1. Bionic person?
As with most ideas of this nature, my biggest concern is the waste of resources! As a thought experiment, I think the idea is fascinating, but I absolutely do not think that the great minds of our generation need to be thinking about something so unnecessary to human and planet health and happiness. I also think that these bionic people would inevitably be used for things that required increased strength, decision making speed, and a certain amount of invincibility... military? I am opposed. However, I am not opposed to the use of technology to improve people's lives -- for example, prosthetic limbs, pacemakers, and many more are examples of appropriate use of technology.
2. Headset for Locked-In Patients
The biggest issue of the article seems to be the effectiveness of the headset in question. I think it would be a true tragedy for these to be marketed as a saving grace for those with the condition described, while actually doing very little for them. With so little feedback from the patient, it seems as though this could easily happen, leaving people feeling perhaps more helpless than before. As someone who has never been close to anyone experiencing this sort of condition, I could never form an opinion on the utility of such a device. I can't even imagine the frustration and heartbreak for all involved.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Biophysics Week 2 - Energy Medicine and Energy Fields
1. Acupuncture as effective energy medicine:
Acupuncture, along with all branches of TCM, is absolutely an effective medicine. I, personally, have experienced the effects of acupuncture and herbs on a huge variety of conditions, ranging from an acute ear infection to a low back injury to insomnia. Wow! I would absolutely prefer to be treated with an energy medicine than through the conventional health systems in place. However, as with everything, TCM has its limits, and I am grateful that western medicine is available to me for those cases in which TCM cannot be as effective.
2. Kirlian Photography
I love Kirlian photography! It's so pretty. Also, I believe that it is picking up on some sort of energy that we cannot see with our naked eyes. There is a huge spectrum of light that goes unnoticed by our limited senses, and I have no problem imagining that many things outside of our range of vision could be captured by other means.
3. Intent and its effect on health
I think this is both very important and very diverting. Intent of the practitioner and of the patient of course effect health, but this should not be confused with the placebo effect or similar ideas. I've heard so many people, when talking about acupuncture, compare it to taking a placebo, and I think emphasizing the effects of intent only increase this misconception. Within TCM, where intent is critically important, doctors are still necessary, and a patient cannot simply heal themselves with intent. Therefore, although intent is important, it is not the medicine.
Acupuncture, along with all branches of TCM, is absolutely an effective medicine. I, personally, have experienced the effects of acupuncture and herbs on a huge variety of conditions, ranging from an acute ear infection to a low back injury to insomnia. Wow! I would absolutely prefer to be treated with an energy medicine than through the conventional health systems in place. However, as with everything, TCM has its limits, and I am grateful that western medicine is available to me for those cases in which TCM cannot be as effective.
2. Kirlian Photography
I love Kirlian photography! It's so pretty. Also, I believe that it is picking up on some sort of energy that we cannot see with our naked eyes. There is a huge spectrum of light that goes unnoticed by our limited senses, and I have no problem imagining that many things outside of our range of vision could be captured by other means.
3. Intent and its effect on health
I think this is both very important and very diverting. Intent of the practitioner and of the patient of course effect health, but this should not be confused with the placebo effect or similar ideas. I've heard so many people, when talking about acupuncture, compare it to taking a placebo, and I think emphasizing the effects of intent only increase this misconception. Within TCM, where intent is critically important, doctors are still necessary, and a patient cannot simply heal themselves with intent. Therefore, although intent is important, it is not the medicine.
Biophysics Week 1 - Live and Living Systems
1. I know I'm a living system because...
The article in class that defined living systems described them as being able to constantly maintain and create themselves. Therefore, by that definition, I am certainly a living system! I rely on input from the environment, but my body/mind is in a constant process of regeneration, recovery, and growth, as proven by my ability to heal, grow more hair, make new friends, or learn new things.
2. Biophysics and TCM
I really do not think that there is much overlap between these two ways of looking at life and the human body. While western science relies heavily on computers and microscopes, the science of TCM is empirical - that is, it relies on observation and experimentation to form a knowledge base. Biophysicists will continue to be skeptical of TCM or the effectiveness of Chinese medicine until the invention of a machine that measures qi, and that's personally all right with me. The studies from class, such as on the effectiveness of TCM in treating menopause symptoms, are great, and also make me wonder how many things TCM will need to prove to treat until it is accepted as medicine by the scientific community.
