My Feelings towards Western Approaches to HIV/AIDS?

I'll have to say it is one of deep concern. Taking a look at the video recommended by Debbie, it makes you question what the exact intentions the research is based on, and how ego-bound the motivation is. While I do appreciate the extent of the information discovered so far, it feels like there are a few significant 'missing links'.
I also find it very disheartening, when you hear time after time, how the lack of understanding by Western doctors towards TCM, eliminates their referral towards a more wholistic approach of dealing with the symptoms of HIV/AIDS. I feel that it would be most beneficial to intertwine both Western and Eastern approaches for the overall care and treatment plan of the patient.

Can TCM Strengthen Our Immune Systems?

TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) has much to offer in this area. In fact, TCM does not view it as an isolated system. In treating your immune system you are also effecting other systems as well. It has a vaster scope and methodology for dealing with the entire person, and not just one isolated symptom. Diet, lifestyle, emotional therapy, movement therapies, herbs, and massage are also included in the treatment plan.

Here is a link to an article I found which was very informative. It expands on the use of acupuncture with two individuals, Charles and Andre, and tells their stories of how acupuncture has assisted them upon their diagnosis of HIV. http://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Information/Detail/Acupuncture+and+HIV+The+
New+Weapon+in+the+Fight+Against+HIV+AIDS

Conservation Land Trusts Saving the Planet

This story is one which hits very close to home for me. I have been living in Sierra Valley, the largest alpine valley in North America, now for five years. Approximately two and a half years ago we received a big scare. The community I live in, 'Sierra Hot Springs' was to be purchased by a developer and turned into a gated 'Boutique Spa' and 136-Estate 'Eco-Friendly' (huh?) golf course!

I was very shocked to hear this news for many reasons. I had chosen to live here due to the principles written in Oneness in Living by Ishvara, the owner of Sierra Hot Springs and Harbin Hot Springs. I felt that his decision to sell to a developer went against all that he written about in his book. Sierra Valley is a very sacred place and has a rich history with the native tribes, the Maidu and the Washoe. You can still go on walks and spot arrowheads, view a wide variety of wildlife, and it's 685-acres contain many springs, hot and cold. It was truly absurd to consider that these healing waters and land would be so disrespected.

What seemed like forever, but was truly just a pinch of time, ten months after hearing this devastating news, the town finally got a chance to meet with the developer as well as the biologist he brought with him. I will be forever grateful to know that I had the chance to stand and make a difference in this decision, as well as the 150 other concerned citizens who attended this meeting. It was beautiful to see that everyone who stood up and spoke was opposed to this purchase. Multi-generational families attended to try to put a stop to this atrocity. It was shortly after this meeting that he withdrew his plans to purchase Sierra Hot Springs!

While this particular case proved victorious, it was not the last. There have been many lawsuits, and much money lost, in numerous cases involving developers suing long term members of this valley because they do not want to give up rights to their land. Sierra County is one of the least populated counties in California, and many developers want to change this. You look at the surrounding counties, and all the golf courses and developments that are continuously being built (especially in drought conditions), and it makes one very worried that all the variables and environmental effects are not being considered.

On the positive side you have organizations like the 'Feather River Land Trust' at http://www.frlt.org/oursuccesses.html, a group responsible for conservation of 79,000 acres in and around Sierra Valley. I used to live on the Maddalena Ranch, see photo, an amazingly diverse place. I am very relieved to know that this will remain untouched, and that I will be able to return one day and know it will not be taken over like the 'small' town I grew up in in Southern California, once upon a time. I have also heard recently that the possibility is being discussed to place a portion of the 685-acres of Sierra Hot Springs into a conservation land trust which would place it under protection from development permanently. Sounds good to me!

I have also traveled extensively through Mexico as well as Baja California, and if you ask me, there are already enough "Cancun's". I am very happy to hear that land is being preserved into conservation land trusts, as well as to experience this in a very direct way. It is very important to make sure that nature is not overdeveloped, for once you start this process there is no turning back, the toothpaste is already out of the tube.

Are Our Genes Still Evolving?

Of course we are still evolving, it would be very egocentric to believe that we have reached an apex. I would definitely question though, how genetically modified foods and those fed to the animals that most people consume alter us genetically. Also, that a gene may be modified so that it can be patented and it's life cycle destroyed, and what effects this food has on us cellularly. Could these new practices discourage our genes from evolving? Or maybe, genetically, we will evolve so that we can adapt to this transformation, but then what is this doing to the natural process of evolution? I believe that we are tinkering in very dangerous and unknown terrain and continuing to do so may alter genetic codes in an irreversible and devastating rate.

How Does the TCM Approach to Cancer Differ?

The TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) approach to cancer considers a much broader perspective. TCM is a healing art and science which teaches how to see the entire human being in bodymindspirit, how to recognize the process of health and illness, and how to go about the restoration of lost health in an individual. Cancer is the accumulation of external and/or internal factors, that create disharmony in the normal functioning of the body. When treating patients, the TCM physician takes a complete inventory of the person and considers many factors, such as energy lever, complexion, temperature, sleep patterns, appetite, digestive functioning, emotional state, and overall lifestyle, to name a few.

