Medical Division - Part 745

23.11.2017

Corel DRAW – Best Desktop Publishing Software

Corel DRAW is a supreme supplier of graphics software, including the popular Corel DRAW program. Corel DRAW has tools that allow the user to both create and edit images. The type of desktop publishing tools that you use will depend on the type of project. For more information and assistance, use the Corel website.

Corel DRAW is the best Desktop publishing software that empowers users to create illustrations containing graphics, text and photographs. Corel has an extensive range of tools which enable the user to edit any shape or character with ease and precision, fit text to curves and create custom color separations. It is developed and marketed by Corporation of Ottawa. This tool can open files: Adobe PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher and Word, and other programs can print documents to Adobe PDF using the Writer printer driver, which such software can then open and edit every aspect of the original layout and design.

Several innovations to vector-based illustration originated with Corel: a node-edit tool that operates differently on different objects, fit text-to-path, stroke-before-fill, quick fill/stroke color selection palettes, perspective projections, mesh fills and complex gradient fills.

One of this software’s many strengths is the huge range of over 1,000 fonts that it comes with, provided in both TrueType and Postscript Type 1 format. Corel differentiates itself from its opponent in a number of ways: The first is its positioning as a graphics suite, rather than just a vector graphics program. A full range of editing tools allow the user to adjust contrast, color balance, change the format from RGB to CMYK, add special effects such as vignettes and special borders to bitmaps. Bitmaps can also be edited more extensively using Corel PhotoPaint, opening the bitmap directly from Corel and returning to the program after saving. It also allows a laser to cut out any drawings.

Expert believed it was the first of the Windows-based drawing programs and has built on this early start to become far-and-away the dominant drawing package on the PC. Its biggest strength – and its biggest potential limitation – is its all-encompassing approach. In the past this has led to accusations of unfocused bloating, but with version 7.0 Corel has addressed the criticisms with a far tighter and better rationalized program. Even so, there’s a huge range of functionality to cover.

Corel DRAW Download was originally developed for Microsoft Windows and currently runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. The current version, X5, was released on 23 February 2010.

23.11.2017

Dissociative Disorders – Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

People affected with dissociative disorders chronically escape their reality in involuntary, unhealthy ways ranging from suppressing memories to assuming alternate identities. There are four major dissociative disorders: dissociative amnesia; dissociative identity disorder; dissociative fugue; and depersonalization disorder. Common symptoms include memory loss of certain time periods, events and people; mental health problems; depersonalization; derealization; and a blurred sense of identity. Dissociative disorders usually develop as a mechanism for coping with trauma.

Treatment for dissociative disorders may include psychotherapy, hypnosis and medication. Creative art therapy and cognitive therapy may also help in treating this condition. The Ayurvedic treatment of dissociative disorders is aimed at treating the basic cause of this condition and preventing complications like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, severe headaches, sleep disorders, alcoholism, substance abuse, sexual dysfunction, self-mutilation and suicide attempts.

Medicines like Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi), Brahmi-Vati, Khurasani-ova (Hyoscyamus niger), Brahmi-Ghrut, Unmaad-Gaj-Kesari, Sutshekhar and Maha-Vat-Vidhvans are used in high doses to treat anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and the original dissociative disorder. An addition of Suvarna-Bhasma, Abhrak-Bhasma, Trivang-Bhasma and Laxmi-Vilas-Ras to the above mentioned medicines helps in increasing the therapeutic response

Different Panchkarma procedures can be used to treat patients with dissociative disorders. A whole-body massage is done using medicated oils like Mahanarayan oil, Mahamash oil and Mahasaindhav oil. The patient is asked to consume regularly medicated ghees like Brahmi-Ghrut, Panch-Gavya-Ghrut and Kalyanak-Ghrut, in high doses. These two procedures comprise the ‘Snehan’ therapy. Medicated enemas are given using Dashmool-Qadha and Sahachar oil. ‘Nasya’ therapy is done using medicated nose drops like Vacha oil, Marich (Piper nigrum) and Gud-Sunthi. The three combined procedures of nasya, snehan and medicated enemas initially have only a physical effect, however, on being repeated periodically they help to control the ‘Vata dosha’ and gradually help in controlling the dissociative features. ‘Shirobasti’ or ‘Shirodhara’ procedures may be used temporarily to sedate highly excited or disturbed patients.

Patients affected with dissociative disorders should be in regular touch with a Psychiatrist and a Counselor. They should establish a family and friend support system. Although the course of therapy can be difficult, many people with dissociative disorders are able to learn new ways of coping and lead healthy, productive lives.

23.11.2017

Altruism, Euthanasia and Doctors

In altruism, a person directs his or her activities towards the welfare of others. It is considered to be a selfless action, but if we examine it closely the self or the ego is always involved. This is because helping other people, whether it is benefiting the other person or not, always makes one feel good. You may not be aware of it, but please understand that this is a conditioned response in our subconscious mind when we are helping others.

Altruism is thus found in many professions, but one cannot deny the fact that doctors, nurses and religious missionaries must be regarded as front-runners. This is because people who enter these professions are genuinely out there to do some good in society and at the same time feel good about themselves. Hence we find the greatest collection of helpers and ego-trippers gathered under the sun in the medical profession. Undoubtedly doctors are mostly nice obliging fellows, always willing to help their patients. These chaps find it difficult to say no to their patients because they subconsciously feel bad if they said no.

This is why many of us are taken for a ride by our patients simply because it does not occur to us to say no.

However, there is one exception to this rule, and that is euthanasia. In this case most of us will say no because actively taking a human life, no matter what the circumstances makes us feel bad.

It is easier to keep a person alive and make oneself feel important rather than help a dying suffering patient go to sleep permanently. In this we use the law of the land as a good excuse to hide behind, as many of us do not want to feel bad.

A few years ago I visited a patient of mine in a palliative care unit of a local hospital where he was dying from throat cancer. He had intravenous tubes attached to him and had a nasal-gastric tube down his throat. One could see that he was dying and in pain and was wasting away from starvation. Sitting beside his bed I could see all the doctors and nurses looking very important and busy doing their jobs. He pleaded with me to ask the doctors to put him to sleep permanently. I said, “Do you know that if we obliged you, all these people would be out of a job”. He quietly understood and accepted the reality of the situation.

