Cordyceps

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Cordyceps
Cordyceps ophioglossoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Subkingdom:	Dikarya
Phylum:	Ascomycota
Subphylum:	Pezizomycotina
Class:	Sordariomycetes
Subclass:	Hypocreomycetidae
Order:	Hypocreales
Family:	Clavicipitaceae
Genus:	Cordyceps
Species
C. bassiana (Bals.-Criv.) C. gunnii C. militaris C. ophioglossoides C. sinensis C. subsessilis (Petch) C. unilateralis

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi (sac fungi) that includes about 400 identified species and many yet to be described. All Cordyceps species are endoparasitoids, mainly on insects and other arthropods (they are thusentomopathogenic fungi); a few are parasitic on other fungi. The best known species of the genus is Cordyceps sinensis,^[1] first recorded as yartsa gunbu in Tibet in the 15th Century.^[2] It is known as yarsha gumba in Nepal. The Latin etymology describes cord as club, ceps as head, and sinensis as Chinese. Cordyceps sinensis, known in English commonly as caterpillar fungus, is considered a medicinal mushroom in oriental medicines, such astraditional Chinese medicines^{[3][unreliable source?]} and traditional Tibetan medicine.

When a Cordyceps fungus attacks a host, the mycelium invades and eventually replaces the host tissue, while the elongated fruiting body (ascocarp) may be cylindrical, branched, or of complex shape. The ascocarp bears many small, flask-shaped perithecia containing asci. These in turn contain thread-like ascospores, which usually break into fragments and are presumably infective.

Some Cordyceps species are able to affect the behavior of their insect host: Cordyceps unilateralis causes ants to climb a plant and attach there before they die. This ensures the parasite's environment is at an optimal temperature and humidity, and that maximal distribution of the spores from the fruiting body that sprouts out of the dead insect is achieved.^[4] Marks have been found on fossilised leaves which suggest this ability to modify the host's behaviour evolved more than 48 million years ago.^[5]

The genus has a worldwide distribution and most of the approximately 400 species^[6] have been described fromAsia (notably Nepal, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand). Cordyceps species are particularly abundant and diverse in humid temperate and tropical forests.

The genus has many anamorphs (asexual states), of which Beauveria (possibly including Beauveria bassiana,Metarhizium, and Isaria) are the better known, since these have been used in biological control of insect pests.

Some Cordyceps species are sources of biochemicals with interesting biological and pharmacologicalproperties,^[7] like cordycepin; the anamorph of Cordyceps subsessilis (Tolypocladium inflatum) was the source ofciclosporin—a drug helpful in human organ transplants, as it suppresses the immune system(Immunosuppressive drug).^[8]

Contents   [hide]  1 Potential pharmacology 2 Ma Junren case 3 Value 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External links

[edit]Potential pharmacology

Cordycepin, a compound isolated from the "Caterpillar fungus".

The Cordyceps mushrooms have a long history as medicinal fungi. The earliest clear record is a Tibetan medical text authored by Zurkhar Nyamnyi Dorje in the 15th Century outlining the tonic propensities of Yartsa gunbu (Cordyceps sinensis renamed now to Ophiocordyceps sinensis), especially as an aphrodisiac.^[9] Although there are often-repeated claims of thousands of years of use in traditional Chinese medicine, so far no clear textual source has surfaced.

Although in vitro and animal models provide preliminary support for some of the traditional medicinal uses, there are no clinical studies demonstrating health benefits in humans.^[10] Some polysaccharide components and cordycepin, which have some anticancer activity in preliminary in vitro and animal studies,^[11] have been isolated from C. sinensisand C. militaris. Some work has been published in which Cordyceps sinensis has been used to protect the bone marrow and digestive systems of mice from whole body irradiation.^[12] An experiment noted a chemical compound isolated from Cordyceps sinensis may protect the liver from damage.^[13] An experiment with mice noted that Cordyceps sinensis may have an anti-depressant effect.^[14] Researchers have noted that a polysaccharide isolated from Cordyceps sinensis has a hypoglycemic effect and may be beneficial for people with insulin resistance.^{[15][16][17][18][19]}

[edit]Ma Junren case

Ma Junren, the coach of a group of female Chinese athletes who broke five world records in distance running in 1993 at the National Games in Beijing, China, told reporters that the runners were taking Cordyceps at his request.^[20] The number of new world records being set at a single track event caused much attention and suspicion of drug use, and the records are still widely regarded as dubious, as the athletes failed to match these performances outside of China at independently drug tested events where illicit substances other than cordyceps would be detected.

