ISHAR stands for: Integrated Studies
Historical Archives and Repository.
UPDATE! Please read our blog. Big changes. We only need to raise another $9,000.00 on this campaign! Making our fundraising total $30k not $50k as promoted.
ISHAR is primarily focusing on the biofield energy and biofield medicine community, and plan to begin curation of biofield topics December 1st.
We are asking everyone to donate $20.00 each - the price of ONE YOGA CLASS - to build the largest and most credible resource online for the mind/body phenomenon. We need to raise $50,000.00 $30,000.00 to launch the digital library off of our current archive of 10,000 25000 entries and expand it to 500,000.
ISHAR IS the library for the complete compendium of the mind/body phenomenon. Culturally, scientifically and academically. ISHAR has emerged organically and is becoming a movement inside the community.
Here is why!
PROBLEM:
Currently, finding credible factual information in the mind/body healing, research and practice online is difficult, or too confusing for many online users.
SOLUTION:
ISHAR will curate, archive, and store the ENTIRE COMPENDIUM of mind/body research - especially the advancements made in the past 10 years with Integrative Health - into one seamless and complete location for research organizations and doctors. This includes scientific AND cultural knowledge. (please see:Robert Thurman, why I am an ISHAR champion)
PROBLEM:
Many Institutions and proclaimed 'skeptic organizations' refuse to acknowledge or accept ongoing scientific research on integrated approaches. They disseminate negative and erroneous information about these healing methods that makes it harder for researchers, clinicians and people like YOU to get accurate information.
SOLUTION:
ISHAR will gather all leading perspectives on each topic covered, combined with all relevant research, and all cultural practices. Since ISHAR is a library that focuses on holistic models of mind/body health, our archive itself will be holistic, fusing science, culture, perspectives, and policy into ONE library for ALL.
PROBLEM:
New research and study is happening faster than the online discussion can keep up with. Many in the mind/body community - from doctors to professors to practitioners - are citing the many problems with Wikipedia around mind/body topics. Additionally, too many questionable materials are being published on the internet, both pro and con. Researchers have to scour through medical archives in too many different locations and are left unsure of what else is out there. This, we believe, has led to a cultural divide where there should be none. Integrative health, yoga, meditation and mind body practices are now the mainstream, and 40% of US hospitals have integrated practices.
SOLUTION:
ISHAR literally is designed as a 21st Century Library. Information online - including online discussions, Wikipedia, social networking sites, and community collective curating - is a novelty that ISHAR will have which the Library of Alexandria didn't.
For instance, ISHAR is comprised of and works with editors from the Wikipedia community. We believe the way to work with the issues of institutional biases are best served by helping to build Wikipedia and protect their five pillars. ISHAR will work alongside the Wikipedia GLAM initiative as an institution and will assist editors on Wikipedia to find accurate sources relevant to Wikipedia's guidelines.
See how ISHAR contextualizes content below.
Daniel Vicaro, MD - Director, Integrative Oncology, San Diego Cancer Institute talks about the need for ISHAR for patience seeking care.
Learning or discovering cultural artifacts and scientific evidence for the mind/body phenomenon is also FUN!
ISHAR is acquiring 30 years of research compiled by MIT medical anthropologist William Bushell. We are going to launch with materials, research, and cultural artifacts around Longevity Yogic practices which have scientific explanations.
ISHAR is designed to PROTECT the fair and neutral presentation of all mind/body research, practice, and healing and PRESERVE this knowledge in prosperity for the world.
Help us launch the very first ISHAR digital 'wing'!
Please make a donation of only $20.00. If 2,500 people donate, we are riding the wave to completion! We need $50,000.00 to build our first wing.
Robert Thurman explains why he is an ISHAR champion, and why we need to do this!
We need gazillions of dollars in reality, but from the community, we are only asking to help us raise enough funds for the digital library itself, at a cost of $50,000.00 and we will handle the rest.
Deepak Chopra talks about why he is such a champion of ISHAR and why he is doing this, and why the entire mind/body community needs to as well.
Heads up: Check out Prevention Magazine's story on us just yesterday!
