BIOLOGY: WEEK 8







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 relies on solely trying to control the virus without supporting either the body or the mind.


I feel that PrEP treatment gives people the option to protect themselves if they choose to engage in risky behavior.  Although the side effects can range from headaches to kidney failure, one must weigh the pros and cons in using the drug.  An individual who routinely has unprotected sex is susceptible to a higher chance of contracting HIV, but may have a better chance of reducing their risk of infection by taking a prophylaxis drug such as PrEP.  The social stigmas associated with using PrEp can be a deterrent in using the drug as well since the individuals can be seen as slutty and irresponsible.  Overall, I feel that people should have the option of taking this drug since it can help with the spread of HIV.



TCM can strengthen the immune system through acupuncture, herbs, balanced eating and exercise.  Acupuncture helps to stimulate the body's own natural ability to correct pathology and disease by activating energetic pathways of qi.  TCM's immense herbal tradition is another way to bolster the immune system.  The vast array of formulas and herbs helps to correct sickness in the human body by  either eliminating the pathogens or correcting internal balances.  Chinese medicine is also based on the belief that food is medicine for the body.  Eating specific foods to improve the function of the bodily systems is a practice ingrained into every Chinese household.

The immune system is a complex system within the body.  Therefore, the combination of practices offered by TCM is a powerful tool in supporting the body's natural immune function.  Since TCM aims to treat the body and mind as a whole,  it strengthens the entire body against attack from disease and illness.



Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 4, 2018 at 11:19 AM

    I like your emphasis on how TCm addresses the body as a whole entity that requires attention to all parts of a person (mind, body, spirit). We are not able to truly address someone's illness with drugs if they are not willing to change their mindset and their lifestyles (diet, stress reduction, exercise, etc). Also your comments on the toxicity of HIV medications rings quite true to how depleting it is for someone. TCM would be a great adjunct with the western medicine cocktails to help keep someone strong enough to handle these medicines.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PHYSICS: WEEK 10

Image
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...
Read more

RACHELLE'S PHYSICS BIO

I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and have been living in the Bay Area with my family since 2004.  I've worked an esthetician for the past decade by helping clients achieve their skin care goals.  I am now dedicated to being a student in Chinese medicine school and fulfilling an interest that was sparked long ago as a young child in my grandmother's kitchen.  She brought her knowledge of village medicine from China to the United States and used it in our household to treat various illnesses and ailments.  I am hopeful that my current journey will be a bridge for the knowledge of the inner and outer landscapes of the human body.
Read more

PHYSICS: WEEK 6

Image
Organized chaos can be described as the process of gaining desirable outcomes through a state of disorder.  This might reveal a hidden natural order that governs all living things, even when the environment seems chaotic.  If we think of the principles of yin and yang, we see that there is always an element of both within each other.  Therefore, chaos resides in order and order resides within chaos.  Organized chaos provides an environment for unpredictability and ultimately, creativity.  The lack of a system of rigid order results in numerous creative possibilities and outcomes.  Chaos can be seen as an environment of freedom that provides a breeding ground for systems of natural order to arise A fractal system is a complex, non-linear interactive system which has the ability to adapt to a changing environment.  Such systems are characterized by the potential for self organization, existing in a non-equilibrium environment.  Chan...
Read more