It’s hard for me to sum up everything I have come to learn that points towards our lifetime being an incredible time to be alive. Most compelling for me was looking at human evolution through the lens of Spiral Dynamics, which is ultimately exactly the same as the chakra system, with some added conception vessels from Chinese acupuncture.
Basically, it took humans thousands of years to evolve from the root chakra (“beige” according to Spiral Dynamics) to the water chakra (“purple” according to Spiral Dynamics), but now it takes us only a few years, maybe even less, to evolve from one to the next. (The same phenomenon is happening in the technology field, as well as availability and capacity to store information.) As a global community, we are likely in throat chakra (“yellow”) consciousness, and there are hints of ajna (“teal”) consciousness. It could be any day that the human race reaches crown chakra (“coral”) consciousness, and when we do, the next evolution is a new beginning. That new beginning could happen around 2012, and given how many native peoples have prophecies about this time, it seems like a perfect fit.
One way or another, I feel excited and privileged to be alive right now. I believe something will happen in 2012, or, as Drunvalo says in the above video, the Maya say it could happen as late as 2015. Many schools of thought and many native peoples all converge around this date.
The idea of “as above, so below” lives in my thoughts every day. Drunvalo says in another video series that all of the information of the stars can be found in one cell of the human body, meaning, everything that ever has happened or will happen is within each of us. And we are all one body. That’s how I see our future in the chakra system. Our road is already mapped out inside each of us. You cannot look to news for information. Everything you ever wanted to know is inside.
So what is in store for us once we reach and evolve beyond crown chakra consciousness? It’s simply a new beginning, perhaps just more dramatic than those that came before. In the end, we have nothing to fear. The most important thing is to stay rooted in the present, and accept anything that comes our way. Drunvalo says we may experience a period of 30 hours of blindness (maybe literal, maybe not). If so, there is simply nothing to fear. Everything will be happening exactly the way it should be.
The above video talks more about this, specifically from the Mayan perspective. The difference between this video and any other about Mayan prophecy is that Drunvalo was given express permission from the highest Maya elders to convey this information to us. He was invited by these elders to participate in a ceremony performed only once every 13,000 years. And he has video. How cool is that??
I’ve really been enjoying acupuncture over the last month. Not only does it make me feel relaxed, but it’s helping me make good eggs and a cozy womb for our upcoming IVF cycle. I especially love it when the heat lamp comes out! Makes my tummy super toasty.
I’m very glad that my husband is also giving acupuncture a try. It’s good for him because he never totally relaxes. We relax on the couch and watch TV, but that’s not the kind of relaxation I’m talking about. I’m talking about the kind of total relaxation when you’re laying down, eyes closed, with no input from the world at large. The added benefit for him is that it can help improve his already great swimmer count and quality!
None of this baby making stuff is an exact science. The odds of actually ending up with a baby at the end of this is 50/50. I’m really hoping that acupuncture helps to tip the scales a bit in our favor. Regardless of how things turn out, I’m happy that my husband gets to play a more active role this cycle. Acupuncture is bringing us together in a weird way. It’s like science is running the show and we’re just watching, but with acupuncture it feels like we have a role besides just following orders.
Oh, and I find out today if we’re approved for the IVF grant. Fingers crossed!
The human DNA is a biological Internet and superior in many aspects to the artificial one. The latest Russian scientific research directly or indirectly explains phenomena such as clairvoyance, intuition, spontaneous and remote acts of healing, self healing, affirmation techniques, unusual light/auras around people (namely spiritual masters), mind’s influence on weather patterns and much more.
I was sent a link to this article. It was interesting to read. I guess there is always an element of truth to some things – don’t know how much Truth there is to any of this. But that is why I share it, so we can all think about the possibilities.
Perhaps what I take from it more (less so than trying to scientifically prove the existence of telepathy or such phenomena) is the idea that words can potentially hurt or heal. We can all remember when something someone said hurt us or made us feel better – perhaps this is congruent? I’ve been doing a bit of research recently into the placebo effect in medicine and how researchers are looking into this, so it was kind of synchronicitous to get this article sent to me.
