Natural Smarts

History of Alternative Cancer Research

2012-08-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

Max Gerson http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/23/dr-nicholas-gonzalez-on-alternative-cancer-treatments.aspx
Dr. William Donald Kelley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Donald_Kelley
Dr. Gonzalez

Best Brachial Plexus diagram I have ever seen.

2012-08-28T09:47:00.001-07:00

High yield diagram for those of us currently learning the Brachial Plexus in medical school

'via Blog this'

How to get motivated to study

2012-05-29T19:37:00.001-07:00

Medical school is a marathon of information gathering, learning and purging. What do you do when you can't get motivated to study? Have you ever tried yoga or meditation? What do you do to motivate yourself to study day-in and day-out?

Case FOR Homeopathic Medicine: The Historical and Scientific Evidence

2012-05-19T12:31:00.001-07:00

Mark Twain once asserted in 1890, "You may honestly feel grateful that homeopathy survived the attempts of the allopathists to destroy it."

The Case FOR Homeopathic Medicine: The Historical and Scientific Evidence

Do Milk Allegies Cause Ear Infections? | LittleStomaks

2012-05-14T22:31:00.001-07:00

Do Milk Allegies Cause Ear Infections? | LittleStomaks:

'via Blog this'

What Herbs to Plant in the Spring Time

2012-03-23T16:22:00.002-07:00

The Spring Equinox has pasted, and Spring is here! Now is the time to plant, parsley, cilantro, chervil, dill and chives. Learn how here.

How much will your college education cost?

2011-08-05T23:37:00.000-07:00

Check out the College Affordability and Transparency Website for up-to-date nationwide cost of attendance.

Being a 19th Century Pharmacist

2011-07-19T17:29:00.000-07:00

Do you love medicine making, botanical medicine and pretty glass jars filled with colorful liquids? Then, you will enjoy this 2010 Documentary about a modern day Pharmacist trying his hand at making and prescribing common remedies from the 1800's. My jaw dropped to hear the bloody bandages were hung up to dry and reused in the 19th century! Did you know the word drug comes from the word for dried plant? Watch Victorian Pharmacy Online

Organize your Drawers

2011-07-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Want clean & organized drawers? Skip the trip to IKEA and make your own drawer dividers with this great article from Apartment Therapy Los Angeles.

PiggyMojo is the Fun Way to Save!

2011-06-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

PiggyMojo comes from the idea that every time you choose to not indulge in an unnecessary purchase, you are actually paying yourself/saving money. This app let's you track all the things you DON'T BUY, so you can see your efforts to save money. Install the PiggyMojo app on your smartphone, and let the money roll in.
http://www.piggymojo.com/

Improve Your Studying & Grades with Mind maps!

2011-06-12T15:31:00.001-07:00

I was tired of studying 10+ hours for each exam, and only to see test results in low 70s. To make things worse, I was terminally bored. I have always preferred to “do” something, rather than listen or read about it.

On my daily jog through Internet-landia, I started searching for better study methods. I stumbled upon Mind mapping (check out video below). I started mind mapping everything: to-do lists, meeting notes, career planning, idea brainstorming, and even songwriting. After 8 months of mind mapping, my grades have jumped into the mid 80s, and my personal and professional goals seem more tangible & on-track. Plus, it feels really good to see a 91% on a medical school neurology exam! For me, this is the only study methods that pays off. Mind mapping is a fun, fast and easy way to organize your life while improving your grades.

My 1st year Medical School Mind Maps:

Cancer & Malignancy – MindJet

Homeopathy Case Study – Inspiration 9

Cerebellum Physiology – MindJet

Downloadable Mind mapping software suitable for Students:

Inspiration 9 - Free 30 day trial. It runs around $70.

MindJet - Free 30 day trial. Purchase for around $300 – ask for the unadvertised student discount 50% off!

iMind Map - by Tony Buzan - the creator of Mind mapping. The basic program is free, and includes a 7-day trial of the Professional version (approx $300).

Try mind mapping for 30 days; let me know what your results! My favorite beginner’s video.

