could this be true?

We do not all have to subscribe to the same ultimate ecological philosophy in order to work cooperatively for the benefit of the planet and its communities of beings.

food for thought

In 1973 (Inquiry 16, pp. 95-100) the name "deep ecology movement" was introduced into environmental literature by Norwegian philosopher and mountaineer Professor Arne Naess. (For a reprint of the article see Drengson and Inoue 1995.) Environmentalism emerged as a popular grass roots political movement in the 1960's with the publication of Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring. Those already involved in conservation/preservation efforts were joined by many others concerned about the detrimental environmental impacts of modern industrial technology. The longer range, older elements of the movement included writers and activists like Thoreau and Muir, whereas the newer mainstream awareness was closer to the wise conservation philosophy of people like Gifford Pinchot.

buzzwords - deep ecology

ecoapocolypse
ecoapartheid
ecojustice
ecoequity
ecofeminism
anthropocentrism
ecocentric
ecosphere
androcentrism
nature mysticism
ecofascism
postmodernism
totalitarianism
authoritarianism
industrialism
racism
sexism
ethnocentrism
pluralism

ok a break from the isms:

neurophysiologists are learning to live with the possibility that there is no "central processing unit" in the brain that controls and filters everything, and that there are parallel temporal sequences going on there. For example, when you're dreaming a dream that ends up blending into the sound of the alarm clock, how does that happen? It may be that the sound of the alarm clock triggers off a dream sequence in reverse, but we reorder it in our consciousness so it's dreamt the right way.

also loved this:
When Peter Singer wrote his famous book Animal Liberation in the middle 1970s, he legitimized - because of his status as a philosopher - an area of discourse called "animal rights." This has now burgeoned into an enormous amount of writing in the ethics journals about the moral considerability of non-human beings, which wasn't there before. That was the wedge which cracked the door of anthropocentrism open. Feminism and the civil rights movement also cracked open the door, because they revealed that our ethical systems and our assumptions about selfhood were rather narrow and in need of expanding. Now deep ecology is able to attack anthropocentrism more directly.

and -

Some deep ecologists say that it would be all for the best if the industrial world were just to collapse, despite all the human suffering that would entail. If such a thing ever occurs, some people have suggested, we could never revive industrialization again because the raw materials are no longer easily accessible. I hope that doesn't happen, and yet it may happen.

whoopeee - back to the land!!!! (of course I say that now...)

Now, social ecologists say that deep ecologists flirt with fascism when they talk about returning to an "organic" social system that is "attuned to nature."

it seems too late for that now - not to mention too idealistsic - now that the GMOs have been unleashed on the crops and it's pretty hard to fight these sneaky evil geniuses...

They call not for a regression to collective authoritarianism, but for the evolution of a mode of awareness that doesn't lend itself to authoritarianism of any kind.

When you think of the above mentioned "animal rights" thingy as being only so short time ago it's quite amazing how much ideas have changed (when you think of the 50's for example)

Alan: And will it be developed in time?

Michael: Well, in time for what? It may not happen in time to save America's supremacy as an industrial power, for instance.

aaah - acceptance!

The 1990s are going to be really weird, because of millennial thinking as the year 2000 approaches.

I see this article is quite old - Summer 1989

It's a real loss for us and for the other species that are being killed. And yet, who knows what this means? Ninety-five percent of the species that ever lived are dead. Why? Evolution isn't sentimental - it does what it does. I'd like to stop the burning of the rainforests right now, but that's not going to happen. Some of it will get saved, but you know, we cut down a forest that stretched from New York to the Mississippi River and from the Gulf coast into Canada in just a century or two. We don't miss it because we never saw it.

[exactly]

Rang de with Tokyo gharana

Call it Zen wisdom. In The Next Karate Kid, when a nervous Julie Pierce (Hilary Swank) wishes that she had courage like her karate teacher Mr Miyagi (Noriyuki Morita), the little old fella says,"I wish I had a chocolate bar with almonds." And when a frown appears on Hilary's face when she sees a bunch of monks shaking their bodies to the rhythm on the dance floor, he says, "Never trust a spiritual leader who cannot dance." He then goes on to tell how her how to use ears, nose and skin to create poetry of the feet even when your eyes are shut. In Japan, they see dance as an extension of meditation.

