Final Biology blog

I chose to do a presentation on how oil companies are destroying native lands in the Amazon because it is a topic that is close to my heart.  When I was living in the Amazon at age 25 I fell in love with the richeness of the culture there and how connected they are to their environment and their native medicinals.  Being that most Americans are dissconnected from their history, cultural wisdom is something that is lacking.  It is hard thought to admire the beauty in the Amazon without being instantly stung by the destruction.  It is everywhere.  The oil companies have done a really good job hiring natives to destroy their own environment and to take little or no responsibility for the reprocussions.  We all drive cars here in the western world, and love the freedom it gives us, but it is good to be educated about at what cost it comes.

biology week 11

• Should "parents take a more active role in designing their children's immunization schedule"?

It depends how you define "active".  I think that parents should help prepare their child's immune system through healthy food, herbs, and stress management skills, not immunizations.  If the question is geared more toward whether parents should be able to decide the schedule over the school system, the answer is yes.  I think it is ridiculous that any school could or would make immunizations mandatory.  Most schools are too illness phobic.  It is a normal part of being a child to be sick every now and again.    

• Would you support making vaccinations programs "compulsory"?

Definitely not!  I think that vaccinations take away the bodies natural ability to fight off illness.  People are the most equip to deal with illness when they are young and their immune systems are strong.  Getting sick as a kid actually helps to build the immune system by building antibodies and quickening the bodies reaction time to foreign germs.  The danger with vaccinations is that once an adult, a vaccinated person will have a tougher time fighting off the new illnesses that exist and can get hit with an illness that they were originally vaccinated for if it has mutated.    

biophysics week 3

• Would you support the development of a "bionic" person?

I love that the technology exists to help someone who is disabled be able to walk again and lead a normally functional life.  I do fear however, that people will abuse this privilege and that bionic body parts could become as commonplace and elective as plastic surgery.  I also fear that people won't care for the bodies they are given with the same fervor if they can replace parts when they wear them out.  

• What is your opinion of the issues raised in "How EEG Devices Will Read Your Brain Waves And Change Your World?'

Again this is both hopeful and petrifying.  I love that the technology could be used to help someone walk again or control technology if they don't have functioning arms.  I fear though that most of this technology will be used in more gaming devices, ridiculous gadgets, and other forms of brain linked technology.  We are already way too linked to existing technology, we don't need to plug in anymore.  

biophysics week 2

• Acupuncture as effective energy medicine

Acupuncture opens up channels so that energy can flow freely and efficiently.   Free flowing energy creates healthy tissues and bodily functions.  A teacher told me once that blood follows chi.  And blood brings nutrients to our tissues.  Nutrients bring health.  

• What conclusions can you draw from Kirlian photography

I'm not sure I can draw any really.  I find it interesting.  I'm hopeful about the use of it for finding energy blockage and illness.  More than anything, it gives a visual to something that for most people is invisible.  And, as we all know, for most, things do not become real until they can be seen.  The visual proof of blockage that may lead to illness could help stimulate people to do something about it.  

• Human intent as it affects health

I am a firm believer in this.  We are extremely affected by what we focus on.  It paints our reality and attracts more of the same.  If we focus on negativity then we will usually miss the beauty that is around us.  Continued negativity will lead to a decline in health.  This comes from a lack of desire to eat good food, exercise, and take care of ourselves when we are depressed.  Energy in the body also becomes blocked and blockage leads to illness. 

Biology week 10

• How would you prioritize the reintroduction of the American Bison?

Reintroducing Bison is very important for a few reasons.  It plays a part culturally for the Native Americans and is a link for them in their homeland.  In a way, reintroducing the Bison symbolizes an acceptance of Native American culture by wester society and helps to undo some of the horror that was done to them by mindlessly slaughtering their food source and link to the land.  

Western society can hopefully learn from them the importance of Bison as a sustainable food source and will hopefully begin to replace cattle farming.  Cattle farming is doing much harm to the land with overgrazing and methane production.  

