Practical Intelligence

Robert J. Sternberg ( an eminent psychologist at Yale University in the US)

 proposes three intelligences in human cognition.

 Analytical intelligence is the ability to analyze and evaluate ideas, solve problems and make decisions.

Creative intelligence involves going beyond what is given to generate novel and interesting ideas.

Practical intelligence is the ability that individuals use to find the best fit between themselves and the demands of the environment.

Fundamental to Sternberg's theory of intelligence is the idea that intelligences are developing abilities rather than fixed characteristics of an individual 

Traditional definitions of intelligence conceptualize one general factor of intelligence called g - which is measured by IQ tests and similar standardized tests such as the SAT. This general factor is presumed to remain essentially constant throughout an adult life.

Sternberg argues not only that intelligence is a developing and context dependent notion, but also that traditional measures of intelligence such as IQ tests capture only a part of what it means to be intelligent, which he defines as the ability to adapt flexibly and effectively to the environment. More than mere analytical ability, humans need creative and practical abilities to succeed in their life pursuits.

 It is procedural rather than factual, which means it is knowledge about how to do something rather than knowledge about something.

It is usually learned without the help of others or explicit instruction. It is knowledge about things that personally important to the learner.

There are instances of people who work hard and excel in academics, yet struggle to find success in their careers. On the contrary there are legendary instances of people who are high school dropouts reaching iconic status.

Innate abilities differ from person to person; some are highly talented and some not so. Success is derived from developing these abilities through everyday learning and putting them to effective use. This can be termed as “Street Smartness” or “Practical Intelligence”
.
When described in a set of lucid words – it is our common sense. Practical Intelligence is the knowledge acquired doing everyday activities through various means.
 This knowledge cannot be imparted. It is the art of doing the right thing at the right time, or saying the right thing at the right time to the right person, or applying the right knowledge at the right time.

There is a need to be technically sound and develop good analytical skills and adhere to vibrant problem solving techniques. To reach the peak or to go that extra mile it is equally important that we develop creativity. Even technology today is reaching new heights because people involved behind these advances have realized the need of the hour, that is, the subtle blend of analytical, creative and practical intelligence

Studies conducted by Professor Robert J. Sternberg and his team suggests that people who are academically good often fail to cope up with the problems in life whereas the opposite is true with people who are comparatively weak in academics.

 This would probably explain why many top icons have scaled such heights which others can only dream of.

Ayurvedic Medicinal Plant



Bacopa monnieri



 Brahmi

The brahmi Plant

Medicinal Uses

Brahmi has been used in traditional Indian medicine for over 3000 years. It has been used to treat conditions such as: bronchitis, coughs, asthma, hoarseness, arthritis, allergies, rheumatism, inflammatory conditions, fluid retention, backache, chronic skin conditions, high cholesterol levels, constipation, hair loss, boils, ulcers, fevers, digestive problems, epileptic fits, depression including post natal depression, diarrhea, impotence, premature ejaculation, irritable bowel syndrome, frigidity, irregular menstruation, mental and physical fatigue, exhaustion, restlessness, insomnia and over active mind, mental deterioration of the elderly, forgetfulness, confused and cloudy thoughts, anxiety, ADD, stress, hysteria, nervous breakdown, insanity .

 Brahmi has been valued as a cardiac, nerve and brain tonic and widely used by students for improving mental clarity, confidence, intelligence, concentration and memory recall. Brahmi as herbal supplements and tablets have been marketed for super learning, for memory and as a brain tonic.d to improve circulation, strengthen capillaries and stimulate hair, skin and nail growth. In 1963 research on the brahmi plant identified 2 active molecules: Bacoside A that assists in the release of nitric oxide allowing relaxation of the aorta and veins and blood to flow more smoothly through the body and aids circulation; and Bacoside B, a protein valued for nourishing nerve cells in the brain.

In 1993, when the Central Drug Research of India (CDRI) began extensive research of their rich herbal treasures to source active ingredients for modern therapeutic uses, they started clinical trials with brahmi on human volunteers. No adverse effects were recorded. The CDRI presented their research findings to numerous international brain research conferences.