Mention Mr Miyagi to Masako Sato and she just smiles as she puts dollops of kohl around her dark brown eyes. Masako's hands move with the elegance of a Kathak dancer as she works on her eyes, paints her nails red, fixes a silvery dot on her forehead, ties huge ghungroos on her ankles and carefully wraps a silk scarf on her head. Then she moves to the stage, and as Dil cheez kya hai aap meri jaan lijiye flows from the soundbox, Masako's feet interpret the magic of Khayyam's immortal Umrao Jaan composition. From a distance, Masako looks like a dancer born and brought up in the traditions of the Lucknow g harana. From up close, she looks like a woman who dances to be herself.

Masako holds a Master’s degree in engineering. Ten years ago, she lived in Tokyo, working in the corporate headquarters of Toshiba and learning Flamenco and classical ballet. A trip to India and an accidental visit to the Kathak Mahotsav in 1996 changed her life. "I wanted to learn a dance that takes me close to God," she says. "I felt Kathak was like meditation and I decided to learn it." For the next ten years, she learnt from Birju Maharaj how to move her hands, feet and eyes in rhythm with the tabla and ghungroos . Back in Tokyo now, she teaches Kathak to small Japanese boys and girls who swirl, swing and hop to strange sounds of tata thai at her academy.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

magical thinking

"...magical thinking is "a fundamental dimension of a child's thinking." --Zusne and Jones

According to anthropologist Dr. Phillips Stevens Jr., magical thinking involves several elements, including a belief in the interconnectedness of all things through forces and powers that transcend both physical and spiritual connections. Magical thinking invests special powers and forces in many things that are seen as symbols. According to Stevens, "the vast majority of the world's peoples ... believe that there are real connections between the symbol and its referent, and that some real and potentially measurable power flows between them." He believes there is a neurobiological basis for this, though the specific content of any symbol is culturally determined.

(Not that some symbols aren't universal, e.g., the egg, fire, water. Not that the egg, fire, or water symbolize the same things in all cultures.)

green beverage

skeptics

Traditional Chinese medicine is not based on knowledge of modern physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, anatomy, or any of the known mechanisms of healing. Nor is it based on knowledge of cell chemistry, blood circulation, nerve function, or the existence of hormones or other biochemical substances. There is no correlation between the meridians used in traditional Chinese medicine and the actual layout of the organs and nerves in the human body. The National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF) claims that of the 46 medical journals published by the Chinese Medical Association, not one is devoted to acupuncture or other traditional Chinese medical practices. Nevertheless, it is estimated that somewhere between 10 and 15 million Americans spend approximately $500 million a year on acupuncture for treatment of AIDS, allergies, asthma, arthritis, bladder and kidney problems, bronchitis, constipation, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, colds, fatigue, flu, gynecologic disorders, headaches, high blood pressure, migraines, paralysis, PMS, sciatica, sexual dysfunction, smoking, stress, stroke, tendinitis, and vision problems.

Empirical studies on acupuncture are in their infancy. Such studies ignore notions based on metaphysics (such as unblocking chi along meridians) and seek to find causal connections between sticking needles into traditional (or nontraditional) acupuncture points and physical effects. Even so, many traditional doctors and hospitals are offering acupuncture as a "complementary" therapy. The University of California at Los Angeles medical school has one of the largest acupuncture training courses in the United States for licensed physicians. The 200-hour program teaches nearly 600 physicians a year. According to the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, about 4,000 U.S. physicians have training in acupuncture.

In March 1996, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified acupuncture needles as medical devices for general use by trained professionals. Until then, acupuncture needles had been classified as Class III medical devices, meaning their safety and usefulness was so uncertain that they could be used only in approved research projects. Because of that "experimental" status, many insurance companies, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, had refused to cover acupuncture. This new designation has meant both more practice of acupuncture and more research being done using needles. It also means that insurance companies may not be able to avoid covering useless or highly questionable acupuncture treatments for a variety of ailments. Nevertheless, Wayne B. Jonas, director of the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, has said that the reclassification of acupuncture needles is "a very wise and logical decision." The Office of Alternative Medicine is very supportive (i.e. willing to spend good amounts of tax dollars) on new studies of the effectiveness of acupuncture.