I would love to answer any questions, or hear comments about mind mapping or mind mapping software. Leave a comment below!

Healthy Summer Weight Loss Solutions

2011-06-04T00:51:00.000-07:00

Need to lose weight & get in shape for summer?

Perhaps you would like to join me in trying some tips & tricks from my new favorite Dietitians, The Nutrition Twins. These ladies dish out practical & science-based nutrition advice.

My undergraduate degree is in Dietetics, and I am very impressed with how scientific & blatant they are about the dangers of fad dieting. I am very excited to try some of their summer slim down recommendations. Here are some of my favorites:

Snacking on 30 pistachios. This is so smart, because pistachios take so much time to eat; keeping your stress-eating and calories low (100kcal/30pistachios), while keeping your protein & satisfaction high. According to the twin, you can lose 5 lbs in thirty days doing this.

Leaving the last 4 bites off two meals a day. This will reduce your average daily intake by 200 kcal (@ 25kcal per bite), which would equal -1lbs every three weeks or 20 lbs in ONE YEAR. How easy is that?

Hate exercising? The Nutrition Twins recommend 45 minutes of Hula Hooping a day. You will burn 300 kcal, which equals -1lbs every 2 weeks.

Financial Tips for Students --- Raising Your Credit Score

2011-05-13T18:05:00.001-07:00

1)Pay your bills on time. If you don’t have all your bill payment dates written into your planner, you more than likely are accruing late fees. The majority of credit cards change $25-$39 dollars per late bill. Miss one bill a month, and you have lost over $300! Here is a little trick I learned from WeekDate calendars. Instead of writing them in every month, create a small area to post reoccurring bill dates.

Day	Monthly Bill
3rd	Rent
14th	Cell Phone
15th	Student Loan Interest
19th	Internet
28th	Car Payment

If you have a bad memory, you could add month columns, and check bills of as you pay them.

Day

Bill

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

3rd

Rent

14th

Phone

15th

Internet

28th

Car Note

2) Close recently opened credit cards. One of the major factors that goes into calculating your credit score is how long you’ve had your accounts open. Old accounts increase your score, while new accounts (< 2 years) will generally lower it. It is a little known fact that department store cards can sometimes drag your score down, because the low credit limit usually increases your credit:debt ration (another big factor) Also, Dave Ramsey also suggests closing any cards that charge you an annual fee (saving you $60-120 a year).

3) Don’t let your bills go to collection. I once had a roommate that would just ignore the bills she couldn’t afford. Until one day, her paycheck was garnished. Here’s a little secret. If you call the company and inform them of your financial state, the majority of them will either:

a)put you on smaller payment and/or lower your interest rate
b) give you an time extension (I’ve gotten upwards of 2 months to pay bills – however having an emergency fund prevents all of this)
c) tell you about unadvertised offers which can save you hundreds. For the last two years, I have been paying $50 a month for unlimited talk & text with a major cell phone company. So, I have saved $240!!! All because I called to tell them I was broke (at the time). There are a couple tricks to learning about these “secret” deals; I plan on posting about that in the future.

Like my mother always says, “El que no chilla, mama,” which roughly translate into “He who doesn’t whine, sucks it." So, Organize your due dates! Close newer credit card accounts, especially department store cards! And make some phone calls! One or two hours of work today, could save you hundreds.

Anatomy Lab's Toxic Fumes

2011-05-08T13:55:00.001-07:00

I received this in an email today, and thought it would be good to post.

“These are recommendations from Dr. Frances, ND., which she highly recommends for any students in anatomy lab - with exposure to chemicals that are extremely taxing on the liver and immune system. Perhaps this info can be available to all 1st years in the future... just at an option for their health.

Ground milk thistle seeds: 1-3 Tbsp/day
Vitamin C 4-6g/day (On lab day: 1000mg pre-lab, 1000mg after lab)
B complex
Dandelion tincture
Sauna or cold wet sheet pack immediately after

YouTube–Sympathetic vs. parasympathetic NS

2011-05-03T01:01:00.001-07:00

Devil's Club - Oplopanax horridus

2011-04-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

NCNM Community Hour Lecture Notes (4/29/2011)

"Keeps the devils away." "Uproot darkness." "Cradles traumatized patients."