Just $20.00 from 10,000 people puts us there!
We've already begun ISHAR! HELP US COMPLETE IT!
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We have already begun our data base with over 10,000 entries, which we want to scale to 500,000. That's a lot of man hours and we haven't even begun to transcribe video lectures!
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Our archive is already growing BUT IT NEEDS THE DIGITAL LIBRARY FOR PUBLIC VIEWING! Please donate $20 now!
We need to build a fully functioning online library, and this endeavor is going to cost us close to $30,000.00. We need an additional $20,000 to pay for at least 1,000 service hours of formatting, inputting, and digitizing.
AND THEN WE CAN BE ONLINE FOR YOU!
We need funds to acquire archives! $50,000.00 gets us started with our own digital library and community platform. And we are most fortunate to be acquiring MIT's researcher Dr. William Bushell's entire 30 year research archive into longevity yoga from all over the world, never before digitized
Dr. Robert Schwarz, PsyD and director of ACEP explores 'just how ISHAR is a benefit to the mind/body community'
Our digital library is SMART! This truly will be a 21st century library, with all of the social and holistic features the internet allows us.
The three themes of our library are
Integrative Health, which focuses on academic and medical research of various mind body practices.
The second theme is 'Integrative Practice', which covers the entire compendium of mind/body practices from all over the world as artifacts of cultural knowledge.
The third theme is 'Integrative Studies' which explores the many philosophical themes that span research, humanistic psychology, cultural perspectives and evolutionary development around consciousness and mind.
What your looking at is a visual summary of one search query. A user scrolls over one of three 'themes' of the ISHAR library, each of wing will deliver a sub menu of our library 'wings' in that theme.
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In the visual, a user searched Integrative health and is looking up 'meditation'. Below the search query you see our library wing 'content cubbies' which contextualize all of the data, knowledge both cultural and scientific into those specific contexts, offering a complete and holistic point of view of holistic studies.
Our library therefore is the one sole repository for all academic, medical, and cultural development of the entire mind/body phenomenon and evolution of integrative studies, offering an historic completeness, curated by all the experts in each topic from all over the world.
Watch Liberation Yoga kick off the 'Raise ISHAR YOGA WAVE' to make this library happen! Please donate $20.00 today!
The only risk and challenge we face is not enough fundraising. We have a strong team and the support of the entire mind/body community.
You can Donate or you can SHARE this campaign!
If you have $20.00 - $50.00 to help RAISE ISHAR that is amazing, but please do not think that if you do not have the donation, that ISHAR is not for you or you are not a part of the ISHAR community.
If you are unable to donate, please share the Let's Raise ISHAR campaign with your community, make a champion video and spread the word! This helps more than you can imagine.
What we have coming!
Here is a design for our basic library search.
Our library is organized by themes; Integrative Health, Integrative Practice, Integrative Study.
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Search terms are available as wings inside of each theme. Each search term then delivers our curated cubbies.
Our curated cubbies are; verified facts, academics, misconceptions, FAQ, perspectives, Wikipedia, lectures, online discussions.
More coming! thank you for your patience :)
SAMPLES FROM THE ISHAR LIBRARY
Diet & Physiology
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- Caloric
restriction in humans: impact on physiological, psychological, and
behavioral outcomes
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Type
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Journal Article
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Author
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Leanne M. Redman
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Author
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Eric Ravussin
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Volume
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14
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Issue
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2
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Pages
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275-287
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Publication
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Antioxidants & Redox Signaling
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ISSN
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1557-7716
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Date
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Jan 15, 2011
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Extra
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PMID: 20518700 PMCID: PMC3014770
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Journal
Abbr
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Antioxid. Redox Signal.