In May 1996 the Royal Society of British Science published a paper on nitric oxide, calling it the marvel of the decade. The article explained that the nitric oxide in brahmi has an extremely positive effect on learning and memory recall, as well as on blood circulation and the function of the liver, lungs and kidneys. Research is also being done on the use of nitric oxide to treat stroke and Alzheimer’s sufferers. In 1998 the Nobel Prize for medicine was awarded to three pharmacologists for their discovery that nitric oxide, in its natural form, has powerful potential as a messenger molecule in the body. A recent scientific study showed that brahmi has potent antioxidant properties, which is, no doubt, why it was also revered in India for strengthening the immune system, improving vitality and performance and promoting longevity. The task of antioxidants in the body is to mop up free radical molecules. A free radical is an unstable chemical fragment, which can cause havoc by damaging DNA, corroding cell membranes and destroying cells
Free radicals are brought about by many detrimental aspects of modern living … air pollution from car exhausts, smog, cigarette smoke, toxic wastes, pesticides, herbicides, ultra violet light, certain foods and additives, drugs and infections, as well as by daily metabolic functions, including physical activity. Dr Michael Colgan in his book, ‘The new nutrition and antioxidants, all you need to know for sports performance, longevity and prevention of disease’, makes it clear that research shows the value of antioxidants in preventing and even reversing many forms of cancer, heart disease, atherosclerosis, adult diabetes, lung diseases, cataracts and a host of other diseases. All of these diseases, as well as premature aging, are caused by free radical oxidation of healthy tissues. Along with the more familiar antioxidants, Bsitosterol, a powerful fatty acid in brahmi, acts to relieve many degenerative condition

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a Brain Tonics seminar in Brisbane tutored by Dr. S. Ajit, B.A.M.S, P.C.A.S, an Indian holistic physician, who shared his rich background of traditional herbal medicine, including the uses of brahmi, revered to promote intellect, rejuvenate the brain and improve memory. Dr. Ajit stressed the point that rejuvenation must start with the consumption of herbs well before old age. Dose: 3-4g daily. 3g are approximately six sprigs 8-10cm long. The herb is prepared as a tea infusion, or decoction, and sweetened with honey, sugar or stevia leaves if desired. The tincture is made with 60g dried, finely powdered brahmi leaves in 750ml vodka. Take 1 teasp. of the tincture daily..

Over the last few years I have had some remarkable feedback from people using this plant. People report improved memory, increased levels of energy and an ability to cope better with the stresses of life. A most inspiring example of the use of brahmi was recently shown on TV. A well known rugby player had suffered severe nerve damage. After eight weeks in intensive care and 14 operations, followed by complications and seven and a half months in rehab, he could not walk or talk properly and had no memory retention. The medical verdict was that nothing more could be done. His family would not accept this conclusion, and a loving aunt searched for a cure, which lead her to the CDRI. They told her that brahmi was used for memory enhancement, but had never been used to repair brain damage, and they could not promise results. Her nephew was given brahmi in concentrated extract, and before long his short term memory was back. The TV segment reported he now lives a normal life.

In summary, brahmi can help support and improve all aspects of mental function, including comprehension, memory and ready recall, by enhancing the crucial co-ordination of these three aspects of mental function


For information on Ayurveda medicine like tonics for brain, Capsules for improving Memory power, general medicine and traditional home remedies, Please  contact me at
  anantha968@gmail.com and/or padmanabhan968@yahoo.co.in

Please feel free to share yout thoughts on my blog in the comments section.

Mobile phone

Courtesy:                          Are Mobile Phones safe for children to use ? By David Reid Reporter, BBC Click While many experts say there is no link between mobile phone use and cancer in adults there is still widespread uncertainty about  the risks children face. Research into health and mobile phones has been beset with difficulties.Mobiles have been in use for a relatively short time and yet cancers can take   decades to develop. However most scientists seem to agree about one thing - that if mobilesare hazardous, children may be more vulnerable than the rest of us to their possible ill-effects. "If the penetration of the electromagnetic waves goes for four centimetres into the brain, four centimetres into the adult brain is just the temporal lobe," says Dr Annie Sasco of the Institute of Public Health, Epidemiology and Development in Bordeaux. "There are not too many important functions in the temporal lobe - but in a child the more central brain structures are going to be exposed. "In addition kids have a skull which is thinner, less protective, they have a higher content of water in the brain, so there are many reasons that they absorb  more of the same radiation," she adds. European research just published in America's Journal of the National Cancer Institute has concluded children who use mobile phones are at no greater risk of developing brain cancer than those who don't. But critics say the research is too short-term and the data it used is out of date.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recently reclassified mobile phones. The UN agency has fallen short of saying that mobile phones are definitely hazardous, instead they have re-classified mobile phones as possibly carcinogenic. The re-classification was the result of a meeting held at the headquarters in Lyon of the world's leading scientists in the field. They reviewed experimental data from animal  research  and also the longest running research project into the use of mobile phones by brain cancer sufferers. "The strongest evidence really comes from the studies of cancer in humans  and there was some evidence that there may be an association between the  use of mobile cell-phones and certain types of brain cancer," says Dr Kurt Straif of the IARC. The GSMA, the industry body representing the interests of the mobile industry followed up the IARC's findings by saying: "The IARC classification suggests that a hazard is possible but not likely." And while the GSMA acknowledged that some mobile phone users may be concerned it said that present safety standards remain valid, and that there was need for further research. Safety advice Some scientists believe the IARC's classification of a "possible" link between Cancer and mobile phone use is not strong enough.