I’ve been thinking about how to answer the question “how does Chinese Medicine work?” if I am ever asked that by clients. So far, I haven’t come up with an answer. Of course, there are lots of theories that have been put forward by practitioners, philosophers, and scientists over the millennia; they all seem reasonable when put to me, even if they all contradict each other – but hardly what I would call satisfactory even for more the purest of believers.
And maybe that’s the thing: I want to believe! Why? Because Chinese Medicine treatments worked for me on every occasion I turned it to it for help, and not necessarily from the same practitioner. Did it have something to do with the practitioner? (On more recent occasions, that practitioner has been myself!) Or was it a placebo-like effect that involved myself believing that I would get better with this treatment?
Again, the answer is an emphatic “I don’t know!”
The more I attempt to find this answer, the more it eludes me. This is also the case even when I apply this inquiry to aspects of Western medical concepts – let’s face it, a lot of disease and dysfunction is described in the text-books as “idiopathic”.
There is a part of me that is comforted by not-knowing. Is that my inherent mystical part of me? Is that because it leaves undiscovered territory, thus feeding the heroic adventurer in me, giving me the opportunity to find and explore something that no-one else has?
I think this last notion is somewhat true, and the fact that this ‘undiscovered country’ seems to lie within me (and not ‘out there’) also feeds my inner mystic. The fact that the final frontier may well be inner space excites and terrifies me at the same time. But it also comforts me to know that so many thinkers, writers, mystics, philosophers, sophists, etc weren’t actually deluding themselves or wasting their time
But my question remains – what role does science play in this exploration? Indeed, can it play any role, given its pre-occupation with physika – the material, physical aspects of existence.
Which is precisely why I have been questioning the role of modern scientific research in validating the existence and practice of Chinese Medicine. How can we even contemplate the traditional scientific methodology to provide us the evidence of something as fundamental and un-quantifiable as Qi? (Itself a fundamental aspect to the entire paradigm of Chinese Medicine). For Qi is not a substance (as it is so often mistakenly referred to as), it describes an effect; and whilst we cannot see Qi we can most definitely perceive its effects.
There is one core principle of modern scientific research which is inconsistent with the fundamental tenet of Daoism which underpins much of the CM paradigm. Much scientific methodology depends on the elimination of variables (often referred to as confounders), and this has led to experiments involving double-blind, placebo-controlled studies (amongst others). The principle being that the experiment is set up in a ‘completely’ controlled environment to study the effects of something (often a substance, i.e. a drug) against another situation (or substance/drug) that is known to have no such effect. The idea being that the results in such studies (as in all studies) should be repeatable, and thus creating validity (and thus also Truth). Basically, if something happens again and again, then this is seen as constant and therefore can be depended on at all times, in all situations.
However, there is only one problem with this world-view, which many scientists now begin to understand; something that the ancient Daoists formed as the principle tenet of their understanding: that the world is constantly changing. The universe is not a static one, and indeed the only thing we can depend upon is that everything is in a dynamic state of flux (some call this entropy).
It’s all well and good to set up an experiment where all the variables are eliminated to test the effectiveness of a drug or treatment; but how often will that environment exist within the normal, natural, every-day world of which we are a part? Our lives do not exist in a vacuum of variability and change. Much of the current research into CM herbs is set up in these ways, where a laboratory animal is artificially given a specific illness (injections of bacteria, viruses, tumour cells, etc), and then an extract of a specific herb is injected into the affected cells to observe if they make a difference. All that such experiments can truly tell us is so narrow, so specific that it cannot hold any real clinical significance to the practitioner of Chinese Medicine. Even worse is that it is rare for a CM herbalist to use a single herb in the treatment of illness, preferring instead the use of formulas: a poly-pharmacy where herbs are synergistically combined to bring about a more holistic therapeutic effect.
yi bing tong zhi, tong bing yi zhi
different disease, same treatment; same disease, different treatment.
