Final Blog

1. I chose to do my project on the Vitamin B Complex because I did not know a lot about it. I am going to be researching more on vitamin, I just did not have enough time to do all of them for my project. I think as a practitioner of TCM it is important for me to be informed about all the different vitamins. I hope that my project can help inform the class as well. I have put it below.

Vitamin B1 Thiamine Functions

-       works with other B Vitamins to convert protein, carbohydrates and fat into energy. Especially helps with the conversion of carbohydrates

-       helps with the conduction of nerve impulse and muscle contraction (ATP)

-       Important for functioning of the heart muscles and nervous system

Vitamin B1 Deficiency Causes

-       also called beriberi

-       can occur from: crash dieting, alcohol abuse, liver disfunction, kidney dialysis, and sustained periods of IV nutrients. Also at risk are those who consume a lot of sweets, soft drinks, and highly processed foods

-       alcohol abuse is most common cause. Decreases Vitamin B1 absorption by the body

Vitamin B1 Deficiency Symptoms

-       loss of appetite, poor digestion, chronic constipation, loss of weight, mental depression, nervous exhaustion, and insomnia.

-       It can lead to muscular weakness, leg cramps, slow heartbeat, irritability, defective hydrochloric acid production in the stomach and consequent digestive disorders.

-       Insufficient supply of thiamine in the body, the heart muscles can become lazy and fatigued, and the auricles or the upper chambers of the heart lose their strength and gradually enlarge. 

-       There are two major manifestations of thiamine deficiency: cardiovascular disease called wet beriberi and nervous system disease called "dry beriberi". Both types are most often caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

Vitamin B1 Food Sources

-       brewer’s or nutritional yeast, brown rice, egg yolks, fish, legumes, liver, nuts, peas, poultry, rice bran, dulse, kelp, spirulina, wheat germ and whole grains.

Vitamin B2 Riboflavin

-       aids the  conversion of carbohydrates and production of energy

-       Important for the bodies growth and RBC formation

-       Vitamin B2 is needed to convert vitamin B6 and B9 into active forms

Vitamin B2 Deficiency Causes

-       most often caused by not consuming enough of it

-       other causes: chronic liver disease, chronic alcoholics and those who receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with inadequate riboflavin

Vitamin B2 Deficiency Symptoms

-       Deficiency of riboflavin is primarily manifested in the skin and mucous membranes.

-       Characteristic symptoms of riboflavin deficiency include lesions of the skin, especially in the corners of the mouth, a red sore tongue and sore throat.

-       Worsening symptoms include a swollen tongue, seborrheic dermatitis, anemia and impaired nerve function.

Vitamin 2 Food Sources

-       The richest sources of riboflavin include organ meats such as liver, kidney and heart, milk, yeast, cheese, oily fish, eggs and dark green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin B3 Niacin

-       helps convert food to fuel like the other B Vitamins

-       Helps to keep your skin, hair, eyes and liver healthy

-       Necessary to keep your nervous system functioning properly.

-       Helps the body make sex and stress-related hormones from in the adrenal glands

-       Has shown evidence to help raise HDL and lower your LDL

Niacin Deficiency

-       rare in developed countries because niacin is in many foods

-       leading causing is alcoholism, causing problems with absorption of niacin

Niacin Deficiency Symptoms

-       Mild symptoms

o   Indigestion, fatigue, canker sores, vomiting, depression

-       Severe symptoms

o   Pellagra. Some symptoms of pellagra are dermatitis, alopecia, sensitivity to sunlight, scaley pigmented rash diarrhea, weakness, insomnia, vomiting and depression

o   If not treated pellagra can cause death

Niacin Rich Foods

- beats, yeast, beef, liver, kidney, fish, sunflower seeds, peanuts

Vitamin B5 Panthogenic Acid Functions

-       plays a role in the metabolism of fats, proteins and carbs

-       critical in the manufacturing of RBC’s and sex-related hormones

-       helps maintain a healthy digestive tract

-       helps the body use other vitamins

Panthogenic Acid Deficiency Causes

-       extremely rare to have this deficiency

-       cause would be extreme starvation

Patheogenic Acid Deficiency Symptoms

-       insomnia, depression, fatigue, irritability, stomach pain, vomiting, burning feet and upper respiratory infections