Hence it would be a wishful thinking for anyone to think that the medical profession would accept euthanasia as a means of peaceful exit from this world in the near future. The livelihood of a doctor depends on his patients. So I do not think that any doctor would be in a rush to cut down his living this way even though there is a moral obligation for him or her to do so.

Therefore, is legalizing euthanasia the answer? Please observe and think. Anything we legislate is always exploited by the ego. If we give an inch, the ego always wants to take a foot. That is the nature of the beast. Clearly, anything we legislate is open to abuse by unscrupulous individuals amongst us, no matter how well-meaning our intentions might be. If we legalize euthanasia we will be surely creating more problems than we will be solving.

In the olden days when doctors were practicing medicine in the traditional way, there was a direct bond established between a doctor and a patient, and euthanasia would not have been an issue. The doctor would have treated the patient in a humane and compassionate way. Now however, in this consumer society where there are consumer laws and litigation to deal with, our value system has changed. It has destroyed this true doctor-patient relationship. The laws have inculcated doctors into treating patients as consumers and as a consequence both the doctors and the patients have become the losers. The doctors cannot treat patients as they should be treated and the patients cannot be treated as they would want to be treated. They are kept alive under all circumstances no matter what quality of life may be waiting for them.

So what avenues would terminally ill and dying patients have to put themselves out of misery? Apart from depending on the medical profession to keep them comfortable or taking drugs that can relieve their suffering, there is not much one can do. Most of us if we were in that situation would be too weak to drag ourselves out into the snow.

However, all is not lost. As I see it, those in this terminal situation who possess some insight into their mind and have retained some capacity to think, can still use the power of their subconscious mind to exit this world peacefully. All they have to do is to understand the fact that death is a just a beautiful sleep from which one never wakes up. It is an eternal sleep.

In my book “The Enchanted Time Traveller – A Book of Self-Knowledge and the Subconscious Mind”, you will find a chapter on Insomnia where you train your subconscious mind to help you to go to sleep naturally. You should study it and learn how to go to sleep naturally. If you are terminally ill and wish to exit this world permanently, all you have to do is to change the instructions I have given at the end regarding waking up. You will be amazed and pleasantly surprised to find that once you understand how you can go to sleep naturally all your fears about death and sleep will ease and disappear.

23.11.2017

Hair Loss Treatment Side Effects – When You Should Be Concerned

While research is available to support the generally-held idea that hair loss treatment side effects are not serious enough to warrant medical concern, and in 1996 the FDA approved Rogaine with minoxidil for over-the-counter sale, you should still be careful if you are considering a hair loss treatment.

Side Effects From Minor To Serious

While some treatments for hair loss may produce either minimal or no side effects on their own, when used with other medications, their hair loss treatment side effects can be magnified. They may also produce unexpected side effects if the user has an underlying medical condition.

Users of Rogaine, for instance, have found that among its hair loss treatment side effects are scalp irritiation and itching, or dryness, redness, and flaky skin. All of these conditions, however, may be alleviated with a reliable dandruff shampoo; Rogaine, however, has very rarely caused some more serious hair loss treatments side effects which require medical attention.

They include blurred vision; a significant drop in blood pressure; rapid heartbeat; dizziness; headache; decrease libido or even impotence; sudden weight gain; and even chest pain.

A Surprising Hair Loss Treatment Side Effect

Another hair loss treatment side effect, which is not technically unintended, is that any areas of the body which come into contact with a topical hair loss treatment may begin to grow unwanted hair. Those using the topical treatments should be very careful to protect any skin on which they do not want new hair growth, and to wash their hands thoroughly after each application.

A Cosmetic Side Effect

Another of Rogaine’s hair loss treatment side effects is that it can leave a user’s hair looking greasy; this is a result of the Propylene Glycol in the original Rogaine Formula. Rogaine Foam, now available for men, eliminates the problem, but women can only use the over-the-counter 2% Rogaine solution.

Hair loss treatment side effects are, unfortunately, something to which their users will have to adjust, as hair loss treatments require a period of several months to produce visible results. And they all have to be applied once or twice a day.

The hair loss treatment side effects of Rogaine are typical of those caused by other hair loss preventatives, and are in most cases limited to scalp irritation. But any more severe conditions which develop after you begin using a hair loss treatment should be brought to your doctor’s attention.

23.11.2017

Successful Best Man Speeches – What to Say and How to Say It

The honor of being selected as Best Man for a friend's wedding is one that should not be taken lightly, particularly as you will have the privilege of addressing the guests at the wedding when you are giving the Best Man speech. Weddings are joyous occasions with the Best Man speech being one of the highlights of the day, not to mention being one of the most talked-about memories of the day so getting the Best Man speech right is not optional it is essential.

A successful Best Man speech is dependent on two things, content and delivery, luckily these are two things that can be mastered so let's take a closer look at them both.

Content

You should begin your speech with a warm opening line and introduction, it is important not to try to be too funny when you open your speech as you risk alienating the guests but by all means give a light-hearted introduction. You may wish to introduce yourself to guests and welcome them to the happy event.

From there you should praise the Bride and Bridesmaids. Compliments should be lavished upon the Bride and some words of praise and gratitude directed towards the Bridesmaids. From here you should begin discussing your relationship with the Groom, how long you have been friends etc.

Funny stories and witty anecdotes are expected, when delivering a Best Man speech, so look back to the past for some humorous moments that will bring smiles to faces of the wedding guests and sometimes have the Groom squirming in his seat.

In searching for funny stories at the Groom's expense, popular topics include; his sporting (or lack of) prowess, his college years, his employment history etc. It is vital that you do not discuss his past love life or the Bachelor Party, this could easily offend the Bride and the parents of the Groom so do not put yourself in that position. Best Man jokes should be short one-liners as wedding guests usually have short attention-spans and may lose interest midway through a long meandering joke.

The Best Man who quite often receives the loudest ovation is the one who concentrates on sincerity and gives a speech from the heart. With this in mind you should mention how guided you are to be Best Man and show some humility by saying "it is a role I share equally with my fellow groomsmen".

In leading towards the closing lines you should mention what a great couple the Bride and Groom make and announce to the audience that Groom has been the happiest he has ever been since the Bride entered his life.

