Health – Teen Observer Archive

August 2, 2018August 2, 2018

Using herbs to ease physical and mental pain

BERKELEY, Calif. — The Twisted Thistle Apothicaire sells everything from tarot cards to hangover cures. Herbs are collected from local vendors and Malaysian shops. Even the types of customers vary from college students to middle-aged moms.

Street view of the Twisted Thistle Apothicaire in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Miranda Aldridge)

Though the store thrives on its eclecticism, its values are concise. The Twisted Thistle cares for its clients, valuing their mental and physical health.

Ruthie Elizabeth, who’s worked at the store for a year, spent six years traveling around the world and studying plant medicine. During an herbalism internship after college, Elizabeth was certain she wanted to work closely with people and plants.

A 29-country study by The New England Journal of Medicine found that women, low-income citizens and younger Americans are less likely to trust their doctors. Still, the United States ranked lower in terms of trust in the profession among both men (21st) and people 65 years of age or older (22nd).

A big part of why Elizabeth enjoys working at the apothecary is the connections she is able to make with her customers, ones they may not be able to make with their physician. She said she cherishes the moments when customers tell her personal stories about their pain and the reasons they come seeking help.

Ruthie Elizabeth, an employee of the TTA, uses plant medicine almost daily. (Photo by Miranda Aldridge)

“Working at an apothecary is a great space to help introduce people to different plants that can be healing to them,” Elizabeth said, adding that some people say they do not feel heard in a doctor’s office.

Elizabeth not only sells the herbs in the apothecary, but she also uses many different ones in her daily life. Whether the issue is a stomach-ache or anxiety, she said there’s always an herb that will soothe her pain.

She said some of her favorites products are adaptogens, which work to help the nervous system adapt to stressful situations and improve as a whole.

“One of my favorite plants is Ashwagandha, it really helps with any floaty feeling or anxiety.” Elizabeth said, “When taken daily, it’s been really helpful to me in that my nervous system feels stronger and more supported.”

Many other herbs help ease her nausea and stomach-aches in daily life and when she goes on trips.

“Echinacea is my go-to when I’m starting to feel sick or if I’m traveling.” Elizabeth said, adding that more common products like chamomile and peppermint tea also help alleviate pain.

Elizabeth explained that over-the-counter medicines like aspirin are already derived from plants, so utilizing that plant directly has a positive effect on the body. She notices the effects plant medicine and teas have on her and her customers everyday.

“I encourage anyone with any kind of symptom that feels like it’s not healing, whether it’s physical or mental pain, to come on in and check this store out.” Elizabeth said. “It’s really empowering when you start incorporating herbs into your life.”

June 26, 2018

Genetically modified babies. Would you do it?

People interviewed in Washington, D.C. this week all agreed they wouldn’t genetically modify human embryos or sperm cells, noting they believe in the science to cure disorders but disagree that it should be used to enhance newborns’ features.

The technology might not be that far away.

Cathy Baker, 23, majoring in literature at American University, said “that’s scary” when she was told about the possibility of designing babies. She feared that it could lead to a revival of the eugenics programs like those done by the Nazis.

“You start valuing people based off the traits they have, and not their for their inherit worth as human beings,” Baker said.

There has been a lot of progress in the gene editing field in recent years.

In the 2018 book Beyond Bioethics: Toward a New Biopolitics, Eric S. Lander explained that scientists currently have been able to remove mutations and prevent genetic disorders, and a more distant frontier will be programming babies, giving them certain traits we desire, such as making them smarter, prettier and stronger.

DNA strands, from www.flickr.com, creativecommons.org

As programming babies is becoming more of a realistic possibility in the future, gene editing has become a controversial topic in the recent years.

Derik Siegel, 28, a former sociology student at American University, commented on the issue. He noted that, “science and technology is not inherently good or bad, but it depends on the way it is used,” continuing that “there are are lot of ethics that go into it.”

Winston Kang, an American University student, worries that the technology may be available only to the rich due to its expense.

“Rich people can do this and poor people can’t do that,” Kang said. “And there will be more political issues from there on.”

Intan Fadzullah, 39, a father of two, challenges the morality of changing the environment our self included, saying that we would be too “god-like” defying the natural order of the world.

Despite all this, Tim Nicholls, who describes himself as an entrepreneur, creative designer, traveler, professor and writer, believes science should be helpful to people all around the world in the cure for diseases and therefore should be allowed to advance with some precautions. He’s had a number of surgeries he credits with his own health.

“I wouldn’t be here without science,” Nicholls said.

This technology seems to meet problems with the law in many countries.

In fact, according to the statistics collected by Motoko Araki and Tetsuya Ishii, out of all the developed countries surveyed, in a majority of them such as Italy, France and England, human gene modification is not yet trusted and banned by law.

Other countries such as the U.S. have restrictions on this technology, while the remaining surveyed are ambiguous or have guidelines that can or can’t be followed.

There are many different opinions on this topic, but out of all the interviews, one thing seems absolutely clear: everyone believes that humans shouldn’t tamper with the DNA as it is not natural and might cause problems in the future that we can’t account for now.

June 25, 2018June 28, 2018

Junk food is quick but poses problems

Ty Short sat at Whole Foods eating a chocolate chip cookie.

Short, a construction project manager who grew up on a farm in Michigan, said it’s often easier to grab a bag of chips rather than cook a meal especially after a long work day.

“Eating healthy is being very involved,” said Short, 38, noting what he said is the convenience junk food offers.

Short is one of many Americans struggling to eat healthier as they face busy work and family situations and are seemingly awash in lower-cost, fast food restaurants and chains that many say save time. Some have suggested taxing junk food as a way to limit usage.

According to the Reference Point, most junk foods contain zero nutritional value. They are nutrient-deprived, but are generally stuffed with various chemicals and additives that add to their shelf value.

By the year 2050, the rate of obesity in the U.S. is expected to reach 42 percent, according to researchers at Harvard University. That has lead some places to consider taxing foods and drinks high in fat and sugar.

Although Short knows it’s not ideal, when asked if junk food should be banned, he quickly answered, “no!”

“Would you rob a person of their choice even if it is the wrong one?” Short said. “It’s just not right.”

Marqurita Lightfoot, 68, stood on the sidewalk with her neatly rolled yoga mat in her arms and, with a laugh, said she tries to lead a healthy lifestyle although she does have a weakness for potato chips.

The taste is good she says, not to also mention that it’s quick and easy to just grab off the shelf especially when people don’t feel like preparing a meal.

She believes that the reason junk foods are cheaper than organic foods is because it’s mass produced and because, “It has lots of additives, lots of names you can’t pronounce.”