Reflexology

I saw it in action in the oncology wing at Hopkins. Once a week (for the past 2 years supposedly), the cancer center has brought in licensed massage therapists to the chemo floor to do a variety of techniques while the patient is getting infused, as a way to blend Eastern and Western medicine. The treatments include oncology massage, reflexology, reiki, and others! I saw lymphatic drainage on the list, but I'm not sure how much it is like the OMM version since when I started describing some of our techniques, they seemed to be different from what the therapist knew.

The concept of course for reflexology is that points on your hands and feet map to different parts of your body. The tender points show where there is some sort of problem. It seemed pretty accurate, since for colon cancer, the tenderest points mapped to the GI system. I really want to learn more about this and try some stuff out. Here's a pretty neat link in the meantime:
http://www.reflexology-research.com/whatis.htm

1/8 of a doctor

WE HAVE OFFICIALLY COMPLETED OUR FIRST SEMESTER OF MEDICAL SCHOOL!!!


After 9 didactic exams, 6 practical exams, and various quizzes and other assignments....
In the past 4.5 months, we have learned:


The basics:
-Foundations in: Anatomy, cell bio and signaling, embryology, histology, homeostasis, immunology, inflammation, metabolism, pharmacology, and physiology
-Bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses - and drugs used against them
-Neoplasias - and drugs used against them
-Immune diseases and HIV - and drugs used against them
-Blood systems: All about blood (cell structures and functions, groups, hemopoesis, hemostasis), hemostasis disorders, anemias, myeloproliferative disorders, leukemias and lymphomas, and systemic viral/bacterial/tropical-protozoal diseases - and the drugs used to treat them
--> in total, about 350 drugs with their uses, mechanisms of action, contraindications, and toxicities (drugs includes NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, DMARDs, therapeutic prostaglandins, autoimmune tx, antivirals, antiretrovirals/anti-HIV, antibiotics [the most at ~86 of them], chemotherapeutics/antineoplastics,  anemia drugs, pro- and anti- coagulants, antifungals, antimalarials, antiprotozoals)

Doctoring: 
-How to take a history
-How to do a full physical exam (HEENT, respiratory, cardiovascular, abdominal, neuromuscular) with osteopathic components included (TART), and how to report findings if dictating
-Clinical reasoning in coming up with a differential diagnosis

OMM: 
-Structural and motion testing exams (for screening and scanning), diagnosing somatic dysfunction
-Soft tissue treatments
-Lymphatic/sinus treatments
-Muscle energy on the upper and lower extremities, spine (OA through L5), and ribs (for inhalation and exhalation dysfunction)
-Through brown bags and treatments, also: bone bending, cranial treatments (for orthodonture, etc), counterstrain, balanced ligamentous tension, sacral/other unwinding, etc...
-Osteopathic history and theory


Earlier on in the semester, I said I was failing, and really, it was just because I wasn't studying enough. No more cramming! Medicine requires constant reinforcement, so now at the end of every day, my friends and I go through the lectures of the day and review as much as we can.

Also, our class's google group listserve is always bursting with activity discussing the material and sharing study guides that we've made. We have an awesome collaborative learning environment between our whole class :)  I looovee itttt <3 <3 <3

It's been a busy semester, and we've learned a lot!
CONGRATS EVERYONE ON GETTING THROUGH IT!