of course be different, and other voltages could be significantly higher too. You'll need the circuit diagram for your component if you attempt to make measurements. In the case of the Aikido, that uses four of the same tube, I'll switch them around to try to get the best balance of voltage readings. V1 and V2 matching. V3 and V4 matching.
During the shootout, one channel dropped in volume after only 3 or 4 hours of use. A quick voltage measurement isolated the tube that had faded. This is why I go on about running up a few hours on new tubes as soon as you receive them, even if you're not planning on putting them to use immediately. If you purchase tubes from a reputable vendor, it should not be a problem getting a replacement. Buying on an auction site from a cowboy half a world away will have a far less certain outcome.
Current production. Thetubestore.com $24.95 US ~$34 CDN.
This is the gold pin version of the standard tube tested in part 1. I'm going to change it up a bit and listen to some different tracks from my standard fare. I'll listen to some Stevie Ray Vaughan, Yellowjackets from Live Wires and Loreena McKennitt from The Book Of Secrets. I'll listen to the JJ Gold Pin tubes first, then switch over to the plain JJ's I wrote about in part 1.
Sound: As expected, the Gold Pin (GP) and the Plain Pin (PP) sound more alike than different. Sensory memory being notoriously poor, I did listen to the same tracks within an hour or so of each other. There were some slight differences, I'll get into those in a moment, but these could be accounted for by the following; my PP tubes were likely manufactured a few years earlier than the GP tubes, and there are about 250 hours on the PP versus slightly less than 100 on the GP. In general, both sets are not the ultimate in resolution and control but damn, they are musical. I defy anyone to put on their favourite toe tapping tune and keep their foot still while listening to these tubes. The GP has slightly more refined highs, and a bit better bass control. The PP is slightly more, and I'm stretching here, exuberant. I would expect they would sound even more alike, once the hour count on the GPs crosses the 200 mark.
Conclusion: You can't go wrong with either tube, and their price relative to other plain pin or gold pin tubes is competitive. Is the gold pin tube worth an extra $14 CDN? I can't answer that except to say that if your stereo dungeon is in a humid part of the house, i.e. the basement, the gold pin tube might prove the better bet in the long run.
Rating: 65 Recommended. I'm rating these the same as the plain pin tubes, as they are so similar.
NOS. Thetubestore.com $29.95 US ~$40 CDN.
These tubes are slightly different than the ones on Thetubestore website. They also sport factory code 32, which is preferred. See Tesla review in Part one for more details. As of this writing, the lower priced of the two Teslas on Thetubestore.com site are shown as out of stock. If you want some of these, just phone their toll free number if the site hasn't been updated yet.
Sound: Coming an hour or so after the JJ's above, these have a difference similar to the one between the JJ's and Teslas in Part 1 of this shootout. The Teslas are somewhat more detailed in the mids and treble than the JJ's. The bass, though slightly more taught, is not quite as deep as the JJ's. The Teslas are appealing, but the JJ's have an organic quality that I find attractive. As mentioned above, and in Part one, a pair of JJ's and a pair of Teslas make a good combination in the N-F-P. Like the JJ's above, my personal set of Teslas sound very slightly more refined – but again, this is probably down to mine having more hours on them. I couldn't get a decent voltage balance on my set, no matter how I juggled the tubes. I think my set came from the second-string players on the team. It was easy to get a good voltage balance on the Teslas from Thetubestore.
I have a phono stage on loan from a friend, that uses two 6DJ8 tubes. The tubes in it are NOS Amperex Holland E88CC's. The Amperex are quite microphonic, and have a bit of hiss as well. Just for fun, I replaced them with two of the Teslas on loan, and although they are not (to my knowledge) selected for low noise and microphonics, they are much better on both counts than the Amperex tubes.
Conclusion: These are a good sounding, though pricier alternative to the earthier sounding JJ's.
Rating: 70 Recommended. I'm rating these the same as the Teslas in Part 1. They sound nearly the same as my personal Teslas, but measure better electrically. They are twice the cost of the plain pin JJ's, but not bad for NOS. The Teslas have a different sonic perspective that some might think worth paying extra for.
Current production. Thetubestore.com $16.95 US ~$23 CDN.
Current production. Thetubestore.com $27.95 US ~$38 CDN.