Historically, used for cleansing in preparing for ceremonies. Allows us to connect to people and to Nature. Useful for the transformation of masculine energy.

The Ugly Truth About Cosmestics

2011-04-28T23:28:00.000-07:00

Lead residues in 61% of Lipsticks!!!

Think what you put on your face is safe?

Test Your Knowledge of Cosmetics Safety: 8 Myths Debunked | Healthy Child Healthy World

Leave your reactions below.

Miasms

2011-04-26T13:49:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about miasms, and gathered some more information after class and from pondering.

Hahnemann was not attempting to categorize all the diseases into these categories. Since there was so little information back then, miasms were his attempt to analyze, categorize and describe the "modern cause" of prominent diseases of his day.

Miasms are microbes that infect us at one point or another. Not everyone that is infected exhibits the disharmony of the miasm. This, of course, is dependent on biological, environmental terrains, etc. In other words, just bc you have HPV does NOT mean you will need a sycosis remedy. Also, you may have healed from syphilis, but the "dance" may still inhabited your Vis.

Some practitioners have kept trying to categorize illnesses/people by making more and more miasms. This is not 100% productive since the word miasm has lost it's meaning. Miasm = microbe, not patient profile.

Using miasms in your practice, will ultimately depend on what school of thought you decided to subscribe to: Miasm = infectious dz or Miasm = dz characterics / description of a person.

Dr. Taylor no long uses the word. And by denying the word, do we not also deny it's meaning, in whole or in part? What does the word mean to you?

In summation, this is a theory, not concrete science. Not only is there no way to be sure which of the infected people will express the miasm's disharmony, but the word itself has undergone a dictionary facelift.

Replies are welcomed and encouraged :D Since this is just what my brain computed, and we are all toddlers at this science.

Carqueja - Healing Plants of the Amazon

2011-02-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

Also known as: Baccharis triptera, Baccharis trimera

Common Names: Carqueja, Bacanta, Cacalia Amara, Caclia Doce, Carqueja Amara, Carqueja Amarga, Cuchi-Cuchi, Quinsu-cucho, Tres-espigas, Bacanta, Bacárida, Cacaia-amarga, Cacália-amarga, Cacália-amargosa, Carqueja-do-mato, Carquejinha, Condamina, Quina-de-condamiana, Tiririca-de-babado, Vassoura

Parts Used: Aerial Parts

Family: Asteraceae

Geography: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay

Chemistry: Saponins, essential oils and resins

Properties/Actions: Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antacid, Antihepatotoxic, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antimutagen, Anti-ulcerogenic, Antiviral, Aperient, Anti-rheumatic, Bitter, Depurative, Digestive, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Gastrotonic, Hepatic, Hepatoprotective, Hepatotonic, Hypoglycemic, Laxative, Refrigerant, Stomachic, Tonic, Vermifuge.

Phytochemicals: Apigenin, Camferol, Carquejol, Clerodane derivatives, Diterpenoids, Essential Oils, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Hispidium, Hispidulin, Luteolin, Neptin, Quercetin, Resins, Saponins, Squalene

Traditional Dosaging: One-half cup whole herb decoction 2-3 times daily with meals or 3-4 ml of a 4:1 tincture twice daily. 1-2 grams of powdered whole herb in tablets or capsules twice daily with meals can be substituted if desired. Also note: Tea is brewed with two cups of the dried plant infused in a liter of water and one cup is drunk up to three times daily on an empty stomach.

Organoleptics

Color: Gold

Texture: Slippery, moisturizing, nourishing

Taste: Bitter

Body Impression: analgesic

Primary Indications:

Almost every book published in South America on herbal medicine includes Carqueja since it strengthens stomach and intestinal function:

dyspepsia

liver disease

gallstones

diarrhea

gastroenteritis

ulcers

intestinal worms

anemia

Other uses:

Female sterility

male Impotency

malaria

diabetes

sore throat

tonsilitis

angina

hydropsy

urinary inflammation

kidney disorders

leprosy

poor blood circulation

allergies

gout

References

http://ip.aaas.org/tekindex.nsf/2a9c4e44835b04ea85256a7200577a64/affda678d63437a685256af0006b4ad7/Body/M1?OpenElement

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf9711045

Night Before Quarter 2, Year 2 of Naturopathic Medical School - Winter 2011

2011-01-02T23:18:00.000-08:00

I had a great 2010. The astrological luck for most people was at an all time low, but the stars have been smiling on me.