The article in class that defined living systems described them as being able to constantly maintain and create themselves. Therefore, by that definition, I am certainly a living system! I rely on input from the environment, but my body/mind is in a constant process of regeneration, recovery, and growth, as proven by my ability to heal, grow more hair, make new friends, or learn new things.
2. Biophysics and TCM
I really do not think that there is much overlap between these two ways of looking at life and the human body. While western science relies heavily on computers and microscopes, the science of TCM is empirical - that is, it relies on observation and experimentation to form a knowledge base. Biophysicists will continue to be skeptical of TCM or the effectiveness of Chinese medicine until the invention of a machine that measures qi, and that's personally all right with me. The studies from class, such as on the effectiveness of TCM in treating menopause symptoms, are great, and also make me wonder how many things TCM will need to prove to treat until it is accepted as medicine by the scientific community.
Why birth, you ask?
I love birth! Are you kidding?! So incredible.
I've worked on and off as a doula (a non medical labor and delivery support person) for a few years, and I have never felt as amazed by the human body as I have during a birth. I remember in high school, watching my first birth video (probably shown to us with the intention of scaring us away from having sex), and feeling repulsed, intrigued, and most of all, surprised! It wasn't nearly as scary as I'd thought, nor as gross. Anyways, I guess that's when I fell in love.
It amazes me that, even though each and every person in the world was birthed, very few people know much about it, nor have they ever seen it happen! I think there is a lot of fear and stigma around giving birth, and I hope that increased knowledge will breed more comfort and confidence in the process, and in the human body to make miracles happen! Although there are many possibilities for things to go horribly wrong in pregnancy and childbirth, and even though birth is painful and hard and exhausting... well, you should see for yourself. It's a beautiful thing.
I've worked on and off as a doula (a non medical labor and delivery support person) for a few years, and I have never felt as amazed by the human body as I have during a birth. I remember in high school, watching my first birth video (probably shown to us with the intention of scaring us away from having sex), and feeling repulsed, intrigued, and most of all, surprised! It wasn't nearly as scary as I'd thought, nor as gross. Anyways, I guess that's when I fell in love.
It amazes me that, even though each and every person in the world was birthed, very few people know much about it, nor have they ever seen it happen! I think there is a lot of fear and stigma around giving birth, and I hope that increased knowledge will breed more comfort and confidence in the process, and in the human body to make miracles happen! Although there are many possibilities for things to go horribly wrong in pregnancy and childbirth, and even though birth is painful and hard and exhausting... well, you should see for yourself. It's a beautiful thing.
Biology Week 11 - Vaccination and Public Health
1. Parents' roles in vaccination schedules
I'm not sure that I have a strong opinion about whether or not parents "should" be active in their children's vaccination schedules. I see the value in universal vaccination, and yet also think that people should be able to choose what happens to their children and when. I think it is very easy to frame the conflict around the issue of whether or not parents that opt out are putting an unfair burden on the rest of the population to protect their child via herd immunity, but I think the issue lies deeper. Parents that have reservations about vaccinations are not selfish, nor are they more paranoid than any other parents. I, personally, don't think that their skepticism of the medical establishment is crazy or unfounded, and relate the fear of having an unknown substance injected into a child's body. I think the true issue is that it IS so easy to develop unease about pharmaceutical companies and public health systems, and that it has become normal to feel ignored or left in the dark by doctors and other healthcare professionals.
2. Compulsory vaccination programs?
I think my answer for this question is fairly similar to the above. I would not be opposed to a compulsory vaccination system if I felt that the medical establishment could be absolutely trusted to maintain the best interest of the people as the SOLE priority. But, as it stands, privatized health care and big pharma make me feel less enthusiastic about such a program, not just because I reject the idea of taking away the choice to say no to these institutions, but because I would worry about what such a program would do to the standards of care - wouldn't it be a little like making the purchase of some good mandatory? If you are working within a capitalist system, aren't you supposed to encourage competition? Of course, this seems absurd in healthcare anyways, as the basic tenants of "supply and demand" have grave implications, but a good whose purchase is considered a given would certainly not be given the same amount of development, research, and marketing as one that was subject to the competition of the free market. Why do we have privatized healthcare, again?
I'm not sure that I have a strong opinion about whether or not parents "should" be active in their children's vaccination schedules. I see the value in universal vaccination, and yet also think that people should be able to choose what happens to their children and when. I think it is very easy to frame the conflict around the issue of whether or not parents that opt out are putting an unfair burden on the rest of the population to protect their child via herd immunity, but I think the issue lies deeper. Parents that have reservations about vaccinations are not selfish, nor are they more paranoid than any other parents. I, personally, don't think that their skepticism of the medical establishment is crazy or unfounded, and relate the fear of having an unknown substance injected into a child's body. I think the true issue is that it IS so easy to develop unease about pharmaceutical companies and public health systems, and that it has become normal to feel ignored or left in the dark by doctors and other healthcare professionals.