Sound: The plain pin and gold pin tubes are indistinguishable sonically, so one description will suffice for both. I couldn't really warm up to these tubes…pun intended. It's not that they sound bad, but that they sound a bit bland. The bass is reasonably full, but not as distinct as I've heard from others in this survey. The midrange is OK, but doesn't really engage me. The treble is slightly rolled off. The bass, midrange and treble seem a bit like separate entities, and aren't working together. Maybe I'm a bit jaded after all the good tubes I've heard recently. It was difficult to get a reasonable electrical balance with these tubes.
Conclusion: Not my cup of tea sonically, but the plain pin version is affordable, and might be worth a try if your system needs to be mellowed out a bit.
Rating: 55 I'm sitting on the fence with these tubes. I'm not going to pass judgement with a recommendation or not.
It had been 4 or 5 days since listening to the N-F-P, as I'd been putting some hours on the E-H tubes. I'd wondered if maybe my memory had slipped a bit. Both Electro-Harmonix tubes and the Genalex have what appears to be identical internal construction. I'd liked the Genalex much more, so I popped them into the line stage and let them warm up for 20 minutes. The sonic performance of the Genalex just sails right on past the E-H tubes – as well it should for nearly 3 times the price of the E-H plain pin. The Genalex is more detailed and dimensional, and all parts of the spectrum are well synchronized. I could be wrong, but I suspect the E-Hs and the Genalex are made in the same factory (Editor's note: this is true, all current Russian production is under one factory roof). Could it be that the best ones are cherry-picked for Genalex labeling? I doubt we'll know but it wouldn't surprise me if this is the case. Word on the street, well, the internet, is that the Genalex are good tubes. I'd have to agree based on my time with the Genalex E88CC/6922. Don't you just hate it when the best costs more?
Like a fish story, there's always the tube that got away, too. I had hoped to borrow a set of NOS Hungarian-made Tungsram E88CC tubes from Thetubestore as well. They are listed on the web site, but were out of stock. Jon at Thetubestore said that the Tungsrams are tough to find. This likely means that stocks are dwindling. If that's the case then the Tungsrams out there could be the dregs, or that they are too pricey for the performance they offer, or both. Unless someone finds a shipping container or two of these, they might not be worth chasing down.
The lesson here is, if you fall in love with a particular tube, or any other part no longer being produced, grab 'em while you can. With tubes especially, put a dozen or so hours on them just to make sure they are alright before you squirrel them away. I know this from bitter experience when 3 of 4 tubes I purchased in a set were bad to start with or went bad after about an hour. They were purchased from a normally reputable vendor (not Thetubestore). I'd had them for over the 90 day warranty period before I used them, and well, you know where this story is headed. Luckily I'd had only spent about 20 bucks a tube, but it still rankles.
What about the 6N1P, you ask, it's only about 10 bucks? The 6N1P draws a lot more filament current, and the other electrical characteristics are much different, too. It is not a plug in replacement for the 6DJ8, no matter what you might see on the internet. The 6N1P isn't a bad tube, it's just that it's not even close in electrical characteristics to a 6DJ8.
Matsushita Japan, NOS: Pricey and bass shy.
Amperex 6922 USA, NOS: Very pricey, nasty midrange and treble.
Mullard E88CC Mitcham UK, NOS: Pricey and a bit disjointed sounding.
Electro-Harmonix 6922 Russia, new production, plain pin and gold pin: not bad, just didn't grab me.
JJ E88CC Slovakia, new production, plain pin and gold pin: Both are bargains, especially the plain pin. Neither one is the ultimate in bass control or treble extension, but they are engaging and fun. The plain pin is an inexpensive one to try, if you think a component in your stable would benefit from a change.
Tesla ECC88 Czech Republic, NOS: A good sounding tube, different from the JJ's but mixes well with them. A bit pricey, compared to the plain pin JJ's, but not bad for NOS. Another one I'd recommend, if you're looking to change up the sound of a component without spending big bucks. I'd buy this set, but I have a few like it in my stash already. Then again….
Genalex Gold Lion E88CC / 6922 Russia, new production: The most expensive new production tube in this survey, but might just be worth it. A clear, nuanced and direct but non-fatiguing sound. These are fine tubes, and as I write, Christmas is less than two weeks away. I'm going to ask Santa for a few of these.
Reflector 6H23p-EB Russia, NOS: Nicely detailed, but non-fatiguing midrange and treble is this tube's specialty. The bass is tuneful but slightly reticent, compared to some of the others surveyed. Interesting to try if you've exhausted all other possibilities. Not crazy expensive like some NOS, but at about $80 CDN a tube, they're not an impulse purchase either. I wouldn't mind having some of these stashed away as well. Wait, my birthday is fast approaching, maybe I'll drop a few hints to my lovely, kind, understanding and adorable wife.
