A Discussion of how Holistic therapies such as acupuncture, believed to

enhance physiological homeostasis, is of value to a space faring population .

By Amanda Shayle MAcS MPCHM Cert Nat Sci

Our Cellular Network

• Some key concepts• 1. Input• 2. Intercellular communication• 3. Information processing and interpretation– Cells behaving badly

Implications, Theories and Evidence

• Achieving homeostasis• PH • Importance of diet• Minerals – example of affects of adrenaline and

other neurotransmitters• Preserving life

• Strategies using TCM concepts and reasons behind these…….

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I. Nerve Conduction

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Brain Activation Cascade• Pons/Medulla • Mid-brain • Frontal lobe (somato-sensory cortex)

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Bruce Lipton – The Biology of Belief

Caveman and Sabretooth Tiger

• A state of protection or growth?

SIGNALLING CASCADE

Ligand arrives

2nd MessengerActivation

Gene Transcription

Under attack!

The relationship of Homeostasis to ageing and healing

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Epigenetics in Context

• Cell ageing• Cell plasticity – including brain tissue – and its

effects on gene expression• Bone Density• Fertility • Evolutionary potential

pelvis sizestress

FOOD IS MEDICINE

• Traditional Chinese Medicine diet • Food has specific qualities affecting health• Postively Negatively• Herbal medicine as vegetable soup

Mediating Factors

Our Body under threatRoutes of Exposure

• Ingestion• Inhalation• Skin Absorption

Our Body under threat

• Duration of exposure• Mechanisms of Toxicity• Chemical Interactions– Functional– Chemical– Dispositional– Receptor-mediated

Good information v Bad information

• Trojan horse concept• Endocrine disrupting exogenous factors• The chemical mix

– Phthalates– pesticides

Dose Response

EnvironmentalConcentration

Exposure:I nhalationSkin Absorption, ingestion

Exposure DoseAbsorption, excretion,Distribution

Internal DoseTarget organ

or tissue

Factors affecting mid to long term exposure in Space

• Cosmic Radiation• Gravity• Nutritional deficiency• Effects of chronic medication• Endocrine disrupting factors

Gil Hedley Anatomist & Somanaut

Somanaut: Like the astronaut who navigates outer space, the somanaut is dedicated to exploring the inner space of human form.

Gil Hedley

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Connective Tissue and Fascia

• Traditional anatomy has tended to dissect out the fascia

• We see muscles, organs, nerves, vessels but not the tissue that binds it together

• Adipose tissue, fluffy and loosely connected – an endocrine organ

• Protective layer connected to skin• Tensegrity – structure of cells held under tension

and its affect on function and shape

Still Hung up on Muscles?

Fascia

• Concept of an Onion Tree

• Models are functional simplification• Our relationship with skin• Levels of fascia• Acupuncture and its effect on fascia

Qualities of fascia and its relevance to Cosmetic Acupuncture

• Skin is:• Sensual/perceptive• Colourful• Always changing• Self healing• Flexible• In service to the whole• A construct

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Maintaining movement within the body – an issue in space

FASCIA AS A CONDUCTIVE MEDIUMAcupuncture as an electrical inducer and modulator of the signalling cascadealso

TouchHeatPressureSound/Vibration/WaveLightLigands

III. The Meridian Theory

• Ordered water as a liquid continuum allowing for coherent signal transmission in the body.

• Brain consciousness via nervous system and body consciousness via a liquid crystalline structure of water molecules on collagen fibre.

• First postulated by physicist Dr May Wan Ho (Open University) et al in 1998.

Water Molecules

• H2O

Water in the Organism

• Body = mostly water and collagen• Water + collagen = an ideal medium for

intercommunication between the approx. 70-100 trillion cells in the adult body.

Water arranges itself in an ‘ordered fashion along-side collagen fibre.

Meridians = pathways of highly ordered water promoting proton-jump conduction.

Proton-Jump Conduction

• Protons jump along the liquid crystalline continuum

• Much faster than nerve conduction• Much faster than electrical conduction• Amplifies tiniest electrical signal to illicit major

physiological responses• Enables immediate signal transduction to

distal parts of the body

Quantum Coherence• Water molecules vibrate coherently.• In their coherence they amplify signals rather than

swamping them out.

Chi = positive electric current carried by proton-jump conduction along hydrogen bonds of highly ordered water.

Conclusion

‘Meridian Transduction’ the science of quantum coherent signal transduction in organisms characterized by the presence of liquid crystalline meridian pathways.

Kirsten Dhar

TCM – an opportunityAcupuncture v Western medicine

• Acupuncture • Microsystems Acupuncture

• Herbal Medicine• Tai Chi an Qi Gong

Chronic v AcuteProphylactic v responseCore knowledgeSafetyCost effective

Needles? But not as we know it…

A wide range of options exist for space explorers

Options include laser and electro stimulation

An example protocol to create homeostasis

Tonify yin points:Kid 3Sp 6Sp 9Sp 10Also Kid 27 and Lu 1 if requiredReduce/Sedate Yang pointsBL 60GB 39GB 34

Balance/Sedate/Tonify St 36 for constitution

Also St 44 (and St 40 for damp heatIf required use Du 20 to clear off excessUse LI 4 energy to face, pain relief

The Microsystem

Evidence Base

• Established clinically for use in nausea• Used widely in prisons• NICE guidelines for back pain• German study for osteoarthrosis of the knee• VAS Research (Vascular Autonomic Signal -

Nogier)

Research

• International studies but issues with pharmaceutical model – a complex intervention

• Bias and barriers from the medical community

Simple steps……nausea study in zero gravitynovel approach to treatment