• Post your thoughts on "The Truth About Multitasking"

This article was very telling about the unfortunate state of our culture.  Where would we be without multitasking?  Probably much more efficient and less stressed out.  I think the article should be placed on the desk of every CEO.  It would be a benefit to our culture if 'multitasking' was replaced on a job resume by 'the ability to do one task effectively and efficiently'.  It makes sense that our neural channels cannot send multiple signals at the same time.  It seems like trying to get them to do that will eventually make the channels less efficient at sending information.  

Biology week 9

• What do you think about the "eight-point Deep Ecology Platform?

I think it makes perfect logical sense for our well being as a planet and a people.  Unfortunately, getting people to live that way would be idealistic at best.  I wish we could make such drastic changes in the way that people on the planet view life and their responsibilty to help maintain its balance.  Wouldn't it be amazing if it became a new mandate?

• Can you explain whyt "Ecosystems are both strong and fragile"?

Ecosystems inherantly are stong since they are made up of parts that work in harmony with each other to create the whole.  Unfortunately this also means that when one part of the system's balance is upset, the entire ecosystem suffers and undergoes changes, sometimes irreversible ones.

• How would you asess the "end goals" of Social Ecology?

I don't really know what the "end goal" in this case means.  I think that if it is the analization of social institutions and their relationship to nature and its resources then the goal should be do live in a more harmonious way with nature and to create social structures that support practices that are sustainable for humans and the earth.  We are far from this as a culture, but I am somewhat hopeful that we are slowly movng towards this both out of necessicity and curiousity.  

biophysics week 1

• I know I’m a “living system” because……. 

Our bodies are an incredible collaboration of molecular interplay.  All parts are inherent to the functioning of the whole.  It is this interplay that makes us a living system.  Oxygen brings in our life force.  A living system is also one that depends on its environment in order to exist.  Without the earth and its structure that supports life, we would cease to exist.

• Biophysics and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Biophysics seems to correlate to Chinese Medicine more than physics did.  

Living systems rely the relationship between living beings and the environment.  Both need each other in order to exist.  TCM uses this in its approach to health.  We cannot separate ourselves from our environment.  It effects us both internally and externally.  Physics says that, "energy is not created or destroyed, it is transformed".  This also relates to how Chinese Medicine works with healing.  Energy is transformed from different states of disharmony to balance.  

physics week 9

• My E-Prime Day - describe your day, only using English Prime

This morning seemed to wake in a state of haze and confusion.  Life seems overwhelming to me presently.  Many different things seem to need my attention at the same time.  I may be moving if everything pans out with a new house and someone moves into my old one.  My parents may be visiting during this time, and, to me, they seem to add an energy of difficulty and strain to the nature of things.

• How might you synthesize your view of Physics with your own practice of medicine?

Quantum physics synthesizes well with my view of medicine and healing.   Mainly in the view that all states of any organism are possible, this means that a healthy state of each person, as well as an unhealthy one exist.  I feel that both the ways we care for ourselves as well as what we think about life and our bodies have an incredible effect on our overall state of health.  Health is more of a choice than people think, but energetically and often subconciously many people choose a state of disharmony by both what they focus on, as well as, what they choose not too.  

biology week 8

• How do you feel about western approaches to HIV/AIDS?

I think that western approaches are getting better over time, but still have a long way to go.  It seems that up till now, western medicine has waited till people get sick to treat them, rather than trying to keep their immune systems strong as a way to keep them healthy.  I find that to be the biggest problem with western medicine in general.

• Can TCM strengthen our immune systems?