The most frequently offered defense of acupuncture by its defenders commits the pragmatic fallacy. It is argued that acupuncture works! What does this mean? It certainly does not mean that sticking needles into one's body opens up blocked chi. At most, it means that it relieves some medical burden. Most often it simply means that some customer is satisfied, that is, feels better at the moment. The NCAHF issued a position paper on acupuncture that asserts, "Research during the past twenty years has failed to demonstrate that acupuncture is effective against any disease" and that "the perceived effects of acupuncture are probably due to a combination of expectation, suggestion, counter-irritation, operant conditioning, and other psychological mechanisms." In short, most of the perceived beneficial effects of acupuncture are probably due to mood change, the placebo effect, and the regressive fallacy. Just because the pain went away after the acupuncture doesn't mean the treatment was the cause. Much chronic pain comes and goes. An alternative treatment such as acupuncture is sought only when the pain is near its most severe level. Natural regression will lead to the pain becoming less once it has reached its maximum level of severity. Also, much of the support for acupuncture is anecdotal in the form of testimonial evidence from satisfied customers. Unfortunately, for every anecdote of someone whose pain was relieved by acupuncture there may well be another anecdote of someone whose pain was not relieved by acupuncture But nobody is keeping track of the failures (confirmation bias).

Nevertheless, it is possible that sticking needles into the body may have some beneficial effects. The most common claim of success by acupuncture advocates is in the area of pain control. Studies have shown that many acupuncture points are more richly supplied with nerve endings than are the surrounding skin areas. Some research indicates sticking needles into certain points affects the nervous system and stimulates the body's production of natural painkilling chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalins, and triggers the release of certain neural hormones including serotonin. Another theory suggests that acupuncture blocks the transmission of pain impulses from parts of the body to the central nervous system.

There are difficulties that face any study of pain. Not only is pain measurement entirely subjective, but traditional acupuncturists evaluate success of treatment almost entirely subjectively, relying on their own observations and reports from patients, rather than objective laboratory tests. Furthermore, many individuals who swear by acupuncture (or therapeutic touch, reiki, iridology, meditation, mineral supplements, etc.) often make several changes in their lives at once, thereby making it difficult to isolate significant causal factors in a control group study.

Some of the acupuncture studies supported by the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health try to mimic traditional control group studies, but no control study will reveal if chi was unblocked or if yin and yang are in or out of harmony. Control studies using objective measurements of treatment success could determine, however, how much of the success of acupuncture is due to nothing more than subjective assessment by interested parties. Such studies could also determine whether any effects of acupuncture are short-term or long-term.

Finally, acupuncture is not without risks. There have been some reports of lung and bladder punctures, some broken needles, and some allergic reactions to needles containing substances other than surgical steel. Acupuncture may be harmful to the fetus in early pregnancy since it may stimulate the production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and oxytocin, which affect labor. There is always the possibility of infection from unsterilized needles.*

http://skepdic.com/acupunc.html

mesmerism

Here, in fact, lies the whole secret of magnetism, and all delusions of a similar kind:

Mesmerism is a bit of medical quackery developed in the 18th-century by Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer.

Mesmer plagiarized Hell's magnetic therapy and posited that it works because there is a very subtle magnetic fluid flowing through everything but which sometimes gets disturbed and needs to be restored to its proper flow. Hell, Mesmer theorized, was unblocking the flow of this magnetic fluid with his magnets. Mesmer eventually discovered that he got the same results without the magnets. Rather than attribute this to the placebo effect, he posited that "animal magnetism" accounted for his ability to correct the flow of the universal magnetic fluid. (Today, the term "animal magnetism" means mesmerism or hypnotic power, but I have heard it misused more than once by females to mean a sexy male and by members of both sexes to mean someone to whom animals are attracted.)

this is in reference to the birds in migration article and magnets as the possible answer.

