Universal Medicine

Universal Medicine is an alternative medicine and self proclaimed religious organisation providing "esoteric healing" products, music, publications, workshops and courses. None of the healing modalities are evidence-based or have been proven effective by scientific research. It is headed by its founder Serge Benhayon, a former bankrupt tennis coach from Maroubra who has no medical qualifications. The organization is principally located in Goonellabah and Wollongbar, NSW, Australia. Its UK headquarters is known as "The Lighthouse" and is situated in Tytherington, near Frome, Somerset, England.

The signature treatments practiced and taught by Universal Medicine are "esoteric breast massage", "esoteric healing", "ovarian readings", "chakra-puncture", "esoteric connective tissue therapy" and "esoteric ovary massage". All treatments were devised by Serge Benhayon who has claimed the business grosses at least AUD$2 million a year from courses and retreats.

The followers of its religion, "The Way of the Livingness", are known collectively as "The Student Body". "The Teachings" are classified into meditation, self-care, nutrition, exercise, music, re-incarnation, psychological wellbeing and the esoteric, and are supported by audio, books, and online lectures. Serge Benhayon reportedly calls himself "the descended master" and followers believe he "was the one sent from (the mythical kingdom of) Shamballa to awaken us all".

Medicine

Medicine (British English ⁱ/ˈmɛdsᵻn/; American English ⁱ/ˈmɛdᵻsᵻn/) is the science and practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. The word medicine is derived from Latin medicus, meaning "a physician". Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness.

Contemporary medicine applies biomedical sciences, biomedical research, genetics, and medical technology to diagnose, treat, and prevent injury and disease, typically through pharmaceuticals or surgery, but also through therapies as diverse as psychotherapy, external splints and traction, medical devices, biologics, and ionizing radiation, amongst others.

Medicine has existed for thousands of years, during most of which it was an art (an area of skill and knowledge) frequently having connections to the religious and philosophical beliefs of local culture. For example, a medicine man would apply herbs and say prayers for healing, or an ancient philosopher and physician would apply bloodletting according to the theories of humorism. In recent centuries, since the advent of science, most medicine has become a combination of art and science (both basic and applied, under the umbrella of medical science). While stitching technique for sutures is an art learned through practice, the knowledge of what happens at the cellular and molecular level in the tissues being stitched arises through science.

Shamanism

Shamanism (/ˈʃɑːmən/ SHAH-mən or /ˈʃeɪmən/ SHAY-mən) is a practice that involves a practitioner reaching altered states of consciousness in order to perceive and interact with a spirit world and channel these transcendental energies into this world. A shaman is a person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of benevolent and malevolent spirits, who typically enters into a trance state during a ritual, and practices divination and healing.

The word "shaman" probably originates from the Tungusic Evenki language of North Asia. According to ethnolinguist Juha Janhunen, "the word is attested in all of the Tungusic idioms" such as Negidal, Lamut, Udehe/Orochi, Nanai, Ilcha, Orok, Manchu and Ulcha, and "nothing seems to contradict the assumption that the meaning 'shaman' also derives from Proto-Tungusic" and may have roots that extend back in time at least two millennia. The term was introduced to the west after Russian forces conquered the shamanistic Khanate of Kazan in 1552. The term "shamanism" was first applied by western anthropologists to the ancient religion of the Turks and Mongols, as well as those of the neighboring Tungusic and Samoyedic-speaking peoples. Upon learning more about religious traditions across the world, some anthropologists began to also use the term to describe unrelated magico-religious practices found within the ethnic religions of other parts of Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Americas, as they believed these practices to be similar to one another.

Medicine (Elsevier journal)

Medicine is a continually updated, evidence-based medical review journal covering internal medicine and its specialties. It was established by Simon Campbell-Smith in 1972 and is published by Medicine Publishing. The editor-in-chief is Allister Vale (City Hospital, Birmingham).

Scope

The journal aims to cover the fundamentals of internal medicine in a systematic way during a recurring four-year cycle – it can be seen as a general medicine textbook that is published "a chapter at a time". It covers the topics at a level appropriate to the non-specialist, providing clinicians with up-to-date, understandable clinical information. It is aimed specifically at trainees in internal medicine and its specialties who are preparing for postgraduate examinations. The journal is abstracted and indexed by Scopus and Embase.

Editors-in-chief

The following persons have been editor-in-chief ("chairman of the board") of the journal:

Universal (U.K. Subs album)

Universal is a studio album by the U.K. Subs released in 2002 on Captain Oi! Records.

Track listing

All songs written by Charlie Harper, except where noted.

Personnel

References

Universal (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album)

Universal is the tenth album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released in 1996. It features songwriting contributions from co-founder Paul Humphreys, who departed the band in 1989, and Karl Bartos (formerly of Kraftwerk). The album spawned the band's first Top 20 hit in the UK for over five years with the track "Walking on the Milky Way". However, follow-up single "Universal" and the album itself performed poorly and this lack of success prompted singer Andy McCluskey to disband the group. It would remain their final album for over a decade until the band's reunion.

Reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine in AllMusic remarked: "Universal is a rote collection of synth-pop and dance-pop from OMD, demonstrating only a fraction of the sophisticated craft that made its predecessor Liberator enjoyable, and none of the adventurous spirit of their '80s records."

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Andy McCluskey, except where noted. 

Personnel

Universal (band)

Universal was an Australian-based boy band, from the 1990s. They released three singles on London Records, with "Rock Me Good" and "Make It With You" both entering the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart. When the third single failed to make in impact, the band dissolved.

The Brothership

However, they reformed in 2005 in their hometown of Sydney, under the name 'The Brothership', and made it into the group final of the first ever The X-Factor finals, where they were mentored by Mark Holden. Holden won with another of his mentored groups called Random

Band members

Singles

References