"I think mobile phones are a risk for brain tumours and we have already quite substantial epidemiological evidence showing that people who use cell-phones for more than 10 years have about a doubling in their risk of glioma, which is a brain tumour, quite often fatal," says Dr Annie Sasco. Certainly for parents, giving children mobiles helps to keep tabs on them when they are out and about in a world full of hazards. But if the hazard is the phone itself, then we would be wise to take precautions. "From the review of the exposure determinants we can clearly say that it is  mostly the use of cell-phones for voice calls, particularly when the phone is  close to the brain or to the ear - so you could for example recommend a  hands-free kit for voice calls," said Dr Straif. "There is also some evidence that exposure in children may be up to two-fold  higher because of the different biology and other factors that influence  exposure, therefore it may be prudent to restrict it further to kids and take  these pragmatic measures more seriously," he added. Text rather than talk, hands-free sets, use a land-line when there is one to hand - the sort of advice that some would like to see governments and health authorities passing on to consumers in the light of the IARC's new classification for mobile phones. Elizabeth Ruffinengo, from Women in Europe for a Common Future, believes that as mobile phones represent a possible carcinogen there should be some safety recommendations. "We have heard scientists saying that children are more at risk when it comes to exposure to mobile phones, so what we want is recommendations following the new IARC's classifications and so far we have not seen any. We think we face a new emerging health risk and that we shouldn't wait 30 to 40 years to see the results." So after 20 or so years with mobiles, many experts say there is nothing to worry about, the UN says there might be a problem, and others believe there definitely is an issue.

It is up to the individual to decide whether to dismiss the warnings or take minor precautions to ensure those thought most vulnerable do not blame us if the most dire predictions do turn out to be correct.

Ayurveda  --for the Well being of you

Ayurveda literally means Knowledge of Life   (Ayu = life,Veda = knowledge/science), it is a comprehensive system of medicine rooted back to the vedic period.

It is also a system of medicine for the mind and the spirit based on the principle of nature.
Life (Ayur) is a combination of 4 essential parts namely Mind ,Body, Senses and Soul.

Mind, Body and Senses
We tend to identify most  with our  physical body. There is more to us than what meets the eye.
Mind not only controls our thought process but also helps us in carrying out our day-to-day activities like respiration,circulation,digestion, etc. The Mind and Body work in conjunction to regulate our physiology. In order for the Mind to act appropriately to assist the Body, we must use our Senses (smell, touch, sight, taste..etc). For example: When the Mind registers that a crertain type of food is entering the gastrointestinal tract,it directs the Body to release the appropriate digestive enzymes.

The Soul
The science of Ayurveda tells us that that we exist in a more subtle form known as Soul even before we exist in our physical form which is a combination of Mind and Senses. When the Soul no longer identifies with the Body, worldly desires cease to exist.

For the Mind, Body and Senses to work harmoniously with each other, it is vital for one to have
Good Food, Good Exercise and Good Thoughts.

Mental Performance

The three main aspects of mental performance

1 Learning and Comprehension      ( dhi )
2 Retention of Knowledge               ( dhriti )
3 Memory or Recall                          ( smriti )

To achieve the above aspects we need to have a stress free mind and good health. Most of us live in an environment where mental and physical strain is unavoidable. However, it is important to manage stress before it becomes severe as it can destroy one's brain cells. Quality sleep is essential for rejuvenating the brain. Irrespective of one's age or occupation, the brain needs to be constantly challenged to be at its peak in terms of performance.

The BRAIN
Home to our mind and personality - Brain houses our cherished memories (Nostalgia) and future hopes. Brain gives us purpose and passion, motion and emotion.

Ayurvedic medicinal herbs enhances the potential of the mind. There are herbal preparations in Ayurveda that help in improving memory power ,de-stressing the mind, eliminating mental and physical fatigue, etc

Herbs namely Brahmi (Baopa monnieri), Asparagus(sparrow grass)Ashwagandha, Shankapushpa .... are well known herbs that can increase mental performance.

For information on Ayurveda medicine like tonics for brain, Capsules for improving Memory power, general medicine and traditional home remedies, Please feel free to contact me @ anantha968@gmail.com and/or padmanabhan968@yahoo.co.in

Please feel free to share yout thoughts on my blog in the comments section.

My first blog

Hello, I am trying out my first blog and hopefully it looks like something at the end of it.