Organic Soul

What are some natural cures for sore or Strep Throat?

Dr. Berka — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:01:40 +0000

"My throat has been killing me, and I think it might be Strep Throat. What are some truly effective treatments for this? Does it matter what type of salt I gargle with? Is Listerine a better choice?"

Sore throats can be one of the first signs of a more serious problem. Generally, sore throats are caused by exposure to infectious agents such as bacteria or viruses. It is also quite common to have allergic reactions to food, inhalants, or other environmental agents that can be responsible for creating an inflammatory response. But in most cases, sore throats are caused by viral infections and not strep throat. This is primarily why I do not like to prescribe antibiotics for sore throats initially. The rampant prescribing of antibiotics has led to the evolution of resistant strains that have become difficult to treat. If the culprit is a virus, then antibiotics are ineffective. If your sore throat is caused by a virus, then gargling salt water may make you feel better, but it would better to suck on zinc lozenges. Zinc can shorten the course of both bacterial and viral infections. If you do have strep, then gargling with salt may not work or may even irritate the throat more. I think it is important to note one thing: there are potential complications for untreated strep throat that include kidney failure, rheumatic and scarlet fever. However, the progression into more serious complications is the exception rather than the rule. Of course, if you catch a sore throat early, there are ways to enhance your odds of not getting sick. Our immune systems are as unique as our personality, and when a virus or bacteria attempts to enter your body (throat), your immune cells take action! It is always a good idea to support them at first sign of a sore throat.

Sip Warm Fluids, Avoid Sugar

Sipping warm water or tea throughout the day can be quite effective at soothing a sore throat. Add honey, mint and/or lemon; but definitely NO sugar. Sugar can decrease the function of your immune cells. Beat a sore throat with a dual approach. Strengthen the immune system and eliminate the cause.

Sleep Deep!

One of the strongest natural remedies that strengthens the immune system is sleep. No kidding. Deep sleep. If you can take the day off, do it. Your body will heal much faster with less stress. Stress is the number one cause of a low functioning immune system. If you cannot or choose not to stay home, then have a plan for the day.

Add Some Herbs!

In addition to the warm tea or water, there are many herbs and nutrients that can help. One of my favorite anti-bacterial and anti-viral herbs is Olive leaf (Olea europaea). It is worth having a bottle on hand at all times. While liquids absorb slightly quicker and have a more immediate effect, capsules and soft gels are easy to transport and take throughout the day. Olive leaf should be taken in between meals.

Eat What's Easy, Avoid Listerine, and Diversify

Eat easily digestible foods if you are feeling hungry. Soups and broths are sometimes very satisfying when you are not feeling well. Next, I do not advocate using Listerine for reasons beyond the Scope of this response (no pun). Vitamin C can also be very effective at enhancing immune function along with certain mushrooms such as Cordyceps, Reishi, and Maitaki. If a sore throat is really stubborn and I choose not to prescribe antibiotics, I use a pure form of colloidal silver (200ppm) sprayed directly into the back of the throat. This is another item that should be on hand all the time. If the sore throat is not gone by the end of the day, or was better but at night it feels worse, employ the power of water or hydrotherapy (wet socks treatment). Over half of my patients completely recover the next morning after employing the wet sock treatment. Usually, people can recover on their own from a mild sore throat with just a little rest and the recommendations that I made above. But if this has been going on for more than a few days and/or it is getting progressively worse quickly, you should go to the doctors and have a throat culture done. It would be better to know if it is strep or not. Get well soon!

Balancing Blocks

Jesse Richardson — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:01:14 +0000

Get a glimpse at some balance blocks in motion. Made as a behind-the-scenes of Fort Standard, a producer of balancing blocks, this neat little short is just plain fun to watch. From the basic block to the smoothed, contoured, and colored balancer, this wood definitely has a story to tell!

Chicken Marinated in a Cinnamon, Oregano, Lemon, Tomato Sauce

Sharee Morris — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:00:09 +0000

This is another one of my easy chicken dishes made in a 9 by 13 pan and allowed to bake for 1 ½ to 2 hours. The result is a very tender, flavorful chicken with an amazing tomato sauce flavored with cinnamon, oregano and lemon that is great served over orzo.

