The Biggest Obstacle to the Integration of Acupuncture: The Meaning of Qi from the Ancients to Einstein.

Qi continues to be questionably translated in the West as the biblical idea of lifeforce. The true meaning of qi may be closer to the Western scientific definition of energy as the material basis of everything in the Universe. To illustrate this, parallels are drawn between the writings of ancient Chinese thinkers and Western definitions of energy, including the laws of thermodynamics underlying Western scientific thought and yin-yang theory underlying Chinese scientific thought. The focus is on the similarities in theories of material reality while acknowledging how differences in cultural mindset create distinct styles of description of the same ideas. The purpose in establishing a more accurate translation of qi, by removing Western projections, is to improve patient-practitioner communication and to remove obstacles to the acceptance of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine as a mainstream medical intervention in the West.

Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training in Australia: 6 Month Follow-Up Evaluation of Full and Half Day Community Programs.

Background and Objective: Wesley Mission LifeForce training is an Australian suicide prevention gatekeeper program which has not been formally evaluated. The aims of this evaluation were to (1) determine the short- and medium- term impacts of the training on worker capabilities (perceived and declarative knowledge), attitudes, and reluctance to intervene measures; and (2) compare the impact of the half and full day workshops on these measures. Method: 1,079 Australian community workers of diverse professional backgrounds completed a pre-workshop questionnaire as part of registration for the Wesley LifeForce suicide prevention training between 2017 and 2019. Of these, 299 participants also completed the post workshop questionnaires (matched sample). They attended either half day (n = 97) or full day workshops (n = 202) and completed also a 3- and 6- month follow-up questionnaire. We used linear mixed-effect modeling for repeated measures to analyze data. Results: LifeForce training participants experienced an increase in perceived capability, declarative knowledge, more positive attitudes and reduced reluctance to intervene, at least in the short term. The program is particularly well targeted for community gatekeepers with no prior training, albeit those with prior training in this study also experienced positive and significant gains on most measured constructs. Conclusions: We found evidence of effectiveness of the Wesley LifeForce training over time, without difference between the short (half day) and longer (full day) formats of delivery. Nevertheless, the latter format offers skills-based and skills rehearsal opportunities, the impacts of which we were unable to measure in this evaluation and should be estimated in the future.

Addiction in the light of African values: Undermining vitality and community.

I address the question of what makes addiction morally problematic, and seek to answer it by drawing on values salient in the sub-Saharan African philosophical tradition. Specifically, I appeal to life-force and communal relationship, each of which African philosophers have at times advanced as a foundational value, and spell out how addiction, or at least salient instances of it, could be viewed as unethical for flouting them. I do not seek to defend either vitality or community as the best explanation of when and why addiction is immoral, instead arguing that each of these characteristically African values grounds an independent and plausible account of that. I conclude that both vitalism and communalism merit consideration as rivals to accounts that western ethicists would typically make, according to which addiction is immoral insofar as it degrades rationality or autonomy, as per Kantianism, or causes pain or dissatisfaction, à la utilitarianism.

Los principios de la homeopatía, a medio camino entre lo antiguo y lo moderno / The principles of homeopathy, halfway between the old and new

Los críticos de la Homeopatía han señalado que esta materia carece de bases científicas y que hay pocas evidencias documentales que den cuenta de su eficacia.El presente trabajo es un ensayo que coloca al lector en el contexto histórico,filosófico y político que nació la Homeopatía, como un punto de partida que despuésse transforma en una exposición en la que se discute si la medicina configuradapor Samuel Hahnemann es antigua o moderna. El autor dedica gran parte de su ensayo a destacar algunas ideas fundamentales de Crítica de la razón pura, obra del célebre filosofo alemán (1724-1804) Immanuel Kant,y señala cómo, a partir de ellas, es que la medicina alopática empezó a interesarse por atender las consecuencias de la enfermedad y no la enfermedad misma. Kant actuó de buena fe y coloco en la mesa de discusión ideas revolucionarias que dieron pie a la sistematización de las ciencias modernas. Sin embargo, ello no significa, señala el autor de este artículo, que algunos conceptos utilizados en Homeopatía, como “totalidad”, “organismo” o “fuerza vital” deban ser ignorados a priori. (AU)

Critics of homeopathy have pointed out that this matter has no scientific basis andthe existing evidence is too insufficient to account for their effectiveness. This paper is a trial that places the reader in the historical, philosophical and political in which homeopathy came as a starting point, this point then transformed into an exhibition in which it is discussed whether the regime of Samuel Hahnemann is ancient or modern. The author devotes much of his trial will highlight some fundamental ideasof “Critique of Pure Reason”, by the famous German philosopher (1724-1804) ImmanuelKant, and shows how, from them, is that allopathic medicine became interestedto address the consequences of the disease and not the disease itself. Kant acted in good faith and placed on the table for discussion revolutionary ideas that led to the systematization of modern science. However, this does not mean, says the author of this article, some concepts used in homeopathy as “all”, “body” or “life force” should be ignored a priori.(AU)

Los principios de la homeopatía, a medio camino entre lo antiguo y lo moderno / The principles of homeopathy, halfway between the old and new

Los críticos de la Homeopatía han señalado que esta materia carece de bases científicas y que hay pocas evidencias documentales que den cuenta de su eficacia.El presente trabajo es un ensayo que coloca al lector en el contexto histórico,filosófico y político que nació la Homeopatía, como un punto de partida que despuésse transforma en una exposición en la que se discute si la medicina configuradapor Samuel Hahnemann es antigua o moderna. El autor dedica gran parte de su ensayo a destacar algunas ideas fundamentales de Crítica de la razón pura, obra del célebre filosofo alemán (1724-1804) Immanuel Kant,y señala cómo, a partir de ellas, es que la medicina alopática empezó a interesarse por atender las consecuencias de la enfermedad y no la enfermedad misma. Kant actuó de buena fe y coloco en la mesa de discusión ideas revolucionarias que dieron pie a la sistematización de las ciencias modernas. Sin embargo, ello no significa, señala el autor de este artículo, que algunos conceptos utilizados en Homeopatía, como “totalidad”, “organismo” o “fuerza vital” deban ser ignorados a priori.

Critics of homeopathy have pointed out that this matter has no scientific basis andthe existing evidence is too insufficient to account for their effectiveness. This paper is a trial that places the reader in the historical, philosophical and political in which homeopathy came as a starting point, this point then transformed into an exhibition in which it is discussed whether the regime of Samuel Hahnemann is ancient or modern. The author devotes much of his trial will highlight some fundamental ideasof “Critique of Pure Reason”, by the famous German philosopher (1724-1804) ImmanuelKant, and shows how, from them, is that allopathic medicine became interestedto address the consequences of the disease and not the disease itself. Kant acted in good faith and placed on the table for discussion revolutionary ideas that led to the systematization of modern science. However, this does not mean, says the author of this article, some concepts used in homeopathy as “all”, “body” or “life force” should be ignored a priori.