[edit]Value

According to Daniel Winkler, the price of Cordyceps sinensis has risen dramatically on the Tibetan Plateau, basically 900% between 1998 and 2008, an annual average of over 20% (900%/10yr = 20%/annum, or maybe, 90%/yr.) However, the value of big-sized caterpillar fungus has increased more dramatically than smaller size Cordyceps, regarded as lower quality.^[21]

Year	% Price increase	Price/kg (Yuan)
1980s		1,800
1997	467% (incl. inflation)	8,400
2004	429% (incl. inflation)	36,000
2005		10,000–60,000

According to Modern Marvels, a show on the History Channel, mushroom hunters in Nepal can earn 900 dollars for an ounce of cordyceps.[1]

[edit]Gallery

• 

  Cordyceps sinensis(caterpillar fungus), mostly whole dried choice specimens.
 
• 

  Cordyceps beginning its growth from an insect.
 
• 

  Cordyceps militaris
 
• 

  Cordyceps militaris
 
• 

  Cordyceps being weighed in at the market in China.
 
• 

  Chinese soup of silkie,seahorse and cordyceps.

[edit]See also

Fungi portal

• Medicinal mushrooms
• Caterpillar fungus
• Yarchagumba (Caterpillar fungus, Tochukaso, Dong Chong Xia Cao)

Cordyceps Extract Powder Cordyceps Extract Powder Latin name : Cordyceps Sinensis Japanese name :Tochukas Chinese name :Dong Chong Xia Cao Common name :Caterpillar Mushroom Active ingredients: Polysaccharides, detected by UV, Cordycepin or 3-deoxyadenosine Specification Content: Polysaccharides, 15%, 20%, 30%,40%Appearance: Fine Light Yellowish Powder Particle Size: NLT100% 80mesh Moisture: 7%max Shelf time: 2 years while properly stored. Package: 25kg/drum Polysaccharide Content:Mannose, Cordycepin, adenosine, galactose, Fucose. Function:enhance the immune function, increase amount of leucocyte, make it suitable for curing the malignant tumor in clinic practice. phthisic, ED, Wet dream, and reduce the blood sugar etc. Cordycepin Chemical name:3-deoxyadenosine Molecular formula:C10H13N5O3 Molecular weight:251.2419 CAS#:73-03-0 Density:1.91g/cm3 Melting point:225-229°C Boiling point:627.2°C Flash point:333.1°C Vapour pressure:1.36E-16mmHg at 25°C Function of Cordyceps extract: 1. Relieves asthma 2. Increases lung function 3. Boosts libido and sexual function 4. Improves athletic performance by increasing energy 5. Strengthen the body 6. Postpone caducity 7. Protect the heart 8. Promote the sleep and appetite 9. Promote the immune system Cordyceps could increasing energy levels, sex drive and athletic performance. Although the pharmacologically active components of cordyceps remain unknown, at least two chemical constituents; Cordycepin and cordycepic acid ( mannitol) have been identified and suggested as being the active compounds in improving lung function and increasing energy levels and sex From: kingherbs Posted on: 8/2/2011 6:20:16 PM Expiring On: 1/29/2012 6:20:16 PM Days Left: (-24 days to go!)