Ingredients:

5 organic boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons oregano
Juice of 2 organic lemons
1 onion, chopped
3 cups organic pasta sauce (25 ounce jar)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a medium sized bowl, combine the pasta sauce, cinnamon, oregano, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
In a sauté pan, brown the chopped onion in a tablespoon of oil. This step can be eliminated and you can add the onion raw to the sauce. Browning the onion adds a nice color and taste.
In a 9 by 13 pan, place the chicken breasts, add the onions and pour the sauce over the chicken.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 ½ to 2 hours until the chicken is very tender.
The sauce is so good, be sure to serve with orzo or another pasta to create a complete meal!

Pale Blue Dot

Jesse Richardson — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:01:54 +0000

Carl Sagan - astronomer, author, astrophysicist - narrates the story of the Pale Blue Dot, a tiny speck of light that contains all of human history. This humbling perspective helps us understand our place in the universe, challenging our preconceptions and imagined self-importance. Text from the video: I've been enrolled in illustration at Sheridan College for the the last 4 years and this is my final thesis project. I have always thought of Carl Sagan's writings as "scientific poetry" since they lack the cold touch that science is often cursed for having. I think Sagan's words resonate more than ever, and will continue with each generation until the human species "wakes up". The first time I heard this excerpt from his book "Pale Blue Dot" it literally changed my life, and I hope it does for you too. Enjoy. Written and Narrated: Carl Sagan Music: Hans Zimmer "You're So Cool" Art and Animation: Adam Winnik

Overcoming Oil with Algae

Jesse Richardson — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:01:18 +0000

Our world is in crisis. Oil is dwindling as a resource, and governments must act quickly to address the problem, plan a solution, and move forward. The United States is no exception and, as a matter of fact, may be in the worst position of any nation, spending about $180 billion a year on oil (not counting the Ministry of Oil Defense, of course). Because of this, the nation must act quickly to overcome its dependency issue. That’s no easy feat, though, with the United States using about 19.64 million barrels of oil per day. The nation needs another resource to help transition to a cleaner, more independent and stable energy market. One proposed solution is algae biofuel. Algae, a photosynthetic organism, occurs in most habitats and exists in both simple, single-celled forms and complex, multi-cellular forms. Two things are needed for algae to be produced: sunlight and water. Algae production can be facilitated in bioreactors, greenhouses, or ponds. Solazyme, located in San Francisco, CA, is one of the first companies to start and use algae production, cultivating through biotechnology.

Advantages and How We’ll Use It

There are a few major benefits of algae biofuels that should be considered: first, it has a number of uses that are both practical and desirable; second, it is a renewable resource with little impact on the environment; finally, it can be mass produced with using little space and saltwater. All these benefits are topped off with the fact that algae is a great tool for carbon sequestration.

The Uses

One of the potential uses is using algae biofuel for our automobiles. Truckers today, for example, use biodiesel to drive their trucks across country. By incorporating this same practice into more vehicles, algae biofuel gives America an opportunity to reduce its dependence on foreign oil. Likewise, algae production can create jobs we lose in the oil industry. According to Matthew McDermott of Treehugger, an aggressive investment in algae biofuels can lead to replacing at least 17 percent of US imported oil. Other potential uses for algae are its ability to act as a fertilizer, stabilizing agent, food supplement, and as livestock feed. Using algae will curb the production of some sources of nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide, and other ozone-depleting chemicals into our atmosphere. Serving as an alternative to corn, it will also allow for more food production.

Low Impact Resource

There is an abundance of algae in the world, meaning we can produce large amounts of biofuel. In fact, algae can outpace corn as a source of biofuel, saving a food source for humans and animals. At the same time, algae can even be used as an alternative food source. In the end, however we use it, there isn’t much need for worry, environmentally speaking. Because algae are biodegradable and have a relatively small impact on the environment, it makes a lucrative environmental choice, which is why we are moving toward its use. Unlike algae, crude oil is a major sources of chemical pollutants that may negatively affect both human health and that of the environment.