You should finish with a fitting wedding toast that should wish the Newlyweds a happy loving life together. Ending on a sincere, heartfelt toast, rather than trying a funny toast, should ensure your speech lasts long in the memory and will garner a loud ovation.

Delivery

When you stand to speak maintain eye-contact with the guests and smile as you speak, you will find that your guests do likewise. Even if you are looking down at prompts on cue cards once you raise your head again you should hold eye-contact, as this helps build a bond with those watching. When discussing certain people in your speech (such as when raising the Bride) you should look in their direction, and speak as if you are having a one-on-one conversation with them.

You have three options on how to deliver the speech;

1) From memory- whilst delivering from memory in front of a mirror at home is achievable, it is a different proposition on the Big Day, as your nerves will make you anxious and this could affect your delivery.

2) Read it- unduly the " safety first" option for many Best Men but these speakers often come across in a monotone manner and can cause the audience to rapidly lose interest in what you are saying.

3) Cue cards- cue cards is the recommended way and your best option. You should have "prompt words" highlighted on the cards so that when you need a reminder of what to say next, you simply take a quick glance down to remind yourself of what to say next.

Once you have decided on the cue-card option it is important to bear in mind that there are 2 sections of your speech that you need to deliver from memory; your opening lines and closing lines. You rely on your opening line to garner interest and to receive a surge of confidence to help you with the rest of your speech, while your closing line is the most important line of your speech so ensuring that you focus on the guests as you speak.

As Best Man you should always stand-up when giving your speech, even if others choose to sit as they speak. Speak with poise and character, remember that short speeches have a better impact than long statements, and practice when you can as a confident Best Man delivers the best speech. Click here for easily downloadable Best Man speakers that will have the guests roaring on their approval and look forward in advance to the standing ovation that your speech should receive.

23.11.2017

10 Telephone Manners Every Professional Needs

One of the most prevalent and common mode of interaction is via a telephone or cellular phone system. This is preferred over letters as you get an instant response to your query or proposal. With a telephone call you are guaranteed that the recipient of the information has received the information unlike cases where you have to hope that information will indeed arrive on time. What is worrying is the level of laxity that people handle the phones with. Because telephone manners are not known, business is lost, costs are incurred by companies and wrong information is relayed. Telephone abuse is a common feature in business where employees leave home with no other intention than to “touch base” with their networks at the company’s expense. Having been a professional for over ten years, I have encountered different scenarios of phone usage. I have drawn a number of lessons and tips based on those experiences. In this article you will get a guideline in terms of ensuring this means of communication is maximized bringing value to you as an individual and to the business as a whole. When a call takes place, it is usually the caller that incurs the cost to the telephone provider. However on the other hand if your line is busy for the next 30 minutes on personal calls then you are ultimately losing business as well even though you received the call.

Phone Manners

1. Plan your calls – There is nothing more time wasting than someone who calls and soon after the connection has been made; they express openly how they no longer know what they called for. If you have such short memory my best suggestion is take pen and paper and line up your thoughts on paper. That way you never miss the important things you are calling about. When you plan your calls always avoid placing or booking calls while you are busy eating. You are to avoid chewing or eating anything while you are on the phone. Your food will exist beyond your phone call. While multitasking is encouraged, desist from calling people or answering the phone with a mouthful. It is one very unprofessional way of doing business.

2. Picking calls and Passing Messages – The widely accepted maximum number of rings before a call is picked is 3. Beyond that customers get annoyed and business goes to the next person on the list. This expectation not just for the receptionist of telephone operator but also for everyone who uses the phone in the organization. You never know that possibly the person on the other hand is in danger and has limited time to live or is under house arrest. It could just be a customer who is serious about their time. Timeous picking of calls communicates boldly that you are serious about how you treat other people. You respect their rights etc. In cases where the call is not meant for you then you have an awesome responsibility to relay the message in its original format (without additives) to the one who was originally supposed to get the message. In that case always solicit for name, return number, nature of message (whether business or personal), the urgency of the message. Write all this down as you may forget in your busy day. A message like “One of your uncles called” shows lack of interest in the one who collected the message. It is better to keep quiet that to communicate half messages.

3. Get to the point fast – If you are looking for an answer, simply get to the point about the reason for your call. It does not matter how nice the voice of the person on the other side is. Simply make it known immediately after your call is received what you are after. On the side of the person receiving the call, please do not waste people’s time by pretending to have answer for everything they way. Get the person with the answer to respond. There is nothing wrong in mentioning that you are actually not the right person to answer the question and immediately send the caller to the correct person. An effective average call must be no more than 3 minutes. You can communicate all you want within that time. Avoid spending time in jay talk, long greetings, sharing unnecessary talk and jokes etc. If the person on the other end wants to give you an A4 side list of things, suggest to them that they send email, fax or physical document. It is a lot better than recording everything on the phone. You will block one line continually, you will be prone to mistakes as you record etc

4. Placing a caller on hold – Most people (like me) do not enjoy being put on hold no matter how nice the “music on hold” or “advert on hold” is. They just want to speak and get the answer and end the call. Before you decide to put a caller on hold please let them know you want to do so, why it is necessary to do so and most importantly allow them to decide whether they want to hold or call again. I get annoyed when someone makes all these decisions for me while I hold. It may be an instance of me not having enough credit on my phone or I am busy in a meeting that needs an urgent response etc. At least I would feel respected and honored if the person on the other side of the line gives me the choice. When you place people on hold do not take years to get back with an answer and communicate the way forward.

5. Use the right language and speak slowly – use the first few sentences to determine the language and pitch of your conversation. You cannot speak at the same speed you would speak while you are facing the person or else you find yourself repeating over and over. I have noticed with cross continent calls that sometimes you have to speak and when you listen you hear a time delay sounding like an echo of yourself speaking. You then wait for the person to respond before you send more words. No matter how much of a fast talker you are, you need to consider the recipient’s rate of grasping your message. After all, the goal of making that call is to send a message. If you use the wrong language and wrong speak of speech, you will lose the recipient totally and in the end the message is either muffled with a lot of patches that are not clear or the message does not get there totally.