This statement exemplifies the paradoxical nature of the CM paradigm, how we understand the body’s functioning, pathologies, and treatment principles. The Western scientific notion of repeatability is inconsistent with this idea, and thus renders what we do as somewhat unquantifiable, according to current scientific methodology.
There is one method of scientific methodology which can help here: the very simple act of observation. If a treatment works, does it matter how it works, or even if it will work again? Perhaps this is where the “science” of the Placebo Effect comes into the discussion. If it is a ‘placebo’ which brings about a therapeutic effect, why should it be dismissed, as it so often is? The Placebo has become the Researcher’s scapegoat, the symbol of the unknown and un-controllable; it is the anti-Science, being to Science as what the Devil is to the Christ in the Judaeo-Christian mythologies.
Drug experiments often discount the effectiveness of a drug because it shows to have a positive therapeutic effect on a minority of cases, and thus is shelved. Why should that 10-40% people who would benefit such a treatment be denied access to it, because it has not been shown to be of benefit to everyone? So too, with the Placebo: perhaps some people would benefit from such treatments, in which case are we not bound to provide them with that treatment, which would show to alleviate pain, stress, or discomfort?
Chinese Medicine as it now stands is the beneficiary of over 2000 years of clinical evidence. This is how we learn to use the tools of Chinese Medicine to help our communities, and how we know what approach to take in any given situation. The CM practitioner has to be highly flexible and adaptive in their approach to each and every patient.
Perhaps it is that we cultivate the situation where the patient engenders their own healing…?
Yesterday I visited a Naturopath because I am one of the many people out there who suffers from headaches and migranes and over the last couple weeks it was getting unbearable. I’ve tried many treatments to help get rid of these suckers such as: Massage, Osteopathic treatment, Chiropractic treatment, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture… and while all of these were great and helped my body and life in their own way, they never completely got rid of my headaches. So when my Chiro suggested I see a Naturopath to determine if I had any food intolerance’s I jumped on the idea. And I’m just lucky that my extended medical covers it!!
So after an hour long appointment discussing my headache history, intensities and doing this electro test thing.. my Naturopath came to the conclusion that my body doesn’t tolerate the following: GREEN & BLACK TEA, TOMATOES, and WHEAT!! Now I’ve never been a lover of tomatoes but to know that when I do toss that ketchup on my fries I’m really hurting my body… that’s going to be a big step for me. And honestly, I drink green or black tea daily… like 5 times a day daily!! So that’ll be another challenge. I’m just glad to hear that my herbal teas are okay … And of course everyone knows that wheat is in everything, so to be quite honest, I’m waiting until after the holidays to eliminate that from my diet so I can still enjoy my moms turkey stuffing and goodies galore!! *blush*
I guess it’s hard to know exactly what our body is telling us all the time and I’m just really glad I was fortunate enough to obtain the services of my Naturopath. And now I can start seeing if some of these food intolerance’s are linked to my headaches and migranes. I’ll let you know how it goes! Bye for now.
One of the great features on somibo.com is discounts and coupons from wellness related businesses. So far, in cities across the USA, businesses are signing up to be listed on somibo (it’s free!) and are offering coupons of all kinds.
In Manhattan, the following cities here are a few businesses that have listed discounts:
Homeopathy Works – 20% discount Allure Day Spa – 10% off Medical Massage Group – $10 0ff your first visit Aiyana Acupuncture and chinese Herbs – $25 off initial visit Trust Your Heart Reiki and Healing – $20 discount Gotham Wellness - $20 off your initial acupuncture session Gramercy Pilates and Fitness – $20 off each of the first 3 private sessions
Check out the Discounts and Coupons section of somibo.com in your city to see who has listed discounts.
Don’t forget – if you don’t see a wellness related business not listed on somibo.com, please suggest a business to us.