Little Space and Using Saltwater

A key benefit of algae biofuel is that farmers are able to use seawater instead of freshwater for cultivation. This is huge advantage considering to the amount of water that exists today; how only 2 percent of the world’s water supply is fresh water and many areas in the world face fresh water crises. In stark contrast, 70 percent of the world (i.e the other 98% of water) is covered by salty seawater. Use this seawater as opposed to freshwater is invaluable by helping preserve freshwater for those who need it.

Some Drawbacks to Algae

Although algae seems to be promising, there are some drawbacks that must be addressed. First, algae biofuel still thrives in a world of infant science and new technology. Researchers need more evidence on the costs and benefits of having algae as a source of fuel. Long-term projections must be made and a transitional phase must be thought out. The second disadvantage stems directly from the first. Because the technology behind this is still new, the result of production has not been completely satisfying. One of the main problems with biofuel from algae, as stated on Oilgae.com, is that it gives out more nitrogen oxide emissions and tends to reduce fuel economy. As stated, “The energy content per gallon of biodiesel is approximately 11 percent lower than that of petroleum diesel.”

Considering Algae

Despite the debate around the topic, the United States should seriously consider algae biofuel as an element in their plan to work off fossil fuels. By investing in research, real progress can be made and the few disadvantages that exist can be tackled. At root, it’s key to understand that it demonstrates promise in lowering the dependence on foreign oil. This, in turn, will help fortify our economy by creating a new, domestic industry to create jobs and fuel the national GDP. Evidence of this is already appearing, as both public and private companies have already started to use this renewable energy. In time, through comprehensive plans that include initiatives like algae biofuel, the United States can become the world leader in renewable energy, sustainable development, and the green economy. Sunnie Kwok, environmental science major at the University of California, Riverside, provided research and collaboration on this article. Originally published June 29th, 2011.

Endure the Cold! Health Benefits of a Cold Shower

Jesse Richardson — Fri, 11 May 2012 07:01:16 +0000

Everyone has their morning routine, and showers are often a part of it (hopefully). Although it can be tough, especially after a few minutes of relaxing, warm showering, toughing it out and facing some cold water can really help keep your body healthy - and in more ways than one. Here’s a few reasons why you should endure a few minutes of cold water:

Number 1. Wake yourself up!

Cold water does a fabulous job at waking up the body (that’s why Moms throw it on the lazy child!). If you’re having a tough time getting going in the morning, taking a quick blast of cold water can perk you right up. This helps jump start both your mood and motivation for the day. It also helps you quickly finish bathing, which helps save water - always a good thing!

Number 2. Improve Skin and Hair

If you find yourself with dry skin and weak hair, taking a cold shower may be just what you need. Bathing your entire body in cold water for 2-4 minutes helps rejuvenate your skin and hair. After opening your pores and washing them out, you’ll naturally want to seal them back up! Cold water helps in a similar fashion when it comes to hair, too. After you wash your hair in warm water, using both your shampoo and conditioner, bathing in cold water helps close cuticles. This helps support hair strength and even comes with the added benefit of shiny, less frizzy appearing hair.

Number 3. Boost your Circulation

According to Alexa Fleckenstein, M.D., author of Health₂0, a cold shower helps train and improve your circulation. Cold water brings blood to the capillaries, boosting the circulatory system and releasing tight muscles. The improved circulation will actually help boost your mood and relieve physical and mental stress.

Number 4. Improve Immunity and other Bodily Functions

Dr. Fleckenstein goes on to mention that cold showers also enhance immunity, decreasing the likelihood of infections and even cancer. It does this by improving one’s lymphatic circulation. Additionally, in a study done by the Thrombosis Research Institute in England, taking cold showers correlated with an increase in the number of viruses fighting white blood cells. It also has the effect of strengthening your mucous membranes, helping your body combat allergies, colds, and hay fever.

