Your Health In Mind

“Vaccines” – I’ll be discussing the current definition and give a history of uses.

I’ll be drawing some info from the evil WHO

https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination/a-brief-history-of-vaccination

Historically, the Chinese practiced a method called variolation to provide immunity against smallpox, which sometimes involved putting the disease material under the skin. Although the more common practice was nasal insufflation (inhaling powdered scabs), methods that introduced the live virus directly into the skin were also developed. 

Variolation methods

Variolation was a precursor to modern vaccination and used material from a person with smallpox to inoculate a healthy one, with the hope of causing a mild, rather than fatal, infection. 

Inoculation by injection or scratchingThis method involved taking material from a smallpox pustule and inserting it into a small cut or series of scratches on the arm or leg.The practice was known to be in use in Africa, India, and the Middle East before it spread to Europe and the Americas. The practice may have arrived in China through trade routes.While nasal insufflation was a distinctly Chinese practice, inoculation via the skin was a method also practiced in other regions and may have been incorporated into Chinese medical traditions. 

Nasal insufflationOne of the earliest and most widespread Chinese methods of variolation involved using a long silver pipe to blow powdered smallpox scabs into a person’s nostril.For added safety, the scabs were dried and stored for a period to weaken the virus before use, and material was often selected from patients who had experienced a mild case of the disease.The practice was described in Chinese medical texts as early as 1549, and it became more common during the Ming and Qing dynasties. 

The decline of variolation

Variolation was a historical inoculation method for smallpox that involved introducing material from a smallpox sore into a healthy person’s body to induce a mild infection and confer immunity. While riskier than the later vaccine and still carrying a fatality rate (1-2%), it was much safer than natural smallpox infection, which had a 30% mortality rate. Variolation, or “inoculation,” was a precursor to vaccination and was practiced in various forms in Asia before spreading to Europe and the Americas

How it worked

Risks and benefits

Historical context

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https://historyofvaccines.org/blog/meaning-vaccine-same-it-was-1796-regardless-online-conspiracy-theories

“Before the change, the definition for “vaccination” read, “the act of introducing a vaccine into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease.” Now, the word “immunity” has been switched to “protection.”

The term “vaccine” also got a makeover. The CDC’s definition changed from “a product that stimulates a person’s immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease” to the current “a preparation that is used to stimulate the body’s immune response against diseases.””

And, yes, the Merriam-Webster definition of vaccine has changed from what it had in 2013 to what is there now, in 2021. But the change was from “immunity” to “immune response.” Further reading of the definition of immunity defines it as what happens when an organism develops an immune response. It seems that the folks at Merriam-Webster did some editing:

Old vs. new definitions

“Promoting Good Sleep”

“Promoting Good Sleep”

More Bone Health. Good callers join in.

Bone Conditions  

Bone conditions are disorders that affect the structure, strength, and function of bones. They can range from mild to severe and may cause pain, fractures, and other complications.  

Common Bone Conditions:

TCM: Kidney ,

Osteoporosis: A condition in which bones become weak and brittle due to a loss of bone mass. It is the most common bone disease and is often associated with aging and hormonal changes.  

Osteoarthritis: A type of arthritis that affects the cartilage in the joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling.  

Osteogenesis imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease): A genetic disorder that causes bones to be weak and prone to fractures.  Paget’s Disease of Bone: A chronic condition that causes bones to become enlarged, deformed, and weak.  Bone Tumors: Cancers that develop in the bones.  Rickets: A childhood condition caused by vitamin D deficiency, which leads to soft and deformed bones.  

Fibrous Dysplasia: A condition in which abnormal bone tissue forms, causing bone deformities and fractures.  Causes of Bone Conditions:  Bone conditions can be caused by a variety of factors, including:  Genetics, Aging, Hormonal changes, Nutritional deficiencies, Medications, and Injuries.  Diagnosis and Treatment:  Bone conditions are typically diagnosed through physical exams, X-rays, and other imaging tests. Treatment depends on the specific condition and may include:  

Medications Surgery Physical therapy Lifestyle changes (e.g., weight loss, smoking cessation)  Prevention:  To prevent bone conditions, it is important to: Get regular exercise Maintain a healthy weight Eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D Avoid smoking Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about bone health.  Additional Information: Bone conditions can affect people of all ages, but they are more common in older adults. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis

Key components include: 

Naturopathic bone treatment focuses on a holistic approach, combining dietary changes, exercise, and supplements to support bone health and recovery. 