If you see a business on somibo.com that you have something to say about — then please post a review.
So I subscribe to a bunch of email list-serves and end up getting tons in my email inbox, tending to just pick some out at random and read them every once in a while. Today, I decided to read one and came across this article that I just had to share with you. If you are at all interested in Alternative Medicine of any kind, or (& especially) if you consider it all a bunch of ‘hocus pocus’ I highly recommend you continue reading.
A few times throughout the article I found myself going “right on… take that you skeptics”… but in my more appropriate, non-partisan mind, I’m thinking “this is just a good heads up to everyone that we should always remember to consider the source; the person’s intention, background, and underlying benefactors or motivations when reading any kind of information or research”.
Dear Reader,
Marilynn Marchione got it exactly right.
This Associated Press medical writer has been working on a series of articles about alternative medical treatments. Each piece begins with this note: “Ten years and $2.5 billion in research have found no cures from alternative medicine.”
She’s talking about the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. And I agree completely. For the most part, NCCAM has been cranking out lame studies that test absurdly low doses of herbs or supplements, or use poor forms of these treatments.
For instance, a 2003 study showed that Echinacea was ineffective in treating upper respiratory infections. One problem: Researchers used Echinacea mostly extracted from the flower of the plant. As any herbalist will tell you, roots contain the most potent concentration of medicinal agents, while flowers tend to be the least potent.
So that $2.5 billion that was largely wasted by NCCAM turns out to be a pretty sweet gift for people like Marilynn who take great delight in alt med “failures.”
In the most recent article in her series she spotlights the placebo effect. You can just imagine how she applies this to alt medicine.
Marilynn: “The placebo effect looms large in alternative medicine, which has many therapies and herbal remedies based on beliefs versus science.”
{and… here it comes, my favorite part…}
Well…not really. Those beliefs are based on centuries of trial and error conducted by generations of doctors and scientists. That’s how they did it back then. And it’s both naïve and arrogant to dismiss all that knowledge just because it doesn’t conform to a modern idea of “gold standard” research.
Marilynn also enlightens us with this note: “Many alternative medicine studies have not included a placebo group…”
Here’s my note to Marilynn: This isn’t 1980. You MUST be aware of the thousands of randomized, double blind, placebo controlled alt med studies over the past decade. And you must also be aware that sometimes a study’s design just doesn’t require a placebo group.
For instance, a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine tested a supplement of niacin (vitamin B-3) against Merck’s Zetia, a drug that reduces cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract. More than 200 patients with heart disease or heart disease risk were randomly selected to receive either the supplement or the drug for 14 months.
Results: LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were reduced in both groups. HDL cholesterol increased in both groups (mostly in the niacin group). But two important things happened in the niacin group that DID NOT happen in the Zetia group: 1) Thickness of the carotid artery walls was reduced in the niacin group, and 2) Incidence of major cardiovascular events was lower in the niacin group.
Fewer heart attacks and a reversal of arteriosclerosis. Not too shabby! We may not have enough evidence yet to actually say that niacin might “cure” arteriosclerosis. But it’s not too soon at all to point out to Marilynn that as placebo effects go, the reversing of narrowed arteries and prevention of heart attacks is pretty impressive.
In fact, it’s almost too impressive. Why…it’s almost as if this alternative medical therapy actually works!
Hopefully you’ve taken the time to read through this article and taken a little insight into the ability of some to misconstrue information if that’s what they intend to do. Be smart, get all the facts, expand your reading material (read information from people you don’t necessarily agree with). There is always something more to be learned, and gained from a different perspective and arming yourself with the information is crucial especially when it comes to your health!
~Be Well~
Erin
Source: The Health Sciences Institute, Dec. 2nd 2009 *This article was taken from an email subscription sent to me*
… And of course everyone knows that wheat is in everything, so to be quite honest, I’m waiting until after the holidays to eliminate that from my diet so I can still enjoy my moms turkey stuffing and goodies galore!! *blush*