What's an Indigo Child?? by Wendy H. Chapman

Indigo Children are the current generation being born today and most of those who are 8 years old or younger. They are different. They have very unique characteristics that set them apart from previous generations of children. The name itself indicates the Life Color they carry in their auras and is indicative of the Third Eye Chakra, which represents intuition and psychic ability. These are the children who are often rebellious to authority, nonconformist, extremely emotionally and sometimes physically sensitive or fragile, highly talented or academically gifted and often metaphysically gifted as well, usually intuitive, very often labeled ADD, either very empathic and compassionate OR very cold and callous, and are wise beyond their years. Does this sound like yourself or your child?

Indigos have come into this world with difficult challenges to overcome. Their extreme levels of sensitivity are hard to understand and appreciate by parents who don't share this trait. Their giftedness is unusual in such high numbers. Their nonconformity to systems and to discipline will make it difficult to get through their childhood years and perhaps even their adult years. It is also what will help them accomplish big goals such as changing the educational system, for instance. Being an Indigo won't be easy for any of them, but it foretells a mission. The Indigo Children are the ones who have come to raise the vibration of our planet! These are the primary ones who will bring us the enlightenment to ascend.

There's a very good chance your child is an Indigo if he/she was born after 1992. About 85% or higher of children born in '92 or later, 90% born in '94 or after and 95% or more born now (some even say 99%) are Indigo Children! Does this mean you aren't one if you were born prior to 1992? No! I've heard reports that they started coming in the 80s, but that means coming in larger numbers. I believe there have been Indigos born in every year, but perhaps not in high enough percentages to notice their presence and see what makes them so unique.

http://www.metagifted.org/topics/metagifted/indigo/introduction.html

indigo children

The Indigo phenomenon has been recognized as one of the most exciting changes in human nature ever documented in society. The Indigo label describes the energy pattern of human behavior which exists in over 95% of the children born in the last 10 years � This phenomena is happening globally and eventually the Indigos will replace all other colors. As small children, Indigo's are easy to recognize by their unusually large, clear eyes. Extremely bright, precocious children with an amazing memory and a strong desire to live instinctively, these children of the next millennium are sensitive, gifted souls with an evolved consciousness who have come here to help change the vibrations of our lives and create one land, one globe and one species. They are our bridge to the future.*

According to Peggy Day and Susan Gale, the emergence of the Indigo children was foretold by Edgar Cayce long before Tappe's aura labeling.

social ecology

I really like this link and all it suggests - funny it almost sounds utopian and like science fiction!
so "far out" and yet exactly what the future needs and not in the distant future either. Seems like a few generations need to die off and be replaced with the 'Indigo children" I've been hearing about lately..........
-------------

Globally the term social ecology was first used in the mid-1960s by the United States anarchist, Murray Bookchin (1982) to characterise his particular critique of the centralised, hierarchical, naively simple, exclusionary and ecologically uninformed structures and processes that were (and still are) dominant in western society.

eight points deep

I found the Viridian Principles interesting (Futurist principles)
http://www.viridiandesign.org/principles.html

1) The well-being and flourishing of human and nonhuman life on Earth have value in themselves (synonyms: inherent worth; intrinsic value; inherent value). These values are independent of the usefulness of the nonhuman world for human purposes.

Is that first one a sentence? The second, makes me wonder about the stem cell research we discussed in chemistry - 99% human 1% cow or 50% 50% and who decides? what is non human and where will the line be drawn? and by whom? will we/they all agree?

2) Richness and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values and are also values in themselves.

Sustaining as much diversity in creatures and lifeforms you would think would be a priority for humans - but when reading about these profiteers it seems not so. It should (to me anyway) be a value to preserve these lifeforms and ecosystems.

3) Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs.

I would agree. Searching for life makes a mission worthwhile seems odd to me as well.

4) Present human interference with the nonhuman world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening.

This appears to be depressingly true and accelerating at a rapid pace. I believe there is an awakening of consciousness happening as well currently.

5) The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with a substantial decrease of the human population. The flourishing of nonhuman life requires such a decrease.