Pantheogenic Rich Foods

-       traces can be found in most foods

-       rich foods are fish, yeast, whole grains, lean meats, legumes, broccoli and eggs

Vitamins B6 Pridoxine Functions

-       helps breakdown protein

-       helps produce hemoglobin, which helps with RBC function

-       make antibodies, so helps with immune system function

-       helps maintain normal nerve function

-       helps body form certain neurotransmitter, important for brain function

-       keep blood sugar in normal range 

Pridoxine Deficiency Causes

-       not common, most food contain B6

-       can lead to anemia

-       interactions with medication causing absorption difficulties

-       alcohol abuse

-       chronic diarrhea

Deficiency symptoms

- confusion, depression, irritability, weakness, diarrhea, walking problems, inflammation of the stomach, inflammation of skin mouth and tongue sores

Prioxine Rich Foods

- banana, avocado, meat, nutsm whole grains, legumes

Vitamin B7 Biotin Functions

-       forms and strengthens new nail and hair cells

-       produces fatty acids

-       helps maintain healthy blood sugar level

Biotin Deficiency Causes

-       rare because the body produces Biotin itself in the intestinal lining and it is in many foods

-       eating raw eggs whites over a period of months to years can cause this

-       problems inhibiting the intestines in making Biotin can cause this deficiency

-       seizure medications

-       pregnancy

-       liver diseases can increase requirement for biotin

Biotin Deficiency Symptoms

-       rashes, fine hair, hair loss, anemia, dermatitis, fungal infections, depression, lethargy, hallucinations 

Biotin Rich Foods

- yeast, nuts, grains, eggs, fish, meat, most vegetables and fruit

Vitamin B9 Folic Acid Functions

-       helps form DNA and RNA

-       crucial for brain function

-       synthesizes the amino acid methionine which is important for many biological reactions

-       important when cells and tissues are growing rapidly

-       works with Vitamin B12 to help make RBC’s and help iron fuction properly in the body

-       works with Vitamins B6 and B12 to control the levels of the amino acid homocystiene. High levels of homocysteine are correlated with heart disease

Folic Acid Deficiency Causes

-       fairly common to have low levels

-       alcoholism, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease and certain medications

Folic Acid Deficiency Symptoms

-       poor growth, tongue inflammation, gingivitis, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, diarrhea, irritability, forgetfulness, and mental sluggishness.

Folic Acid Rich Foods

-       leafy greens, asparagus, broccoli, citrus foods, beans, peas, lentils, avocado, okra, brussel sprouts, seeds and nuts

Vitamin B12 Functions Cyanocobalamin

-       helps with bodies metabolism

-       helps with formation of RBC

-       helps with maintenance of the CNS

o   helps with the production of the myelin sheath,

o   helps nerve signals travel

-       helps produce neurotransmitters

-       synthesizes DNA

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Causes

-       not eating enough meats

-       Inadequate stomach acid- stomach acid liberates B12 from food

-       Lack of intrinsic factor- secreted by stomach cells and binds B12 and enables it absorption

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

-       memory loss, disorientation, hallucinations, and tingling in the arms and legs.

-       Some people diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are actually suffering from the more reversible vitamin B12 deficiency. 

Vaccinations

1. I think that parents should be active in their children's vaccines. I do not think that every vaccine is necessary but some like the measles vaccine is very important. Not getting the vaccine puts your child at risk and all the other children since the vaccine only protects you 95% of the time. I think vaccines like the flu vaccine are not as important and sometimes not even successful. But these one for serious disease should be taken seriously

2. I would agree with making some vaccines compulsory but not all vaccines. Like I was stating above I think all the vaccine for serious very contagious diseases should be mandatory. It puts people at risk and yourself at risk by not getting them. It also puts little children at risk who are not old enough to get vaccinated. We have done a very good job at eradicating some very deadly diseases in the US. Lets try to keep it that way

Restoring the American Bison to it Rightful Range

1. I think it should be a priority to reintroduce the American bison. They are a very important and strong animal to our ecosystem and without them there will be changes. The bison is also a very important spiritually symbol to the Native Americans.

