medicines for young children. The ban applies to decongestant use in children under 2, and antihistamines
in those younger than 6. The products include approximately 800 popular medicines that are sold in the
U.S. under names like Toddler's Dimetapp, Triaminic Infant and Little Colds, according to a report in The
New York Times. It is expected that all infant cough and cold products will eventually be removed from
the market. Until then, make sure to avoid any and all cough syrups and decongestants for your children,
regardless of the age group. At least 123 children have lost their lives because of them since they became
popular in the 1970s.
6. Alcohol—Man’s Legal Drug
Much controversy has been generated around alcohol use. Some people say that alcohol can perk you
up, reduce tension and inhibitions, and bring more fun into your life. Getting drunk is often seen as a
means to “escape” the burden of personal and interpersonal problems, at least for a while. Alcohol may
make you feel euphoric and relaxed but it also has unwanted side effects. You lose control over your
mind, your senses, and your body’s coordination skills. A hangover demonstrates the powerful toxic
effects that alcohol has on the normal functioning of the mind, body, and spirit.
But why do people drink alcoholic beverages? Getting drunk can hardly be considered fun because
loss of self-control does not really make a person happy. However, despite the accompanying side effects,
many people are drawn repeatedly to having “another drink.” And why does alcohol make us get drunk in
the first place?
The answer to both of these questions may lie in the brain hormone serotonin, which is the main
chemical equivalent for pleasure and happiness. With the increasing darkness of the night, serotonin gets
broken down into the hormone melatonin. Alcohol, however, slows down this process and thereby
maintains a “good mood.” However, if serotonin is not broken down on time, it reacts with the toxic
substance acetaldehyde, which the body produces from the ingested alcohol.
The chemical reaction generates an entire group of chemicals that have hallucinating effects; they are
known as tetrahydro-ss-carboline. Salsolinol, a substance synthesized in the presence of the brain
chemical dopamine, blocks the breakdown of serotonin. Dopamine then begins to form a new chemical
called norlaudanosolin, a precursor of morphine and 2.000 other types of alkaloids. In other words, if you
think you are addicted to alcohol, you are wrong. In reality you are addicted to morphine.
However, alcohol consumption does not necessarily turn into an addiction. Genetic predisposition
makes some people produce more morphine or opiate from acetaldehyde than others. Under normal
conditions, the side effects that arise from drunkenness prevent most people from further drinking. So the
body rarely gets the chance to make sufficient amounts of such hallucinogenic drugs to cause an
addiction. Yet regular consumption of alcohol can eventually increase this chance.
Some people should not risk drinking alcohol at all. Asians in general and Chinese and Koreans in
particular lack the enzyme that breaks down the toxic acetaldehyde so even small amounts of alcohol lead
to a fast pulse, abdominal pain, and a red face. For this reason, alcoholism is rarely existent in Asia;
Asians would simply die in large numbers from alcohol poisoning. Also, some people pass out after the
first (and only drink) because they have no natural defenses against acetaldehyde.
Beer—Hypnotism And A Big Tummy
If you have ever had the chance to smell a hops plant, then you know it has hypnotic effects.
Harvesting any of the plants of the hemp family can make you quite sleepy. Cannabis, which is used to