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DOI
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10.1089/ars.2010.3253
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Library
Catalog
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NCBI PubMed
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Language
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eng
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Abstract
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The current societal environment
is marked by overabundant accessibility of food coupled with a strong trend
of reduced physical activity, both leading to the development of a
constellation of disorders, including central obesity, insulin resistance,
dyslipidemia, and hypertension (metabolic syndrome). Prolonged calorie
restriction (CR) has been shown to extend both the median and maximal
lifespan in a variety of lower species such as yeast, worms, fish, rats, and
mice. Mechanisms of this CR-mediated lifespan extension are not fully
elucidated, but possibly involve significant alterations in energy
metabolism, oxidative damage, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and
functional changes in both the neuroendocrine and sympathetic nervous
systems. Here we review some of the major physiological, psychological, and
behavioral changes after 6 months of CR in overweight otherwise healthy
volunteers. Special emphasis is given to the first completed clinical studies
that have investigated the effects of controlled, high-quality
energy-restricted diets on both biomarkers of longevity and on the
development of chronic diseases related to age in humans. With the
incremental expansion of research endeavors in the area of energy or caloric
restriction, data on the effects of CR in animal models and human subjects
are becoming more accessible.
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Short
Title
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Caloric restriction in humans
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- Tags:
- Aging
- Behavior
- Biological Markers
- Caloric Restriction
- Humans
- Longevity
- Obesity
Cultural Anthropology
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- Common
Core Thesis and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Mysticism in
Chinese Buddhist Monks and Nuns
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Type
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Journal Article
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Author
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Zhuo Chen
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Author
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Ralph W., Jr. Hood
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Author
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Wen Qi
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Author
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P. J. Watson
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URL
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http://www.jstor.org/stable/41349946
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Rights
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Copyright © 2011 Society for the
Scientific Study of Religion
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Volume
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50
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Issue
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4
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Pages
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654-670
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Publication
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Journal for the Scientific Study
of Religion
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Date
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December 1, 2011
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Journal
Abbr
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Journal for the Scientific Study
of Religion
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Accessed
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Tuesday, June 17, 2014 4:07:00 PM
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Library
Catalog
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JSTOR
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Abstract
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This study explores the
phenomenological structure of mystical experience among 139 Chinese Pure Land
and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns. Semi-structured interviews, thematic
coding, and statistical analyses demonstrated that Stace's common facets of
mysticism as measured by Hood's Mysticism Scale (M Scale) successfully
described Buddhist experience as modified by Buddhist doctrines. Confirmatory
factor analysis (CFA) revealed that these facets could be formed into Stace's
three-factor structure. A mystical introvertive unity hypothesized to be
separate from an extrovertive unity instead converged in the Chinese Buddhist
context. These results lend strong support to the thesis that the
phenomenology of mystical experience reveals a common experiential core that
can be discerned across religious and spiritual traditions. These data also
demonstrated that this common core can and should be explored using mixed
methods.
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Complementary Health Practices
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- Effectiveness
of hand therapy interventions in primary management of carpal tunnel
syndrome: a systematic review
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Type
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Journal Article
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Author
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Monique Muller
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Author
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Deborah Tsui
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Author
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Ronda Schnurr
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Author
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Lori Biddulph-Deisroth
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Author
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Julie Hard
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Author
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Joy C. MacDermid
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Volume
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17
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Issue
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2
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Pages
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210-228
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Publication
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Journal of Hand Therapy: Official
Journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists
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ISSN
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0894-1130
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Date
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2004 Apr-Jun
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Extra
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PMID: 15162107
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Journal
Abbr
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J Hand Ther
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DOI
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10.1197/j.jht.2004.02.009
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Library
Catalog
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NCBI PubMed
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Language
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eng
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Abstract
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The purpose of this study was to
determine the effectiveness of hand therapy interventions for carpal tunnel
syndrome (CTS) based on the best available evidence. A qualitative systematic
review was conducted. A literature search using 40 key terms was conducted
from the earliest available date to January 2003 using seven databases.
