Western Science Blogs

Thousands of people who left Fukushima after the nuclear catastrophe are on the brink of being returned to contaminated areas due to withdrawal of government subsidies.  Residents are forced to either move back to homes they believe are unsafe or succumb to financial hardship without help from the government. The Fukushima incident has resulted in unanticipated issues that involve socioeconomic problems and safety concerns amongst the displaced.  I can't imagine living in limbo since the aftermath of the nuclear meltdown.  Families are faced with not only financial difficulty, but also the fear of exposure to residual radiation upon returning to the Fukushima area.  Women and children have also been greatly impacted by the disaster since they were the primary group that fled the area.  Men were more apt to stay in order to keep their jobs in the Fukushima area. Plant cell structure is different from an animal cell because it does not contain centr...

I know I'm a living system because I interact with my environment through information and energy exchanges.  I can also define myself as a system based on autopoiesis, meaning that I am capable of maintaining and reproducing myself.  Living systems are organisms made of multi-cellular systems that carry out life out diversified processes within the whole.  Each system is interdependent on one another for integrated function.  I am an open system that is constantly seeking homeostasis within my internal and external environment.  This equilibrium represents an ideal state that my body seeks, even though it is constantly in a state of motion or change.  I also exhibit a living system's tendency to evolve into a higher order through daily decision making. An example of the relationship between acupuncture and biophysics is the nature of the bodily meridians and acupuncture points.  Both exhibit biophysical properties that are can be charact...

I think that we tend to use supplements as an alternative magic pill rather than putting in the effort to eating a balanced diet.  Whether we blame it on not having enough time in our schedules or addressing an issue such as weight loss,  supplements are being used in lieu of focusing on supplementing our diets with healthful foods.  The human body best absorbs most vitamins, minerals and micronutrients from foods and not supplements. The big business of supplements uses marketing to appeal to the consumers by proposing cures for everything including aging, disease and longevity.  The magic pill mentality appeals to people because it offers an array of easy solutions.  Consumers are attracted to this because it is easier to pop a pill than to reshape one's own diet to accommodate longterm healthy choices. Can one aspirin a day dramatically cut cancer risk?  Studies that encourage the use of aspirin to prevent cancer should be taken with a gra...

During our class discussion on placebos, I immediately thought of the time my herbs teacher Teo Potts was lecturing about how he felt when people described acupuncture as a possible placebo treatment. I thought he would be offended upon hearing a comment like that but instead, he was supportive of placebos.  His perspective is that if a placebo results in a positive effect in healing person, then why not?  In order for people to be healed, they need to believe that it can be done.  A placebo can function as a spark to that belief and eventually even becoming the flame to the road of recovery. Placebos can also help to strengthen the connection between the body and the brain.  The fact that they work tells us that there is a deeper level of healing beyond the effect of pharmaceutical drugs and standard treatments.  The context in which a placebo is given plays an important part in providing the ritual in which healing takes place.  The environment in w...

Using E-Prime to shape then way sentences are constructed can be quite challenging since the verb "to be" is so commonly used in the English language.  I gather that E-prime functions to sort out some of the emotional illusions and logical error that are sprinkled throughout our language of observance.  The effort that E-prime makes to bring a higher sense of clarity to language reminds me of a class I took about Mayan culture.  We were taught that the Mayan language is one of the most perfect languages that ever existed based on its use of only one definition assigned to one word.  Therefore, there would be little confusion in what words meant because there was only one single meaning.  E-prime is a way we can shape our language preferences and structure to give insight into a situation without adding our own emotional biases that might convolute reality. "As above, so below."  When we apply this statement to physics, it states that microcosms...

The reintroduction of the American bison back into America's prairies will promote the health and diversity of the grasslands.  The bison were an integral part of the prairie ecosystem before the arrival of foreign settlers.  They were also important in regard to the culture of the plains Indians such as the Sioux because they provided the main source of food in the Dakotas.  The bison provide disturbances to the landscape that help to aerate the soil, spread plant seeds and maintain the natural balance of the ecosystem.  The reintroduction of the bison to the prairie would also be a healing experience for Native Americans whose spirituality is intertwined with the history of the bison in America. I think that the natural balance of the landscape in Illinois can be restored to a certain degree with the reintroduction of the bison.  The number of birds have already increased since the return of the animals, so I anticipate other positive changes that...