2. Compulsory vaccination programs?
I think my answer for this question is fairly similar to the above. I would not be opposed to a compulsory vaccination system if I felt that the medical establishment could be absolutely trusted to maintain the best interest of the people as the SOLE priority. But, as it stands, privatized health care and big pharma make me feel less enthusiastic about such a program, not just because I reject the idea of taking away the choice to say no to these institutions, but because I would worry about what such a program would do to the standards of care - wouldn't it be a little like making the purchase of some good mandatory? If you are working within a capitalist system, aren't you supposed to encourage competition? Of course, this seems absurd in healthcare anyways, as the basic tenants of "supply and demand" have grave implications, but a good whose purchase is considered a given would certainly not be given the same amount of development, research, and marketing as one that was subject to the competition of the free market. Why do we have privatized healthcare, again?
Biology Week 10 - Restoring the American Bison to its Rightful Range
- Prioritizing Bison Restoration
Honestly, I know so little about the ecology of the great plains that I would have no idea where to start in bison restoration. I think that, from a human perspective, such a project would take the involvement of many people, and could be a wonderful rallying point for a diverse group. So, I would probably prioritize developing a cohesive stance and plan, and recruiting as many people as possible to the cause. As we read, there is certainly an anti-bison restoration sentiment, so having a strong and organized platform would be crucial!
- Record breaking temperatures...
No! Of course we not doing enough to curb global warming. Not to be a complete pessimist, but are we doing anything? Can we do anything?
Honestly, I know so little about the ecology of the great plains that I would have no idea where to start in bison restoration. I think that, from a human perspective, such a project would take the involvement of many people, and could be a wonderful rallying point for a diverse group. So, I would probably prioritize developing a cohesive stance and plan, and recruiting as many people as possible to the cause. As we read, there is certainly an anti-bison restoration sentiment, so having a strong and organized platform would be crucial!
- Record breaking temperatures...
No! Of course we not doing enough to curb global warming. Not to be a complete pessimist, but are we doing anything? Can we do anything?
Biology Week 9 - Ecosystems and Deep Ecology
1. The 8-Point Deep Ecology Platform
All in all, I believe in the sentiments of the Deep Ecology Platform - mainly, that life on earth has inherent value, and that humans should not take more than their fair share of resources and put nonhuman life at risk. However, I especially agree that the "flourishing of human life and cultures" depends on a strong, vital, and incredibly specific ecosystem, and I wish that this were more of the focus of the platform. Although I find personal value in nonhuman life, I think a much more convincing stance is one of necessity, which is certainly valid and perhaps more universal. Changing the way we interact with our environment cannot come solely from a moral obligation to our fellow beings to be kind and share, but a from a serious need to stabilize the system which we depend so heavily upon for our basic needs, such as food, water, and clean air.
2. Ecosystems are both strong and fragile...
My way of explaining this statement would be to rephrase it, by saying that even though and because ecosystems are strong, they are incredibly fragile. This, I think, is because their strength comes from the ability to support so many forms of life, which creates vulnerability, as the removal of any part of the system causes the intricate matrix to rearrange, if it can, or to fall apart.
All in all, I believe in the sentiments of the Deep Ecology Platform - mainly, that life on earth has inherent value, and that humans should not take more than their fair share of resources and put nonhuman life at risk. However, I especially agree that the "flourishing of human life and cultures" depends on a strong, vital, and incredibly specific ecosystem, and I wish that this were more of the focus of the platform. Although I find personal value in nonhuman life, I think a much more convincing stance is one of necessity, which is certainly valid and perhaps more universal. Changing the way we interact with our environment cannot come solely from a moral obligation to our fellow beings to be kind and share, but a from a serious need to stabilize the system which we depend so heavily upon for our basic needs, such as food, water, and clean air.
2. Ecosystems are both strong and fragile...
My way of explaining this statement would be to rephrase it, by saying that even though and because ecosystems are strong, they are incredibly fragile. This, I think, is because their strength comes from the ability to support so many forms of life, which creates vulnerability, as the removal of any part of the system causes the intricate matrix to rearrange, if it can, or to fall apart.
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