Articles were randomly assigned to two of five reviewers and evaluated
according to predetermined criteria for inclusion at each of the title,
abstract, and article levels. Included studies were independently scored by
two reviewers using a structured effectiveness quality evaluation scale and
also graded according to Sackett's Levels of Evidence. There were 2027
articles identified from the literature search, of which 345 met the
inclusion criteria. Twenty-four studies were used to formulate 30
recommendations. Current evidence demonstrates a significant benefit (grade B
recommendations) from splinting, ultrasound, nerve gliding exercises, carpal
bone mobilization, magnetic therapy, and yoga for people with CTS.
|
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Short
Title
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Effectiveness of hand therapy
interventions in primary management of carpal tunnel syndrome
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- Tags:
- Acupuncture Therapy
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Humans
- Laser Therapy, Low-Level
- Magnetics
- Physical Therapy Modalities
- Splints
- Yoga
- Non-drug
therapy in prevention and control of hypertension
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Type
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Journal Article
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Author
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G. S. Sainani
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Volume
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51
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Pages
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1001-1006
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Publication
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The Journal of the Association of
Physicians of India
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ISSN
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0004-5772
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Date
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Oct 2003
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Extra
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PMID: 14719592
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Journal
Abbr
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J Assoc Physicians India
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Library
Catalog
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NCBI PubMed
|
|
Language
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eng
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Abstract
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Non-drug therapy is a very vital
aspect in prevention and treatment of hypertension. The successive reports of
the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and
Treatment of Hypertension, WHO scientific report on primary prevention of essential
hypertension and national High Blood Pressure Education Program's working
groups report on primary prevention of hypertension have stressed on the
non-drug therapy. Today a busy family physician does not spend enough time to
explain to the patient various dietary and lifestyle modifications but
straightaway prescribes the drugs. Every patient of hypertension from the
stage of pre-hypertension to grade 2 hypertension should follow non-drug
therapy. If non-drug therapy is strictly adhered, one can prevent cases of
pre-hypertension from progressing to hypertension stage and one can reduce or
stop the medications in Grade I (mild) hypertension. We have discussed the
role of low salt, high potassium diet, role of caffeine intake, calcium and
magnesium supplements, fish oil intake, cigarette smoking, alcohol
consumption, role of physical exercise, stress reduction and bio-feedback,
yoga, meditation and acupuncture. These recommendations regarding diet and
lifestyle modifications should be targeted to population at large through
public health authorities, non-government organisations and news media.
|
Integrative Medicine (Eastern AND
Western)
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- Effects
of an integrated yoga program in modulating psychological stress and
radiation-induced genotoxic stress in breast cancer patients undergoing
radiotherapy
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Type
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Journal Article
|
|
Author
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Birendranath Banerjee
|
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Author
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H. S. Vadiraj
|
|
Author
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Amritanshu Ram
|
|
Author
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Raghavendra Rao
|
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Author
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Manikandan Jayapal
|
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Author
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Kodaganur S. Gopinath
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|
Author
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B. S. Ramesh
|
|
Author
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Nalini Rao
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Author
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Ajay Kumar
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Author
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Nagarathna Raghuram
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Author
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Sridevi Hegde
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|
Author
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H. R. Nagendra
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Author
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M. Prakash Hande
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Volume
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6
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Issue
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3
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Pages
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242-250
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Publication
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Integrative Cancer Therapies
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ISSN
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1534-7354
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Date
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Sep 2007
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Extra
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PMID: 17761637
|
|
Journal
Abbr
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Integr Cancer Ther
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DOI
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10.1177/1534735407306214
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Library
Catalog
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NCBI PubMed
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Language
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eng
|
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Abstract
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Effects of an integrated yoga
program in modulating perceived stress levels, anxiety, as well as depression
levels and radiation-induced DNA damage were studied in 68 breast cancer
patients undergoing radiotherapy. Two psychological questionnaires--Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)--and DNA
damage assay were used in the study. There was a significant decrease in the
HADS scores in the yoga intervention group, whereas the control group
displayed an increase in these scores. Mean PSS was decreased in the yoga
group, whereas the control group did not show any change pre- and
postradiotherapy. Radiation-induced DNA damage was significantly elevated in
both the yoga and control groups after radiotherapy, but the postradiotherapy
DNA damage in the yoga group was slightly less when compared to the control
group. An integrated approach of yoga intervention modulates the stress and
DNA damage levels in breast cancer patients during radiotherapy.