Description

Cordyceps Extract Powder Latin name : Cordyceps Sinensis Japanese name :Tochukas Chinese name :Dong Chong Xia Cao Common name :Caterpillar Mushroom Active ingredients: Polysaccharides, detected by UV, Cordycepin or 3-deoxyadenosine Specification Content: Polysaccharides, 15%, 20%, 30%,40%Appearance: Fine Light Yellowish Powder Particle Size: NLT100% 80mesh Moisture: 7%max Shelf time: 2 years while properly stored. Package: 25kg/drum Polysaccharide Content:Mannose, Cordycepin, adenosine, galactose, Fucose. Function:enhance the immune function, increase amount of leucocyte, make it suitable for curing the malignant tumor in clinic practice. phthisic, ED, Wet dream, and reduce the blood sugar etc. Cordycepin Chemical name:3-deoxyadenosine Molecular formula:C10H13N5O3 Molecular weight:251.2419 CAS#:73-03-0 Density:1.91g/cm3 Melting point:225-229°C Boiling point:627.2°C Flash point:333.1°C Vapour pressure:1.36E-16mmHg at 25°C Function of Cordyceps extract: 1. Relieves asthma 2. Increases lung function 3. Boosts libido and sexual function 4. Improves athletic performance by increasing energy 5. Strengthen the body 6. Postpone caducity 7. Protect the heart 8. Promote the sleep and appetite 9. Promote the immune system Cordyceps could increasing energy levels, sex drive and athletic performance. Although the pharmacologically active components of cordyceps remain unknown, at least two chemical constituents; Cordycepin and cordycepic acid ( mannitol) have been identified and suggested as being the active compounds in improving lung function and increasing energy levels and sex people who want this can contact me

Cry for Freedom by a Nude Egyptian Blogger

Cry for Freedom by a Nude Egyptian Blogger

Posted on21 November 2011.

NOVANEWS 

“In a culture that believes the devil’s lure and the route to hell lie in the naked face and eyes of a woman, stark nudity could very well be a revolutionary cry and a suicidal choice.”

by  Dr. Ashraf Ezzat

Egyptian activist and blogger, Aliaa Maghda El-Mahdy

For me the news is what we see on the streets and not what we read in the morning papers or watch on the TV news.

I believe that the street is the honest reflection to our economy, behavioral sociology, politics, faith, and sexuality, to our education, our sense of beauty and our respect for freedoms and human rights, or our lack of respect for them, for that matter.

If you want to figure out what the community you’re living in looks like, the street will be the mirror for you.

It is all there in the street, obvious as day light, staring us in the face, but perceived only by those who have the right eye, the eye that could behold what lies beneath the surface.

If you asked me what to look for, or specifically focus on while you’re on your street discovery, I would say (Cherchez la femme -look for the woman) .. but not in the criminal sense.

The status of women-their socially accepted code of dress, their participation in civil life and their ability to freely express themselves- is a decisive criterion in evaluating the modernity of any community or society.

Of all that I’ve read about the Egyptian revolution, I particularly found the speculative question “where is the role of the Egyptian woman in the revolution?” by Prof. Youssef Zidan, one of Egypt’s top scholars of history and comparative religion, profoundly significant.

One of the fears most political analysts, especially in the west, expressed when asked about the most likely scenario to be implemented in post-Mubarak Egypt was that the prospects for a secular and a true democratic governing system would be undermined if the Islamists were to be the ruling majority.

It took no Genius to come up with such a prophecy, as a matter of fact, the Islamist tide- and when I say Islamist I specifically mean fundamentalism and obscurantism- have been building up over the last 50 years or so in Egypt.

Historically speaking Egypt emerged from the Nineteenth century as a nation eager to embrace pluralism and liberalism while struggling to free itself from the long colonial era – the lyrics of the Egyptian national anthem in 1919 celebrated the Muslim, Christian and Jewish tributaries for Egypt citizenship.

Egypt feminist movement

Hoda Shaarawi & Safia Zaghlul, Egypt pioneer feminists.

The feminist movement emerged in Egypt as early as 1919 when the Egyptian women took to the streets and joined the anti-British protests. Leading the women’s rally was Hoda Shaarawi, a pioneer feminist and a political activist who advocated the rights of the Egyptian woman to education and free speech.

