PERSONAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICES
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Many of the scientific discoveries we have made so far have helped humankind live longer, healhier lives. Many of the things we take for granted today, such as vaccinations and hygiene practices, the existence of viruses and bacteria and how to perform surgeries, would not have been possible without advancements in science.
However, the scientific path is paved with terrible mistakes and injustices. To this day, many segments of the population are still ignored when it comes to health advancements.
One of the biggest segments of the population which is still not treated fairly is women. Studies involving women's health have been historically neglected; in fact, prior to 1993, women were rarely included in any trials.
The video below is by a senior high school student in the UK.
However, the scientific path is paved with terrible mistakes and injustices. To this day, many segments of the population are still ignored when it comes to health advancements.
One of the biggest segments of the population which is still not treated fairly is women. Studies involving women's health have been historically neglected; in fact, prior to 1993, women were rarely included in any trials.
The video below is by a senior high school student in the UK.
In science, women bodies have been historically considered "atypical" while man's bodies are "the norm", and this bias continues to this day, even though women make up almost half of the world's population. As science advances and society shifts, the hope is that things start becoming more even; however, just recently, the United States government passed an executive order banning funding to any studies that mentions words such as women, disability, bias, status, trauma, Black, Hispanic communities, LGBTQ, socioeconomic, ethnicity, systemic, and many others. This means that for the foreseeable future, labs and scientists are discouraged from doing any studies that include these words.
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Science is not only important, but also fallible and fragile. As scientists learn more, they correct their course, giving way for new technologies. At the same time, science is not immune to government decisions, and can be suppressed or manipulated. The situation currently happening South of the border should serve as a warning to us in how politics can affect not only the economy, education and the environment, but also our personal health.
First Peoples Medicine
First Nations medicine encompasses holistic practices that view health as a balance of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being, rather than just the absence of illness. Key elements include the use of natural medicines like tobacco, cedar, sage, and sweetgrass for spiritual and physical healing through rituals such as smudging, as well as traditional methods like herbal remedies, diet, sweat baths, and fasting. These practices are passed down through oral tradition and are an integral part of cultural identity, providing empowerment and support to communities facing health challenges.
These practices are not unique to Canada or the US; rather, each individual native population becomes enmeshed with their own land, understanding the cycles and the plants around them, and learning how to use them to stay healthy.
These practices are not unique to Canada or the US; rather, each individual native population becomes enmeshed with their own land, understanding the cycles and the plants around them, and learning how to use them to stay healthy.
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One of the biggest teachings in indigenous medicine here in Canada is represented by the medicine wheel.
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Notice the inclusion of the four sacred medicines: sage, cedar, tobacco and sweetgrass. The burning of the four sacred medicines is a sacred practice with specific uses.
While each has a distinct purpose, they are often burned in sequence; in a smudging ceremony, the general order is to burn sage first to cleanse, then sweetgrass to invite good energy, and sometimes cedar at the end for protection.
While each has a distinct purpose, they are often burned in sequence; in a smudging ceremony, the general order is to burn sage first to cleanse, then sweetgrass to invite good energy, and sometimes cedar at the end for protection.
Below, a summary of each sacred medicine's purpose as well as when to burn them.
Tobacco
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Sage
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Cedar
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Sweetgrass
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It is easy to dismiss traditional medicines as superstition, however a significant proportion of our modern medicine is directly derived from plants, inspired by traditional medicines or observations. 25% of prescription medications today come directly from plants, while many others are synthetic compounds based on natural product structures.
Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants continues to be a vital source for new drug discovery and development. It is important to be open and curious about traditional medicines, as due to their oral tradition, much of their knowledge may unfortunately disappear as indigenous cultures become assimilated into colonized ways of living.
Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants continues to be a vital source for new drug discovery and development. It is important to be open and curious about traditional medicines, as due to their oral tradition, much of their knowledge may unfortunately disappear as indigenous cultures become assimilated into colonized ways of living.