When an object has symmetry, it can be divided into two pieces which are mirror images of each other.  Although we are always striving for symmetry, there is an underlying asymmetry within everything.  As an esthetician, I find this in my work on a daily basis.  Clients come to see me hoping that they can turn their brows into the perfect symmetrical work of art.  I do my best to perfect the mirror imaging of their brows but in reality, there is always some form of asymmetry no matter what.  I believe that we seek symmetry in our daily lives because it is built into our DNA.  We see this in art, music and all that we create.  Our animal instincts recognize that the symmetry reflected in facial features and bodily proportions is a better indicator of good health, so prospective mates may be chosen for healthier offspring.  Symmetry is also equated with the divine in many religions since it represents the ultimate perfection.  Through our cr...

The eight point deep ecology platform is an interesting guideline to our planet's health and sustainability.  Through these principles, issues such as population control,  environmental protection and public policies are addressed. Preserving the ecology is fundamental to the platform through the belief that ecological processes of the planet should remain intact.  Humans, animals and the natural environment have a symbiotic relationship with each and should be allowed to flourish through development of human respect for the biosphere.  In other words, humans should not take advantage of the world and its natural resources for the sole purpose of satisfying our needs and wants.  Consideration should always be taken to care for our environment and therefore, respecting the delicate relationship we have with the planet and its inhabitants. The issue of population control is also addressed through this platform.  Ecologists are aware of the detriment...

CLEANING SUPPLIES IN MY HOUSEHOLD: Windex Soft Scrub Meyer's Multi Purpose Spray Weimann's Stainless Steel Cleaner Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Murphy's Oil Soap Ceramabrite Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner Some of the cleaning products have been chosen as "cleaner" alternatives to standard products such as the dishwasher fluid.  I chose other products such as Windex based on effectiveness.  I found that I have a mixture of products with some possibly being more toxic than others but I generally am mindful of choosing the better alternative if possible. While shopping in the stores, I am seeing more and more companies that are making safer alternatives to cleaning products.  Brands such as Seventh Generation have entire lines dedicated to cleaning supplies from toilet cleaners to laundry detergents.  Ingredients included on their lists have less negative impact on the environment and have lower toxicity scores on websites such...

The standard definition of the word loaf is to idle one's life away, typically by aimless wandering or loitering.  It usually conjures up a negative impression of a someone who is lazy, apathetic and indifferent to responsibilities.  The demands of modern daily life have cast an air of disapproval on downtime and rest.  We feel guilty for not scheduling every second of our day with errands and things to do.  The lack of rest in our society has led to health problems, sleep deprivation and psycho-emotional issues. My assignment on loafing addresses the inability of our culture to cultivate relaxation as a priority for health and happiness.  What is my definition of loafing?  How does loafing affect my life?  Are there any activities that are more conducive to the loafing? My first experience with loafing this week was when I had a day to myself at home.  I noticed that even though I had things to do around the house,  I was i...

I love reading about food as medicine and believe that the body responds differently to different types of food.  The article mentioned that foods promoting alkalinity are more conducive to health since acidity is a catalyst for illness and disease.  TCM teaches that each food has its own energy and medicinal property when ingested into the body.  If we look at the PH scale, it can be seen as an indicator for balance.  When the body becomes too acidic, it affects optimal health.  Alkaline foods are used to bring the body back to balance.  The foods that contribute to acidity are mainly processed foods, meats and dairy while the foods that raise alkalinity are fruits and vegetables.  Eating a plant based diet is the key to good health.

Newton's first law of motion states that an object will not change its speed or direction unless an unbalanced force affects it.  I see this law in effect whenever I play pool.  The ball  either stops on the table because of the friction of the velour when it is going at a slow speed or stops because it hits another ball on the table.  The second law of motion states that acceleration is produced when an unbalanced force acts on an object.  The more mass the object has, the more net force has to be used to move it.   An example of this second law is when I carry a heavy backpack full of acupuncture textbooks to school.  It is easier to lift and carry my backpack when I don't have to bring these heavy books to school because there is less mass in the backpack.  Therefore, more force is required to lift and carry my backpack with Maciocia, Bensky and Deadman stuffed inside.  Newton's third law of motion states that for every action the...

There has been tremendous effort and progress made in the West in regards to treating HIV.  The research behind finding a cure has changed HIV from an incurable disease to one that is chronic and manageable.  However, the core treatment consisting of a cocktail of drugs can be quite toxic to the human body.  Antiretroviral therapy has to be continued for the rest of a person's life, so side effects are serious issues for patients to deal with.  Depression is another huge side effect from the drugs.  The answer to treating depression during HIV treatment is with antidepressant drugs, which just adds to list of pharmaceuticals being prescribed for AIDS patients. I feel that the approach to treating HIV in the West is focused on drug therapy.  Alternative therapies are not encouraged unless the individual is self motivated to educate themselves and seek them out.  Therefore, the western approach to HIV treatment is not a holistic route.  It...