Week 3 Bionics

Bionic technology is incredible! A bionic organ or limb, is a device which is man-made and is integrated or implanted into a human in order to restore or increase the natural function. This development in science is incredible when we consider its application for replacing a limb or organ. 

Bionic technology is rapidly developing in the field of biomedical science, so much so that it is becoming common practice. However, this is very interesting to me because the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine is somewhat at odds with the idea that as parts of our bodies become weekend or ill that we should just replace them. For example in the case of a long term smoker that develops disease of the lungs, Traditional Chinese Medicine would say that the smoker was living out of harmony with life and even with bionic lungs something else would weaken or become diseased. 

With regards to the use of bionic technology in the military- i would say that i disagree fundamentally with the state military in all of their uses- from toilet seats to drones. 

Week 2 Energy Medicine and Energy Fields

Long accepted medical devices are an easy way to understand the impact of energy medicine- ie. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), laser eye correction surgery, radiation and/ or UV light therapy. Since these types of modalities/ interventions are commonly accepted its is not a difficult jump to consider that other modalities such as acupuncture are effective forms of energy medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has long acknowledged subtle energy fields that are only recently being detected, studied, and utilized by Western medicine. With acupuncture these energy fields can be manipulated to achieve the desired health benefit.

Killian Photography proponents believe that the photos have the capacity to capture our aura. While I believe that our bodies have subtle energy fields I am not entirely sure that Killian photography is a legitimate representation of those energy fields. I do believe that the image is capturing a form of energy, but i think that our energy fields are more complex. 

Below is an excerpt taken from  http://www.lightstalking.com/what-is-kirlian-photography-the-science-and-the-myth-revealed/

“So if the glowing auras seen in Kirlian photography aren’t really caused by something spiritual, paranormal or our “life-energy” then what are they caused by? 

The answer is water. 

The high-voltage frequency applied to the metal plate rips the electrons off of atoms.  The air around the photographed object becomes ionized.  If that air contains any water, the resulting image will show the glowing silhouette around the object, which scientists actually call a “corona plasma discharge”.

When a person is sweating more due to being overheated, or excited in some way, Kirlian photographs taken of their hands at that time will show a larger more intense glow due to the increased moisture.  Conversely, cold dry hands will produce an image which shows a weaker glow.  Despite the ready availability of this accurate scientific explanation, New Age proponents of Kirlian photography will still argue that the person whose hands showed a larger, brighter glow is a natural healer when they are really just sweaty.”

I believe that our intention greatly impacts patient outcome. TCM is a medicine that is grounded in the practices of looking, listening, smelling and touching a patient- all of these are different ways in which we interact with and exchange experiences with the patient. The patients outcome is very much tied into both the conscious and unconscious aspects of this interaction. 

Week 1 Bio-Physics Life and Living Systems

I am a living system, perhaps better described as living systems and on a macro level only partially differenced from the entire eco system. Identifying as a living system on the gross physical level I am composed of complex systems of destruction, decomposition and production. On an energetic level I am separate and yet partially composed by the energies in my shared environment.

Biology studies the variety and complexity of living organisms and systems, while physics is the field of knowledge that seeks to understand the mathematical laws of nature. Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that applies the methods of physics to study biological systems.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is only one component of the Ancient cosmological world view that asserts that all things behave in particular ways, not necessarily because of prior actions or impulsions of other things, but because their intrinsic nature and position in the ever-moving cyclical universe. 

The underlying mechanisms of acupuncture and moxibustion are not self-evident when using the traditional scientific methods of understanding. However, the discipline of biophysics may lend tools needed to draw inferences from observable patterns  produced by TCM interventions. Research into the physical properties of points and channels, cellular effects of acupuncture, and physiologic effects may produce knowledge that allows us to better understand the organizing principles and inform our understanding of our bodies and the universe.