When looking for a new bed mattress, one of the most common concerns is comfort. If the bed is not comfortable for an individual sleeper’s needs, they will not get the rest they were looking for when they set out to the mattress store in the first place. Going to a local store gives a purchaser the chance to mimic their sleep habits on the products available. It is most ideal in this case to try to recline on the bed in a way that is that person’s most common sleep positions. How the bed mattress feels while the potential buyer is on their side or stomach can be completely unique to how it would feel if the person were to simply lie on their back. Some people, however, find this can be an uncomfortable experience, to lie down in a public place. This makes an online mattress store a good option for many. Online, a buyer cannot physically try out the product, but can read customer reviews of others who have purchased particular brands of mattresses.

A bed mattress concern many have is the durability of the item. As people like to get good value for their money, looking at a mattress store can indicate the quality control that has gone into creating each type of mattress and determine which best fits their needs. In local establishments, there is once again the benefit of looking at the item in person and being able to inspect the craftsmanship that has gone into creating the bed. Knowledgeable salespeople in either environment should be able to help in making this factor more clear.

Both avenues can provide valuable sources of information to a customer. The purchase of a bed mattress can be a stressful experience, but the reward of a good night’s sleep pay off for years to come.

There are a lot of types of electronic pest control devices but the Skeetervac is one of the most famous. You should really consider looking into it if you have never tried one before.

How does the Skeeter Vac work? It sends out electronic vibrations in the air that only mosquitoes and other bugs can hear. Bugs can hear these sounds, but you can’t

Are you considering getting a Skeetervac? Then know that it is completely safe and worthwhile to own. It does not have any effect upon humans and you will be happier with it in your life.

Your BBQs will be much more successful with a Skeetervac! This sort of device allows people to enjoy the food and drink and family and friends without having to deal with the annoying mosquitoes.

The electronic vibration technology in these Skeetervac devices are awesome and great because you will be completely safe and away from mosquitoes. You won’t get bitten.

Do you have pests? Wasps, mosquitoes, bugs of all sorts? Especially flying pests? You can use spray on insect repellant, but it doesn’t always work as well as a device.

Repellant is good if you want to protect yourself, but if you are throwing a party or want to protect everyone from mosquitoes, consider the Skeetervac!

Recently, my parents have had a great deal of trouble with rats and mice. With large avocado trees and a deck where mice, rats, and other vermin can live, we’ve seen a high population of rats move into the neighborhood. Traditionally, they’ve used rat poison as a means of eliminating the pests, but this isn’t really the best option for most homes because rat poison can also kill and harm household pets. That’s the reason why I’ve been doing research on a wide range of different options, one being the electronic rat trap.

An electronic rat trap delivers a lethal 8,500 volts of electricity, which is more than enough capacity for killing large rats and mice, and for giving a nice jolt to any living thing. I hope it’s not harmful to humans:) Just kidding, it’s not. As a young person, I was enchanted with the strange blue lights that zapped mosquitoes and other airborne insects around buildings. Electronic rat traps are equally as cool, and I definitely am eager to see one in action.

People will try all manner of tactics to get rid of vermin. I remember when I was younger that my parents had one of those plastic owns on our rooftop, which didn’t seem to work at all with rodents, but definitely horrified my dog. The electronic rat trap seems to be the ultimate, though fanatical, endeavor to date for pest control. 8,500 volts! Are you kidding me? It definitely seems a bit like overkill to me, but I’m no expert?

The electronic rat trap gets its power from a battery, though a solar powered version would be even more awesome, though I’m not sure the sun would be a viable source for 8,500 volts of shock power:) I’ve searched but haven’t seemed to be able to find a solar powered one yet.

For some reason I haven’t yet been able to determine, it seems that urban regions are beginning to see a higher infestation of rodents than before. As a landscaper on the side, I continually come across yards that are devastated by rabbits, rats and mice, as well as a few other critters. Though I haven’t been able to find the cause of this recent infestation, many people are exploring their options for pest control. I think one of the big factors with the current infestation is that I live in an area that’s had a couple of recent fires. The outer hillsides have been ravaged, which I’m sure is a factor that drives much of the animal population into urban areas. Whatever the factor, they’re not going to be happy when they accidentally step into an electronic rat trap and find 8,500 volts of power introduced through a metal plate in the floor. Man, I’m glad I’m not a rat.