"Eat What You Kill"

It's perfectly acceptable to supersede some time-honored tool or practice. However, you should take pains to fully comprehend the thing you have rendered obsolescent. You are removing some part, however modest, of the infrastructure of civilization. You are destroying the work of previous designers; you should offer them the respect you yourself would hope for, under similar circumstances. This is for your own good. You can't comprehend your own accomplishment until you have fully internalized and understood the accomplishment that you are undoing.

6) Policies must therefore be changed. The changes in policies affect basic economic, technological structures. The resulting state of affairs will be deeply different from the present.

"Viridian Inactivism"

Activism is an attention hog, and very time and energy intensive. A better approach is to find the things you are doing that intensify the problem, and just cease doing them. Put in less overtime. Sleep late. Have a nap after lunch. Burn less midnight oil. Park your car, turn off all the lights in your apartment, and go outside in the sunshine and read a book. Spend an hour on your mascara if you feel like it. Don't allow yourself to be spooked into Stakhanovite overdrive; seek command of your own life, and enjoy being yourself.

7) The ideological change is mainly that of appreciating life quality (dwelling in situations of inherent worth) rather than adhering to an increasingly higher standard of living. There will be a profound awareness of the difference between big and great.

"The Future is History -- Be When You Are"

The past and the future are this place at a different time. The future is advancing upon you, and the past retreating, at a remorseless rate of one second per second. You can seek understanding anywhere, but you can only act in the moment.

8) Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation directly or indirectly to participate in the attempt to implement the necessary changes.

"Design For Evil"

Any innocent product which becomes suddenly genocidal in the hands of a tyrant has been designed by a dangerous naif. Every design process is incomplete unless it takes into careful consideration what could be done with the product by a dictatorial megalomaniac in command of a national economy, a secret police, and a large army.

Introducing moducare

Dr. Hoffman is proud to announce that Moducare, a patented unique blend of sterols and sterolins, is available in his dispensary. Moducare contains only the isolated molecules of the sterols and sterolins, which have been extracted from pine trees (Pinus Maritima and Pinus Pinaster). What do you do if you have a pine allergy? There is none of the original plant in the final product. If you looked at these plant fat molecules in a laboratory, you would not be able to tell if they had been extracted from oranges, peas, almonds, etc.

Moducare is a daily immune supplement that restores, strengthens and balances the immune system.

Moducare is a patented blend of plant sterols and sterolins in a clinically proven ratio of 100:1. These nutrients are derived from a natural pine source and come in a vegetarian capsule and chewable tablet.

Moducare is the only clinically tested plant sterol/sterolin product which has been shown through research to balance and improve immune system functioning.

great article

http://www.drhoffman.com/page.cfm/216

Plant sterols and sterolins: potential immune system modulators by Hoffman Center Staff Sterols are plant fats found in all plant-based foods. Sterols, including cholesterol, are in the same large classification family of steroids but they do not have the negative effects that are often associated with steroids. Sterolins are glucosides, which are molecular structures joined to the sterol. Sterolin is easily destroyed, and without it, the sterol does not have the same immune-enhancing benefits. In nature, plants never contain sterols only. The sterols are always associated with their glucoside sterolin. The original research on sterols and sterolins was based on an extract of the African Hypoxis plant or "African Potato". Its nomenclature derived due to the potato-like appearance of the Hypoxis plant. Due to the presence of other potentially harmful substances contained within the Hypoxis plant, other plants were investigated as sources for the sterols and sterolins used in supplementation. Wheat, for instance, contains about 4,200 milligrams of plant sterols per 100 grams, while wheat flour contains only about 52 milligrams of total plant sterols per 100 grams! The removed bran contains about 4,500 milligrams of total plant sterols per 100 grams and the unrefined oil about 2,600 milligrams per 100 grams. Crude plant oils are a relatively rich source of phytosterols and their glucosides, but most of these are removed during refining. While soybeans contain about 160 milligrams of total plant sterols per 100 grams, the crude oil contains approximately 350 milligrams. This is reduced to 220 milligrams when the oil is refined and is further reduced during hydrogenation. This applies to all plant oils. In order to consume 100 milligrams of plant sterols, however, one would have to eat 500 to 700 grams of fresh vegetables and fruit or about 200 grams of flour products (without additives). This amount has to be doubled for a normal dietary supply due to the fact that sterols and sterolins are tightly bound to plant fiber and therefore are not completely absorbed. When processed food is eaten or when one is under stress, the attenuated rate of sterolin/sterol absorption is more acute. Slimming diets, ill health and old age also seriously reduce the intake of sterols and sterolins. Sterols and sterolins seem to illicit immune regulating effects. Before we discuss this let's take a closer look at the immune system.