Though not a complete survey of all 6DJ8s and its variants, I think I've covered most of the new production tubes, and a smattering of the NOS available. This should give audiophiles who use this tube a start on their search for one that will suit them best.
Most tube vendors offer matching for about US $5 a tube. In the case of dual triodes like these, it will ensure the sections within any one tube are a decent match. I think for pricey tubes, say anything over US $40, it's worthwhile. Or worthwhile for all tubes, if you're obsessive compulsive like me.
I kind of dumped on some expensive NOS tubes. I'm not suggesting they're all crap; I purposely didn't ask for anything real expensive from Thetubestore, because I wanted to keep my feet firmly planted in the real world. Great sound can be had without spending a ton of money. In fact, the Tesla and Reflector are decent NOS at not crazy-expensive prices.
I have a new found respect for all who do tube shootouts. They're a lot of work. I don't want to do another one of these anytime soon.
Many thanks to Thetubestore.com for the loan of tubes used in Part 2 of the shootout.
Nigel, thanks for your comment. Tube shootouts are a TON of work so I'm not going to tackle another one any time soon. I did a NOS comparison on some 12AU7 a few years ago and unfortunately the only ones I really liked were Telefunkens. That's not to say there are no good new tubes I just haven't listened to any. The Aikido phono stage I'm working on uses 12AX7s. Maybe I'll get to some of these in late 2017.
Totally agree wuthyou on the Reflector. It WAS my birthday and so I took a chance and purchased one for my Counterpoint preamp.
Wow! What a welcomed mid-range bump when compared to my Philips 6922 and my gold-pinned 6922 Russian Electro Harmonix.
Thanks for the eye (ear) opening review!!
You are spot on with your evaluation.
I have personally tested all the tubes in the survey and agree whole heartedly with your findings! GREAT JOB!!
Thanks for your kind comments Mr. Anderson. It's always nice to get some feedback, especially so if it's constructive.


Ok, on to our trip to Mexico! My friend Erin from Well Plated floated the idea of a work-cation to me several months ago, when we were lamenting for the umpteenth time that OMG why do we spend all winter here and where can we go to get away from it for a bit?! We both work remote full-time and wanted to take full advantage of being able to work from just about anywhere. Plus, that weird in-between time right after the holidays is kind of depressing/sad/really makes me want to move anywhere warm. So, to Puerto Vallarta we went!
To be honest, I got SO LUCKY. Casa Velas reached out to Erin with the offer to come to visit their beautiful resort for a few days, with a guest (aka me)! We really had no idea what to expect when we arrived, but walking into Casa Velas felt like visiting a private, gorgeous spa-like resort that is just quiet enough and has top-notch service. Talk about DREAMY! They greeted us with a frosty cold glass of what only can be described as the best refreshing green drink I've ever had. I think it was a combo of mint and cucumber, but whatever it was, I would like it all day every day, please and thank you.
After we got checked in and had a rundown of the resort, we went to our room and did a bit of exploring! One of the best things about Casa Velas is just how beautiful the grounds are. The resort is set on a golf course, with a large pool being the centerpiece of the resort and a chill vibe that we just couldn't get enough of. The on-site gym and spa are spacious, never too busy, and provide just about anything you could want on vacation. The staff was beyond helpful and amazing, which really made Casa Velas stand out from any other resort I've visited. One of the coolest things about the resort is that they grow a lot of their own food and herbs right on site, so the food and garnishes are fresh and super local to the area.
Our room was pretty much perfect! With enough space to spread out (hello, think about how many pairs of shoes two girls had on a trip) and a bathroom that can only be described as a total DREAMBOAT. I mean really, in my next house I would really like this shower and I wouldn't care about anything else. We, of course, dug into the amazing energy ball snacks that they left us and then hopped to it to get to the pool STAT. Also, did I mention that they had a service where you could rent handbags?! Jackpot!
Now, let's move on to the most important thing…the FOOD!