6. Make business calls only – Desist from spending time on the phone discussing personal issues at the expense of your employer. In some instances employers explicitly ban personal calls advising employees to use their private cellular phones for such talk. I have also seen employers who take it a notch higher and ban even the switching on of private cellular phones at work leaving people to be reachable during lunch time and after hours. I wouldn’t personally recommend that but results have shown a greater performance on such companies than where rules do not exist. My suggestion is to teach people to be responsible. Even though you are using your personal cellular phone, realize that you are paid for the time you are spending trouble shooting your personal issues. Your employer carries that cost.

7. Be Considerate of others – The moment someone on the other hand says “hello”, realize one fact; that someone is paying for that call. Act responsibly and do the honorable thing. Do not drive your employer into debt Get the most from every minute – You should record, name, return number, email address and nature of query in the shortest possible time. The moment you answer your phone be ready with pen and paper. Avoid statements like “let me look for a pen”. It shows a level of laxity and unpreparedness. When you call someone, say on their mobile, one of the questions you should be able to ask at the beginning is whether the person is able to talk with you on not. The mere fact that the call was answered does not guarantee that the person is fully engaged to deal with your issue. They could be in the middle of some crucial exercise. Unplanned and unexpected calls are almost similar to unexpected visits. They leave the one visited with very little flexibility than to entertain the caller or visitor. If the person cannot take your call now, kindly ask what time you can call again. Do unto others what you want them to do unto you. I have noticed that in life, people who are sensitive about their space usually jump onto other people’s schedules unannounced. It is not fair.

8. Consider the time zones – If you are making an international call please be considerate. Just because it is day in Asia means it could be midnight in Africa etc. Even if you are in the same city, if you call someone around lunch time and shortly after normal close of business, you are least likely going to find the person. You may hit a voice mail or be told to call the following day. So why waste your resources. Call on time. There is nothing as annoying as getting a call while you are on your way out. What is worse is that the person on the other end wants to take their time to let you know what they really want. By the time you mention that you were on your way out that is the point when they want to talk sense. Time is of essence; reserve such conversations for a barbeque over a weekend. On a business day it is advisable to keep conversations targeted at business. After all you go to work to generate business traffic and improve the profitability of the business not to inconvenience the people you call on the phone.

9. Consider Language Differences – Use a language that both parties are comfortable in. With Globalization it means you interact with all cultures, races and nationalities. If you expect to do business with the French speaking nations, please do yourself a favor and study French. My experience in China in 2007 showed me how you can go for a whole day without making sense to anyone around you. The taxi driver needed you to show him/her a business card of where you were going. On the way there was no conversation. The same thing can happen on the phone. You could be eloquent in English and have no clue how to speak German. Enroll in short courses on linguistics so that you have basic knowledge of the languages.

10. Attend to Calls with positive attitude – Everyone has times in life when they have pressing personal issues. The last thing a caller wants from you is to be greeted with a boring, negative, gloomy voice on the other side which has an attitude that says “What do you want, please be quick, I am not actually in the mood to talk”. Realize that your personal issues having nothing to do with the customers and other stakeholders you are handling. You have to look past what you are facing and smile. A smile can be felt on the phone. It sounds silly but a smile can hide a thousand hurts. Showing the world that you have problems is nowhere near bringing a solution to you. Be positive and upbeat. Who know; you problem could be solved in that one call you are receiving. In one sentence you can communicate a lot. E.g. “Good morning, XYZ Motors, Its Rabison speaking, how may I help you?” as opposed to “Hello, good day”. The latter will cause the person to ask many questions which are all answered in first sentence such as “Is that XYZ? Who am I speaking to? Can you help me?”

22.11.2017

Refrigerated Trailers – Secrets Exposed!

We have seen a lot over the past 12 years with portable refrigerated trailers. As the name implies there really are two key ingredients involved here, the refrigeration and the trailer. We have seen some folks get part of it right while most fail at both aspects when designing and building a small refrigerated trailers.

Let’s start with the trailer. This is the foundation of everything we do. The regular cargo- enclosed trailer industry has changed over the years so much and they are cutting out the strength and durability we require for refrigerated trailers. It is important not to just get a trailer off the lot and try this at home like so many we see out there today.

Quality built refrigerated trailers should have:

1. Single Piece Aluminum roof

2. 16″ O.C. steel tube walls

3. Steel tube roof

4. Steel tube framed rear doors (not plywood w/ aluminum skin)

5. Triple tube tongue

6. L.E.D. lights

7. Sub floor for superior insulation with aluminum underbelly

8. Load D or greater tires for better stability

9. No wood framing or wood walls/ceiling (lighter & stronger with no mold or mildew issues)

10. Reinforced front nose for refrigeration unit

11. Extended tongue with mounts for generator

12. Should be specifically built to be refrigerated trailers and built with strength and durability in mind. Please check out how important it is to use a trailer made of steel tube instead of z-post or hat post.

We have even seen folks taking walk in coolers and putting them on a flat bed trailer. Be careful as many of these structures are not D.O.T. approved and you can be fined or even worse injure someone. Use common sense, walk in coolers are great for sitting inside or outside a building but they are not designed for the rigors of the road going up and down and side to side, they offer no structural support.

The refrigeration is just as important and you definitely want to get this part right. The ideal solution for businesses is a unit that can be used as either a cooler or a freezer. Please make sure that even if you are purchasing a cooler that the refrigeration system has a defrost capability and preferably hot gas defrost. I mention this because so many folks find out the hard way that if you want your trailer to stay at 35 degrees then your evaporator has to be 12- 15 degrees cooler than that to maintain your temperature. Well it may take 12 hours or 24 hours but eventually you are going to get an ice build up on your coil and you will need a way to defrost it or else lose your product.

Standard refrigeration units that have hot gas defrost are the most effective and fast way to defrost a system. The use of standard refrigeration will save you a bundle in repair and maintenance cost alone. We also recommend modifying your refrigeration system for transportation and do not use copper to connect the evaporator coil to condenser coil. Copper is a soft metal and will break easily. Hopefully these tips serve you well in your search for refrigerated trailers to purchase or rent.

22.11.2017

Managing the Chiropractic Associate – The Contract

I am often surprised at how many associate type arrangements that I come in contact with, either through a chiropractic friend, though a client or in a story about a chiropractic business owner where there essentially is an employer/employee or at least an owner/independent contractor (IC) relationship, and there is absolutely zero contract in place.