Here’s what it said:

“Epidemiologic studies have revealed an association between occupational exposure to hair dyes and incidence of cancers. Several cohort and case-studies have shown increased risk of bladder cancer among hairdressers and barbers who are occupationally exposed to hair dyes. It has been reported that there is a statistically significant and a dose-dependent association between hair dyeing and risk of ovarian cancer.

Women with prolonged use of dark, particularly black, hair dyes may have increased risk of fatal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma (Murata, et al., 2006)”.

[The above are the first two paragraphs of the study by Murata and colleagues, which provides an alarming set of information that every one who uses non-natural hair dyes should be aware of.]

The chemicals associated with these non-natural hair care products are dangerous and potentially life threatening. This study has many implications and should be distributed as widely as possible, because many men and women use these types of products without the knowledge that they may be causing themselves long-term health problems.

Natural hair care products used to dye hair do not contain these toxic chemicals and while natural hair dyes may not be as easy to use and may not last as long as some of their toxic counter-parts, the reduction in risk to one’s health has to be worth the extra effort – if indeed there is extra effort involved.

The warnings however, should not stop there. Hair shampoos and conditioners manufactured by many leading cosmetic companies still contain ingredients such as SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and other potentially harmful ingredients, yet there are no warnings on the packets or labels to make consumers aware of any potential dangers. These types of chemicals, SLS, Parabens, Formaldehydes, MIT’s, etc., should be avoided at all cost.

It is true, that in some cases, for example parabens, the scientist still do not agree whether these are indeed carcinogenic or not, but as I am not a gambler, my suggestion is, better not to use them in the first place, then find out later that they are…

Similarly, although there is a shift toward using natural, safe ingredients in skin care products, there are still manufactures that will use non-natural ingredients which have not been sufficiently tested for their safety. Here too, it is wise to be cautious and err on the side of ‘rather safe, then sorry’, by choosing truly natural skin care products over others.

Let’s have a look at a typical body moisturizing lotion. The following ingredients are contained in a well known brand of skin care products:

Water – fine

Isopropyl Myristate – non-toxic

Glycerin – non-toxic

Stearic Acid – may cause eye irritation

Cetyl Esters – Effects of Exposure: Immediate effects: Eye, skin and mucous membrane; Irritation may occur. Delayed effects: irritation of skin/eyes, burning, dryness, acne, hypopigmentation and dermatitis have been experienced.

PEG-100 – Effects of Exposure: Skin: Dermatitis, Sensitisation/Allergic Reaction; Material is a photosensitiser; May irritate the eyes and skin.

Glyceryl Stearate – non-toxic

Triethanolamine – Skin/Eyes: Irritation, Redness, Pain, and Damage. Ingestion: Burns mouth, Pharynx and Esophagus; Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Stearamide DEA – Effects of Exposure: Eyes: Mild eye irritation. Skin: Mild skin irritation (after prolonged or repeated contact). Inhalation: Irritation (upper respiratory tract). Prolonged or repeated overexposure may cause central nervous system depression. If swallowed: Irritation to gastrointestinal tissue; Central nervous system depression.

Allantoin – non-toxic

Methyl paraben – Inhalation: Very dangerous. Eyes: Irritant. Skin: Irritant. Ingestion: Irritant. Substance is toxic to Lungs. Repeated/prolonged exposure to the substance can produce organ damage.

Imidazolidinyl Urea – Possible allergic reaction. Irritant reaction will occur at the test sites of patents suffering with suspected contact dermatitis.

Carbomer – Effects of Exposure: Eyes: Irritation, corneal injury. Skin: Irritation/burns. Inhalation: upper respiratory irritation, anaesthesia. Ingestion: cardiac rate changes (persons with liver/kidney problems should avoid contact).

Propyl paraben – Eyes/Skin: irritant. Inhalation/Ingestion: Dangerous. Substance is toxic to lungs.