In 1919, Shaarawi and Safia Zaghlul helped organize the largest women’s anti-British demonstration. In defiance of British orders to disperse, the women remained still for three hours in the hot sun.

In 1922 Shaarawi made a decision to stop wearing her veil in public, this was the first public defiance of the restrictive tradition. In 1923 Shaarawi founded and became the first president of the Egyptian Feminist Union, after returning from the International Woman Suffrage Alliance Congress in Rome.

It is common knowledge now that the women’s liberation, worldwide that is, is intrinsically related to their socially accepted code of dress, and I don’t certainly mean that the more liberal a woman becomes the less clothes she needs to wear.

I’m simply referring to the paradox whereas modern men or rather men living in modern times, of all ethnicity and religious backgrounds, especially Muslims, have the right to wear the modern western outfits and even indulge in the latest fashions while women are denied that right simply because they are women.

Following the 1930s, women in Egypt began to leave the harem, take off their veils and participate in the society movement as equal to men in most of the civil rights and responsibilities without sacrificing the cultural and religious legacy of modesty and high virtues.

Doria Shafik

Doria Shafiq was one of the ladies who led the women’s liberation movement in Egypt in the early 1950s. As a result of her activities, Egyptian women now have the right to elect and nominate in the Egyptian constitution.

In February 1951, she led a demonstration, accompanied by 1500 Egyptian women, during which she broke into the Egyptian parliament and spoke to the council to consider the issues and demands of Egyptian women. After a week, the Council granted Egyptian women the right to vote and stand for parliament.

From the mid 1980s the Egyptian street began to witness women and more importantly the young girls starting to wear Hijab- the Saudi style of veil once again.

At the beginning it was not so popular, not all women and definitely a lot of the youngsters rejected the idea of covering up after decades of liberation and struggle to get where they were then.

Obscurantism sneaks in

But thanks to long years of exposure to the fundamentalist doctrine of Islam of the Arabian Peninsula, deluge of well financed hard-line wahhabi preachers reaching out to wider audience of simpletons through mass media and persuading them that wearing hijab is god’s favorite route to paradise and also due to years of political dictatorship the fundamentalist ideas began to appeal to the minds and hearts of Egyptians.

The temptation lies in the woman’s eyes.

While the majority of Muslim women currently wear Hijab in Egypt, the Salafists- ultraconservative Muslims- are now calling for the devout Muslim woman to wear Niqab.

All of her body should be covered up in some long and dark grab- for that would ensure that the woman would not cause any “ Fitna-temptation.

This is a naïve assumption that simultaneously gives the impression that Muslim males are some freak sex maniacs who are apt to get sexually excited and turn into wild rapists, on the mere looking at any naked part of the woman’s body be it her heels or hands.

Succumbing to this all-together radically ignorant doctrine, one of the Saudi sheikhs has lately come up with a fatwa- binding religious decree- that the temptation lies in the woman’s eyes and hence he called upon the Muslim women to even cover up their- Bette Davis- eyes.

Tables turning

Egypt revolution hijacked by Islamists

After the revolution of 25 January, which has been launched by a group of courageous secular youths the tables are being turned in the favor of Islamists.

And no matter how hard the liberal front try to hold back this fundamentalist tide they will not succeed, not under the current situation anyway. And no, I’m not being defeatist here, I’m only being realistic

This is not only about some well organized and resourceful group as in the case of the Muslim brothers and their newly-formed political party ironically dubbed “freedom and justice”.

Nor is it about the inherently violent and obscenely funded- by the wahhabis in Saudi Arabia- Salafist groups and their new party ludicrously called “The light”.

Rather it is about the disturbed collective mindset of the Egyptian common people who after decades of dictatorship cloaked in secularism are now ready to support an Islamist government cunningly cloaked in democracy in the hope that it would be less brutal and corrupt.

Invisible Candidate and herded sheep

The female candidate’s photo in the Salafist electoral banner replaced by the party’s logo.