Emiliano– One of the coolest things about Casa Velas is that you get access to their resort, which has an on-site restaurant and bar plus their sister resort, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. Our first night, we ate dinner at the on-site Casa Velas restaurant, Emiliano. The restaurant is small enough to feel intimate, but big enough to have options for just about anyone. To be totally honest, we ordered a little bit of everything and I can't fully recall everything we had (there was a lot!), but I know Erin and I both ordered fish for our main meal and it was DELICIOUS! Both of our main dishes were cooked to perfection and were truly the best part of the meal. The staff was so kind and friendly, the food came out really quickly, and it was so nice to get to try a variety of appetizers, main courses, and of course, two desserts. This dinner felt like the perfect first-night dinner since we were still on-site and only had to walk a few steps to our room after stuffing ourselves to the max.
We also ate breakfast at Emiliano each day, starting off with fresh fruit juices, lots of coffee, and the most amazing huevos rancheros that I maybe (most definitely) ordered every morning. Also, the basket of pastries is AMAZING and not to be missed. We favored a corn muffin that was savory, sweet, and just all around perfection.
Sen Lin– On our second night, we were treated to reservations at Sen Lin, the Asian Fusion restaurant located at Casa Velas' sister resort, Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit. Grand Velas is a much larger property than Casa Velas, with something like 300 rooms vs. our smaller 80 room property. Sen Lin is one of the newer restaurants on the property and has a perfect casual/cool vibe that feels fancy enough, without being overly stuffy or fussy. I loved that it kind of felt like a favorite sushi restaurant, but offered up a little bit of everything on the menu.
First of all, when we arrived at Sen Lin and sat down, our very kind waiter offered us wraps, since the restaurant was just a bit chilly (I am LOLing right now, thinking about those -30 degrees temps we had this week and this place being 'chilly'). The cocktail of the night was a sake baked cocktail, with cucumber and a few other refreshing components that was out of the world AMAZING. We also started off the meal with the spicy papaya salad (could have eaten that salad FOREVER) and Vietnamese rolls. For dinner, I had the soft shell crab and it was SO good! I do still eat seafood on occasion, so this was the perfect place to try out a dish that I normally don't get to eat in the Midwest very often. For dessert, we tried the banana tempura (brb going to figure out a recipe for this ASAP) and creme brulee (classic, can never go wrong with it). Everything was pretty much perfection, it felt like we kept looking at each other and saying 'oh my gosh, now THAT is good!' and then diving back in for more bites of whatever came to the table. Between the perfectly orchestrated food and the amazing service, this meal was the one that really stood out to both of us on the trip.
Ocean Club– The Ocean Club was one of my favorite parts of the resort! While Casa Velas isn't right on the beach (it actually backs up to a beautiful golf course), they do have a property that is right on the beach that is a quick five-minute shuttle ride away. We spent most of a couple days at the ocean club, taking our computers down to the beach chairs and hoping the wi-fi worked (it did!) so we could sit near the ocean and be productive all at once, win-win! The vibe of the Ocean Club is very casual, lunch is a mixture of salads, burgers, seafood, and of course, chips and salsa/guac. We ate lunch here a couple days in a row and loved it both times! We tried a dish that was a cross between curry/fried rice and it was the standout favorite. It was a little spicy, somehow a little sweet, and loaded with veggies, so we could balance out all the other indulgent treats from the week.
We also had dinner at the Ocean Club on our last night, which ended up exceeding all our expectations! We arrived just about as the sun was setting and sat near the pool to eat dinner. It was a gorgeous setting for our last night at the resort! We ordered a mix of what was on the menu for the night and ended up being the most impressed by…the Irish coffee! Erin suggested Irish coffees to cap off our night and while we expected a cup of coffee with a little booze mixed in, what we got was next LEVEL. They rolled out a cart with everything on it and did this amazing show of heating up the glasses, mixing in ice cream, and basically making the fanciest Irish coffee I've ever had in my life. Afterward, we stopped at the resort bar for a nightcap and our waiter ended up being so kind and convincing the kitchen to make us one last batch of chips and salsa for the night. Like I said, the service was AMAZING!
Room Service– I should also mention…the room service! At Casa Velas, room service is totally included in the whole package, so why not order a bottle of champagne and a few appetizers while we get ready for dinner? BEST idea ever. Being able to order a snack at any time was pretty much the best ever and I'm 100% on board with this idea forever and always.
One last part about the resort, the spa! The spa is on-site at Casa Velas and feels basically like a private oasis that you just never want to leave. We were booked in for massage appointments after we were done working one day and had the best experience. I figured we would just walk in and have our massages, like a usual spa experience. We ended up being treated to an amazing experience of a sauna, steam room, and then very relaxing massage that ended with tea and cookies. YES please! This was one of the best massages I've ever received, with the staff taking into account any special areas of focus and making the whole experience extremely relaxing. 10/10 would absolutely do this again.
