Week 8- Academy of Science

So I DID go on the field trip to the Academy of Science, but missed the lecture! I loved the living roof the best! So much wildlife and stars to see! It said that the roof used up 98 or 99% of the raid with no runoff. Seemed pretty cool..The grey whale overhead was pretty amazing, as well..Can't imagine seeing one of those in the wild! The only weird thing was so many dead animals in jars and the live tank with sting rays and sharks. I really wasn't expecting that..I know we need to learn, but I would rather not have to kill things..then again I DO eat meat..it is a hard debate;)

Week 8- Wester Approach HIV/AIDS

HIV is a difficult thing. Trying to keep up your immune system IS important, but it seems the virus is able to mutate so easily. Western's use of anti-retroviral and protease inhibitors seem to be all that there is available.

Week 8- TCM strengthen the immune system

I definitely feel TCM strengthens the immune system. The most important point to me (and the article!) in our medicine, is for the SP/ST to transform food correctly. TCM helps to balance the function of our internal organs. Balancing the ST/SP keeps our energy and immune systems up and ready to fight off disease.

Week 8: Deal Saved the Whales

Very sad that so much land around the world is being bought up, devloped, and destroying wildlife. So, if the Wildcoast and the Natural Resources Defense Council was able speak with the community about selling their land to save these amazing mammals, that is so wonderful. If it kind-of weird that the whales are so tame, they allow you to pet their tongues! I went to the Science museum this past Thursday, where they had the bones of a grey whale hanging, at least 10 meters! I hope this area of the Baja peninsula may be saved, as I would love to someday see these animals in the wild.

Week 7- How sophisticated is our understanding.Cancer

It seems that over the years, we have learned how cells mutate to become cancer cells, but there are still arguments as to why. And, although there IS so much information about cancer, there are so many questions left unanswered. Some scientists think mutation is due to oncogenes, others talk about methyl groups. It seems lifestyle, tobacco use, etc, is a big part of cancer, yet many people experience cancer with having lived a pretty well-balanced life and diet...

Week 7- Genes still Evolving

I don't see why genes would stop evolving. As the article says, they did not just grind to a halt all of the sudden. Our environment continues to change, especially with global warming, and so I'm sure we will continue to evolve, change, skin color and all.

Week 7- TCM Approach to Cancer

As in all things, TCM looks at the overall condition of the body. TCM treats overall organ dysfunction and builds up the body so it may fight the cancer cells instead of focusing only on killing the cancer cells that have already formed. TCM helps control the symptoms while still maintaining some quality of life. I like this and feel TCM has it's place, but we must be aware of when the invasive Western approach may actually save a person's life, or if a more mild TCM approach may be more helpful.

Week 6- Respect in the West

Respect in Western medicine..it depends on who you talk to. Sure we know that Chinese medicine works on the spiritual plane AND the physical plane. It has been proven that it helps with IVF by triggering the production of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, but science is still a religion. I hope some doctors come to find more of an open mind, but they believe only what they want to believe. One of my patients at school said her doctor "whispered" to her to get acupuncture. He told her that is the only thing that worked for him. What if he were to actually be open about this with other doctors? What a difference that would make...

Week 6- Language and tools in Chimps

Of course Chimps have their own language. Just because we have to study it to understand it doesn't mean they don't have their own words for things..whether that means grunts or sounds or whatever they decide to use. The same goes with tools used by chimps. Of course they use tools..sticks, rocks, reeds to get to termites...they are smart animals

Week 6- The Living and the Dead

At first I may want to say that even a bicycle IS living, as it may continue to rust and turn into other elements. But the difference is that something non-living is made the designer, one of us. Christians may say the designer is God, but I'm talking about one of us human beings right here on earth. A living thing or system is in the structure of the organism and is in the act of always becoming something else.