Number 5. Increased Testosterone and Fertility

In the same study at the Thrombosis Research Institute, it was also found that cold showers increased testosterone in men. The added testosterone helped increase strength and energy levels, as well as libido. Likewise, it has been demonstrated that fertility in men also benefits with cold showers (or baths). The testes, which are naturally meant to avoid too much heat, benefit greatly from such practices, and in one study done by the University of California, San Francisco, men saw a 491 percent increase in sperm count, paralleled by an increase in sperm mobility.

Number 6. Save Energy – Boost the Health of the Environment

Although this isn’t much of a health benefit for a person, it’s still worth mentioning. Using cold water not only gets you out of the shower quicker, saving water, but it also saves energy needed to warm the water. Turning half of your shower into ‘cold time’ can help reduce energy consumption, and in extent, boost the health of the environment! Originally published Oct 9, 2011.

How many times can I use a Kombucha Mother?

Hannah Crum — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:09 +0000

[caption id="attachment_27443" align="alignright" width="200" caption="The SCOBY is the mother ship of bacteria & yeast."][/caption] The Kombucha Mother, also referred to as a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) is the mother ship that transports the bacteria and yeast from batch to batch of Kombucha tea. But how many times can it be used? Does it ever “die?" Typically a culture can be used for up to 10 brewing cycles before it atrophies and gives out. Since a new culture is produced with every batch, there really is no need to use the same old culture until it dies. You can detect decaying culture or weak bacteria by how easy it is to tear or rip the culture. You may notice your culture has died if it stops making Kombucha. I like to keep 1-2 cultures together from batch to batch. Then, when there are 3, I peel the bottom layer and put it in my SCOBY Hotel. I continue to use the top 1-2 cultures in the next batch and then repeat the proceedure. If you are using a Continuous Brewer, when you clean your vessel (every 2-4 months depending on how much Kombucha you are making), remove atrophied culture and either compost it, bury it in the garden or dispose of it in the trash. Here are some other great ways to use your old Kombucha mothers!

What do you do with your old Kombucha mothers? Leave a comment below!

Got questions about brewing Kombucha, fermented foods or traditional diets? Drop me a line at kombuchakamp@gmail.com or leave them in the comments below!

Resources: BREW YOUR OWN KOMBUCHA FREE KOMBUCHA RECIPE DIY GUIDE

Rethink Your Salts: Discovering Better Health with Life Ocean Salt

Jesse Richardson — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:42:19 +0000

Salt tends to get a bad rap here in the United States. It doesn’t take long to find arguments against the bitter table companion, with many pointing out that it – hands down – leads to higher blood pressure, excessive fluid retention, and can even cause liver problems. The CDC is even wanes against the use of salt. But is it all bad? And are all salts created equal? The short to both is no. First off, we've got to get these preconceived notions that salt is "bad" out of our minds. Salt is essential for healthy living. It maintains mineral balance in the body, helps with hydration, and is employed in every hospital across the world to save lives. Next, we have to realize that the sodium left in the body after salt intake is what can lead health problems such as high blood pressure. This is where the type of salt comes into play. The lower the sodium volume, the better the salt. Rather than break down every salt from here to the Himalayas, let's jump to the best. I've recently been introduced to Life Ocean Salt, or "nuti-masu," a company that has perfected a salt making process that is purer, better tasting, healthier, and, simply put, superior to all other salts. Based in Okinawa, the southernmost part of Japan, they use the cleanest, most see-through sea water on the planet in combination with an exclusive drying method to produce a salt unlike any other. (Worried about the recent disaster in Japan? Your salt is still safe. Read our note at the end of the story!) To be honest, at first, I was hesitant to assume there could even be a "best" salt. After tasting, researching, and speaking with the kind people at Life Ocean Salt, though, I can proudly say I've found a new staple for my home.

Life Ocean Salt: Grounded in Healthy Living

Let's start with a bit of background of the company. Rooting themselves in the philosophy that from seawater came life, and that there is a fundamental connectedness between all life and the character of the ocean, Life Ocean Salt does not shy away from suggesting you add a few grams of salt to your daily water bottle. To them, and indeed the Okinawan people, committing to this salt above others is a pathway to longer, more balanced life. Here's just a few statistics to consider: [arrowlist]

The occurrence of heart disease in Okinawa is one fifth of that in the US.
Prostate and ovarian cancer are less than one quarter of what it is in the US.
North American women face a 1 in 10 chance to develop breast cancer, whereas Okinawan women see a death rate of about 6 out of 100,000 from breast cancer.