To know how those Brothers and Salafists stand on the hot issues of the freedom of expression and women’s equality, we only have to take a look at one of their electoral banners which displayed photos of 10 candidates, 9 bearded men and one woman.

The one woman candidate was an inevitable prop in this travesty of democracy, but since they believed that the face of the Muslim woman shouldn’t be exposed naked for everyone to watch they replaced their female candidate’s photo with the logo of the party (as if she didn’t exist)

In one of their latest rallies where they protested the alleged detention by the Egyptian Orthodox church of a Christian woman who, as the rumors went, had converted to Islam a group of women draped in back niqab joined the Salafist rally.

But since they were not allowed to mingle with men, the sexual stimulation and temptation thing you know, they were encircled by a rope like a flock of sheep and herded by a man who held the leash/rope and dragged them all the way through the protest.

Secular Egyptian women rallying to demand their right to elect for parliament in 1950s (right) vs Salafists women protesting in niqab over the alleged kidnapping of converted Christians while being herded like cattle by a man holding the leash in 2011. (left)

In the midst of all that surrealistic situation where most of the secular and educated youths who set this whole uprising in motion are now being hunted down and put behind bars by the military council and as the liberals are watching the revolution, they have been dreaming about for ages, being hijacked by the Islamists.

And some of the hidden hawks of the old regime one could imagine the frustration, the broken dreams, the tears and the hidden cries of all those once starry-eyed revolutionaries who occupied the Tahrir square for glorious and unforgettable 18 days.

Revolutionary nudity

Aliaa el-Mahdy in her full nude photo posted in her blog

But not everybody can live with a muted cry. There is always an exception to every rule.

As the precipitating forces on the socio-political scene have been so violent, unpredictable and flagrantly extreme, so was the reaction of Aliaa Magda el- Mahdi, a 20-years-old Egyptian college student who dared to post a photo of herself in full nude on her blog last week.

In a culture that believes that the devil’s lure and the route to hell lie in the naked face and eyes of a woman, stark nudity could very well be a revolutionary cry and a suicidal choice.

On her Facebook page Aliaa explained that she posted this nude picture to defend her freedom that is being hijacked by ultra-conservatism. She wrote that she was “echoing screams against a society of violence, racism, sexual obsession, sexual harassment and hypocrisy.”

In her self-portrait she posted on her blog, A Rebel’s Diary (warning: X-rated), which has received almost 2 million page views till now, she faces the camera with absolutely defiant eyes wearing only a red ribbon in her hair, thigh-high tights, and red ballet shoes.

The same photo appears on her blog a second time, now with a yellow rectangle covering her crotch. “The yellow rectangles on my eyes, mouth and sex organ resemble the censoring of our knowledge, expression and sexuality,” she writes.

Aliaa’s unprecedented act shocked the moral vanity of the Egyptian society and somehow helped stoke conservative Islamist sentiments that many liberals fear will undermine their prospects in the country’s parliamentary election next week.

Her action not only raised eyebrows, but also questioned her sanity and morality. But the young rebel defended herself and her freedom of expression.

“I have the right to live freely in any place,” She wrote on her blog. “I feel happy and self-satisfied when I feel that I’m really free.” Under the picture she wrote one word … “Revolution”

With Egypt now on the threshold of a new era, that could turn out to be a real democracy or a disguised theocracy,or even a military fascism one could not, or actually should not judge Aliaa’s nudity. But I wonder if her daring statement, that leaps past the fringes of the society values into the taboo, is another step in Egypt’s feminist (R)evolution or is it the last chapter of the movement?

