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Bastyr News

Issue # 34

February 2009

Bastyr E-News

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Welcome to Bastyr News!

As I reviewed this issue of Bastyr News, I was struck both by how far complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has come since Bastyr opened in 1978 and by the bright prospects for CAM's continued integration into the American health care system. More people than ever are using CAM, and research has begun to catch up to what CAM practitioners have known for decades: effective health care must address the physical, mental and emotional causes of disease. And with a new president recently taking office — one who campaigned on a platform of expanding access to more affordable health care — the time could be right for CAM to play an integral part in health care reform. Appropriately, Bastyr is hosting a discussion on "Reforming Health in a Post-Election America" next month. At a local level, the University's summer CAM program has become a popular destination for students of conventional medicine, while the recently opened Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Clinic points to an awareness of CAM's benefits for people with cancer. This pervading spirit of optimism at Bastyr University is wholly embodied by the Multicultural Student Association of Natural Medicine, the subject of this issue's feature story. With a new name and mission, the club has taken an all-inclusive approach to building community at Bastyr and promoting natural medicine in the Seattle area. Read, learn and enjoy!

Jordan Lindstrom, Editor

Inside This Issue

Features

University Highlights

Natural Health News

Subscription Information



FEATURES
MSAN group promoting naturopathic medicine

Student Club Spotlight: A Multicultural Approach to Promoting Natural Medicine
Second-year naturopathic medicine student Michelle Eustache is as light-hearted as they come. But she's serious about educating people about naturopathic medicine, promoting diversity in her chosen profession and building community at Bastyr. To this end, she's worked to redefine the club she helps lead to make it more inclusive — bringing more people together to work toward those common goals. Read more about Eustache and the work of the Multicultural Student Association of Natural Medicine.

Program Spotlight: Volunteerism Key Component of Nutrition Degrees
Bastyr University's School of Nutrition and Exercise Science prepares students to positively impact individual, community and environmental wellness. This preparation is facilitated in part by the school's volunteer requirements for dietetic students, who must complete 300 hours of nutrition-related service before graduation. An example of the type of volunteer work our students are involved in: Six students recently developed healthy rice recipes for Seattle Public Schools' lunch menus. Learn more about undergraduate and graduate degree options in nutrition from Bastyr University.

Healthy Recipe: Baked Vegetarian Spring Rolls
Chinese in origin, spring rolls (or "chun juan") are traditionally made by wrapping the early spring vegetable crop in thin crepe-like sheets and cooking them in a fryer. Now Bastyr's nutrition experts have created perhaps the healthiest (and, dare we say, tastiest) installment in the dish's evolution: the baked vegetarian spring roll. Don't just take our word for it. Almost 150 visitors to the recipe section of our website have rated it favorably. With less fat than the deep-fried version, this dish still packs plenty of crunch and uses tempeh, a protein-rich, low-fat meat alternative made from soybeans. View the recipe.

 


UNIVERSITY HIGHLIGHTS
University's new out-patient oncology clinic

Living with Cancer? Improve Your Health at Bastyr's New Oncology Center
Earlier this month the University opened the Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Center (BIORC). The new outpatient clinic, located on Bastyr's tranquil wooded campus, provides integrated cancer care using state-of-the-art naturopathic and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments. Clinic patients can expect comprehensive support and care for each stage of their experience, from help with treatment decisions to the restoration of health after completing conventional treatment (such as chemotherapy). The aims of the new clinic are twofold: to improve the quality and length of life of its cancer patients through complementary medicine treatments; and — in a partnership with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center — to show such complementary treatments can offer the same health benefits to anyone with cancer. Find out more about the Bastyr Integrative Oncology Research Center or call (425) 602-3311 to make an appointment.

Explore Degree Programs Through Admissions Events
The economy may be weak, but demand for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers remains strong. A recent survey by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine found 36 percent of adults in the U.S. are using some form of CAM, including naturopathic medicine, acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM), and herbal medicine. Bastyr University is offering several upcoming on- and off-campus opportunities to learn more about the University's degree programs in the natural health arts and sciences. Choose an event that suits you best, or visit several.

Stay Current on University News with the Bastyr Blog
Want the latest scoop on Bastyr University and the world of natural health? Bookmark our new blog. On the Bastyr University Community Blog, you'll find information about upcoming events and classes, discover new recipes from our whole-foods kitchen, learn about the University's short- and long-range plans, and much more. The blog is updated weekly, so check back frequently for the latest news. Visit the blog.

Learn Natural Medicine Basics at Summer CAM Camp
Do you want to be the kind of medical professional who can help patients heal through natural and integrative therapies? Don't miss Bastyr University's popular complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) summer program, or CAM Camp. This four-week introductory program — designed for graduate students of medicine, nursing and other health sciences — provides an informative overview of the natural health arts and sciences, including such areas as: nutritional therapies, herbal medicines, acupuncture and qi gong, and much more. Students come from all over the country to prepare to meet the nation's growing interest in CAM. In the words of past participants: "I learned more about all these therapies than I could ever have imagined possible in just four weeks." "You will get in touch again with the real reason you chose to become a doctor in the first place." "It was worth every penny I spent, and it's already paid off." This summer's CAM Camp takes place July 6-31, 2009. Priority application deadline is March 2. Learn more about this unique opportunity and enroll now.