[/arrowlist] Considering this, I began to wonder what served as the foundation of these tremendous statistics. Of course, a whole host of lifestyle related tendencies contribute to a more robust, healthy populace, but - as the adage goes - we are products of our environment. Okinawa sits in one of the major Blue Zones of the world. This illustrious seawater, from which Nuti Masu is born, may hold a secret - what makes this Okinawan sea salt so special?

From the Depths: More Minerals for Better Health, Better Taste with Nuti Masu

Looking at the mineral profile of Nuti Masu, it's clear why this salt is superior to others. The first thing to note is the abundance of minerals. Unlike other salts, which may only contain a handful (usually 5) of minerals, Life Ocean Salt contains an incredible 21 types of minerals, earning it a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. This is directly due to the fact that Nuti Masu leverages the strength and mineral capacity of Okinawan sea water, which gushes from 2000 meters deep and is know as Black Tide. To better understand just how Nuti-masu makes their salt, I sat down with Yusuke Tokashiki, Japanese native and the great great grandson to Mr. Tsu-kan Tokashiki, chief in-house medical doctor who worked with the royal families of King Sho. He explained how, through the internationally patented "Instant Mist Dry Method", Life Ocean Salt delicately separates the minerals from seawater, giving the effect of snowy, fluffy paradise (click the image to the left to see the process, and the image at the top of the article for a better look at the real thing). This process makes Life Ocean Salt unique, explained Tokashiki, and it all started as an invention by the President of the company. As he explained:

The President of Nuti-masu, or Life Ocean Salt, Mr. Takayasu, invented this production and really hopes to make everyone on the planet healthier and better able to enjoy longer life by using and incorporating Nuti-masu into their diet. To him, crafting and making this tremendously healthy and delicious salt available for all is his mission for the rest of his life.

As I sat and continued to chat with Yusuke, I was pleased to hear more of this real passion behind this product. While it has been available in Japan for over 10 years, the company has never once sacrificed quality for mass production, and continues to follow that principle today. In fact, Tokashiki and his company C.T.M Project Management, LLC, where he serves as President, is the only one authorized distributor of Life Ocean Salt here in the US, helping to keep quality control and a hand on manufacturing demand. (C.T.M Project Management actually works with several healthy, mineral-rich based Okinawan foods, and will be introducing them steadily via Organic Soul and our friends at Conscious Box - keep an eye out!) Without fail, Life Ocean Salt produces batch after batch, each as fortified as the last. And fortified it is. This mineral balance, as demonstrated in studies done by the Kyoto University Graduate School, Saitama Medical School, and Kyushu University Graduate School, is one that prevents sodium accumulation in the body, protects blood vessels and enhances learning ability, and systemically tastes better. Simply put, this business has the best of both worlds: a strong human element, fueling it with passion and creativity, and an unbeatable, truly remarkable product that really works and benefits consumers of all walks of life.

Discover Life Ocean Salt

Though this anecdotal evidence of superiority was convincing, what really did it for me was tasting and using the salt in my own dishes. I have grown accustom to Himalayan Salt, but to be frank, this salt seemed to both blend better and was easier to control. If you're interested in trying this out for yourself, head over to the Life Ocean Salt shop. Also, for those of us in California, New York, and Hawaii, you can expect to find Life Ocean Salt stocking the shelves of Nijiya Market, a well-known and respected source for healthy eastern cuisine. So next time someone tells you salt is bad for you, remember first that it is actually necessary for better health, and indeed, better life. Then remember that instead of pointing them in the direction of table salt, tell them about Life Ocean Salt, the world's healthiest, most delicious salt. When ordering, be sure to use promo code "OSLOS" during checkout for an additional $2 off your order! **The Okinawa islands are in the Pacific and is the southernmost part of Japan, 2000 miles away from the Eastern Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster that occurred in early 2011. Though regionally it is closer than the US, there have been NO toxic elements or radiation detected by independent laboratory testing at the Life Ocean Salt facility, who, of course, take their healthy salt very seriously. Until reason for concern is presented by independent testing, Organic Soul supports the promotion and use of Life Ocean Salt!

