| Clear water, rare plants make Shealy’s Pond special
From the bug-eating pitcher plants and the old stand of rare Atlantic white cedar to the crystal-clear water of the former mill pond, wonders abound at Shealy's Pond Heritage Preserve. If you require aerobic exercise in your outdoor recreation, this 62-acre preserve in central Lexington County might not be the place for you. It has no marked trails, and the pond offers only a leisurely paddle in a kayak. But if you like to explore diverse terrain, it's a great place to spend an early spring day. Shealy's Pond is what the state's Heritage Trust system is all about — setting aside special areas to protect threatened resources. Boiling Springs Road near Edmund might not seem all that special, lined by a few rolling farm fields and lots of manufactured houses. Then the road dips into the shallow valley cut by Scouter Branch.
Dr. Malloy: Neti Pots
One of my patients came in my office with severe nasal congestion and asked if I thought using a neti pot might help. She along with millions of others had learned about it from Dr. Oz on Oprah and was interested. So was I. Here's what I can tell you about neti pots. Neti pots are part of the ancient Indian yoga tradition and now they're going mainstream. The idea is to wash out the nasal secretions and allergens and open up the sinuses. The nasal cavity is the first line of defense against airborne infection and cleansing it may theoretically limit colds and sinus infections as well as relieve dryness. The neti pot is a small pitcher with an opening on top and a spout to place in the nostril. You fill it with warm salt water-1/4 teaspoon of salt to 8 ounces of water.
A Dose of Economics for Healthier Pharmaceutical Production
Efforts to increase the poor's access to medicines are nothing new. Buying products from quality manufacturers and urging these manufacturers to lower prices for the poorest markets have worked best; other policies have largely failed or are still on the drawing board. But the latest strategy--to encourage local pharmaceutical production--could also be entirely counterproductive. It could lower drug quality and increase incentives for protectionism, ultimately reducing access. Production of drugs in poorer countries can make sense, but it must be driven by entrepreneurs responsive to market incentives. Unsuccessful local businesses must be allowed to fail, not be propped up by aid groups that support local production without considering its long-term economic consequences. This would encourage better, more profitable businesses, which will be the engines of growth for poor nations.
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