[Efficacy comparison between Chinese medicine's labor inducement methods and conventional methods customary in hospitals].

Introduction: According to Chinese medicine, a correct balance of Qi (energy) and quantity of blood are vital in order to commence labor and continue the childbirth process. Correspondingly, there are two main reasons for a delayed or difficult childbirth: lack of Qi and blood or stagnation of Qi and blood.

Aim: Efficacy comparison of Chinese medicine's inducement methods to conventional methods and to the combination of both.

N-bromo-dimethylhydantoin polystyrene resin for water microbial decontamination.

N-bromo-dimethylhydantoin polystyrene beads were synthesized and tested as antimicrobial agents for water microbial decontamination. Optimization of synthetic process was thoroughly investigated, including solvents used, ratio of reactants and reaction conditions, kilogram scale production, and detailed spectral analysis. The microbial inactivation efficiency was studied according to the NSF-231 Guide Standard and Protocol for Testing Microbiological Water Purifiers against Escherichia coli and MS2 phage.

[Combining herbs with medication--risks vs. chances].

Traditional herbal medicine is driven by the use of plants or parts of plants, which have undergone minimal processing in order to treat disease and improve health. The article: "Traditional Immunosuppression--Lei Gong Teng in Modern Medicine", published in this issue of "Harefuah", raises the importance of integrating herbal medicine within the existing medical system. However, there are various limitations on integrating herbology in official frameworks, such as bureaucratic and legislative restrictions concerning the safety and efficacy of the herbs.

[Family practitioners' knowledge and attitudes towards various fields of non-conventional medicine].

Background: The common feature of the different varieties of non-conventional medicine (NCM) is the lack of recognition, complete or partial, given to them by the institutions of conventional medicine. Treating all varieties in the same way can cause confusion.

Aim: To investigate the knowledge and attitudes of family practitioners (FP) in the methods of NCM that are most commonly practiced in Israel.