Now I will admit, early in my career I too operated without a ‘written’ contract. My assumption at the time was that if the doctor I had the arrangement with didn’t want one, then I would be better off not being ‘locked in’ either. Well, in that situation it all worked out well, but since then I am constantly witness to so many associate/partnership arrangements gone bad. Truly, the minor work involved in setting up a chiropractic associate contract will almost always save a ton of trouble and money down the road. And, it benefits both sides to know exactly what the arrangement and expectations are.

So, suffice it to say, there should never be a work type arrangement between a clinic and an incoming doctor that is not laid down on paper. Granted, there is such a thing as a ‘verbal contract’ but the facts within those ‘contracts’ always become clouded, and then it is essentially your word verses mine. At the minimum the exchange of emails can solidify at least the outline of an arrangement and can be considered legal. But, nothing will stand up as well as an actual attorney prepared chiropractic associate contract. (I should mention too that you do not need an attorney to write up the agreement, you can prepare a document yourself and it can be just as binding, however, almost always I have found that a good attorney will bring to light issues that you have overlooked, and will word things in the way as to be of much greater protection. Therefore, I always use an attorney or attorneys to prepare the final draft of my contracts).

However, either way you need to be able to put together the basics of what will be included in that chiropractic associate contract. If you leave it up to the attorney completely I guarantee that he will miss issues that are very important to you and to the arrangement because they are industry specific, and it is doubtful that he will have prepared a large number of this specific type of contract to have that knowledge.

So, let’s get started on what your considerations should be.

The first consideration is whether to hire this new associate as an employee or bring him on board as an independent contractor. This is a VERY important distinction, from a variety of standpoints. I will go over the basics concerning the pros and cons and let you decide for yourself which legal distinction will work for you.

From an expense standpoint, both the owner and the associate chiropractor (if he is an astute businessman) would benefit more having the arrangement be that of an IC. Reason being, the owner will save a lot of money on employment taxes, which are.765% of the gross salary. If you pay an associate 80K in salary and bonuses (other benefits aside) you are in reality paying $86,000+. This also benefits the owner who would not be expected to pay any other benefits either, i.e., health insurance, sick days, vacation days, retirement, and so on.

Initially the average associate chiropractic employee might be under the assumption that this will cost him more because they will be responsible at the end of the year for withholding all their own taxes. In actuality this is a very beneficial situation because if the doctor sets himself up in the proper legal entity and then arranges his pay as business income and therefore pays expenses out of these funds and pays himself a combination of salary and bonus, he will come out much better in the end.*

Now, from the standpoint of security, the IC arrangement might not be as good of a situation for the owner. Reason being, if an associate is an IC, then by virtue of what that means he would also be able to work elsewhere at the same time if he wants (think, for example, hiring a plumber). And even though you will have non-compete language in your contract, this might be much harder to enforce if your associate is an IC.

As well, from the owner’s point of view there is another risk when it comes to hiring an associate chiropractor as an IC. The IRS actually has very strict language as to who can qualify as an IC and who cannot because they don’t want people realizing those tax advantages described above. Therefore, in reality, as an associate chiropractor it is pretty hard (but not impossible) to comply with the IRS rules. Here is an article that will better lay out the aspects that the IRS considers when deciding whether or not the worker in question is an IC or an employee: (IRS link provided at the bottom of this article). Now, all that being said, most people in the IC situation may forever operate under this IRS radar, enjoy the tax savings, and still maintain a viable non-compete in their contract. However, I have witnessed more than a few instances where the hired IC associate chiropractor became disgruntled and then reported the owner to the IRS, saying that they were actually an employee and not an IC. If the IRS determines that this is true, that they were actually an employee and not an IC (and it takes them really nothing to make this determination) then you not only become liable for all your back taxes on that ’employee’ but also that employee’s share of those taxes too. So, it is worth the risk? Only you can decide that.

As you can tell, this is a very in depth topic and I am not a lawyer. I just wanted to provide you some basics so you can discuss these issues with your accounting and legal counsel. The language you use in your chiropractic associate contract will differ significantly depending on whether you chose to hire your new associate chiropractor as an IC or an employee. This is further reasoning behind enlisting the assistance of a business attorney.

The aspects of the chiropractic associate contract I want to discuss next will comprise the ‘bulk’ of the document. These are the common issues as related to everything and NOT specific to the deal you worked out with your chiropractic associate. For example, pay, bonuses, time off, etc., will not be in this section. As well, following this list I will delve more into the topic of the non-disclosure agreement, as I believe this is one of the greatest concerns a hiring owner has. However, this more general section I will basically outline below is more generic in nature (which is nice so that you can use it in future employment situations as well). The individualized chiropractic associate contract aspects will be placed at the end, in an addendum or an exhibit.

So, without going into extreme detail regarding all these core aspects, I will just list them so you will be sure not to miss them in your legal document:

1) Recitals: corporate name(s), owner’s name(s), associate’s name.

2) Agreements: incorporation of recitals, term, representations and warrantees of provider (services administered, licensure issues, disciplinary past, compliance with state laws, rules, participation in insurance plans, etc.)

3) Duties of Provider: hours, duties, records

4) Relationship: IC or employee and the ramifications of those

5) Office Space, Personnel and Admin Support

6) Assignment of Fees; Billing and Collection: agreement of assignment of collections in their name to the corporation

7) Consideration for Services: referring to Exhibit or Amendment attached at end.

8) Insurance: who is to pay for

9) Control of Work: Warranties: (more for the IC relationship)

10) Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure/Non-Solicitation: (covered in more detail following this list)

11) Termination: reasons the employee can be let go immediately, as well as the notice that has to be given, on both sides, for ending the relationship.

12) Effects of Termination: how things like the books, records, personal items, etc., will be handled upon termination.

13) Miscellaneous: Assignment, Incurring Financial Obligations, No Third Party Beneficiary, Binding Nature, Governing Law, Entire Agreement, Notices, Waiver, Counterparts, Severability, Additional Documents.

Now, of greatest concern is usually the non-compete language. This is usually what concerns the hiring doctor the most, and for good reason. No one wants the nightmare of hiring an associate chiropractor, training him and letting him get close to your patients, to then leave one day and open up just down the street, draining you of everything you have built over the years. It is sad, but believe me, this happens.