HIV +

My father was diagnosed HIV+ in 1991 - and for years we have been watching his Tcell count - myself not really understanding exactly the meaning of that. He has been on "cocktails" that have adapted to his condition. His spiritual life is mind body spirit - Christian Scientist - but he never would admit to the similarities to easten religion, as he studies the bible every day. If I were to suggest anything he considered "alternative" he would poo poo it and tell me to read his bible and everything will be ok. At one point - the "practitioners" at his church would not "treat him" with prayers because the charter of the religion is "mind over matter" and pharmaceuticals are outlawed. Some members wanted him to stop attending his church when they found out he was on medication. I was appalled that in his time of need his comunity would reject him like that. It could have been that they didn't want someone with "aids" in their church. stigmata. I'm sure this goes on in many cultures - so sad.

Anyway - it's good to be reading about the body and learn more about how these diseases are working on a cellular level. Much to absorb into my teeny tiny brain.

I've been focusing more on chemistry and physics and it's time to give biology a few day's focus. This subject brings up - how to handle a patient who is suffering from a disease that has "no hope" and the power of intention. I am reading about this and contemplating all of the mechanics as well as keeping in the back of my mind the spiritual aspects - and as you might say the "TCM approach" to assist the patient and support their moral and ease suffering possibly even depression and feelings of hopelessness.

chakras

Consciousness

Consciousness is the awareness we have of ourselves and our environment.

Different states of consciousness are associated with different patterns of brain waves.

Brain waves are tracings of electrical activity that is going on in the brain.

cientists record brain waves using an electroencephalograph (EEG), which monitors electrical activity through electrodes placed on the scalp.

There are four main types of brain waves: alpha, beta, theta, and delta.

Type of Brain Wave	Corresponding Mental State
Alpha	Very relaxed or meditating
Beta	Awake and alert
Theta	Lightly asleep
Delta	Deeply asleep

http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/consciousness/section1.html

Are our genes still being shaped by natural selection?

Genes survive indefinitely, however, individuals do not.
Are the individuals "machines" that enable the genes to be carried to the next generation?
Genes provide continuity, individuals are transitory.
In 1872 Samuel Butler stated that a "chicken was an eggs way of making another egg."

Foods For Surgery

If you are about to undergo breast-cancer surgery (or any type of surgery), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recommends eating as much spinach and red beets as you can at least two weeks before the operation. This will help increase blood volume.

Seafood, especially shrimp, lobster, clams, oysters, and mussels, are also good additions to pre-surgery meals because they strengthen kidney energy. Any type of soup stock made from bone (for example, beef stock) can also help increase blood volume and strengthen the overall immune system.

Foods For Chemotherapy and Radiation

While undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) recommends eating mostly fresh fruit and lightly cooked vegetables, especially: pears, almonds, kiwis, dandelion greens, and carrots. These foods help detoxify the body and cool the excess heat caused by the treatments.

Other good foods include clams, mussels, oysters, quail eggs (either fresh or canned), and sugarcane juice.

For breakfast, have two kiwis and a handful of toasted almonds, and over the course of the day eat at least four pears (either whole or juiced). Other meals should consist of one or more recommended vegetables and, if possible, shellfish, which are particularly effective for reducing internal heat.

When eating for healing, the goal is to maximize the nutrients your body can absorb from the foods you eat while minimizing the energy required to digest them. To this end, try to eat a varied diet that consists primarily of vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, some grains, and some seafood. Avoid red meat, poultry, and pork, which require a great deal of energy to digest.

