Acchs Bio and Physics

How do we define energy medicine as being effective? Often with acupuncture the things we are working on are more subtle than in western medicine, so how do we measure it? Honestly I think the best way to explain that acupuncture is effective is that fact that it is still thriving 2,000 years after its birth. That's a pretty long time to keep something around if it doesn't work. Not all acupuncturists are as effective as others, how do we measure that? In how many of our patients come back? In how they report feeling? Sometimes there are lab tests that we can point to. Our patient comes in anemic, we give them herbs and they no longer are. But sometimes its not all that cut and dry. Human intent is so important as healers. One of my teachers says that 95% of healing is in the intent and belief of it. I'm not entirely sure its that high of a percentage, but I do think it is really important. I can really tell when someone believes in their ability as they put the needle it....

I think compulsory vaccination is a really complicated topic. It's a hard thing to argue that decisions about a person's or their child's health are not their own to make. However, I see no really good alternative. By keeping our vaccination levels high, we develop herd immunity. This herd immunity helps protect everyone, including those who might not be able to get the vaccination because they are immunocompromised. Things like the flu vaccine seem more complicated to me. With things like Chinese herbs and acupuncture we can keep our immune systems working really well and able to fight off things like the flu. On the other hand, as acupuncturists we might be seeing patients who are immunocompromised, and then it seems like it could be the right thing to do to be completely safe. I am totally on board with the article about how much of the push back against vaccines came from a source that was totally made up; however, I do wonder if getting a vaccine every year has some so...

Reproduction is the best and easiest way to know that we're living systems - we can actively make new life. Also our capacity to heal shows that we are autopoietic. Autopoiesis means that the system is both the producer and the product. Think of when we heal from a wound. Our body sends energy and nutrients to the site to regenerate what was hurt. We grow a scab and then new skin - we both produced these things, and yet the product is a part of us. We actively can regenerate which means that we are living systems.  Understanding biophysics helps us understand Chinese medicine. Biophysics looks at both the biologic and the mathematics in our universe and uses them to create a large picture or understanding. In this way we can see patterns and have a better grasp on the macrosystem in which we live. Chinese medicine is all about looking at the microsystem of our body and understanding how it interacts and responds similarly to the macrosystem. We talk about our bodies like we talk a...

Mostly I think the Fukushima disaster and its continued affects on the ocean are really tragic. The fact that there is still radioactive run off actively being spilled into the ocean is astounding and deeply depressing. I think that it is a powerful warning about what can happen at nuclear power plants. There are plenty of safety nets in place at nuclear power plants, but just like at Fukushima, unforeseen factors can render these safety nets ineffective. The fact that we are continually and slowly poisoning the ocean is indicative of humans irresponsible attitude towards our sources of energy and the planet. It is hard to imagine all the long term effects of Fukushima on the oceans, especially since the radioactive signature has reached across the ocean. I definitely don't think that we understand the implications of nuclear power technology on our world and society. Fukushima is the perfect example of this. Cleaner energy is important, but it seems like a huge risk to take. Is ou...

I think in this case, the western medical understanding of HIV and AIDS seems much more sophisticated than the TCM view - mostly because it it a relatively new disease. I thought the article about the man who was cured of HIV was fascinating, and I'll be really interested to see what sort of research continues in that vein. I think the use of the PreP treatments is like most things with health care - it is up to the patient to look at their life and see if it makes sense for them. I absolutely think there shouldn't be a stigma against these treatments though. Just like with birth control, a persons body is their own and it is up to them to decide whats best for them. I hope that there can be research done to decrease the side effects and potential damage - I feel like that would make things a little bit more clear cut. TCM can absolutely strengthen the immune system. It works on putting the body back in balance or harmony. When the body is working better, all functions improve...

E Prime How can we make our language less dogmatic? Taking out one verb?  Maybe this holds some truth. Will it's removal really help us understand better? I woke up this morning and tried to accomplish this, but it seemed too stilted, too strange. Perhaps we like certainty too much. Even now, I can barely think of ways to say what I mean without " be ,  am ,  is ,  are ,  being ,  was ,  were ,  been ."  I wonder if we could try this with other common phrases to see the result. What about not using the word "me/mine."? Would this lead to more confusion or a less selfish culture? Maybe both, but regardless, I can't really imagine it. "As above, so below" When I hear this I think of balance, but balance in a looser way than we're taught to think of it as. Balance in the fact that there is both order and chaos. Balance in terms of how a persons internal state affects their external body or environment. How what happens in the stars affects...