Understanding the Triple Bottom Line, its Shortcomings, and the Solution

Jesse Richardson — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:01:14 +0000

"People, planet, profit – the Triple Bottom Line." While it seems straightforward enough, the Triple Bottom Line is ripe with complexity, criticism, and alternating conceptions on what exactly it means. What are the criteria by which we evaluate each bottom line? Is it possible to do so accurately and objectively? And, finally, does the Triple Bottom Line actually offer a philosophically useful business tool, or is it just hot air?

The Idea

The TBL is accredited to a number of people, but some of the earliest public mention of it was with the management think-tank AccountAbility. More popularly, John Elkington used it in his 1997 book Cannibals With Forks: The Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business. Since then, the term has become prominent in corporate rhetoric, as well as the rhetoric of environmentalism. But what does it mean? Sustainability Dictionary provides one of the clearest definitions: The Triple Bottom Line requires “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Wikipedia even does a nice job at it: “The triple bottom line captures an expanded spectrum of values and criteria for measuring organizational (and societal) success: economic, ecological and social.” While the idea is here, there is much more required to actually develop a corporate tool. Many argue that, yes, we need to take environment and people into consideration, but many others chime back, how? As one would assume, offering only a piece of the puzzle has ended up generating much criticism.

The Criticisms

Many scholars and businesspersons have raised concerns about the conceptual standing of the TBL, as well as its practical functioning. While not much academic writing has been generated about the TBL, Wayne Norman, a professor of ethics at Duke, and Chris MacDonald*, an associate professor of philosophy at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Canada, also raise concerns. Here are some of the summarized criticisms: “The TBL is vague and for all intents and purposes, already in effect” It’s easy to say “People, planet, profit”, but it’s hard to say what we mean by those things. Corporations and businesses alike are in fact concerned with the nature of these aspect inherently in the standard operation of business. People is what any business focuses on; by definition, the people are the only reason the business exists. Similarly, businesses must always focus on the resources they require, government regulations, and public relations in regards to the environment. That said, once we discern the ideas behind our first two P’s, it would be prudent to investigate whether or not corporations already take these into account, which – by and large – the critics of TBL argue they do. “There is no standardized way to track or report social and environmental performance” Let’s say, for example, we flesh out exactly what we mean when we say people and profit. A strong bottom line for “People”, in this case, will require socially desirable, culturally acceptable, and psychologically nurturing causes (as put by Sustainable Dictionary). Planet, on the other hand, will require environmentally robust ideas, generationally sensitive production, and an environment that is capable of continuous upkeep and learning. So, we understand what we mean, but how do we quantify this? How do we arrive at the bottom line of people and planet? For a corporation to abide by the TBL, surely we expect them to report on social and environmental performance in addition to financial. We need something analogous to “profit/loss.” “Even if we can track and develop methodology to measure social and environmental performance, to what will we compare to for an objective evaluation” Norman and MacDonald raise this issue in their paper “Getting to the Bottom of ‘The Triple Bottom Line’”. Let’s say we decide to track employee information like demographics, satisfaction, and annual ‘lives lost’ (for example, the engineers who died in the recent BP accident). To paraphrase Norman and MacDonald, let’s say 20 percent of the corporate management if women and 7 percent are visible minorities - that's 27 percent, but of what? Is that a good proportion for each group? Is it a bad one? To what do we compare it to? Similarly, let’s say 80 percent of employees said they were “satisfied” with the business, 15 percent said “unsure”, and 5 percent said “unsatisfied”. Does that fulfill the obligation to people? If public polling was in place, what numbers or standard would we compare the results to? Likewise, is BP contributing to or causing the death of 11 employees a high or low number for a company that operates on a global scale?