Yes, definitely!  Healthy immune systems are basically a product of all of our organs and body systems working in harmony.  TCM clears energy blockages and excess in the system, and gets all of the organs to work together.  Immunity breaks down when we cannot expel waste and take in proper nutrients.  TCM focuses on improving just that.  

physics week 8

• Newton’s Three Laws and me-

Here is an example of the type of physics I can easilly grasp. ;0)  Although when you think about the first one, it is just a matter of perspective.  An object at rest will remain at rest until a force is placed on it.  When looking at it sub-atomically, nothing is ever at rest, particles are always moving and changing form.   The second law, is exactly the reason I love to partner dance!  The acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the force acting on it and inversely its mass.  Being a 99lb female and dancing with men whose mass are significantly more than mine, I get thrown high in the air, swung around and really end up feeling like I'm flying more than dancing.  The third, I try to avoid at all costs.  It is what makes the constant commuting around the Bay Area frightening.  We have designed death traps for ourselves by zooming around in large objects and fast speeds, tempting fate at all times.  

• Our “Energy Efficient” Culture

I find that statement interesting.   I don't find our culture energy efficient in the slightest.  Even with in the organic/local movement, I find such hypocracy.  I am guily of it myself.  We use too many plastic containers for the convienence of food to go, paper grocery bags instead of plastic even though they are made out of trees, most people are too lazy to bring their own, and organize our communities in a way that makes driving a necessity.   We are slowly becoming aware of the ways our culture needs to change, but I fear it is too little too late.  

• Descartes has a lot to answer for!

Descartes illustrated that which most human minds want to believe.  It is comforting to most to believe in a world that is ordered and reductionist.  In such a world, everything makes sense.  Most human minds do not do well with mystery.  

biology week 7

• How sophisticated is our understanding of cancer?

I feel that when it comes to cancer we only have theories. It seems to be a growing phenomenon in our world and I don't feel we understand why it is growing or what to do about it.  The new research into cancer stem cells is promising, but it still leaves the question of 'what to do about it'. 

• How does a TCM approach to cancer differ?

TCM sees cancer as energy blockage and internal disharmony and a weakened system that needs to be strengthened through herbs, acupuncture and diet. Western medicine radiates the cancer to kill it and does not address lifestyle and energy blockage. The problem with radiaton therapy is that it does not discriminate, it kills the bad along with the good

Physics week seven

1. Ordered Chaos seems like western life itself.  Life seems to always be overscheduled with productive events that leave me running from one thing to another in a state of chaotic frenzy.  ;0)  That's what ordered chaos in the more negative sense.  On the other hand, nature is a consistant example of ordered chaos.  Nothing in nature has a linear sense of order to it, yet everything has its purpose and interconnectness.

2. Fractals exemplify odered chaos. The patterns are so complex and grandiose, yet they seem to have a patterned theme to them as the pattern builds on itself.  They get more and more complex as the system gets larger.

3. Conciousness out of chaos....... hmmm.  On one sense, nature again is a great example of this.  With its constantly changing states comes the conciousness that makes up life itself.  Humans are not always concious of this due to the chaotic way that we run around doing rather than being.  Chaos keeps us on our toes though.  Change keeps us from getting static, it keeps the mind flexible and offers us an opportunity to keep aware of how life is unfolding in front of us.

animal intelligence.........

I tried to post  a video, but don't think it came through, so here's the link

http://youtu.be/d79ArrL8VRg         It's a must watch!

Biology week Six

1.  I definitely don't believe that DNA should be patented.  I understand that Myriad Genetics has invested a lot of money in their research, but my hope would be that their research could be used by fellow scientists to continue to fight breast and ovarian cancer.  Where would we be if TCM practitioners from long ago patented their herbal formulas and knowledge?  The fight against patenting body parts aside, scientific research should be able to be continuously built upon for the health and longevity of the human race and the earth.  To patent that would be selfish.

2. I do think that the evidence of acupuncture helping reproductive health would be an advance for TCM.  It is bringing TCM into the western spotlight which will continue to help it gain clout in the western medical model. This is good for the careers of TCM practitioners, but may have some negative implications if the science gets picked apart and separated too much.  I hope that is not the case.  As people reach for TCM to help with reproductive health and have positive results, they may continue to use it as a viable medicine and may continue to make positive health and lifestyle changes.  Maybe I am too hopeful, but that is what I would like to see.