Honey – great

Fragrance – not specified, but is synthetic – possibly toxic.

[The information on the ingredients in the above list comes from a great service provided by Cornell University (web site provided later in this article).]

This is a simple moisturising lotion, intended to moisturise your body’s skin – I don’t know about you, but I would not put this anywhere near my skin. There is mounting evidence that many ingredients used in our hair care, personal care and skin care products are potentially hazardous to our health, yet despite these dangers, little of this evidence is presented or easily available to the general public.

There is a great web site that provides information on ingredients: http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/msds/search.html all you have to do is type the name of the ingredient you want to know about into the first search box. You will then get a results page. Usually the first one on the list is the one you’d click. Then select Section 3 – Hazards Identification Including Emergency Overview, to see the potential hazards the ingredient may cause you. These data sheets are by no means a complete record of all the possible health implications that a particular ingredient may cause, but they will give you a good idea as to whether you’d be better off to avoid the particular ingredient.

Reference:

Murata, M. Nishimura, T. Chen, F. and Kawanishi, S. (2006) Oxidative DNA damage induced by hair dye components ortho-phenylenediamines and the enhancment by superoxide dismutase. Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, 607 (2006) 184-191.

When you are looking for an exterminator to handle your pest problems it’s important to do your research. You need a company that is licensed and insured to come in and perform the service that you are looking for. By doing a general search for pest control specialist in your area you can ensure that you find a wide net, helping to rule out those that don’t have licensed and insured technicians.

If you have kids and/or pets another major concern is their safety. You want an exterminator that will get rid of the pests but will use methods that won’t be harmful to your pets. Finding companies that utilize non-toxic methods to rid you of your bug and rodent problem is important when it comes to the health and well beings of your children and your four-legged children.

It’s also important that you find a company that will follow EPA guide lines. You don’t want someone that is unwilling to keep to the governmental guidelines; they might be willing to cut corners elsewhere and could put you, your family, and your pets at risk.

Protecting the environment is also another big concern. You don’t want rodents or bugs in your home for health reasons but you don’t want to poison the ecosystem to keep them out. Many good exterminators now use “green” methods to successfully rid you of your pest problems.

Pest control doesn’t have to have a lot of strings attached and doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Many reputable companies will offer you a free no obligation estimate on their services. These companies will also come out and inspect your home to tell you what kind of pest problem you may have and how to eradicate them as well as any preventative measures that they may have for you to keep your problem from coming back. When you are looking for an exterminator, it’s important to take the time to find the best company at the best price.

If you are within an area of the country which are affected by fire ants, there is possibly a high probability you might have witnessed their huge anthills. Fire ants are generally 1/8 inch long and they are normally red-colored or black. These types of ants live underground and make huge distinct anthills. Fire ants live where the winters tend to be warm.

Their agonizing bites develop into blisters which take several weeks in order to recover, so try to steer clear from their large anthills. As a side note, their anthills can damage your garden.

A couple of Ways of Managing Fire Ants

Their are usually 2 ways of controlling fire ants. The first technique is to attack individual anthills. The next approach would be to treat your whole yard. By popular vote, the easiest method should be to treat your whole property. Not only is this method the easiest but additionally the top remedy. You should utilize a broadcast application of a dust and odor free granular insecticide such as Gardentech Over ‘n’ Out.

How does it work?

The insecticide is picked up by the carrier ants, which transport it back to the colony. The ants then begin to digest the granules which in turn spreads the poison to the entire colony. This really is quite effective in doing damage to the colony from the inside out. The fire ants are controlled year round, without the need for ongoing reapplication.

Because fire ants impact a large location, a community program of insecticide application offers even greater effectiveness, making it less likely that ants will find a place to make a new home in the area and come back next year.

What About Other Ants?

If you’re not within a region afflicted with fire ants, there is no question that you may have other types of ants lurking about. Most ants tend to be more of a annoyance than a real problem when outdoors. Initially, try reducing their presence. The easiest way to do that is as simple as reducing their food supply.

Here are a few techniques to do that:

For those who have aphids on your trees, dislodge them with a powerful spray with your garden hose. Ants often go after the sticky residue aphids leave behind.