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Health System Safety
In most countries, the government oversees certain health programs, such as vaccinations, public hospitals, some medicines and treatments. In Canada, we have a comprehensive free health system, which is not without its issues. Due to the lack of doctors and nurses, many people do not have a family doctor, and it is not uncommon to wait several months or even years for procedures that are necessary and improve quality of life.
One of the things a government oversees is vaccinations.
While in Canada, vaccinations are not mandatory, parents are required to disclose their child's vaccination status.
Why do you think that is?
One of the things a government oversees is vaccinations.
While in Canada, vaccinations are not mandatory, parents are required to disclose their child's vaccination status.
Why do you think that is?
Vaccinations
Vaccination stands as one of the most impactful scientific interventions in human history. Over the past fifty years, global immunization efforts have saved an estimated 154 million lives across various diseases, with each life yielding on average 66 full years of health.
Vaccines also boosted survival probability in infancy. Nowadays, a vaccinated child is about 40% more likely to survive infancy than if no vaccines are given.
Beyond saving lives, vaccines significantly reduce hospitalizations and societal costs. Infectious diseases such as measles, smallpox, and polio, once major killers, are now rare (or even completely gone) in many parts of the world due to immunization campaigns.
Just like most things that involve humans, vaccinations are not immune to controversy.
Vaccines also boosted survival probability in infancy. Nowadays, a vaccinated child is about 40% more likely to survive infancy than if no vaccines are given.
Beyond saving lives, vaccines significantly reduce hospitalizations and societal costs. Infectious diseases such as measles, smallpox, and polio, once major killers, are now rare (or even completely gone) in many parts of the world due to immunization campaigns.
Just like most things that involve humans, vaccinations are not immune to controversy.
Vaccines are usually well-tested in a process that takes several years, and overall safe for use. They help prevent many diseases with terrible outcomes, and are usually researched with both animal and human trials.
One recent exception can be seen during the development of the COVID vaccine. Despite the speed in which it was created, the risks where accepted by the majority of the world population in the face of such a terrible and often lethal illness, with so many long-term effects.
Currently, more studies are being conducted on the COVID vaccines, and as more is found about it, the dangers of the mRNA vaccine are beginning to come to light.
One recent exception can be seen during the development of the COVID vaccine. Despite the speed in which it was created, the risks where accepted by the majority of the world population in the face of such a terrible and often lethal illness, with so many long-term effects.
Currently, more studies are being conducted on the COVID vaccines, and as more is found about it, the dangers of the mRNA vaccine are beginning to come to light.
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Drug Interactions
Just like you should not mix two chemicals without knowing the outcome, many drugs we take have a negative effect when mixed with certain foods or other drugs.
Antibiotics, for instance, should not be taken with milk, despite some people believing this makes it easier to digest. This is because the Calcium in the milk binds with the active ingredients of the antibiotic, making it harder for the medicine to reach the bloodstream. Basically you will be taking a much smaller dosage without knowing, which could cause some of the bacteria to survive and become resistant to the antibiotic, making it harder to kill.
Grapefruit also causes issues when mixed with several types of important, life-saving medicine. You should never drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit if you are taking cholesterol medicine, blood pressure medicines and even some cancer treatments.
Health supplements can also cause issues. Even if something says "natural" on it, it does not make it any less dangerous (refer back to grapefruit).
To find out if your medicine interacts negatively with your vitamins, supplements or food, just click on the interaction checker below.
Antibiotics, for instance, should not be taken with milk, despite some people believing this makes it easier to digest. This is because the Calcium in the milk binds with the active ingredients of the antibiotic, making it harder for the medicine to reach the bloodstream. Basically you will be taking a much smaller dosage without knowing, which could cause some of the bacteria to survive and become resistant to the antibiotic, making it harder to kill.
Grapefruit also causes issues when mixed with several types of important, life-saving medicine. You should never drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit if you are taking cholesterol medicine, blood pressure medicines and even some cancer treatments.
Health supplements can also cause issues. Even if something says "natural" on it, it does not make it any less dangerous (refer back to grapefruit).
To find out if your medicine interacts negatively with your vitamins, supplements or food, just click on the interaction checker below.
