Naturalpath

I had the opportunity to watch the film, "The Business of Being Born," and my mind was opened up to a whole new possibility of giving birth. I have a close friend who is studying Midwifery and in the past I was always excited about what she was out to do, but watching this video really solidified for me the benefits of having a home birth. Midwives can make what to me is a scary experience, giving birth, into a safe and amazing spiritual journey. The video does an amazing job of following different women in their pregnancy and giving birth at home and in the hospital, while showing the history and reality of what goes on in a hospital setting. Although the video is biased towards home birth, in the end I was grateful for the way that it really shocked me and inspired me to research more on the topic of giving birth. Also, hearing about the hospital side of the issue from my sister in medical school, she is convinced that it is necessary to face the rates of cesarean births in the U.S. today and question why they are so high, how this is affecting the babies and mothers, and what other options are out there. I definitely highly highly recommend watching the video to all women of any age. (I am not even close to thinking about having a baby, yet I feel like I greatly benefitted from seeing this film!) Check out the preview: http://thebusinessofbeingborn.com/

Bikram Yoga- it’s an addicting experience. Why are so many people so into it? I have been going to Bikram for about a year on and off. The session consists of starting and ending breathing exercises as well as 26 postures performed in a heated room.

Psychosocial Genomics- Connecting the Mind, Genetics, and Creativity explores the interrelation between gene expression, neurogenesis, and mind body healing.

The study of this relationship is called psychosocial genomics, and is a subset of functional genomics. This is researched by observing how subjective states of human consciousness and social and cultural signals modulate gene expression and vice versa.

My eyes were opened to the diverse uses of corn and the issues that this creates when I watched the independent film, "King Corn," by Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis.  These two friends have their hair analyzed and discover that on the typical american diet, they are replenishing their carbon supply with carbon from corn.  This is because corn is present in almost every processed grocery item you can imagine, as well as it fuels America’s fast-food empire.  High fructose corn syrup makes the sodas sweet, corn-fed beef makes the burgers fat, and corn oil crisps the fries. The boys then go to Iowa and grown an acre of corn and attempt to follow its fate as food. What they find is alternately hilarious and horrifying: genetically modified seeds and home- brewed corn syrup, a bumper crop of obesity and diabetes, and a government paying farmers to grow what’smaking us sick. At the base of it all, it seems that demand for fast cheap overproduction of unhealthy meat, sweeteners, and other products pushes the corn market.

    I recently was accepted to travel to Ometepe, Nicaragua in December 2007 on a Natural Doctors International medical brigade to participate in naturopathic medical outreach clinics and learn about how global economic policies impact healthcare in developing countries. Naturopathic Doctors practice in the U.S. as well; they can prescribe medication and perform minor surgeries, but try to resort to changes in nutrition, supplements, or herbal remedies as much as possible.I was able to join three naturopathic doctors, an herbalist, and two naturopathic students as we took classes, treated the farmers on Ometepe, and experienced what life is like on the island. We were on a serious mission to build bridges of solidarity and community; to pro-actively engage in activism for access to naturopathic medicine worldwide; to work alongside our brothers and sisters in Central America for a more just world, to provide healthcare to a community that is in dire need of it and provide support to healthcare systems that would make most North Americans cringe, and to envision and enact a brighter future. I truly had the best experience of my life combining my love of traveling, Spanish, and naturopathic medicine.

    Elisa Lodge, otherwise known as 'Wowza,' a teacher in Esalen, Big Sur, shared how humming can be a great way to communicate with our bodies in her book, Primal Energetics.  "Every organ, bone and cell in our body has its own resonant frequency... together they make up a composite frequency like the stringed instruments of an orchestra [Lodge, 2006.]."  Developing self communication is a great way to promote good health and a powerful sense of self worth.  Wowza points out how humming is powerful means of communication by using the analogy of a mother humming to her baby with love, communicating without words. Humming can quiet the mind, diminish pain, synchronize brain waves, improve motor skills and lift your mood.  Humming can also stimulate eighty four reflex points in the roof of our mouths, engaging neurostimulators of the brain with energetic stimulation. Wowza shares stories and statistics showing that humming can even help those with asthma, schizophrenia, alzheimers, and those suffering with hearing loss.  

Many of us saw the movie, “What the Bleep,” and were intrigued by the idea that our attention and intention can influence reality.  One of the scientists in the film, Dr. William Tiller, a prior materials science researcher at Stanford University, has researched what he calls psychoenergetic science.  This past weekend I had to opportunity to see Dr. Tiller speak in Marin County, California on his research.  I have also read through two of his five books presenting his theories and research. 

I believe there are several Cal Poly students who are looking to go into holistic practices, and that is why I am starting up an Integrative Health Club on campus.  Please help me gain a general idea of how Cal Poly feels about alternative medicine by responding to the following.

    When I saw a man in a rabbit costume visiting Jocelyn Olivier at the Healus Center while discussing Candace Pert and the mindbody system, just after having green tea with Dr. Rosenbaum on video while discussing nutrition, supplements, and his holistic healing practice, I knew spending five weeks in Marin would be a rich and exciting experience to be exposed to various aspects of the holistic health community. 
   

It is predicted that 1/5 people in the U.S. will be over 65 by the year 2030. The growing older adult population, along with the scientific technology that is available today, together call for exciting new discoveries in understanding the process of aging, as well as how to increase the healthy years of our lives. Just like today we no longer need to worry about diseases such as Polio, scientists hope that in the future we will no longer worry about conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, and arthritis. Right now there are three main institutes in the world that are moving forward in this research- one in Tokyo, one in Austria, and finally the Buck Institute, located in Novato, Marin County, California.