The first thing for you to know, and something you would not voluntarily reveal to your chiropractic associate, is that the main reason for non-compete language is to create a defensive deterrent. That is to say, you want the associate to always be aware that should they leave that they have agreed that they will leave and comply with these tenants of the non-compete agreement, or suffer these _______ repercussions.

The unfortunate truth about non-compete agreements are that, legally, they hard to enforce (unless of course your attorney has done an excellent job drafting the language just right). Now, even if the language is good you will also have the issue regarding cost. Granted, once we are taken advantage of by someone we placed trust in often times in the search for justice we will make an emotional decision to pay whatever it takes to correct this wrong. But, what we really need to do is take a minute, look at the situation subjectively and answer this one question: “If it is going to cost me $10,000 (for example) to go after this person, have they or will they actually cause me much more than 10K worth of damage?” I had a chiropractic associate one time leave and a few months later go to work for another doctor essentially right across the street. We were infuriated; however, after careful consideration (and the prospect of spending 10K) we realize that her being there was actually zero cost threat to us. In this situation the patients were not fans of her treatment and loved our new doctor, so she was not going to take any business from us.

If, on the other hand, things had been slightly different and she actively marketed to our patients and, over time, our numbers suffered substantially I promise you that legal action would have been taken.

Now, that being said, let me mention the main considerations when it comes to a non-complete: time and distance. See, any judge or mediator given the job of evaluating the situation is going to first decide if the contracted arrangement is reasonable (given the business) and if it is not too over-reaching in that it would limit the leaving doctors ability to make a living. Therefore, the terms of the non-compete need to be laid out wherein the doctor is not allowed to practice within so many miles radius for so much time. However, that needs to be followed up with language such as:

(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing subparagraph 11(b), if 2 years is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be overly broad, then the period shall be equivalent to 18 months;

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing subparagraph (i), if 18 months is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be overly broad, then the period shall be equivalent to 1 year;

(iii) And so on

By adding language such as this you allow the judge or mediator the option of picking something that he or she considers reasonable. Is this ideal? No, but it does offer some protection.

Following this, your attorney would need to add language related to this such as Liquidated Damages, Injunctive Relief; Legal Fees, Severability and Scope.

Now, equally important is to also include the very same type language as it relates to Confidentiality, Non-Disclosure and Non-Solicitation. Essentially, this means they will not take what is private to you and how you operate your business and make use of it elsewhere – like for a competitor. This includes anything related to your business methods, patient files, patient lists, and your employees (like trying to hire them from you).

Now, the individualized part, the part everyone often thinks will be the hardest is often the easiest part. That is the part that deals with pay. Now that the overall framework is set down, a page at the end of the chiropractic associate contract is attached that just says it like it is, either as an exhibit or an addendum. They will get paid X amount on X dates. The bonus structure will be X per every X and so on. Usually this page has no more than 1 or 2 short paragraphs on it. You can make it as simple or as complicated as you want.

As you can tell, this is a pretty extensive topic and I know I have only touched upon it, but I think you can definitely see how enlisting a professional in this realm is essential. However, now you should at least have a good framework to make sure your attorney covers the bases. As well, a good consulting group or chiropractic placement agency should be able to provide very good versions of the 2 types of chiropractic associate contracts for you to use directly which will save you hundreds of dollars by giving your attorney a framework by which to alter slightly for your own particular needs.

-Dr. Troy Counselman

IRS Link: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=99921,00.html

22.11.2017

5 Low Cost Ways to Soothe the Sting of Sunburn

Each of us most likely has at least one memory of a nasty sunburn. Whether experienced personally, or by a close family member or friend, the symptoms are likely to include anything from red hot skin – either tender or painful to touch, to nausea, dehydration, blistering and flaking or peeling of the skin.

As anyone who has experienced bad sunburn will verify, the amount of time spent causing the sunburn, is largely disproportionate to the length of time that can be spent suffering the consequences of its effects. In this respect, and depending on the severity of burning, — pain and discomfort can persist for several days after the event, as the body works to heal and recover from the unprotected UV exposure.

Unless the symptoms are severe, (in which instance you may need to consider medical treatment), here are 5 simple home remedies that will cost you next to nothing, and which will assist in soothing the sting and pain of sunburn:

1. Cool baths: Soaking in a cool bath is one of the best ways to draw heat from the skin and soothe the pain and discomfort of sunburn. (Avoid ‘cold’ as this can cause the body to go into shock.) Here are some additional things to add to your baths for further relief:

a. Add 10 drops of so of essential oil (chamomile or lavender) to the bath. Soak for 15 minutes or until relief is felt.

b. Adding baking soda (or oatmeal) to a lukewarm bath can also relieve sunburn pain. For this treatment to work best, try to make sure that all affected areas are submerged. Bath water can be poured over your body using your hands or a soft washcloth. Burned facial areas can be gently dabbed using the cloth, or alternately you can splash water directly onto your face. After soaking, lightly pat the skin dry with a soft towel (preferably cotton). If you’ve taken an oatmeal bath, let the light coating of oatmeal that clings to your skin remain.

c. Adding vinegar to the bath water will help in taking the sting out of sunburn.

2. Rubbing alcohol: Because it evaporates so quickly, dabbing on rubbing alcohol will quickly cool and ease the pain of sunburned skin.

3. Vinegar: Vinegar is an effective and cooling treatment for sunburn. Soak towels with it, and apply to the burned areas. Alternately you can fill a spray bottle and spray it directly on the skin as needed.

4. Egg Whites: If your burn is painfully hot, separating the white from the yolk of an egg, and then spreading the white over the affected area will help to cool the burning instantly. This can be repeated as often as needed.

5. Potatoes: Potatoes can also be used to relieve the pain of sunburn. Take 2 potatoes and wash them well. Cut them into tiny chunks and place in a blender to liquefy. (If the result appears too dry, add some water). Pat the affected areas with potato juice. Wait until dry, and then rinse off in a cool shower or bath.

Remember that as well as causing varying degrees of discomfort and pain, repeated sun exposure and sunburn also accelerates the aging process and can increase the risk of cataracts and skin cancer. Prevention therefore should also always be considered more preferable than treatment!