Start by gradually modifying your existing diet to incorporate as many of the recommended foods as possible. For example, use honey instead of sugar in your tea. Or rather than having oatmeal in the morning, opt for a bowl of Chinese barley soup and a kiwi. Many small adjustments can collectively have a measurable impact on your health.

When and How to Eat

Many health-conscious women are very good about watching what they eat, but completely ignore how they eat. Eating in an unhealthy manner can completely disrupt the healthy functioning of the stomach. Because half of all breast cancers are caused in part by a stomach-function disorder, it is critical to keep this organ healthy.

Here are four recommendations, based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), to help you eat in harmony with your body's natural cycles:

1. Eat your larger meals earlier in the day. This will give your body nutrition when its energy is naturally rising.
2. Don't eat late at night. This allows your digestive organs to rest while you sleep, conserving energy for healing.
3. Eat until you feel not hungry, not until you feel full. Not overtaxing your digestive organs allows them to do their job without expending excess energy.
4. Don't work while eating. Working while eating diverts energy from your digestive system, hampering your body's ability to extract nutrition from your food. Over time, this can unbalance your stomach function. Simply taking twenty minutes out of your day to eat a meal in an unhurried, relaxed way can have a profound impact on your health and your overall quality of life.

---

Last modified November 2, 2004. Adapted from the book Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Woman's Guide to Healing from Breast Cancer, by Dr. Nan Lu, O.M.D., M.S., L.Ac., with Ellen Schaplowsky. This site is for consumer educational use only. Never disregard, avoid, or delay in obtaining medical advice from your doctor or health provider because of something you have read on this site. Copyright © 2003-2006 Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation. All rights reserved.

Nearly one-third of women diagnosed with breast cancer decide to enhance their conventional medical treatment with some form of complementary care. This site explores an approach based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a holistic medical system that can help you regain your natural healing ability. First and foremost, remember this: As overwhelming as being diagnosed with breast cancer may be, do not be afraid. The vast majority of women who have had the disease have overcome it. You can, too. Worry and fear only drain your energy -- the same energy that your body needs to heal itself. From this moment on, make a commitment to stay positive. The statistics are on your side. Beginning the breast cancer-fight is like embarking on a journey. Like any journey, you'll want to start off calm and well rested. The emotional and physical state you are in when you start is what you will carry forward with you down this path. Although you may feel the need to immediately start researching your treatment options, consider taking a few days to rest and regroup first. Rather than running from specialist to specialist, give yourself some time. The calmer you are, the easier it will be to make the right decisions about your treatment. You'll be better able to hear what you need to hear and filter out what you don't. Similarly, the more peaceful and well rested you are, the more effective your treatments will be over the long term. The stronger your body is now, the stronger it will be throughout the treatment process. As when undergoing surgery, remaining calm and peaceful is an essential part of keeping your body strong to recover from chemotherapy and radiation treatments. There is also a simple visualization technique based on the ancient principle of yin and yang (two complementary yet opposing natural energies) to help rebalance the body after these treatments. As you undergo chemotherapy or radiation, imagine that you are under water and that the moon is shining above your head. Imagine that the cool, healing light of the moon is flowing through your entire body. Immediately after the treatment ends, imagine the sun is beaming healing energy deep into your body. Although undergoing surgery is a largely passive experience, you can use the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to help your body through the process. Because your body's energy fluctuates according to nature's cycles, the time at which you undergo surgery has particular importance in TCM. It's best to schedule your surgery for the time at which you were born. This is when your body's energy is at its peak each day. If you don't know exactly when you were born, then schedule treatments for the morning, when your energy is naturally rising. Other good times to undergo surgery are the day before and the day of a full moon. On the day of your surgery, do your best to remain peaceful and to keep your emotions as even as possible. This is, of course, easier said than done. However, the more calm and peaceful you are, the less energy you are expending, and the more energy your body will have to heal. Eliminate everything and everyone who does not support your peace and serenity at this point. As the surgery begins, take slow, deep breaths. Concentrate on your navel, and continue doing so as the anesthesia begins to take effect. Focusing your attention on this special point directs your Qi inward, helping you conserve it. After surgery, there will be many demands on your mental, emotional, and physical energies. If at all possible, take a few days to recover before beginning chemotherapy and radiation to give your body the chance to rebalance itself. Try to eat the recommended foods for breast-cancer prevention. Practice qigong at least twice a day. It is essential at this point to rest, rest, rest . . . and rest some more. You may be tempted to start working again, to "get back in the game." But give yourself as much time as you feel you need to rest. This can be a difficult choice to make in Western society. Rarely is resting seen as productive, yet nothing could be further from the truth, especially when it comes to healing the body. Simply resting is one of the easiest and best ways to preserve and build up your healing energy. Choosing a medical partner is one of the most crucial steps in the healing process. Whatever treatment path you follow -- be it conventional medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), or some other modality -- the approach to choosing a doctor should be the same: select a doctor with whom you feel some connection and who has a passion for caring for you as an individual. To successfully fight a disease, the doctor and patient must form a partnership. It is truly a team effort. The best doctor for you is not necessarily the most famous or busiest one, or even the one who treated your friend. Choose a doctor who understands you -- what your needs are and what you can handle. Your treatment must be tailored to you specifically, not a standard medical procedure. Because breast cancer is caused in part by emotional factors, it is important that you feel comfortable talking with your doctor about how you feel throughout the healing process. Most importantly, choose a doctor who will be supportive of the decisions you make about your treatment. Remember that your doctor is your partner; he or she should never be a source of stress or frustration. As confusing as the process may be, know that the right answer lies within you. Take your time, and above all, trust your intuition. Qigong. Simple exercises that restore the flow of energy in the breast area. Acupressure. Seven acupoints you can massage to strengthen your immune system. Foods. Dietary recommendations to help prevent breast cancer and support your body during chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Lifestyle. Tips for letting go of the negative emotions that can destroy your health.