BALI’S TRADITIONAL HEALERS, THE BALIANS

The book and movie Eat Pray Love have turned the spotlight on balians, (dukuns/shamans) the traditional healers who play an important part in Bali’s culture by treating physical and mental illness, removing spells and channeling information from the ancestors.  
Travelers seem to have added a visit to the balian to their Bali ‘must-do’ lists, right along with snorkeling, a cremation ceremony and a trip to the spa.  But a visit to a balian is a serious matter, not a tourist sideshow.  The balian is an instrument of divine healing, and the client enters a covenant to receive this healing with respect, reverence and humility.  Ask yourself why you want to visit a Balian -- out of curiosity?  To learn a little about traditional healing arts? Because you are ill and genuinely need a healing?
A Balian is committed to service, and may never turn anyone away.  Tourists who casually enter the Balian’s compound expecting to be seen often delay the healer from working with the genuinely ill Balinese who have come to see him or her.  Because of this, foreign visitors (including resident expats) should make an appointment with the Balians who prefer this.  Please dress appropriately with arms and legs covered, and don’t point your feet at the healer (or any other Indonesian).  Women should not be menstruating.  Always take an offering with the fee tucked into it; never hand money directly to the Balian.  The fee is usually Rp 100,000 for a consultation, and Rp 200,000 for treatment. If the treatment is extensive the fee may be higher; ask the Balian.  Your hotel can make the appointment and supply the offering, and you might also want to take a translator as many Balians do not speak English.
What can you expect when you consult a Balian? Your experience will be very public, with all the other clients watching avidly.  The healer may make magic, create fire, use mudrahs, draw patterns on your body, spit wads of chewed herbs on your skin, apply scented oils, poke you with sharp sticks and/or give you a deep tissue massage or manipulation that will be very painful indeed.  You will probably howl; most people do.  But you will probably feel better.
Every village has at least four Balians. There are about 8,000 practicing in Bali, which has about four times as many Balians as doctors.  They are at the forefront of community health, and Balinese will often visit the Balian before going to a conventional doctor for treatment.  The relationship between the two disciplines is interesting. The head of the Balian Association is a medical doctor whose father and grandfather were Balians, and the Hindu University in Denpasar has a faculty of traditional healing.  Many Balians will refer a client to a doctor, hospital or pharmacy and doctors may discreetly suggest a visit to a Balian if mainstream medical treatment is not effective.
Pak Made Surya, an authority on Balians, has been studying the subject in depth for 15 years.  He is the only expert I’m aware of who offers healing arts study tours to those interested in the culture of traditional Balinese medicine and magic, and the opportunity to visit carefully selected, authentic Balians during one, two and six-day study tours.  He has translated and worked with scholars and educational film and video crews including National Geographic.  Besides leading Healing Arts study tours for 23 years, he has served as senior research assistant for several scholarly books relating to the Balinese view of the After Death and sits on the advisory board for Sacred Sites International. He is collaborating on a book provisionally titled A Spiritual Kitchen, an Ancient Balinese Healing System.
“There are plenty of bogus Balians out there,” Surya warns.  “Be guided by personal referrals.”
There are four kinds of Balians.  The first kind is a Ketakson who acts as a channel between the client and God. Ketaksons evoke the spirit of a dead person, and pass on information to the family about what kinds of offerings are needed for cremations and other ceremonies.  They can also channel living people to give guidance or locate missing   objects.  Most of the female Balians are Ketakson.
The Pica/Paica Balian is a medium who may not be a formal student of magic. This kind of Balian receives physical objects which appear and disappear spontaneously and are used during healing sessions.  “I’ve seen a kris suddenly materialize during meditation, standing on its point and rotating by itself,” Surya recalls. “The object may seem ordinary and may not be beautiful.  These ritual objects appear and disappear of their own accord, and may manifest for up to five years.”
