protean muse
Friday, November 21, 2008
when I held a foreign land
sometimes I am in a foreign land.
the water lapping the shore
touches lips the same
it explores my system
like strangers with their eyes.
cliff faces fondle me when I perch
on jagged smooth sentiments
our exposure changing us both,
leaving one another
just as we were found.
there is a whole life in your face
just as there were traces of ancient breaths
during a coughing fit last year
when friends I hadn't met were far from
wearing a shroud of green moss
as I came to them with a chisel,
bleeding,
forgetting what I held in my hands.
the water lapping the shore
touches lips the same
it explores my system
like strangers with their eyes.
cliff faces fondle me when I perch
on jagged smooth sentiments
our exposure changing us both,
leaving one another
just as we were found.
there is a whole life in your face
just as there were traces of ancient breaths
during a coughing fit last year
when friends I hadn't met were far from
wearing a shroud of green moss
as I came to them with a chisel,
bleeding,
forgetting what I held in my hands.
Monday, November 10, 2008
21st Century Tang (Space Medicine China-Style)
This is exactly the kind of development needed in the field of space medicine: holistic remedies that strengthen human capacity to adapt to the rigors and stresses of space travel.
According to a recent article, China is already applying the wisdom of their ancient medicine to space flight. Chinese herbal formulas are being administered to increase recovery and stamina in their astronauts. The formula "Taikong Yangxin (space heart-nourishing) Capsule" is made of 10 different herbs. It apparently treats motion sickness and is proven to "improve cardiovascular conditions." And, in true TCM spirit, these fo
rmulas are apparently being tailored for each astronaut, since individuals have unique patterns or disharmonies of qi that a formula is adjusted for (whether modified in amounts according to the person's weight of each herb or their replacement based on their effectiveness). The "Space-Heart Nourishing" formula reportedly "helps taikonauts recover from stress and fatigue," as well as improve sleep and support recovery between missions. As a Chinese doctor and herbalist in training, I have no doubt of these herbs' capacity. I literally can't wait to get my hands on some. Remeber the orange drink Tang? I guess this a kind of 21st century, ancient Chinese wisdom's answer to our beloved surgary orange drink.Wait...Tang sounds Chinese already...did it really come out of NASA? Urban legend says yes, but it looks like it was invented before being used on the 1965 Gemini missions.
Li Yongzhi, director of the medical department at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, said: "The medicine will boost their physical conditions and improve their adaptability in an extreme environment." Even if this is the Chinese's answer to Tang, it probably doesn't have a refreshing orangey zip...
I hope NASA is taking notes!
[I lost the link to the original article, but I'll add it as soon as I find it again]
|Cross-posted on my Space Medicine blog|
Labels: astronomy, chinese medicine, herbology, space medicine, space travel
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Up Late with a Lion
I cannot avoid moving for my fear of being eaten
Not anymore
Nor should any of us
So I move
And I may eat my words
Or my words, be eaten
Not anymore
Nor should any of us
So I move
And I may eat my words
Or my words, be eaten
Labels: poetry