Physics week six

1.  I don't think that all vibrations are good.  Violence holds a vibration, oil drilling has a vibration, and so does sickness.  I don't think that those things could be considered "good".  Although they may reverberate and cause positive vibrations down the line.  But this also brings the question, "how can one decide what is good vs bad".   I do believe that there is space for all things in the universe, including violence.

2. Resonance is interesting to me.  The fact that bridges can fall due to being at the same resonance of the ground it is on, etc, is fascinating.  I believe that people relate differently depending on if their resonances match or don't. This can be seen when you take a New Yorker citier and put them in the same room with someone from a midwestern farm town.  You can pretty much guess that their outward resonance will be different, although their internal resonance might actually match up once the effect of their home environment wears off.

3.  I think that energy and Chi are one and the same. The only differnce is that energy is recognized by physicists, and Chi is only recognized in the Eastern Traditions.

biology week five

• Can we control our sugar habit?

I think we can.  Although the modern diet doesn't make it easy.  Sugar is in everything, sauces, bread, salad dressing, etc.  The only way to get away from it completely is to cook with whole foods.  I do a cleanse 2x per year and refrain from sugar and other contaminants. I always end up eating it again though.  Its more of a mind craving than a body one, something I reach for when stressed or upset.  

• Are you convinced about the safety of Fukushima tuna?

No, I'm not convinced.  I'm sure it has some amount of radiation in it, but so do many other things.  Our environment has a ton of it.  It suprises me that people will get upset about the radiation in food, but not even question the effect of having a cell phone glued to thier ear at all times or eyes glued to a computer.   

• Do you vote for the chicken or the egg?

Neither.  Maybe they both came into being simultaneously.  

physics week five

1. I see the world as more asymmetrical world than symmetrical.  I think its the very nature that makes life beautiful and diverse.  It is the small asymmetries of a face that distinguishes it from another.  In the desert, the desert flowers are wild, colorful and unique so to attract pollinators to them and away from their competitors.  Although in some ways flowers are symmetrical, they have small asymmetrical attributes that distinguish them from one another.  I think a lot of things in life seem symmetrical until we look closer.

2. CP violation is just another physics theory gone wrong.  Although the entire CPT theorem did not make a whole lot of sense to me being that it speaks of almost immesurable things.  The Kaon is either decaying at an oppositional rate than it should or physicists are overlooking something.  The kaon seems to be more linked into time than other quarks, whatever that means.  ;0)

3. Physics tries to explain the mysteries of life and sacred geometry is the mystery of life, no explanation needed.  Sacred geometry is what is there when we really open our eyes, where as physics is mostly what we cannot see with the human eye.  One is a set of explanations, the other a set of theories attempting to explain.  

biology week four

1. Animals have a deeper ingrained intelligence than we do.  It is more the type of intelligence that we would have if we were not societally trained and were still living in the forests.  They sense danger, kindness, and intentions better than humans can.  Instead of feeling into the energy of most situations, most humans will rationalize it.  That is how we measure intelligence, how adept is the rational brain.  It really brings to question, which is actually more intelligent.  I feel like we could learn a lot by watching the innate intellect of animals.  I feel that it is the fault of most humans when the intelligence of animals are not measured correctly.  We tend to look for human traits rather than to look at the animal traits that we share and how much more adept at these they are.  

physics week four

1. I feel the effects of E=MCsquared mostly when I think about how much energy is contained inside of every living thing.  We have an infinate amount of energy to use, no wonder we have the power to heal.  When thinking about that formula, it proves that Chinese Medicine works.  Although, in the west, energy is rarely thought of in that way.