Needless to say, Puerto Vallarta was the PERFECT place for a quick after-holiday getaway and I can totally see myself going back. Casa Velas was a great mix of quiet, relaxed, and all around luxurious. Between the delicious food, amazing staff, and gorgeous weather, I am so ready to schedule in my next vacation!
OK, my bags are packed. When are we leaving?
ASAP! Would LOVE to go back!
It was so fun! Ha, it isn't it's the mat for inside the shower, but it totally looks like one!


7-15 minutes long sightseeing tandem flight 500 metres above the ground for 1 person.
Paraplan.lv Riga From 7 to 15 min.
Enjoy a lovely view of Riga and Jurmala , lake view Babites and the Lielupe River , the new see all the beautiful Latvia!


text:
Rag and Bone: the graphic novel!
29th February 2016 /5 Comments/in Books /by KJ Charles
I am thrilled to announce that, in line with the publication of Rag and Bone, artist Mila May has created a graphic novel-style version of the events of chapter 2. Which are, let me say, quite sinister events.
Rag and Bone continues the story of Ned Hall, waste-man, and Crispin Tredarloe, accidental warlock, who first appeared in 'A Queer Trade'. (You don't have to read 'A Queer Trade' first. I would, but hey, I'm that sort of person. Anyway, it's 99c. What can go wrong?)
Ahem. So we're in the Victorian London of my Charm of Magpies series. Ned buys and sells used paper from his store next door to a rag and bottle shop. Crispin's life is slightly more complicated. He was trained to use his magical powers via a pen made from his own fingerbone that writes in his own blood–a dangerous, unlawful practice. He could be arrested for it, but that's the least of his problems: a blood pen can steal your soul.
Luckily, after the events of 'A Queer Trade', Crispin's been learning to manage his magic the proper way, without using the illegal blood pen. So everything's absolutely fine now. Right?
Without further ado: I give you Mila May's Rag and Bone.
Rag and Bone is out now from Samhain.
Mila May is available for character art, covers and more. Her attention to detail slays me every time.
Rag and Bone will be my last book with Samhain, as they are very sadly closing their doors. They have been a wonderful publisher to work with, taking on my first book out of the slush pile at a time when Victorian paranormal m/m romance wasn't even a subgenre yet. My editor Anne Scott has been endlessly helpful and supportive; all my covers with Samhain are glorious, from Lou Harper, Angela Waters, Kanaxa, and Erin Dameron-Hill. I will miss them quite painfully and they are a massive loss to the romance community and to publishing. I'm glad Rag and Bone made it out under their aegis. They are still in business, just not taking on new titles as they wind down, so check them out here.
https://kjcharleswriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Rag-and-Bone-small-1.jpg 300 200 KJ Charles https://kjcharleswriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/header3.jpg KJ Charles2016-02-29 14:33:082016-02-29 14:33:08Rag and Bone: the graphic novel!
Jackdaw: Valentine's Day. The Graphic Novel.
My new book Jackdaw releases on 17 February. And I have the mother of all teasers for you.
"Jackdaw: Valentine's Day" is a Jackdaw prequel, drawn by the magnificently talented artist Mila May. It features our heroes Ben and Jonah, who appears in the previous book Flight of Magpies, and as you will see, things are going swimmingly for them.
Individual pages follow, and there's a pdf link at the bottom for download.
Happy Valentine's Day from me and Lyudmila. I hope yours is better than Ben and Jonah's…
Jackdaw Valentine's Day(1)
If you stop running, you fall.
Jonah Pastern is a magician, a liar, a windwalker, a professional thief…and for six months, he was the love of police constable Ben Spenser's life. Until his betrayal left Ben jailed, ruined, alone, and looking for revenge.
Ben is determined to make Jonah pay. But he can't seem to forget what they once shared, and Jonah refuses to let him. Soon Ben is entangled in Jonah's chaotic existence all over again, and they're running together—from the police, the justiciary, and some dangerous people with a lethal grudge against them.
Threatened on all sides by betrayals, secrets, and the laws of the land, can they find a way to live and love before the past catches up with them?
This story is set in the world of the Charm of Magpies series.
KJ Charles https://kjcharleswriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/header3.jpg KJ Charles2015-02-13 10:17:362015-02-13 10:17:36Jackdaw: Valentine's Day. The Graphic Novel.