DISCLAIMER: These are home remedy tips only, and should not replace your regular health care provider. If in doubt at any time in relation to your sunburn, please seek the appropriate health care assistance.

22.11.2017

Top Wild Eye Halloween Contact Lens Are Red Cat Eye, Black Out Lens And A Lot More

Colored contact lenses have become a fashion rage all across the globe with United States and France leading from the front as pioneers of colored lenses. This ever growing urge of people to sport unique color lenses for parties have paved the way for a boon in the colored contacts industry. These disposable colored contacts have set the cash register ringing. And to add to the already colored contact fever, comes Halloween contact lenses.

Introduction of Halloween lenses have given impetus to the colored contact lens industry. These lenses could be rather termed as costume lenses that are in great demand for fun parties and theme dress parties.

A wide variety of Halloween lenses makes your choice easier. These Halloween lenses come in various categories. It could be a crazy lens or a wild eye lens. Some of the Halloween lenses may appear funny as well.

These possible genres help you choose best fitted lens that goes perfectly with your costume and theme of the party. Youngsters may even love to hang out with these lenses on their eyes for fun. Eccentric folks long to buy a pair of wild eye lenses. All these lenses are disposable and are suggested to be used for the directed time. Thought, their use beyond the recommended time may give your eye some troubles.

A Halloween lens could be a black out lens that gives your eyes a complete white appearance. With this lens on your eyes you look like a living dead body. On the other hand a Halloween lens could be completely black lens by covering even sclera with black. It too gives your eyes a unique appearance.

Red hot and Cat Eye Halloween lenses happen to be very popular for wild fun parties. Blood shot and Wolf lenses are equally popular.

These lenses are often used in horror flicks because of being special effect lenses. These lenses add to the dramatization of a scene in horror movies. It assigns a dreadful appearance to eyes of actors that might be a necessity for the plot of movies. Most often in vampire based movies, Halloween lenses are used.

But before using these lenses you must learn the art of putting on and taking out these lenses, if you are not familiar with the usage of contact lens. You must clean it with the cleaner before putting it on eye.

22.11.2017

10 Sad Love Quotes For Your Crying Heart

Is your heart crying out in sadness? Yes, sometimes love hurts. Sad love quotes will help you to express your anguish and your huge heartache, during those times when love hurts.

You may be facing difficulties in your relationship. You just had a big fight with your guy or girl, and you’re at a loss of what to do. You just broke up with your loved one. You’re thinking about whether to let him or her go and end the relationship. Sad love quotes might help to express whatever that’s deep within you.

At moments like you, you wish you have the words to let your girlfriend or boyfriend know exactly what’s eating at you. Or you simply wish that someone would say something inspirational and comforting to nurse your grieving heart.

During such times when love fails you, let inspirational sad quotes give you a gentle helping hand. Let sad love quotes brings clarify to your thinking and let you know that you’re not alone.

Perhaps you’ve been hesitating for some time already, and one of these quotes might give you the courage to carry out whatever decision your heart is telling you. Or maybe the quote is just what you’re looking for to rebuild your confidence in love.

Pour out your overwhelming emotions with sad love quotes. Hopefully, you’ll learn something valuable that allows you to let go of the pain.

List of 10 Best Sad Love Quotes

1) “You wondered how you’d make it through. I wondered what was wrong with you. Because how could you give your love to someone else, yet share your dreams with me? Sometimes the only thing you’re looking for, is the one thing you can’t see.” – Vanessa Williams

2) “Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go.” – Herman Hesse

3) “Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing.” – Anais Nin

4) “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all.” – Samuel Butler

5) “I was never one to patiently pick up broken fragments and glue them together again and tell myself that the mended whole was as good as new. What is broken is broken — and I’d rather remember it as it was at its best than mend it and see the broken places as long as I lived.” – Margaret Mitchell

6) “What love we’ve given, we’ll have forever. What love we fail to give, will be lost for all eternity.” – Leo Buscaglia

7) “We enjoy warmth because we have been cold. We appreciate light because we have been in darkness. By the same token, we can experience joy because we have known sadness.” – David Weatherford

8) “If you live to be 100, I want to live to be 100 minus one day, so I never have to live without you.” – Winnie the Pooh

9) “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” – Mother Teresa

10) “You can shed tears that she is gone,

or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back,

or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,

or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her only that she is gone,

or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind,

be empty and turn your back.

Or you can do what she’d want:

smile, open your eyes, love and go on.” – David Harkins

22.11.2017

Hand Eye Coordination Eye Exercises For Better Vision

Eye exercises are important in correcting different vision problems that relate to problems focusing while reading, blurry eyesight and the ability to improve your focusing ability while reading. These eye exercise techniques are essential in correcting vision ailments associated with refractive error. One of the other benefits of eye exercises includes an improvement in your ability to judge distances accurately which is better known as hand eye coordination. Therefore, here are 4 benefits that are associated with performing hand eye coordination eye exercise techniques.

Improves Writing Ability: Due to the fact that these visual skills are an important part of the process of learning these techniques are helpful in improving reading skills related to tracking. This is due to the fact that they help individuals to use their eyes to guide the movement of their hands in such an activity such as writing. This is due to the fact that this visual skill is needed in helping individuals use their eyes to guide and direct the words that they are writing from line to line on a page.

Improves Many Other Visual Skills: If an individual possesses poor hand eye coordination skills then such an individual can perform poorly academically. This is due to the fact that these techniques are needed in other skills such as proper balance and coordination and motor skills. These techniques also relate to motor responses associated with the connection between the brain and the eyes to send messages to the hands to grip a pen firmly to write properly. Additionally, these techniques apply to other skills that are related to sports performance as we use our eyes to guide our hands in athletic activities such as goal keeping in soccer and other sporting activities such as ping pong and tennis.

Improves Communication Skills: A scientific research study established a connection between learning abilities and communication skills. This is due to the fact that these visual techniques actually play a role in the way that individuals communicate with one another. This is due to the fact that when you communicate you are using certain visual cues to get an important message across to the receiver of the message you are sending. Also, certain cues are also related to the gaze that you use, your hand gestures and other visual cues that are related to the way that you utilize the visual system to communicate messages with your hands.