Amending the TBL and Turning it Into a Tool

Even as supportive of the TBL as I am, I cannot ignore the glaring shortcomings and potential philosophical barriers that seem to plague the conception of multiple bottom lines. While these concerns may be valid, the TBL can still be useful – especially if it is amended and revised. Measuring People and Plant When developing a measure of people and planet, we must first remind ourselves that unlike profit, these things do not add up or reduce to some specific value. With finances, we enjoy a dollar value that allows for us to calculate our costs and revenues. With social and environmental measures, however, the currency is much more abstract, making it difficult to obtain, no doubt. Norman and MacDonald mention this difficulty and suggest it may even be impossible to quantify or track in a objective fashion these two criteria. However, while we may not be able to calculate as clearly the measures of social and environmental performance, we can nonetheless track it. When tracking ‘people’ there are two aspects a business must pay attention to: first, its employees, and second, the people in the community/region in which it operates. (Consumers are left out because businesses, as stated above, are already constantly polling and gauging social reaction to products). With employees, we are looking not only for satisfaction and demographic makeup, but also for job mobility. Tracking this data can we achieved through the polling discussed earlier, as well as data gathering on past employees and their ventures. In the second sense, the communities surrounding a business’s or corporations operations should be polled or at least considered. It would not be impossible to have communities assemble committee that could develop and articulate goals and concerns of said communities. Further, because it is in the community's own interest, this would not be expensive - the people would volunteer for an audience with corporate directors. For a company reporting this, they should investigate all actions that may affect the society’s health, property value, and economic standing. Sampling polling on the community sentiments toward the company would also be revealing. Some may argue that this research is similarly hard to gather, but I suggest a commonsensical approach: is the company using chemicals known to cause disease or cancer? Does it leach into water supplies? What natural habitats are being destroyed, if any, and how the company relocate or replace it? Does the aesthetics of a company decrease the value of property in the area (i.e. are 10-story smoke stacks looming in the distance of every home)? How does the company influence the communities economic standing; that is, how many jobs does it supply to the community, and if it were to go under, how many in the community would be put at risk? As far as evaluation goes, I suggest that is up to the shareholders and people (i.e. the citizens/community members) themselves. Because no standardization exists in a perfect form, we should allow the people (as well as their officials) to judge the performance of the business in a constructive manner. The key here is that the company must report these figures, questions, and faults. Planet works in the same manner: what resources are required for the business to function? In the area that the business resides, how long will it take to deplete those resources? What can the company do to alleviate those costs, reinvest in those resources, and decrease ecological impact? Are there chemicals or practices in place that threaten native species? How can the company safeguard the flora and fauna while still making a profit? Like people, we simply need to report it; stakeholders, citizens, and officials can evaluate it, and the company can do its best to react. This, in essence, is what provides an ethical appeal to deliberation - we take into consideration the voices of those affected.

The Real Triple Bottom Line

While the methodology remains murky (something I will return to in later revision and articles, no doubt), the real purpose of the Triple Bottom Line may be beginning to be pinned down. That said, let’s revise our previous definition: People – A company must consider the social implications of business; it should track effect on staff and those in the communities they operate in (even in developing countries, i.e. what social benefit is being brought to XYZ village?). Qualitatively, it can use polling, and quantitatively, it can track jobs created, job mobility, salary in comparison to other companies, and property value. Planet – A company must also consider environmental impact; it should track its pollution, the severity of that pollution, and ways to curb that pollution. Qualitatively, it should avoid being conservative in its evaluation of importance of natural habitats – the company should always choose to operate in the lowest-impact area for business. Quantitatively, it can track the raw amount of pollution, the amount of clean up, the land used, and the development costs to the land. Profit – A company must also consider financial soundness; this is much more easily tracked by totaling a company’s total expenses to a company’s total income. A discussion about these outcomes can be presented at board meetings, and they should also be presented publicly, as well as sent to local administration for evaluation. Third-parties can come in and do the job of measurement for objectivity’s sake, but ideally a company would track this for its own good. The thing we must remember here is that despite the methodological shortcomings of determining the TBL, we must recognize it first as principle: we have an obligation to practice social responsibility as citizens, and corporations and business is not exempt. Organic Soul will revisit this model, revise it, and continue the discussion on the utility of the TBL in the future. *Chris MacDonald also addresses broad issues of business ethics and corporate social responsibility on his blog, BusinessEthicsBlog.com. Originally published January 26, 2011.