Dietary & Nutritional Support

Lifestyle & Exercise

Herbal and Other Natural Remedies

Important Considerations

Dr. Dean Lloyd joins Michael for the second hour, with several callers.

Michael takes first hour solo, with several callers.

Posture

Tools: Ma roller, neck pillow, massage chair, therapist, ergonomic chair and desk, Phone app https://www.uprightpose.com/lp/pbv2/

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=healthy+ergo+study+desk+and+chair&hvadid

1. Good posture is essential whether you are standing, sitting or lying down. Posture refers to the body’s alignment and positioning. Long-term “bad” posture—in which the spine and/or limbs are out of alignment—leads to problems with the muscles and bones, which are caused by stress from gravity. Eventually, you will develop pain, soreness and stiffness throughout your body that can affect your daily functioning.  “As a physical therapist, posture is usually the first thing I look at when I evaluate someone,” DiVincent says. “It’s almost impossible to treat any issue without at some point addressing the position that the person holds their body in all day. It’s really fundamental to a lot of different conditions and injuries.”  Any time you’re holding your body in a position that’s not optimized, you’re risking strain and injury.  

2. There are simple exercises you can do to correct your posture. “There are a few important exercises you can do that will make you more mindful of how your body is aligned,” DiVincent says.   The most common posture problem when sitting is called upper cross syndrome. In this arrangement, the head is bent in a forward position. The upper spine has a rounded shape, curving outward at the upper back and shoulders, and shoulders are hunched up toward the ears.  Posture check:  Sit with your feet flat on the floor. Tuck your chin and move your head back. Lower your shoulder blades and pinch them together on your back. When standing, lower cross syndrome can lead to pain in the lower back and legs. In this position, the lower back is arched and the pelvis is tilted forward. This position leads to weak abdominal (stomach) and gluteal (butt) muscles. The thigh, calf and hip muscles may become very tight.  Posture check:  Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Position your knees over your ankles and make sure they’re not locked. Hold your pelvis in neutral alignment. Move your head and shoulder blades back. When lying down, poor posture can also cause back pain and muscle strain.  Posture check:  If you’re a side sleeper, put a pillow between your knees and a thicker pillow under your head. If you’re a back sleeper, put a pillow under your knees. Use an average-size pillow and make sure it’s under your head, not your shoulders. Try to avoid sleeping on your stomach, which can strain your back and neck. It’s also important to use good posture when getting in and out of bed. Bend your knees, roll to your side, slide your legs off the edge of the bed and use your arms to push up to sitting.

3. For good posture, it’s vital to both strengthen and stretch your muscles. “Stretching and strengthening have vastly different purposes but are equally important,” DiVincent says.   Stretching is helpful for tissues that have gotten short or tight because they’ve been held in the same position for too long. Strengthening, on the other hand, involves regularly contracting the muscles, which helps to make them stronger.   “When you’re physically stronger, you’re able to hold more load,” she adds. “In this case, the load refers to the weight of your own body.”  Each of these forms of exercise can make the other one more effective: It’s difficult to strengthen your muscles if you don’t have the flexibility to do the exercises that are needed, but strengthening without stretching will lead to more tightness and pain.  

4. Stretching your muscles benefits your posture in many ways.  Tight muscles can lead to imbalance, in which some muscles are short and strong, and others are long and weak. It can cause pain not only in the muscles themselves but also in the joints and nerve tissues. Tight muscles increase the risk of strain injuries.  With stretching, it’s important to be able to differentiate between a little bit of pain that means you’re activating your muscles and pain that means you’re pushing them too far. “You need to make sure you’re not injuring yourself while stretching,” DiVincent says.  Guidelines for stretching:  Stabilize one end of the area that you’re stretching. For example, if you’re stretching your hamstring, keep your hip stable and just move your leg out; if you’re stretching your calf, keep your heel in one place and lean your body weight forward to feel the stretch. Relax the muscles as you stretch. Check your alignment. Hold each stretch for 15 to 30 seconds and repeat two to three times. Don’t forget to breathe! 