The Balian Usada is a person who either has the intention to become a Balian or may receive divine knowledge during a severe illness.  These people decide to further their knowledge by studying the lontars (sacred texts) and with recognized healers. The lontars, thousands of ancient texts in Kawi script, contain information on ethics, anatomy, traditional herbs, meditation, yoga, tantra and other subjects.  The Balians also study both white and black magic, which are very similar except for the intention of the practitioner.
The fourth kind of Balian combines all of the above.  Many may appear crazy or psychotic, or hear voices, while the wisdom in entering them.
“The Healing Arts Study Tours are learning journeys which offer the visitor an in-depth excursion into the culture of Bali through the eyes of the Balinese, for those who wish to observe, appreciate, and experience traditional healing methods,” Surya explains. “Among other subjects, we explore the history of traditional medicine (Usada), the different systems and practices of the Balians and the mystical basis of the Bali Hindu belief system. The essence of Balinese medicine is the understanding of the magic of the Left versus the Right. We look at different healing modalities, love potions, black magic and their relationship to illness.”
Quite a number of Balians will not see foreigners at all, because they feel it’s too difficult to communicate the subtlety and nuance of their work across the language and cultural barriers, even with a translator.
For those who are neither students of Balinese culture nor ill but would like to experience a balian, the following will accept visits from foreigners without an appointment.  Once you are in the neighbourhood, the locals will direct you. 
1.  Jero Dasaran. (aka Jero Roti)   Banjar Tengah, Kerambitan, Tabanan (Channeler)
2.  I Gusti Ngurah Rai,   Puri Aseman, Kerambitan, Tabanan (Reads people and gives advice)
3.  Pak Jero Purnayasa, Banjar Sayan Baleran, Mengwi, Badung (Unexplained illnesses)
4.  Pak Wayan Tirtha,  Banjar Tegal, Tegalalang, Gianyar (Balian Usada)
5.  Jero Tapakan, Abangan, Tegalalang north of the cemetery, on the east side of the road (Channeler)
6.  Jero Mangku Dasaran,  Banjar Teges, downtown Gianyar east of the jail (Channeler)
7.  Pak Bejug (Pak Dug ), Banjar Kedewatan, Ubud, Gianyar (Muscle and bone ailments)
8.  Jero Mangku Nyoman Sudri, Banjar Abian Tubuh, Kesiman, Denpasar (Channeler)
9.  Jero Mangku Bajra, Banjar Batan Poh, Sanur, Denpasar (Purification)
10.  Nyoman Sumiarta (Nyoman Ata)  Jalan Kepundung Gang XI, Denpasar  (Mystical illnesses, spells)
11. Pak Ketut Suwitra of Munduk can be booked through Puri Lumbung Hotel in Munduk (Massages, gastrointestinal-related problems)
The following Balians require appointments:
1.  Jero Mangu Gede Puspa, Desa Nongan near Besakih (Cancer, removing spells, mystical illnesses) tel: 081237033676
2.  Pak Made Partha, Banjar Bantan Buah 30 minutes from Ubud (Sports injuries, sprains, bones, back problems) 081338430224
3.  Ibu Jero Nesa, Jalan Batur Sari, Bet Ngandang, Sanur (Channeler, purification, mystical illnesses, possession and for those who hear voices) 0361287234 
4.  Cokorda  Bagus Astawa,  Banjar Mukti, Singapadu, Gianyar 081338533037 weekends only (Reading people, mystical illnesses)
5.  Pak Sirkus Banjar Tegal-Gundal, Kuta Utara Tel 0361739538 (Bones, muscles)
6.  Pak Ketut Gading of Peliatan, Ubud Tel 0361970770  (Broken bones, muscular problems; does house calls)
7.  Pak Man (Nyoman ) of Tampaksiring, who relocated to Ubud Tel 081338935369 (An energy healer/taksu who uses massage with medicated oil)
I have myself been treated by several Balians, and visited others in company with Surya.  I’ve watched Balians cure stress and depression-related issues, chronic back and knee problems, headaches and many other maladies.  There is certainly magic at work here, in company with learning, intuition and the profound ambient energies of this remarkable island.  If you choose to  experience it, please do  so with the respect it deserves.
For more information about Healing Arts Study Tours with Surya, visit www.Danutours.com or www.Balihealers.com or contact him directly at danu@earthlink.net
Dragons in the Bath, a collection of Ibu Kat’s stories, it is available at Ganesha Books in Ubud and at Biku in Seminyak, and at Periplus bookstores in Bali. It can be ordered nationally  and internationally through www.dragonsinthebath.com 
E-mail:  bali_cat7@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2010 Greenspeak
You can read all past articles of  Greenspeak at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz