Andrea's Blog

Did everybody have a good break? Did you even get a break? Finals are over! We all survived (endured, even). From what I can tell, everybody did really well. Mostly, I think we're glad that we've made it through all the basic sciences and are now in clinical sciences. WHOOOHOOO!!!!! I can't believe we're finally in Phase 2! 

Treasure Island drum circle

All of our class scattered to the wind--Europe, New Jersey, all over the globe! I had an especially busy break. I spent the first week looking for a new place to live, and then the second week in Illinois. I drove to see my folks (and extended family) in Central Illinois. The trip was AMAZING! I've forgotten how much I miss the Midwest (did I just say that out loud?), and how much I miss my family.

I grew up out in the country, amidst farmland and such. I literally spent 2+ days up to my waist in dirt. It was pure heaven. I planted perennials in one of their flowerbeds that will hopefully take over and be low maintenance (and fodder for my mom to watch from the kitchen window). It's got me all psyched to do some gardening of my own (in between studying, of course). 

The first week of school was both a trial and a triumph. I received the go-ahead to move into my new place on Monday, so I started moving boxes and such into the garage. They are still fixing random stuff in the house. At 2am Sunday morning, I finished moving the last of the stuff out. Special thanks to my classmates and friends, Jacqlyn, Julia, and Alid for all of their help. Julia, Alid, Grey (my son), and myself moved ALL of the heavy furniture in less than 3 hours! They were, as Dr. S puts it, "machines!" I couldn't have done any of this without you guys--all my love and undying gratitude. I mean it! 

So, other than unpacking and getting things sorted, I'm back to school. The class schedule looks like it's doable, but it's gonna be a toughie! Two classes with Dr. S (although one is early in the morning when I'm not yet awake--I wonder if he's noticed), several other interesting ones, and my favorite: Botanical Medicine (Yes, I'm being serious). I've taken Bot Med under different headings/schools before, and I practice a little home chemistry in making my own medicine. I have for several years. In my not-so-humble opinion, you can never know too much about medicinal plants! I've already obligated myself to showing how to make hydrosols, which are like essential oils but can be made at home and not quite as strong. Now if I could just find that book. Where did I pack that thing?

I'm looking forward to an exciting tri--morning classes and all. 

Treasure Island beach

Incidentally, it's hotter than Hades' vacation spot down here in the old FL. Summer has definitely arrived. Stay cool and hydrated, kiddies. If anybody has any garden requests for me, let me know. I'll be putting seeds/plants in as soon as I can.

Welcome back! (I know I'm glad to be here!)

I have thoroughly geeked out this week. Thoroughly. I've been very seriously thinking about further training after acquiring my DC--with either a residency, perhaps adding the ND through National, or through a diplomate program.

At the behest of my good friend Jacqlyn, I've started looking at the diplomate programs in earnest. So, for those of you who don't know, there are several diplomate programs available to us through the ACA. The two that I'm most interested in are Diagnosis and Internal Disorders and Clinical Nutrition. I'm still gathering information, but very excited--and right now leaning towards the program in Clinical Nutrition. A few of my classmates are already working toward the Neurology diplomate through the Carrick Institute. I know we have many faculty members with their diplomate in radiology (DACBR) and advanced degrees in nutrition. Several of the programs offer options while we're still in school. I'm especially intrigued at the possibility of graduating with my doctorate, and my diplomate.

Diplomate programs information (just a few but there are more):

• Clinical Nutrition
• Acupuncture 
• Internists
• Radiology
• Neurology

I want to thank Dr. Chang, our EBP and Public Health professor, for turning me on to the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) search engine. As part of an EBP (evidence based practice) assignment, we were asked to set up a search. Through this tool, I can set up automated searches on research topics that I'm interested in. I receive a litany of emails every morning on each of my topics--the newest research and analysis. OK, this sounds boring, I know. But for a research geek that's always looking for more information on about 80,000 topics (and doesn't have time to do 80,000 searches), having an automated search return all of that to me every morning is pretty amazing.

Beyond all of that, I took it easy this weekend. Thankfully, the weather is warming up (I thought it would never happen!), and it's starting to feel, smell, and act like spring. Grey and I set some seed out for organic lettuce and herbs. We've got more to set up. Trying the whole urban gardening thing is a new experience for me. I hope it works. If it does, I'll probably have more lettuce than I can use. We've also started rosemary for cooking, lavender, sage, and catnip is soon to come. My goal is to eventually grow enough medicinal herbs to not have to spend so much money on herbs for my tonics. We'll see what happens there.

So, since I've been so busy doing research and being nerdy, being crafty, resourceful, and hiding out in the house, I have no beautiful Florida pictures for all of you today. What I do have, and since everyone loves cute pictures of cats, are pictures of my cat Moose--the queen of everything. I hope everybody has an amazing week!