5. Strong muscles are key to maintaining good posture. Strengthening should be a part of your daily routine in order to maintain proper posture. Weak muscles put joints and other tissues at risk of injury and make it difficult to maintain proper posture. A number of things can cause muscle weakness including injury, immobility, neurological conditions, nerve entrapment and arthritis.   When you do exercises for strength, focus on key areas of your body, including your shoulders and upper back, core, hips and legs. Strengthening work should lead to muscle fatigue, but not pain.  “Mild muscle soreness is normal and appropriate after strengthening,” DiVincent says. “But it’s a good idea to give your muscles a rest day in between exercises.”  

6. One of the best things you can do to maintain good posture is to move often. “No posture is good for too long a period of time,” DiVincent says. “You may have the best ergonomic situation possible, but if you sit at your desk for 10 hours a day, you’re going to have pain.” She recommends that people check in on their posture every 15 minutes and get up to move around every half hour or so.

Astrid J. DiVincent, PT, DPT, OCS

https://medlineplus.gov/guidetogoodposture.html

https://callixe.com/pages/np5-pa

Posture is an often overlooked but important aspect of daily life. Good posture is a core part of a healthy body’s foundation. Meanwhile, poor posture can cause negative and uneven damage, leading to bigger issues down the road, says Christina Markar, DC, a chiropractor in Wayne, New Jersey. It can continue into back pain, neck pain, headaches, and body fatigue; it can also bring about alignment issues that cause our internal organs to function less efficiently—slowing digestion and other vital processes.1

Susilowati, IH, Kurniawidjaja, L M, Nugraha, S, Nasri, SM, Pujiriani, I, & Hasiholan, BP. The prevalence of bad posture and musculoskeletal symptoms originating from the use of gadgets as an impact of the work from home program of the university community. Heliyon, 2022;8(10):e11059. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e110

If you struggle with poor posture, posture correctors can assist you in learning to engage the correct muscles.

Posture is an often overlooked but important aspect of daily life. Good posture is a core part of a healthy body’s foundation. Meanwhile, poor posture can cause negative and uneven damage, leading to bigger issues down the road, says Christina Markar, DC, a chiropractor in Wayne, New Jersey. It can continue into back pain, neck pain, headaches, and body fatigue; it can also bring about alignment issues that cause our internal organs to function less efficiently—slowing digestion and other vital processes.1

Susilowati, IH, Kurniawidjaja, L M, Nugraha, S, Nasri, SM, Pujiriani, I, & Hasiholan, BP. The prevalence of bad posture and musculoskeletal symptoms originating from the use of gadgets as an impact of the work from home program of the university community. Heliyon, 2022;8(10):e11059. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11059

 If you struggle with poor posture, posture correctors can assist you in learning to engage the correct muscles.

Most posture correctors gently pull your shoulders back and align your spine properly. This helps train your muscles to maintain good posture even when not wearing the device. Many posture correctors also have adjustable straps that allow you to customize the level of support you need. We tested 22 posture correctors in The Verywell Testing Lab to evaluate their effectiveness, comfort, adjustability, and overall value. We also had a physical therapist from our Medical Expert Board review this information for accuracy related to support and fit concerns.

By Lindsay Modglin

A good posture corrector helps train your muscles to sit up straight by placing the right amount of pressure on your body, says Rishabh Nanavati, rheumatologist at ClinicSpots. He explains that it’s important to wear it for the right amount of time as wearing it too often or too long can cause harm, and too little won’t be effective. How long is that? Well, it depends on your device and your familiarity with the device itself. Gbolahan Okubadejo, MD, FAAOS, board-certified spinal and orthopedic surgeon at The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care, suggests starting with 15 to 20 minutes daily and adding more time, between 30 minutes and an hour daily, until your body adjusts to the proper positioning.

It’s possible to improve your posture, even if you’ve been slouching for years. However, retraining your muscles and spine will take time and effort. Wearing a posture corrector can help speed up the process by providing support and reminding your body to align properly.