Cleanup immediately after a picnic or outdoor treat. Ants are drawn to anything sweet, for example spilled juice, soft drinks, as well as fruit left behind.

Carpenter ants usually invade only moist or rotting wood. If they are infesting a tree, they can be a sign of structural decay underneath the bark.

You might need to seek advice from an arborist to see if your tree has sustained sufficient destruction that it could fall in a storm. If so, it needs to be taken out. Immediately get rid of the ant infested decaying lumber.

Should you see anthills, destroy them by dousing them with several gallons of boiling water, or use Sevin insecticide or even aerosol ant killers according to the instructions.

Let me take this time to thank you for reading our article. Visit us for more pest control tips.

During the last 27 years of active chiropractic practice I have utilized a variety of treatment techniques that have consistently proven effective in treating the majority of spinal conditions that have entered my office. Always looking for better and more efficient ways to help patients led me to direct my attention to support the spine AFTER the patient had received their treatment.

In the past I had seen orthotics and knew that there was a benefit to supporting a patient’s arches. Unfortunately, after using orthotics occasionally over the years the technology to make these supports didn’t seem to be as consistent as I would have liked.

Let’s go over a bit of anatomy to understand the benefits of orthotics. Your foot has not one, but three arches. There are two arches that travel the length of your foot, one on this inside of the bottom of your foot, and the other on the outside of the bottom of your foot. The third arch is called the transverse arch. It is located across the bottom of your toes, sometimes called the ball of your foot. All three of these arches work together to support the foot. In turn the foot supports the ankles, knees, and eventually the spine.

As we get older or if we continue to wear shoes that are not very supportive, the arches have a tendency to drop. As the arch drops the support required diminishes and affects the entire structure. Typically, the outside arch is the first to start dropping.

I have noticed some patients wearing over the counter arch supports. While these may feel comfortable, they certainly are not made to specifically help YOUR condition. Many professionials that make customized orthotics still use old technology to make the support. The patient steps into a foam cast which is then sent to the orthotic company for production of the orthotic. The problem that I have seen is that it is difficult if not impossible to make a perfect cast using this old technology.

Thankfully, technology has developed that digitizes the process. Use of an electronic digital scanner takes multiple measurements to give the most accurate casting procedure possible. In my office this has allowed patients who previously had chronic lower back pain, to finally get the support their conditions required. This meant less pain, less treatment, and more consistent results.

If you are interested in learning more about chiropractic treatment and the use of orthotics for your particular spinal condition feel free to visit the link in the resource box below.

Be vigilant in and around your pool area. Guard against standing water, such as in birdbaths or in containers and toy boxes–as these are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Visually survey dark corners beneath decks, posts, gutters, awnings–anyplace a bee, wasp or hornets nest can thrive. If you discover a nest, you may choose to eliminate the problem with over-the-counter deterrents or contact a pest control professional if you are at all unsure about the extent of the infestation.

Land-based pests: Ants, mites, mice and other creepy-crawlies are attracted to food–crumbs, sugars, salt–the kind of excess that might go unnoticed after a relaxing day outside. Be sure to be vigilant about cleaning up after yourself outdoors–clean grills, tables, chairs and any decking surfaces at the end of each day. Repellents also exist to help manage infestations, and oftentimes you can apply these in advance of the season to gain an early advantage over land-based pests.

A final reminder: As a matter of additional safety, you should be aware of any allergies or special restrictions of anyone using your pool, and have appropriate health measures at the ready in the event of an unwanted sting or bite. If you have any doubt about controlling pests, consult a local expert for further assistance.

Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. A vigilant approach to pest control by the pool can add peace of mind to your summertime fun.

DHEA, or Dehydroepiandrosterone, is a naturally produced steroid often supplemented by athletes to improve their testosterone levels, allowing for fat loss, muscle gain, heightened energy, and increased libido. DHEA gained massive public appeal when average people looking to become more athletic, lose weight, or gain muscle discovered that it could do the same things for them.