This will be my 6th year in post-high school education, and over the last 23 years of school, I have found some great products and organization strategies to get through the years.

I am a big fan of the new Mead Five Star Flex Notebinder. It has a water resistant top, cloth binding (which makes it flexible enough to allow you to use it as a flat writing area anywhere you are. I also enjoy the plastic dividers that come in the binder. Unfortunately, you cannot buy these individually. You get 2 duo-tang style dividers, which have a built in a nifty note card holder, and 3 paper protector dividers.

This is how I set up my binder:

3-ring pencil case
Duo-tang folder for holding planner and important 'to-do' documents
A labeled divider for each class with approximately 10 sheets of paper per class
A second duo-tang folder to hold extra paper, and miscellaneous paper

This way you have everything you need to succeed in one place.

Toxic Thoughts

2010-11-21T17:28:00.000-08:00

An American shaman discusses 10 things you can do to heal toxic thoughts. Negative thoughts contribute to many dis-ease patterns. It has been shown time and again, in cancer studies, where the optimism of the patient positively correlates with the illness' outcome.

http://www.sandraingerman.com/healingtoxicthoughts.html

Think Yourself to Vitality!

Ayurvedic Turmeric Gargles

2010-11-11T21:48:00.000-08:00

1/2 tsp turmeric (anti-inflammatory)

1 tsp sea salt (anti-septic)

2 oz very warm water

Mix together and gargle.

Recipes passed down by Dr. Gaia Mather

Throat Hydrotherapy

2010-11-11T21:45:00.000-08:00

You will need:

3 scarfs or similar shaped towels

Hot water

Ice water

1. Soak one scarf in hot water, and another into cold water. Ring dry.

2. Wrap hot scarf around neck, and leave on for 5 minutes.
3. Remove hot scarf, and replace with cold scarf.
4. Wrap a (wool) scarf around the cold scarf.
5. Leave on for 20 min or sleep with it on overnight.

According to Dr. Gaia Mather, this method invigorate blood and lymph flow, bringing oxygen and nutrients to the area.

Hot Fomentation Video - Dr. Agatha Thrash's Way

2010-10-10T00:54:00.000-07:00

Don't get well. Stay Well!

2010-09-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

Did you know?

There are more bacteria and viruses in your body than there are cells!

We are all walking around being host to a plethora of fungi, bacteria and viruses, and new scientific research that these microorganism maybe morphing into each other. So, if we are full of dis-ease causing particles, why aren't we sick 24/7/365?

The answer is:

VITALITY

The power of enduring. Our ability to partake in Life. The force that allows us to experience life, food, emotions, dreams. Some might call it the Life Force, and nourishing it is one of the foundational pillars of naturopathic medicine.

Why do we get sick? - The naturopathic philosophy
We get sick when our vitality is low or stagnant. The following are the most common drainers of vitality:

Food & environmental allergies
Poor stress management
Lack of a nutritious diet
Negative emotional patterns
Build up of toxins

To a naturopathic physician, it is not about naming the pathogen or dis-ease. It is about identifying an individual's needs and goals, in order to co-creating a wellness lifestyle. It is about discovering leaks in your vitality, and how to best support your body's innate healing systems.

Too busy for self-care?

I knew I was getting sick practically a week before I woke up with a sore throat, cough and nasal congestion. Had I taken 30 minutes out of my day to make some tea and do a little hydrotherapy, I would have more than likely stayed healthy. Like most American's, I got "too busy" for self-care. Self-care is the most important thing you can do for yourself and your health. That last thing you have time for is getting sick. Instead, Stay Well.