2. The four forces are what keeps us alive and functioning. If one were stronger than it is, than life could not exist in its current state.  Gravity for instance, if it were stonger than our skeletons would not be able to hold up against its force.  And if Strong Nuclear force were weaker, than everything would be in a constant state of creation and explosion.  It seems that the four forces are what keep the balance of life itself.

3. The function of gravity is to keep us on earth instead of floating off into space.  It keeps the balance between the funcion of things.  If it was not specific to how two objects effect each other than we would be able to lift mountains, but maybe not a pencil.  It makes me wonder how the Egyptians defied gravity to build the pyramids.

biology week three

1.a.  It makes sense that early ancestors continued to spend time in trees after they began walking on two legs.  At this time much of their food source still came from fruit, nuts, etc from the trees.  To me, it seems like evolutionary pitfall that we came down out of the trees altogether.  It seems like it would be in our best interest to be able to still climb in the trees for food.  Unfortunately, being a mostly sitting culture, people are loosing their agility which is making us a more and more feeble species.

1.b.  It's strange to me that bacteria have a somewhat difficult time reproducing, but still seem to be taking over.  I am curious how this happens if bacteria are traveling at 30mph and once they have sex females turn into males.   Also, if their genes are so different than any other life form, wouldn't the body instantly recognize them as foreign and therefore attack them?

2. I find the fact that most of our present day mtDNA came from a woman 200,000 years ago interesting.  It amost goes along with the creationist belief of Adam and Eve.  I also find it interesting to look at the genetic origins of cultures.  It seems we have traveled far before the creation of planes and automobiles.

biology week two

1. I find evo-devo interesting.  The more studies are done, it seems that we are not all that much different than other animals although we may have evolved more over time.  It gives me hope that although the climate is changing once again, that we might be able to evolve as a species to adapt to our changing environment.  My fear though is that the direction of our change at this point might be into a half human/half robotic species.

2. Darwinism makes sense to me, although with the interference of modern medicine, its rules no longer seem to apply.  Natural selection gets overridden by pharmaceuticals and the weak are kept alive.  Fertility drugs also are also making sure that most people can continue to have offspring even if their genetic code is weak. It seems to me like Darwinism vs modern medicine and I wonder if we are doing ourselves a favor.

Physics week three

1. I find evidence of sychronicity in life all the time.  I feel like it is present more often when we can let go and let life guide us more than to have a tunnel focused approach.  I traveled the world through most of my twenties and felt like synchronicity would find me everyday.  One example: When I traveled to Argentina to study aerial dancing in Buenos Aires, I got overwhelmed by the city as soon as I arrived and felt as if I might have made the wrong travel choice.  I found myself wishing that I could study circus arts in nature rather than a city environment.  I then met a man at a dance jam who was heading out on a camping trip in the mountains with a few friends and he asked if I wanted to meet them out there.  The next day I left in search of mountain air and calmer surroundings and arrived that night in the town he had told me about..  Their car broke down on the way to the mountian town so they never arrived.  A day later I saw a poster for an aerial dance troop doing a performance in town.  I went to see the show, met the women in the troop and a day later found myself living, training and performing with them for the next three months.  Synchronistic!

2. Connectivity is an interesting concept because there is at the same time the view that everything is connected (ie: energy), as well as, that certain things are more connected than others (mother and child, etc).  And when quantum entanglement is brought into the mix, I get extremely confused.  How can some things be naturally entangled while others are not?  And what is the process of entangling something?  Connectivity makes the most sense to me when I think of it in terms of nature.  All things were at one time part of it, even chemicals and plastic, and all things will eventually become part of the natural world again, although some things, like synthetics, take a longer time than others.

Physics week two

1. Uncertainty, as a principle, is the very nature of life.  I love that scientist continuously try and quantify it and make certain the very changing nature of life itself.  It brings to light that reality is truly a made up thing depending on how you are viewing it and that beauty, as well as many other things, is in the eye of the beholder.  If life was a certain journey it would take the mystery out of it and leave little reason to keep on living.

