I am so sorry tckttt, We have transformed ourselves into screaming wild hyannas. Anyone know at the moment how to spell that last word. ;0 I forgot. Give us a couple of weeks and maybe we'll learn some manners and be able to get to work on building up this forum again, If we all work together we can. At this point i time this forum is really needed to give good sound herbal information with some responsible good medical advise thrown in for good measure. But all of us have to try very hard to keep strictly on focus and not get off subject and knock each other down. I am willing to make an effort. You'll have to forgive my spelling lapses and incorrect English at times. I hope everyone knows who i'm referring to as us. What does everyone think about informal posts so no one feels things are too complicated. I don't think herbs requires formal language. If anyone feels they have to use complicated words than explaining them would be a good option. I have learned that it is good to use both latin and comman names for herbs and it will help everyone learn the latin names(like me) May i suggest everyone read the frequently asked questions. Someone put some hardwork into it and you might learn something. Me too. We might also think how to curb the negativity on any post, again i need the most curbing and will go with the opinion of the forum. Should we ask some of the older posters take over for awhile to encourage everyone to comply. OK folks lets get busy and make this the best post on ivillage. Lets not think about it. Let us do it.

To clear up some misconceptions: First, comfrey does not have proven efficacy against tooth decay, either as a preventative or to reverse decay that's already underway. Safety as a mouth rinse is probably not a major concern apart from possible local irritation, if one is careful not to swallow any. Many responsible herbalists recommend against any internal use of comfrey because of the risk of pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxicity, implicated in some cases of acute liver failure and a concern for possible carcinogenicity. Oral formulations are banned in most countries for this reason. Young children are especially susceptible to toxicity from comfrey (even a few days of taking comfrey internally can be fatal). Contrary to what's been stated, acute liver failure is not a significant consideration when it comes to use of NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Tylenol (acetominophen, which can be hepatotoxic) is not an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) like aspirin or Motrin. Tylenol is not an anti-inflammatory agent - it works by a different mechanism than NSAIDS to reduce pain and fever. Used in proper dosage and not combined with other things that can damage the liver (i.e alcohol) it is a generally safe as well as effective drug. The real problem is when people take too much, which may happen when they combine or otherwise overdose on over-the-counter cold meds. The big difference between Tylenol and comfrey is that Tylenol is a proven effective drug. Comfrey may have limited value in topical pain control (when applied for limited periods on unbroken skin), but in general the claims made for it have not been backed by quality studies (something to consider when weighing a decision whether to ingest it). You cannot count on drying to significantly reduce the harmful alkaloids. Unfortunately, you also can't count on comfrey sellers to be knowledgeable and upfront about the composition of their products in our current, largely unregulated supplement market. I rarely take acetominophen, but feel a lot more confident about its safety than I do comfrey. And based on what we've seen already, if Americans began to ingest comfrey as commonly as they do acetominophen, it's extremely likely that comfrey would quickly pass acetominophen as the leading cause of acute liver failure in the U.S.

frogs are not invertebrates...they are amphibians. Do not salt the pond for the winter. Frogs and koi are not salt water animals and the levels of salt you will be using is not beneficial to keep parasites or bacteria levels down. It serves no purpose at all. Salt should be used as a medication only, and not routinely. and don't medicate unless you know what you are medicating for. You lost a fish, but that does not mean that you have a parasite problem. Treating with anti-parasite medications is not good for fish and really should only be done if you KNOW you have a problem. the best thing you can do for your fish is make sure the pond is as clean as possible going into winter, with no decaying material in the bottom. Decaying material makes water quality decrease and provides a breeding ground for bacteria. Fish are at their weakest in the spring so pond conditions need to be at the best during that time.

Lynn, thank you for presenting the other side. I know that if my dr decided on a concierge practice I would most likely follow her. I have to say that the practice she is with is large, maybe 10 physicians, but I think it is very well run and that makes a big difference. They do schedule patients every 15 min but I never feel she is giving me the bum's rush. Likewise, I've never waited more than 15 minutes to get in. If I call with a sudden ailment, like a UTI for example, I can usually get in that afternoon or the next day to see a PA, which is fine with me. Concierge practices have always existed for the wealthy....i.e...celebrities aren't showing up at the dr's office, presenting their insurance card, and taking a seat in the waiting room. Like most things that start off for the wealthy only, this idea is now trickling down to the masses. I think it's good for the dr and patient and harkens back to the old days when physicians came to your home, which I remember! Unfortunately, many people just cannot afford this type of service.