I especially resonate with Five Element Theory where the human being is a microcosm of the universe, and so the description of the Energy that activates the cosmos is the same description for the human being. We are YinYang. We are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Everything is connected and we are a reflection of our universe. This concept of bodymindspirit is the Chinesse belief in the unity and integrity of the human person: though there many be different aspects of the self to consider, these aspects can never be isolated from the context of the individual as she is and as she experiences life.

Do We Truly Understand Cancer?

It appears that on many levels we do have a very sophisticated understanding of cancer, even down to the cellular level. How it can be summarized in just a few sentences and the state of the art testing procedures to now see if you are hereditarily prone to it. While we do have all of these 'pieces' to the puzzle fairly well mapped out, how does our understanding provide prevention?

There are definitely choices you can make to reduce your risks: quitting smoking, reduce stress, a healthy diet, and the reduction of environmental risk factors. But what about when you hear that someone has just been diagnosed with cancer and has lead a very healthy life? I suppose then you are dealing with environmental factors as well as genetic ones? What worries me is the rise of cancer especially in children. It truly makes you question our approach to dealing with cancer. To discover it's causes and patterns on a cellular level is quite extraordinary, that technology and wisdom has lead us to this point, but what about the preventative measures? What about not allowing genetically modified products into our food chain until they have been adequately studied? And what about holding the large companies accountable for the pollution they pump into the atmosphere or let run off into our water supply? What about questioning that our food is no longer considered 'food' and is classified as a pesticide? Could that lead to cancer? What about changing the patterns of vacation time in the U.S. and adopting one more similar to the European culture where you get a few months off to enjoy time with your family, friends, or yourself?

I would encourage a larger, broader perspective into the patterns of cancer and adopt one that also includes one of prevention and accountability. An interesting perspective to end with is viewing Five Element theory. The Earth is connected and symbolized by our own earth and home: our physical bodies. It is interesting to note how the current treatment of Earth reflects the rise of disease and cancer of our own internal planet, our selves... makes you think.

Chines Medicine Gaining Respectability in the West?

Once again we are trying to fit a circle into a square. If we truly want to research Chinese Medicine we would have to redefine the testing parameters and not try to fit them into Western Medicine's mode of operandi. I also feel that the 5000 year testing period is one to consider, especially compared to some of the six month testing periods that allow prescription drugs to be placed on our shelves. Instead of trying to compare the two completely different perspectives, why not integrate? Just think of that tapestry which could be woven if the two could intertwine...

The Use of Tools and Language for Chimps?

It makes complete sense to me that our relatives, the chimpanzees, use language as a means to communicate and also have the capability of adapting tools for gathering food. There are actually many animals who utilize tools including birds and dolphins.

Wolfgang Kohler was a psychologist who studied learning and thinking among animals in the 1920’s. He discovered that chimpanzees were very good at using tools. In one test he placed a bunch of bananas outside the chimps cage and two bamboo sticks inside the cage. However, neither of the sticks was long enough to reach the bananas. One of the chimps, Sultan (pictured here), discovered that he could create a longer stick by pushing the thinner stick into the hollow of the thicker one, and was then able to retrieve the bananas.

It is also well documented that dolphins use sounds to communicate with one another, and that the tone of these sounds seems to convey information about the dolphin’s emotional state. Researchers have identified over 30 whistle-type sounds, each of which has a specific meaning. Squeaks and barks are often used to convey danger, protest, anger and irritation. (Dolphins and Their Power to Heal, Cochrane and Callen).

To be honest I find it a bit hilarious that animals are studied in this fashion, put to human tests and the egocentric parameters placed on this Cartesian mode of thinking. I feel that a far greater 'test' would be to completely reintegrate with nature and stop separating ourselves as isolated beings. We are all connected. 'We' may even find that we have something to learn if we look closely enough!

No Qi... No Life

How does one distinguish between living and nonliving systems? There are many theories and explanations as to what can actually be called a living system.

I really like what Kenneth Cohen has to say in The Way of Qigong: "Qi is the Chinese word for ‘life energy’. According to Chinese medicine, qi is the animating power that flows through all living things. It is also the life energy one senses in nature. The earth itself is moving, transforming, breathing, and alive with qi. When we appreciate the beauty of animals, fish, birds, flowers, trees, mountains, the deep ocean, and floating clouds, we are sensing their qi and feeling an intuitive unity with them. Human beings are part of nature and share qi with the rest of the earth."

The Gaia Hypothesis is another example which views the Earth as a single interconnected organism. One of the criteria of this empirical definition of life is its ability to replicate and pass on their genetic information to succeeding generations. This leaves much room for discussion as to the sustainability of our current modes of operation and consideration into the effects of our environmental practices, or lack thereof. An example being genetically modified food. The fact that the life cycle of a seed has now been intruded upon by genetic manipulation and can be controlled by a corporation. And what about our current water treatment policies and regulations? Are the chemicals that we dump so habitually into our watershed truly that sustainable? Not to mention peak oil, and what sustainable measures are being explored to alleviate this very real and catastrophic event.