How does a TCM approach to cancer differ?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a comprehensive system of medicine complete with its own theories and principles that guide various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. TCM is a logical, elegant and independent system of thought and practice that continues to develop as a result of a process of extensive clinical observations, testing, and critical thinking. Characterized by more than 2500 years of use and refinement, TCM represents a significant alternative to the conventional biomedical model and continues to be used today by a sizable number of patients, both in the Far East and increasingly here in the West.

TCM differs from Western medicine in its conceptualization of health and disease through a holistic view of the person. TCM emphasizes the inseparable nature of body-mind-spirit, the centrality of dynamic homeostatic balance, the importance of energetic flow, and self-healing. It recognizes the impact that physical, nutritional, psychological, and environmental factors have on health. It emphasizes the functional and energetic systems of the human body and, consequently, regards illness as an imbalance in the systems.

http://www.cancerresources.mednet.ucla.edu/5_info/5c_archive_lec/2004/lec_eastwest_hui.htm

TCM views the cancerous process as a systemic disease; the local growth is a manifestation of a larger problem. The pathogenic factors analyzed in TCM’s approach to cancer treatment include external/noxious stimuli, psychological/emotional factors, lifestyle factors, and the deficiency of the mind-body-spirit system. There is a constant tug-of-war in the cancerous process between the noxious stimuli and endogenous resistance. Any factor, no matter how seemingly indirect, that increases the amount of noxious stimuli and/or decreases one’s endogenous resistance can accelerate the cancerous process.

TCM’s approach to cancer treatment emphasizes an understanding of each patient, not merely the patient’s specific form of cancer. Because of its focus on the individual patient, TCM results in the design of a flexible, individualized therapeutic approach that encompasses the differential diagnosis of the pathophysiogical state of the patient.

In China , and increasingly in the US , patients with cancer seek TCM for the following:

• Prevention of cancer
• Symptom management
• Improvement in their quality of life
• Improved ability to tolerate conventional therapies
• Prevention of disease progression
• Maintenance of remission
• A new and different philosophy of life, and a new approach to health and disease

TCM is most effective in the management of pain, fatigue, nausea, stress, dry mouth, and reducing the complications from chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.