Many fitness supplements throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s used DHEA as part of their selling point. Numerous studies had come out detailing the effects of DHEA on all the athletic pursuits mentioned above, as well as a number of surprising positive benefits. Some of these included increased insulin production, better sex drive, improved mood, better memory, heightened levels of HDL “good” cholesterol, and various immune system benefits. Indeed, you can still see many DHEA supplements on the shelves in your local vitamin store – however, in recent years studies have surfaced showing the potential harm of DHEA.

DHEA has been shown to increase levels of certain sex hormones in the body – various powerful androgens and estrogens. These sex hormones regulate a number of important processes in the body, and their over supplementation has caused all sorts of unwanted side effects like excess facial hair (for both men and women), mood swings, hypergycemia, or even cancerous growth within the body.

Why is 7 Keto DHEA better?

Luckily, scientists have developed a molecule nearly identical to DHEA, without its propensity for throwing off the body’s natural hormone balance. Known as 7 Keto DHEA, it is a natural metabolite (breakdown product) of DHEA. This means that when you ingest DHEA, it isn’t actually DHEA that causes a lot of the desirable benefits you want. The body metabolizes DHEA into 7 Keto DHEA and various hormone enhancing compounds. By pre-metabolizing DHEA into 7 Keto DHEA and throwing out the unnecessary compounds, scientists can produce the exact same effects as DHEA, with none of the unwanted side effects.

What are some of the proven benefits of 7 Keto DHEA?

* Fat reduction

* Increased energy production

* Immune benefits – increase in anti-viral antibodies

* Effective treatment for muscle and weight loss for sufferers of HIV or wasting disease

* Improves HDL cholesterol, reduces risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke

There are a few important details regarding these benefits. First of all, fat reduction requires at least 200 mg per day to get weight loss results. This is only the minimum – some people take up to 1400 mg per day depending on their weight loss goals. Many supplement companies sell 7 Keto DHEA in capsules that only contain 50 to 100 mg each, requiring a daily minimum of two or four pills. The companies do not tell you this, because it is quite expensive to take 7 Keto DHEA at the required daily dosage. 7 Keto DHEA is actually exponentially higher in cost than pure DHEA as a supplement.

Also, the increased energy production can come at a cost. The reason energy production is increased is tied into 7 Keto DHEA’s use as a weight loss product. DHEA does two things related to energy production: makes it easier for the body to metabolize fats into energy, and it makes the body less efficient at burning fat. This makes the body produce more energy by burning an exponentially greater amount of fat. This is great if you have a lot of fat you need to burn off, but if you do not have any fat on your body, 7 Keto DHEA can actually be a dangerous product. By making the body less efficient, you can actually experience an energy reduction.

Regardless of these details, the studies proving 7 Keto DHEA’s effectiveness in these areas are unassailable.

Some other benefits of DHEA

This list comprises a number of benefits of DHEA that have been proven, but for which studies of 7 Keto DHEA have not yet been done:

* Decreases lupus symptoms like rashes, anemia, arthritis, and heart, lung, or kidney problems

* Better mood

* Increases libido, better sex drive

* Normalizes blood sugar, prevents diabetes

* Anti-aging – reverses tissue deterioration

While there aren’t any studies specifically on 7 Keto DHEA, these have been proven benefits of DHEA, its “mother” molecule. While it only makes sense that it would have similar benefits, one should be wary of websites or products that advertise it making claims of these benefits. Especially the heightened libido/sex drive claim is somewhat dubious, because it isn’t supposed to increase sex hormone levels.

Dangers of 7 Keto DHEA?

As mentioned above, if you don’t have any fat to burn, DHEA can actually decrease your energy levels.

Also, studies have shown that it may actually decrease levels of sex hormone in the blood. This result is believable, because it doesn’t increase them like pure DHEA does.

Regardless of these dangers, it is a powerful weight loss product that can be useful in a number of other areas in your life. Be sure to consult with your doctor or health professional before taking this or any other supplement. Research says if you supplement with 7 Keto DHEA you should consume 200mg per day.

So How Low can I go with the dose of hormone ingredients to still be effective at preventing pregnancy?