2. Causality is interesting when thinking of whether or not an aspect of something would even be in existance if it was not being observed.  It goes along with age old questions like "What came first the chicken or the egg?" and " If a tree falls and no one is around to see it, does it make a sound?"  I find these types of questions interesting because it poses that what we observe makes up our reality.  Can't we then choose to make up any version we would like to live?

3. Is the Universe weird?  I think that as humans, we deem anything weird if we cannot explain it.  The universe is infinite, does that make it weird?  Trying to make rational sense out of it may be.

biology week one

1. I am a 33 year old Sports and Occupational Injury Rehab Therapist.  I work with a technique called NeuroKinetic Therapy.  I also do Nutritional Counseling, Herbalism, and Yoga Therapy.  I love what I do and am always looking for ways to make what I do more effective.  The only downside is that it is extremely physical and therefore can be really taxing.  I love to travel, hike, bike, climb, dance, garden, and play.  I keep a really active life and usually don't know how to slow down, although as I get older my adrenals are telling me to.     

2. Week one's class discussion was on the ways in which we are destroying and bettering our biological world.  It is quite a sad topic since even in the ways that we are trying to improve the future of our planet and ourselves, as a culture, we are a bit short sighted.  I don't think enough thought is put in to the longevity of solar panels or what will happen to the wildlife around a large solar field, not to mention what to do with the disposal of solar batteries.  I fear that the future of such large alternative energy projects might end up like the bees and neonicitinoids.  At once that seemed like a good idea as well until the cumulative effect was seen on the bees.  The article about growing a kidney in a test tube also brings up the question as to whether the fact that a kidney can be grown might make someone take less care with the organs they are born with.  I have seen this to be true with my father who keeps wearing out body parts and getting them replaced, hips, discs, etc.     

physics week one

1.  I have been attracted to studying Chinese Medicine for a long time.  As it stands I am an Herbalist, Occupational and Sports Injury Bodyworker,  Nutritionist, and Yoga Therapist and have a successful practice both in Oakland and Fairfax.  Chinese Medicine feels like it will round out my skill set and give me a new set of tools to better aid people in healing.  It has been extremely useful to me in my healing journey and at times has been the only system that actually worked for me.  In my practice currently, I use a technique called NeuroKinetic Therapy which uses applied kinesiology to uncover muscle inhibition patterns.  I then release the muscle which is over compensating and help my client strengthen the muscles that are inhibited.  It's an incredible technique!  I am excited to be able to add needling in to my sessions and let the energy do what it would take my hands most of the session to do.  I am also curious to look into how the blockages in the meridian system could be affecting the inhibition patterns that I am finding.  

2. I find aspects of physics fascinating and other aspects frustrating.  For me, the fascinating parts have to do with the human body and how we use it.  Momentum vs force, etc.  The more obscure parts of physics frustrate me.  At times it seems like scientist are in a race to create and disprove theories and that we, as a human race, are trying to measure things that may be better left unmeasured.  I personally like for some things to remain a mystery.  ;0)

3. Time speeds up and slows down all the time.  Although, as I get older, time seems to speed up more often than slow down.  I feel like I don't even know where the last 10 years went.  I still can't believe that I somehow made it deep into adulthood.   Time only slows down for me these days when I get into nature or meditate.  It really makes me want to be more aware of slowing down and being present.    

4. This weeks class was interesting.  I really enjoyed the part about cultural differences with time.  I have spent many years in Latin America and feel more in alignment with their sense of time.  Everything seems slower.  I had the experience of being on a bus for a few days and when the bus broke down in the middle of no where, everyone got off, talked with each other, helped fix the bus, and enjoyed the moment.  No one was caught up with where they had to be or who would be upset when they were late.  I tried imagining the same scene in the US.  Here everyone would be on their cell phones, yelling at the bus driver, calling for a new mode of transport etc.  I definitely prefer the Latin way.