Deepen Your Understanding of Health at Bastyr's Upcoming Events

  • Researcher and Author T. Colin Campbell, PhD, Discusses Findings from "The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted"
    Bastyr University is proud to host a morning discussion with T. Colin Campbell, PhD, professor emeritus of nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University and author of The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health, on Monday, February 23, from 7:30 - 9 a.m. in the Bastyr Chapel. Enjoy a continental breakfast while listening to Dr. Campbell's advice on reducing your risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Learn more about the China Study and RSVP for this event.
  • Dream Expert Robert Moss Discusses The Secret History of Dreaming
    The Bastyr Bookstore's discussion series with notable authors continues this month with Robert Moss, author of The Secret History of Dreaming, at noon on Friday, February 27, in the Bastyr University Auditorium. Moss' latest book explains how dreams, coincidence and imagination have influenced many of the great lives and events of history. A best-selling novelist, Moss is a former professor of ancient history at the Australian National University. Learn more about this bookstore event.
  • Discussion Series Continues with Exploration of Health Care in the Barack Obama Era
    Bastyr University's six-part discussion series examining "The Politics of Health in America" continues with an appropriately themed discussion on "Reforming Health in a Post-Election America" at 5:45 p.m. on March 4. Hosted in the University's auditorium, all events in the series are free, open to the public and feature a panel of at least three prominent regional health care experts. Learn more about the discussion series.

NATURAL HEALTH NEWS
Acupuncture needles

Is "Alternative" Medicine Now Mainstream Medicine?
"Alternative" medicine is mainstream, at least according to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal. Citing studies that demonstrate both the body's ability to heal itself and the effects of lifestyle choices on overall health, the article points to an integrative, holistic approach to medicine as the best way to address chronic illnesses. The article also outlines how the foundational philosophy of alternative medicine — that one must address the fundamental causes of health and illness — is critical to solving the American health care predicament. The article was penned, in part, by Dr. Deepak Chopra, author of more than 50 books on the mind, body and spirit. Bastyr University is proud to be playing a leading role in integrating "alternative" medicine into the "mainstream." The University is a pioneer in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) research. Review some of our research studies currently underway.

Featured Book: Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health
Looking for an easy-to-read, comprehensive compilation of herbal knowledge to add to your library or cookbook collection? Check out Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health at the Bastyr Bookstore. Sometimes described as the "mother of modern herbalism," Rosemary Gladstar is the author of more than nine books on the healing power of plants. Her latest work is described by author James A. Duke, PhD, author of The Green Pharmacy, as "A delightful guide to a green lifestyle — this book will certainly help you and your loved ones live healthier, happier, more joyful lives." The book includes a listing of suggested therapeutic uses for more than 90 common plants, as well as preparation instructions for a variety of herbal remedies and recipes. Buy the book now.

Unearth the Benefits of Mushrooms
Mushrooms are well known for their ability to add flavor and texture to meals. Perhaps less understood, however, are the wide variety of health benefits they offer. Prized in traditional Asian medicine for their therapeutic value, mushrooms are also gaining recognition in Western medicine for their anti-cancer properties and for boasting small amounts of several important vitamins and minerals. With many of the some 3,000 varieties of edible mushrooms in the U.S. available at local grocery stores and farmers markets, now is a great time to explore the role mushrooms can play in your diet. Learn more about the unique contributions mushrooms can make to a healthy diet from a Bastyr expert nutritionist.

Treat a Cold with Chinese Herbal Medicine
Whether it be settling in with a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup or loading up on vitamin C and zinc, everyone seems to have a favored treatment for the common cold. But not all treatments are created equal. Practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine have refined treatment of the cold for more than 2,000 years, with recent research revealing that many of its herbs and formulas have broad antibacterial and antiviral properties. Learn more about Chinese herbal medicine treatments for the cold from a Bastyr acupuncture and Oriental medicine expert, or schedule an appointment with a Bastyr Center practitioner today.

Revealing New Diet Study: Add Protein to Subtract Pounds
Diet books often proffer distinctly different — and sometimes conflicting — methods for losing weight. Now a new Australian study helps clear up the confusion, suggesting a high protein diet as a sure way to trim the waistline. The study's authors discovered differences in individual responses to particular diets. They also noted that people who carry excess body fat are likely to burn fat and calories less effectively after a meal than normal-weight individuals. When participants consumed a high-protein meal, however, the relationship between higher body fat and lower fat burning disappeared. Learn more about this dietary study and its implications.


Support Bastyr and Natural Medicine
Support Bastyr's mission and promote the growth of natural medicine by visiting our online giving link. A healthier world is now only a gift away.


Visit our Online Bookstore
Find unique, hard-to-find titles by authorities in various natural health fields at our online bookstore. Also, our "Bastyr Bookstore Recommends" section will point you toward the best books in many subject areas. Shopping with us is a great way to support Bastyr's educational programs and community health programs. Shop now!


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