Hearing Things? No, You’re Not Going Crazy

Jesse Richardson — Thu, 03 May 2012 07:01:07 +0000

Ever feel like there is a buzzing right outside your window? Maybe an alarm going off somewhere? Maybe even what sounds like rushing water or a jackhammer? To many, once they search endlessly for the source of the noise, they come up with nothing besides this: "I must be going crazy. There is no jackhammer, waterfall, or alarm - it is in my head!" Truth is, you're right, but only about it being in your head, not about you being crazy. What you may be experiencing is musical ear syndrome (MES)*. Phantom voices, music, eerie sounds like those above, and other strange noises plague a number of people both deaf and hard of hearing. While you are hearing things, it's not cause for as much concern as you likely are investing in it.

Musical Ear Syndrome - The Source of the Noises

These sounds, by all means, are hallucinations. As defined by the Center for Hearing Loss Help "hallucinations are phantom sensory phenomena in the absence of real external sensory stimuli." Sounds rough, but don't fret. The first thing to realize about MES is that, while they are auditory hallucinations, their existence does not mean you're crazy or going crazy (a key reason for this is below). In fact, they're pretty common in people, especially those with hearing trouble already. The CHLH actually states that auditory hallucinations are the most common type of hallucination for your five senses!

A Key Difference in "Hearing Things"

There is a key distinction to be made in regards to hearing things, though. Be sure to keep in mind that there are two forms of auditory hallucinations: psychiatric auditory hallucinations and non-psychiatric auditory hallucinations. Just from the names, you can probably guess which one you'd like to have instead of the other. Psychiatric auditory hallucinations are the hallucinations you have to worry about. These usually involves voices speaking directly to you clearly and distinctly - addressing you specifically, perhaps telling you to think something or to act a certain way. These voices talk to or about you, making them personal and meaningful. These voices are those that you cannot seem to control or seem foreign to you. (This, of course, shouldn't be confused with your conscience or inner conscious, which is just the sound of you determining what is "good or bad" or just thinking - sort of like the voice you might hear as you read this sentence.) On the flip side, we have non-psychiatric auditory hallucinations. These hallucinations are the common ones and often involves random noises, music, murmurs, and incoherent, non-personal chatter. Unlike psychiatric auditory hallucinations, these sounds are not meaningful or direct to or about you. These may even sound like radio play in the other room, giving them a vocal quality but not in a clear, upfront fashion.

The Solution

If you find yourself suffering from psychiatric auditory hallucinations, that still doesn't mean you're "going crazy." There are a multitude of reasons this may be happening, and the best way to find out is to consult your doctor. If you have non-psychiatric auditory hallucinations, though, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, one of the main theories behind MES is that when your world gets quite, your brain begins to "manufacture" its own sounds. With that in mind, you may consider keeping that radio on a bit to give yourself something to work with. Next, though, keep in mind that if you've gone under difficult stress, anxiety, or depression, you may be more likely to manufacture these sounds as well. While this is not fully understood, just know that the sounds may be due to your mind coping with external stressors. Try to take some time for yourself everyday and improve your mental balance - this will likely lead to overall better health. Finally, don't worry about it too much! Non-psychiatric auditory hallucinations are NOT signs of you going crazy. They aren't signs of ghosts, nor are they sounds of some eerie other worldly agent. It's just your mind coming up with its own soundtrack. Composer Robert Schumann had MES, which was actually musical, and he likened it to a heavenly choir above him. He once wrote down a piece of music he thought was communicated through him from composer Franz Schubert! With all this in mind, don't fret about hearing things. As long as it doesn't affect your mental or physical health, there isn't much concern for worry. It's almost like having an iPod installed right into your body! *Special thanks to the Center for Hearing Loss Help for all the enlightening information! Originally published October 11th, 2011.