2. No I do not think we are doing enough! Although I do see some great efforts being made from some in producing more trains for human transportation. This is a hard topic as well. I drive and I have places I need to be and I have to drive to get there. I do take bart a couple times a week but that does not help the problem too much. Again I think this takes individual responsibility and efforts. This does correlate with eight point ecosystem in decreasing population. If population decreases less CO2 would be emitted into the atmosphere.

Ecosystem and Deep Ecosystem

1. Reading the "Eight Point Deep Ecology Platform" I found it a little hard to understand. But what I basically got out of it is that humans are not treating the ecosystem and its creatures well because we are becoming to many and not taking good care of it. They believe we need to decrease our population and change our ideological values. It is hard for me to agree with decreasing population because I believe in free choice and people should be able to produce as many kids as they like. But I like the ideological side of it. But if we do keep producing this will be problem will continue. These kind of problems are hard to have opinions on. I just try as a my own person to take care of the earth and it creatures the best I can and set that example. Although I am not perfect at it.

2. The ecosystem is both strong and fragile. It is enormous and diverse in its creatures and environment. It is made up of living and non-living components. The ecosystem is strong and depends on the interactions between the organisms and the environment. With these interactions it will continue to flourish. It is fragile in the sense of human interfering with it. For example, like us going to forests and cutting down massive amounts of trees. The ecosystem will react and start growing back but it will take a very long time. The ecosystem can take care of itself when we do not interfere but it is really at the mercy of humans.

Week 9

How do I feel about the Western approach to HIV/AIDS?

Learning about the PrEP drug, I thought it was a very typical Western approach. Although I do see some definite reasons why it should be available. I know the people working on these drugs do have good intentions. I think that HIV/AIDS is a big area of research in the US and we are always trying to create new drugs and treatments. This type of disease is going to need drugs and treatment. So I do not mind the Western approach as much here. And I see some positive reason why having a preventative drug could do some good. I just get worried about the side effects of this drug and other consequences that can occur if unprotected sex is being more widely participated in.


Can TCM strengthen your immune system?

Yes TCM can help strengthen you immune system. One of the focuses of TCM is to strengthen your organs, if your organs are being strengthened your immune system will be strengthened as well. Although TCM can help it cannot cure HIV/AIDS. Like with cancer, TCM is great to use in conjunction. TCM is very good to help with the side effects of the drugs people will be taking for the disease. Also being diagnosed with this disease can cause a lot of emotional problems and TCM is very good at treating emotional problems like anxiety and depression.

Week 8

Loafing

I did some loafing on Wednesday. I woke up at 5:00 to be in SF at 7:00 in the morning for my weekly acupuncture treatment. This was a little strenuous and harder to do since I knew I did not have class to follow. But after that I went home and took a 3 hour nap. I have been having trouble sleeping because of the stress of school. But after my treatments I sleep like a baby. So it was very nice and relaxing to get to go home and sleep. Then I woke up and worked out and did homework.

Week 7

How sophisticated is our understanding of cancer?

I think we have a somewhat sophisticated understanding of cancer. But for the amount of money we spend on cancer research I think we should be much farther ahead of other countries then we are. Cancer is a tough disease that is always evolving. I do not know if it will be possible to ever have a cure for it but I do hope that our research gets better. I hope that we can start using our money more wisely in research. My biggest hope though is that equal cancer treatment can be available to everyone in the US. Although I know that is a big stretch


How does TCM approach cancer different?

TCM has a much less invasive approach against cancer. We do not perform surgery, use radiation and pump people full of drugs. Our approach is more of one of balancing the body, trying to dispel the tumors/masses, fight the cancer cells and strengthen the body. We can do this through acupuncture and herbs. I know people that only treat people for cancer through acupuncture and I know people that use herbs and acupuncture. I do like this approach better. Although if the cancer is in a very severe stage a removal of a tumor might be necessary combined with some chemo or radiation. But no matter what I think TCM medicine should be used. Using TCM alongside a Western cancer treatment I think should always be down. TCM is very good at strengthening the body, when a cancer patient can be very weak. I helps move qi and blood to help the healing process. I could go on forever about this. I have a big hope that western doctors start implementing TCM medicine for cancer treatment