|
- Tags:
- Adult
- Aged
- Breast Neoplasms
- DNA Damage
- Female
- Humans
- India
- Middle Aged
- Questionnaires
- Radiation Injuries
- Radiotherapy
- Stress, Psychological
- Treatment Outcome
- Yoga
Mind Body Effects
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- Intensive
meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological
mediators
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Type
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Journal Article
|
|
Author
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Tonya L. Jacobs
|
|
Author
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Elissa S. Epel
|
|
Author
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Jue Lin
|
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Author
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Elizabeth H. Blackburn
|
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Author
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Owen M. Wolkowitz
|
|
Author
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David A. Bridwell
|
|
Author
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Anthony P. Zanesco
|
|
Author
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Stephen R. Aichele
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Author
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Baljinder K. Sahdra
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|
Author
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Katherine A. MacLean
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Author
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Brandon G. King
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Author
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Phillip R. Shaver
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Author
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Erika L. Rosenberg
|
|
Author
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Emilio Ferrer
|
|
Author
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B. Alan Wallace
|
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Author
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Clifford D. Saron
|
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Volume
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36
|
|
Issue
|
5
|
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Pages
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664-681
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Publication
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Psychoneuroendocrinology
|
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ISSN
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1873-3360
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Date
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Jun 2011
|
|
Extra
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PMID: 21035949
|
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Journal
Abbr
|
Psychoneuroendocrinology
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|
DOI
|
10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.09.010
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|
Library
Catalog
|
NCBI PubMed
|
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Language
|
eng
|
|
Abstract
|
BACKGROUND: Telomerase activity is
a predictor of long-term cellular viability, which decreases with chronic
psychological distress (Epel et al., 2004). Buddhist traditions claim that
meditation decreases psychological distress and promotes well-being (e.g.,
Dalai Lama and Cutler, 2009). Therefore, we investigated the effects of a
3-month meditation retreat on telomerase activity and two major contributors
to the experience of stress: Perceived Control (associated with decreased stress)
and Neuroticism (associated with increased subjective distress). We used
mediation models to test whether changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism
explained meditation retreat effects on telomerase activity. In addition, we
investigated whether two qualities developed by meditative practice,
increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life, accounted for retreat-related
changes in the two stress-related variables and in telomerase activity.
METHODS: Retreat participants (n=30) meditated for ∼6 h daily for 3 months and were
compared with a wait-list control group (n=30) matched for age, sex, body
mass index, and prior meditation experience. Retreat participants received
instruction in concentrative meditation techniques and complementary
practices used to cultivate benevolent states of mind (Wallace, 2006).
Psychological measures were assessed pre- and post-retreat. Peripheral blood
mononuclear cell samples were collected post-retreat for telomerase activity.
Because there were clear, a priori hypotheses, 1-tailed significance criteria
were used throughout. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was significantly greater
in retreat participants than in controls at the end of the retreat
(p<0.05). Increases in Perceived Control, decreases in Neuroticism, and
increases in both Mindfulness and Purpose in Life were greater in the retreat
group (p<0.01). Mediation analyses indicated that the effect of the
retreat on telomerase was mediated by increased Perceived Control and
decreased Neuroticism. In turn, changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism
were both partially mediated by increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life.
Additionally, increases in Purpose in Life directly mediated the telomerase
group difference, whereas increases in Mindfulness did not. CONCLUSIONS: This
is the first study to link meditation and positive psychological change with
telomerase activity. Although we did not measure baseline telomerase
activity, the data suggest that increases in perceived control and decreases
in negative affectivity contributed to an increase in telomerase activity,
with implications for telomere length and immune cell longevity. Further,
Purpose in Life is influenced by meditative practice and directly affects
both perceived control and negative emotionality, affecting telomerase
activity directly as well as indirectly.
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- Tags:
- Adult
- Age Slowing
- Aged
- Aging
- Anxiety
- Female
- Humans
- Immune System
- Male
- Meditation
- Middle Aged
- Physical Education and
Training
- Stress, Psychological
- Telomerase
- Telomere
- Telomere Homeostasis
- Telomere Shortening
- Treatment Outcome
- Young Adult
AND TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE SOURCES LIKE THESE...
