Blog assignments for this week:
- I know I’m a “living system” because…….
- Biophysics and Oriental Medicine
Check out the following links:
http://www.crystalinks.com/kirlian.html
Aura Photography
http://members.tripod.com/RandyHiatt/Kirlianpage.html
Kirlian Photography
http://www.experiencefestival.com/kirlian_photography
A Wisdom Archive on Kirlian Photography
And here is the link to Sondra Barrett's website - inner space gallery
http://www.mysticmolecules.com/
Week Ten Assignment for Biophysics
ReplyDeleteI know I’m a “Living System” because ……
By: Keith R. La Bryer
I know I’m a living system only by my personal belief that I’m living, and awareness in my own perceived reality. The question could be asked is are any of us really living or here, or is our existence all an illusion or dream. I only know that I perceive my existence, and because I think, have sensations and senses, I am a sentient being, and feel I have a purpose or destiny in my life that I believe I am a living system.
Jennifer Hennings
ReplyDeleteBiophysics
Week 10. 2010
I know that I am a living system because…
I am made up of a chain of carbon atoms and organic molecules that move throughout time and space with awareness. I know that this statement is not complete; since, trees, plants, bacteria, viruses, insects, etc. would not fit under this definition of a living system, even though we know they are clearly alive. Therefore, the only way to define a living system is by being Animistic.
Biophysics and Oriental Medicine
At first glance, Biophysics and Oriental Medicine are two terms that are hard for the brain to comprehend as having a relationship. This is because we often think of Biophysics as DNA, molecules, atoms, and the like. While, Oriental Medicine is thought of as an ancient healing art that was designed before microscopes were even developed. What we fail to notice is that they are both very similar as the two both seek to find a pattern. In Oriental Medicine you look for a “pattern of disharmony”[i]. “Biophysics looks for the principles that describe the pattern.”[ii]
[i] Woodley, Steve. "Class Lecture" Foundations of TCM 1. ACCHS, Oakland, CA. 14 Sept 2010.
[ii] "What Is Biophysics?" Biophysical Society. Web. 16 Nov. 2010.
Bio-physics – Week 10
ReplyDeleteChris Andersen
Blog assignment: “I know I’m a ‘living system’ because…”
Assuming that one is either a living system or not a living system, and that these are the only two possibilities, is perhaps an oversimplification (or an over-complication) of the matter. In Chinese medicine there is the notion of a Yin-Yang polarity, in which nothing can exist without its yin-yang “opposite.” In this case, no such thing as a “living system” can exist without something defined by its very existence as a non-living system. Therefore, the notions of living system vs. non-living system co-create one another, like everything else in our universe.
I know myself to be this very process of co-creation of yin and yang pairs Itself. Such parameters placed, even those such as living system vs. non-living system are, inevitably, transient.
Specifically, in this case, the “living system” of a human being draws upon the supposed non-living entities of air (we breathe), water (we drink), and earth (we eat). Is the food we eat living? What about the water we drink, or the fire we cook with (and thereby ingest)? In the end it is arbitrary where one draws the line, as so-called living systems mix and mingle into and out of so-called non-living systems constantly. It does not matter where one draws the line because the line is constantly being traversed no mater where you place it.
To answer the question, however, I suppose I would simply say that I know myself to be the interplay of so-called living and non-living systems (yang and yin) Itself (Dao), and not any particular aspect of that interplay. Any delineated non-living system is apt to become a living system at any point, and vice versa, as sunshine “becomes” plant energy and that energy becomes human flesh and bones. It is impossible to say where one ends and the other begins. No such clear-cut line exists.
Biophysics and Chinese Medicine:
It is difficult to say what these two may have in common at this point. But perhaps we should bare in mind when approaching this subject that Chinese Medicine is at least two thousand years old, dating back at least to Han China, around 200 BCE, or probably much older. It has undergone extensive, exhaustive scientific trials, and has survived the ages because it works. Biophysics, on the other hand, is infantile by comparison. Whatever modern discoveries at the micro- and macro-cosmic outer-edges of our world (and our medicine) brought about by the study of biophysics have not gone through nearly the rigger of that of Chinese Medicine. But perhaps in time these two can in some way inform one another. I'm not sure yet.