Good question, as not all birth control pills contain exactly the same amount of estrogen and progestin. I thought a useful reference for you would be a list of low dose and ultra low dose pills so that you can at least discuss the pros and cons with your doctor and see if you are a good candidate to move from say, a low dose 0.035mg estrogen pill down to an ultra low dose 0.020mg estrogen pill. You may find you experience fewer or reduced side effects. Generic brands in low dose birth control pills are also available.

Birth control pills with the very lowest amount of estrogen, that is 0.02mg of estrogen (usually ethinyl estradiol) are classed as ‘ultra low dose’ contraceptive pills. 0.020mg of estrogen is sufficient for contraception but the side effects of spotting and breakthrough bleeding are more common with these types of ultra low dose birth control pills than with low dose pills containing 0.030mg or 0.035mg of estrogen.

Here are some brand names of the “ultra low dose” birth control pills on the market , you may find a generic version on line now that you know what amount of estrogen to look for. The estrogen component is listed first and the progestin component second.

Alesse (Aviane,Lessina,Lutera,Sronyx) contains 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.1 mg levonorgestrel
Mircette contains 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel

Pills containing 0.02mg- 0.035mg.of estrogen are classed as ‘low dose’ pills. Here are some brand names of “low dose” birth control pills :

LoOvral contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and and 0.3 mg nogestrel
Nordette contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg levognorgestrel
Ortho-Cept (Reclipsen, Solia) contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel
Desogen contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel
Levlen21 contains 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel
Seasonale/Seasonique contain 0.03mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel

If you are a fan of triphasic pills, here are some low dose ones: Cyclessa

Phase 1: ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg and desogestrel 0.1 mg

Phase 2: ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg and desogestrel 0.125 mg

Phase 3: ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg and desogestrel 0.15 mg

In a study of 5,654 women, over six menstrual cycles, some used the popular triphasic Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 and others used Cyclessa. It was found that women who used Cyclessa had significantly less breakthrough bleeding or spotting and experienced an average weight loss of 4lbs. versus an average weight gain of 2lbs. with those who took Ortho-Novum 7/7/7.

Ortho Tricyclen Lo : 3 types of pill in the pack

each white tablet contains 0.025 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.180 mg of norgestimate
each light blue tablet contains 0.025 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.215 mg norgestimate
each dark blue tablet contains 0.025 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.250 mg of norgestimate

(Ortho Tricyclen and Ortho-Cyclen, each with 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol, contain slightly higher amounts of estrogen in each type of pill than Ortho Tricyclen Lo)

YASMIN and YAZ are two more low dose birth control pills containing 0.03 mg and 0.02 mg respectively

of estrogen but they have a different type of progestin from the other pills called drospirenone (3.0 mg). On the down side, since Yasmin/Yaz can increase levels of potassium, it is not recommended for women with liver, adrenal or kidney problems but on the up side, Yasmin/Yaz appear to reduce water retention and therefore bloating and in some women gives a sense of well being. These pills also have a following among acne sufferers as they seem to improve this skin condition in a lot of cases.As with many other types of birth control pills, Yasmin may not be suitable for you if you also take other over-the-counter pain relievers, potassium sparing diuretics, potassium supplements or specific medications so you MUST check this out with a physician first.

Nursing Moms

You will have heard of the ‘mini’ pill (progestin only pill or POP) which is usually prescribed for women who are breastfeeding or who have an intolerance to estrogen. A ‘Mini pill’ can be started immediately after childbirth or abortion. There is no 7-day break or dummy pills as there are with the combined pill and it must be taken at the same time every day. Micronor contains 0.35 mg norethindrone and NO estrogen whatsoever. In other countries some brand names include: Microlut 28, Microval 28, Locilan 28 and Noriday.

Pills that contain high amounts of estrogen or progestin are used for emergency contraception and are known as ‘the morning after pill’ or Plan B. One common pill is Preven -each blue film-coated pill contains 0.25 mg levonorgestrel and 0.05 mg (that’s MILLIGRAMS not micrograms) of estrogen – usually you take 2 doses, 12 hours apart. Plan B is a ‘morning-after’ pill that contains only one hormone, progestin (Levonorgestrel) Tablets, 0.75 mg.