Eye hand coordination techniques are useful in improving many different visual skills and abilities. Some of these are related to activities associated with improving hand writing skills and also visual skills that are also related to sports such as ping pong and tennis. One you practice these techniques on a regular basis you can do the things that you need to do to improve your hand eye coordination skills for better eyesight without glasses.

22.11.2017

Holistic Health Workshops- Learning about Natural Health

Find Holistic Health Workshops in the United States and Canada. If you’re interested in learning about vitamins or supplements, or the newest alternative health treatments, then participating in one of several holistic health workshops could be your ticket to valuable knowledge and skills.

Because there are a great number of holistic health workshops that are offered through healing arts schools, community centers and even through local chiropractic offices, there is ample opportunity for one to gain basic concepts of how natural and holistic healing practices can be integrated into everyday life.

For example, if you’d like to acquire a basic understanding on how St. John’s Wart can affect your emotional wellbeing, or you’re interested in learning how green tea can provide essential antioxidants to your body, then one of several holistic health workshops can entertain your brain. Ever wondered what a macrobiotic diet is? Then these beneficial workshops can help you to better understand principles and theories behind holistic health and their essential place in society.

As an interesting course of study, some holistic health workshops afford individuals with introductory subject matter on mind-body-spirit medicine. These natural healing classes may be separate or taught in combination to instruct students about various healing arts such as basic massage techniques, energy healing therapies, spiritual healing, chakra balancing, essential oils and plant medicine, and other related modalities.

Other unique learning opportunities are extended through specialty holistic health workshops; encompassing holistic studies in environmental health, yoga, reflexology, crystal and sound healing, meditation, Tai Chi, and countless more.

Natural healthcare and wholistic remedies are often provided through a variety of holistic health workshops, including short courses in reiki, healing touch, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, hypnotherapy and bioenergetics. What’s more, a number of holistic health workshops extend educational opportunities to individuals who would like to earn continuing education credits in holistic medicine, as well as certificates of completion.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding holistic health workshops, let career training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs [http://school.holisticjunction.com/clickcount.php?id=6634739&goto=http://www.holisticjunction.com/search.cfm] near you.

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22.11.2017

EFT Tapping Therapy is Sparking Controversy

EFT tapping therapy is without a doubt one of the most controversial alternative health approaches currently in existence. While the vast majority of people in the US and Canada have never heard of it, word about this new approach to healing is spreading rapidly. And it’s creating controversy wherever it goes, without exception. In fact, the first reaction most people have when they hear about EFT and are told what it involves is to laugh out loud. “That could never work” is a common response. It’s actually one of the more polite negative responses – we can’t print a lot of them because this article is meant to be suitable for the whole family. Suffice it to say that many people are at first skeptical about EFT tapping therapy.

And that’s just the laymen – the response from medical professionals and authorities is even more negative. They denounce EFT in no uncertain terms, calling it quackery and a hoax. Most of them state that not only is it a scam that doesn’t work, there’s no way it could work according to modern medical science. According to them, any positive benefits of EFT tapping are simply due to wishful thinking, false correlation, and the placebo effect, helped along by the desire of many people to believe in miracle cures.

But that’s only one side of the story. Yes, there is a strong negative response to EFT out there, but there are hundreds of thousands of people who swear by the therapy. Most of them were skeptical and laughed about it when they were first introduced to the modality. But many of them had an mind open enough to new ideas to give it a try. And now they’re big believers. (There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground – people either hate EFT or love it.) People from all over the world, and all walks of life are raving about it. And they don’t buy for a minute the doctors’ idea that they’re deluding themselves, or just imagining that they’ve been cured. Tens of thousands of folks have reported astonishing results. And no one should write these people off until they’ve tried EFT tapping therapy for themselves.

22.11.2017

Is a Vegan Diet Better For Your Hair and Skin?

The question whether a vegan diet is better for a person’s hair and skin depends a lot on if a balanced vegan diet is followed, in addition to the level of toxins that are in the body. It also depends on what type of vegan a person is and what vegan foods are eaten. At first, the skin will look much worse as the body begins to detoxify itself due to the amount of toxins in the body. The hair will become overly oily or too dry, depending on the diet and the level of toxins. When meat or dairy products are consumed, it takes anywhere from one hour to a full day to process, it would be like placing a hamburger or glass of milk out in the hot summer sun all day and then eating it.

A healthy diet improves the appearance of skin and shiny healthy hair, but genetics and stress are important factors. Vegan people have noticed a big difference in their skin and hair within 30 days by simply changing their diet and making different food choices. Dairy products have a lot of toxins in them, so vegans would switch from dairy milk to soy milk and from regular cheese to vegan cheese. Another change for vegans is moving from a low fat vegan diet to a higher fat vegan diet, due to necessary hormone processes kept under control – meat and dairy products contain high levels of hormones in them. Colorful fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and avocados are higher in fat content and add softness and color to the skin and natural looking hair, as compared to dry colorless skin and hair from low fat vegan diets.

Dermatological studies have shown that diary and acne are connected. Hormones in the pregnant cow’s dairy milk over stimulates the human oil producing glands. Cows are milked when they are pregnant, in addition to being milked while she is pregnant with her second calf – and the first calf possibly still suckling. Seeing as vegan diets eliminate all dairy products, it stands to reason the hormones affecting human skin and oily hair would be less in vegans. Foods like milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, cream, pizza, cheeseburgers and lasagna are adding extra hormones into the human body and converting to DHT. This increases cellular activity that creates acne, hair problems and skin issues.

Unfortunately, the words natural and organic have become over-rated with today’s products. Used as selling gimmicks, most natural and organic products are still using animal derived ingredients. Not all vegan products are vegan because of this. There are some vegan websites, like kristensguide.com that will test any vegan products in question, promoting those that are 100% vegan. Vegan makeup companies keep the hair natural looking and the facial skin toxic-free, with products available at Jason Natural Cosmetics, Beauty Without Cruelty, Giovannie, Nature’s Gate, Crystal, The Merry Hempsters, Home Health, Yves Rocher, and Kiss My Fact (a less expensive company than others). Vegan hair products can be found at Giovannie, ABBA, or Jason. Vegan skin care products can be found at Jason. Each company has their own type of vegan products, crossing over with some. Just make sure it is vegan based to match the vegan diet for your hair and skin