From Luchun Pang
ReplyDeleteI am a “living system”
I know I am a “living system” because I am a human being. A human being is a very complex individaul in the society. Our communities are made up of human beings. Human being is made up not only complex cells and tissues and organs but also high level mind and body functions. I think “living system” means individual human being and our communities. Now, my question is that what is the different between human being and other animals and plants and properties. Another question is that why human being is a “living system”. I think I will discuss these two questions from human body and human mind.
First, let me talk about human body. A human body needs water, air, sunlight, food, and other things to keep 11 body systems doing work. Human body are made up of the most complex cells, tissues, organs, and other body structures. A human body breathes oxygen and expirates carbondioxide. Human body has warm blood. There are male and female to produce next generation. The brain of a human being is complex than others. Therefore, I can say that a human being is different from properties and plants and other animals.
Then, let me talk about human mind and human consciousness. Human brain is a mystery in human body because it gives human being signals to do activities and make human being to think in certain ways. Some courses such as phsychology, physiology, and philosophy, physics, etc are talking about human mind and human consciousness. I think energy flow and energy transfer is one of parts to effect and show human mind and human consciousness.
Biophysics and Oriental Medicine
For my understanding, biophysics talks about using physics theory to explain and describe how biological system works. For example, how does energy flow and energy transfer influence our bodies. After reading some articles about high voltage electrical photography, I feel it is interesting because it is really clearly to see inside of body structures. I think the reason for that is the energy transfering within our bodies. It reminds me that it is really helpful for us to study in some areas such as X-RAY.
For my understanding, Oriental means eastern countries such as China, Japan, etc. Oriental medicine is about how oriental food nutrients, oriental herbology, oriental massage, acupuncture works within our bodies. Connecting to biophysics, I think biophysics is to explain how oriental medicine works within our bodies, and energy flow and energy transfer shows how oriental medicine effect our bodies. For example, through X-Ray or photography, we can explain and explore if the oriental herbology or acupuncture really benefit our body systems.
From Diana Graue
ReplyDeleteI am a “living system”
I know I am a “living system” because...well, actually I don't. As curious humans we have come up with countless ways to try to prove our existence and our relevance. It's nice to think that we "are" here. I'm not really proposing an alternative, but rather suggesting we might be making this all up; however, it is still a great discussion. The closest we seem to get to proving anything is actually through qi. All movement, transformation, heat and interaction is due to qi. These are things we can experience through our senses, which give us the idea that the world is real. Qi is in everything, not just what modern science defines as 'living,' but literally rocks, water, tables, ice cream, scissors, jewelry, cars, and dryer lint have qi as well as do things that eat and breathe and reproduce. So, I suppose, if we are saying there is a world, then everything is living, in that sense. I can see how this is impractical for some purposes, so yes, according to modern science, I meet the criteria to be considered a 'living system' and continue to follow these rules, at least for now.
Biophysics and O.M.
One thing we seem to be able to agree on as humans is that life is dynamic. It takes a great deal of effort to stop it, as even death is dynamic, decomposition is dynamic, and redistribution of 'matter and energy' allows this to continue indefinitely. Biophysics and Oriental Medicine both see systems, subsystems of those systems, and the interactions of those subsystems as a description of life, human and otherwise. This idea, among other things, makes medicine possible.
From Graham Quigley
ReplyDeleteHere's my assignment:
I know I'm a living system because I'm surrounded by living beings like me. This gives me perspective. I live in three dimensions, there is time. I need water, there is carbon in me, and I need the protective atmosphere to survive.
Without biophysics, Oriental Medicine would not be what it is.. We need the framework of biology to understand how healing happens in the body and the elements of physics to understand the physical interactions of healing in the body. The actions of an acupuncture needle, or the understanding of how herbs interact with our living system.
Thanks,
Graham
Carmen Pomares
ReplyDeleteBioPhysics
11/16/2010
I know I am a living system because I consume energy and expend energy. I have also
reproduced two living systems, my two beautiful daughters. After thinking about this question I realized that giving life to another human being is the most real experience I have ever had.
Giving life has made me feel very much alive.
