For me, as Editor of PH Online, it is a continual reward and privilege to be able to publish such potentially life affirming and transformative features, including the selection in the Jan 2012 Issue 190, including articles about personal transformation, peak performance, finding happiness, reprogramming the mind for resolution of chronic pain, health coaching for lasting health, Andrographis for immune enhancement, the best nutritional start for your baby part II, heart health problems and their prevention, osteopathic treatment for thoracic outlet syndrome and yoga for health, consciousness and balance. www.positivehealth.com/issue/issue-190-January-2012

For me, personally, as one of the co-founders and owners of PH Online, the transition from the mainly UK print magazine and online website from 1994 to exclusively online website from Issue 150 (Sept 2008) and new international website from April 2011 to Issue 190 Jan 2012 has been hugely challenging [jargon for a monumental struggle], particularly in light of the financial meltdown of the past 3 years and the continued dearth for us of expansion capital.

The struggle and collapse of many huge enterprises over the same period, including many substantial print, newspaper and magazine businesses, helps to put into perspective that having survived for 17 going on 18 years is perhaps a Goliathan achievement. The task for this next year is to progress the international expansion, seek out advertising partners internationally which will considerably ease the strain on me and my partner.

In my biased opinion, but nonetheless a self-evident truth, PH Online remains a valuable, indeed precious archive of articles, research, book reviews, links and advertisers encompassing the entirety of complementary, alternative and natural health approaches, hence well worth expanding with a stable self-sustaining income.

Now, back to my partner Mike’s medical urology, enlarged prostate saga. As of last issue’s publication date (1 Dec) we had learned from 3 consultants that the urinary problems which afflicted Mike following his hernia repair surgery had in all probability been caused by his enlarged prostate. Enlarged prostates affect the vast majority of men over aged 40-50 years of age; it is no surprise, therefore that Mike, aged 74 was also a sufferer. Just his bad luck to require a general anaesthetic for hernia repair surgery in the same general location in the body.

The urinary retention he suffered followed the hernia surgery, which led to acute kidney failure, his catheterisation and admission to hospital, also pointed to his best exit route from these problems – Transurethal Resection Prostate or TURP surgery to reduce the size of his enlarged prostate. Mike’s TURP surgery was 8 Dec and he was discharged from hospital 13 Dec, although still with a catheter. Before this can be removed, Mike has to pass some clinical hurdles to demonstrate that he can urinate such that his bladder does not retain urine. The next ‘test’ is scheduled for 30 Dec. Watch this space for further updates in Mike’s urinary tale.

I guess that one of the lessons I have learned again, which has been humbling, is that when it comes to health and medicine, it has become abundantly clear to me how much we think we know and how little we may actually know at the same time. No matter how much our own knowledge, it can never encompass the entire body of knowledge for every kind of condition.

And, in an analogous sense, it is a similar conundrum for my partner’s health and my quest to find advertising partners internationally – searching for like-minded individuals who really value the PH Online archive and who would like to run their businesses in helping to promote courses, practitioners, products and events in their respective countries. It has been tricky for me to seek out and locate people I don’t know - the proverbial needle in the haystack.

My sincere good wishes to all PH Online readers with the added message to keep fighting and campaigning to defeat the powerful forces who are strategically battling to remove our free access to high quality vitamins, minerals, herbs and natural supplements. Our voices and actions together can help to move mountains and achieve these very reasonable goals.