It really makes you reflect back onto the practices of the Native Americans and their consideration not only towards themselves and their children, but the realization that you must consider you actions for seven generations. I feel that it would be in our best interest to truly consider our effects in the 'bigger picture' and start realizing that life as we know it cannot continue at this pace. We have reached the tipping point. We need to remove ourselves from this selfish notion that the Earth is here to serve us, as it's sole occupants and realize that everything is connected and in order to preserve the planet we need to adopt more sustainable practices on a global level.

Eat Your Broccoli... And Laugh A Lot

There exists no single food to protect you against cancer, but scientists have shown that the right combination of foods will lower your risk of developing the disease. However, several recent studies have suggested that by adding cruciferous vegetables to your diet you may increase your body’s ability to repair damaged DNA and may help in preventing the formation of cancerous cells. The studies are also showing that two naturally occurring compounds in these vegetables may have the ability to halt the growth of cancer cells.

I truly appreciate what modern day science can now tell us and its ability to dissect information down to the minutest detail. An additional perspective to consider is the relevance of this knowledge with regards to the larger picture. For example, noticing the nutritional value of a few cruciferous vegetables, I found that they contain high levels of vitamin C. The use of Vitamin C in the fight against cancer has a rich history as well. Another very relevant question to ask is if this broccoli you are ingesting is organic? And, are you smiling, laughing, and content, as you chomp down on these hearty veges? There are many factors to consider in the study of dis-ease. By connecting these microcosmic perspectives to the macrocosmic levels of awareness, you allow for a richer understanding into the flows or blockages of these energetic relationships we call life.

Was It the Chicken or the Egg?

I vote for the egg, because we do know that as a definite answer, what comes out of the egg did originate from that very same egg. It is interesting to think that a genetic mutation allowed for the shift to what we call a present day chicken, but isn't that the case for most life we view today?

Now, should we ask, 'What is the sound of one wing flapping?'

Can Diversification Save Species?

Let’s time travel back to the year 1845 and ask the Irish, where unintentionally, the largest experiment in monoculture was conducted. It took only a few days for the spores of Phytophthora infestans, to decimate an entire crop of potatoes, including those in storage. It was not felt so dramatically in the rest of Europe due to the variety of crops grown. In Ireland, the vulnerability was felt with the most devastating presence, brought on by their sole dependence on one main food staple, the potato. Potatoes are a cloned food crop, and this variety had no resistance to the fungus. It was not the potatoes so much as the potato monoculture that sowed the seeds of Ireland’s disaster. For example, the Incas also depended largely on potatoes, but they cultivated such a variety that no one fungus could cause such complete damage. In fact, it was in South America, where the solution was found that would resist the blight: the ‘Garnet Chile’.

“Monoculture is where the logic of nature collides with the logic of economics. In Ireland under British rule the logic of economics dictated a monoculture of potatoes; in 1845, the logic of nature exercised its vet, and a million people- many of whom probably owed their existence to the potato in the fires place- perished. A million people died of starvation in only three years.” (The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan)

This nervously reminds me of what is currently happening with agribusiness. We now live in a time where patents can be given for the food we eat. Where a ‘Terminator’ gene can be introduced to interfere with the lifecycle so the most elemental of nature’s processes is now in the claws of capitalism. It has also been scientifically determined that genetically modified plants are ‘substantially equivalent’ to ordinary plants, and the regulation of these foods has been voluntary since 1992 (Pollan). It is only when one of these agribusinesses feels that it is ‘worthy knowledge’, that we be given notification as to the health concerns of the food that the majority of the population is consuming now. (I can’t remember ever seeing a label telling me that I am consuming a genetically modified product, can you?) GMO ‘food’ is not even considered food anymore. With these genetic modifications, it is now considered a pesticide (placing it under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency). This removes it from any testing or regulations by the Food and Drug Administration.

Another reminder as to the dangers in the lack of diversity is showing signs with the most common supermarket banana: the Cavendish. It is currently battling the black Sigatoka fungus. We saw a similar disaster in the 1950’s when the Gros Michel was completely wiped out by Panama disease. And while the one plant that holds the key to this fungus finds itself as the sole survivor displayed in a botanical garden in India, we have to ask ourselves how it has come to this? What lessons have we learned from reducing ourselves to one type of banana, or potato, or the ability of businesses to now hold complete control in the life cycle of the food we consume? Embrace biodiversity, encourage variety, support your local farmers, grow your own food, become an active member in the chain of events that starts from saving that seed and following it through its entire life cycle. Question and gain information as to the decisions affecting the food you consume. Knowledge is the greatest treasure. Participate in the cycles of life, nature’s rhythms, and understand that just because you see this picture perfect potato doesn’t mean that it is a reflection of its true energy. Know what you eat.