BioPhysics and Oriental Medicine
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that study Biology using the methods of physics. Biophysics has greatly contributed to Western medicine such as the MRI, CAT scans, PET scans, and sonograms.
Oriental Medicine is a holistic study of healing the human body that uses other living organisms such as plants, various creatures, food, objects that move energy, exercise, and climate to help heal various diseases.
I can see the connection in which biophysics designs tools that create energy that are designed to help heal the human body and in relation, Chinese medicine uses the energy of plants (herbs), objects (needles), exercise (Tai Ji), and weather (seasons) to heal diseases as well.
They both use energy. The two sciences also have their differences such as Biophysics has created many machines to help heal the human body and with the machines has manipulated the body to recognize someone else’s organ as their own. In Chinese Medicine, it does not remove organs nor replace them, it nourishes the organs instead. From reading about Biophysics and its mass contributions to western medicine I feel many of it attributions do not empower the patient in helping themselves prevent disease nor help the patients become in charge of taking care of their own health. I feel it makes humans less powerful such as having to rely on machines in order to heal their disease. In contrast to Biophysics, Chinese Medicine requires the patient has to do their own foot work to become healthier and combat disease such as cooking herbs, following a special diet, and integrating healthy exercise.
These methods seem very empowering, it is also preventive medicine, and it also helps you stay connected to nature which in turn has helped heal many people.
Biophysics Assignment - Week 10 (Fall 2010)
ReplyDeleteKathy Christensen
I know I'm a "living system" because...
I am undergoing constant change and rebirth as a collection of matter and energies in inter-related systems. Furthermore, I remain a living system only for as long as this constant change and rebirth continues. For certainly if there is such a thing as a living system this implies that there are states in which systems are no longer living and the key concept to define what is no longer living would be something that no longer renews itself and instead enters a cycle of decay or disintegration (in which case the physical matter may become essential components within other living systems). In this sense, I believe that the article on "Autopoietic Organization" in last week's lecture cut to the most essential criteria by stating that "living beings are seen as systems that produce themselves in a ceaseless way."
In this way, I as an individual human being am a constantly self-renewing collection of cells and materials that are able to do so because of the ceaseless activity of the inter-related systems that make up my physical body. At the same time, I am also a component in other living systems some of which are components within me. For example, as one individual human beings amongst billions of human beings I am one form of self-replicating component within the living system that is the earth (or Gaia), while to the bacteria that live within my physical body I am a universe or world within which they live and have access to the means by which they keep reproducing themselves.
However, how do I know this or anything else for that matter? How do the various inter-related systems that make up me come together to produce thought (and the ability to analyze questions such as these) within me and other human beings? For me, this is the more difficult question. And in order to answer it I am left to my personal belief systems, my memories, my sensations as a physical being, and the monkey mind within that keeps chattering away...all of which give me an awareness of myself as an individual living system.
Biophysics and Oriental Medicine
My understanding of Biophysics is that it uses the theories and tools of physics to analyze the inter-related molecules, systems and forces that make up biological systems. In other words, it seeks to study the various parts of living beings/systems as well as the entire living being/system in order to make models that explain (or at least apply to) the functioning of those beings/systems at the levels of the various parts as well as of the entire system.
Asian Medicine (I prefer not to use the word Oriental which still carries with it remnants of its pejorative usage) is similar in that its focus is on the inter-related substances and systems within living beings (primarily those known as humans) that allow them to function at optimal capacity...in other words, in balanced health.
Hence, in my mind, the common tie between biophysics and Asian Medicine is the fact that both seek to explain whole and inter-related systems which stands in vivid contrast to the reductionist path taken by allopathic medicine.
Whether or not biophysical theories and tools can be successfully (and holistically rather than reductionist-ically) applied to Asian Medicine and vice-versa is no doubt being currently examined and tested but is well beyond the scope of my studies of biophysics so far. However, what immediately comes to mind is the Pointer Plus -- a device which measures the electrical resistance of the skin and which at least in "tests" on myself and my clients appears to find areas of lowered resistance that map extremely well to the location of Chinese Medicine acupoints. In this sense, the ideas of physics on electrical resistance and the instruments devised to measure it appear to provide at least one method by which Chinese Medicine acupoints may be further evaluated by biophysical theories.