In This Issue

NCNM Research & Graduate Studies Internship Program
This internship program is an eight-week summer intensive that will expose undergraduate students to integrative medicine research methodologies, landmark studies in the field, and current areas of research.

The application deadline for summer 2014 is May 1.

More about the internship program.

NCNM's new Master of Science in Global Health (MScGH) program is accepting applications for the first cohort in fall 2014.

More about the MScGH program.

Dr. Erlandsen Interviewed by KATU News
Andrew Erlandsen, ND, was interviewed recently by local television news station KATU about an ongoing bread additive controversy.

Watch the news clip.

Dr. Zwickey Interviewed
Heather Zwickey, PhD, was interviewed recently in the Natural Medicine Journal about her Chemotherapy and Immunosuppression talk at the 3rd Annual OncANP Conference this year.

Read the interview.

ND/MSiMR student Jacob Hill, MSiMR faculty member Dr. Wendy Hodsdon, and Dean of the School of Research & Graduate Studies Dr. Heather Zwickey attended OncANP in February. Mr. Hill conducted a Delphi panel with his mentor, Dr. Hodsdon. Dr. Zwickey gave a talk entitled, "The Intersection of the Immune System and Chemotherapy." The conference was held February 14-16 in Phoenix, Arizona.

IRCIMH is the most comprehensive scientific conference in complementary and integrative medicine. The conference will be held May 13-16 in Miami, Florida.

This recipe featured in Bon App�tit is from Long Grain, a Thai restaurant in Camden, Maine. It is surprisingly simple to make and, according to Dr. Andrew Erlandsen, chair of the Master of Science in Nutrition program, has many health benefits.

Several of the essential oils in lemongrass have the potential for anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Lemongrass also contains the flavonoid luteolin, which has been shown to reduce inflammation.

Coconut milk is high in saturated fat and medium chain triglycerides; the fat in coconut milk is very easily absorbed and utilized by the body for energy, more efficiently than longer chain fats. One of the fats in coconut, lauric acid, has been shown to be anti-viral in vitro.

Mushrooms have lots of healing properties and each variety has their own unique support for health. In general, mushrooms have anti-microbial properties, protect our DNA from damage, and provide a good source of B-vitamins, potassium, selenium, and copper. Additionally, mushrooms exposed to sunlight can provide a decent source of vitamin D in our diet.

Food is medicine!

Tom Kha Gai
(Chicken Coconut Soup)
Serves 6

1 1" piece ginger, peeled
10 kaffir lime leaves (or 1 T. lime zest and 1/4 c. lime juice)
6 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1" pieces
8 oz. shiitake, oyster, or maitake mushrooms, stemmed, caps cut into bite-size pieces
1 13.5-oz. can coconut milk
2 T. fish sauce (e.g., nam pla or nuoc nam)
1 t. sugar
2 stalks fresh lemongrass, tough outer layers removed
Chili oil, cilantro leaves with tender stems, and lime wedges (for serving)

Using the back of a knife, lightly smash lemongrass and ginger; cut lemongrass into 4" pieces. Bring lemongrass, ginger, lime leaves, and broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer until flavors are melded, 8-10 minutes.

Strain broth into clean saucepan; discard solids. Add chicken and return to a boil. Reduce heat, add mushrooms, and simmer, skimming occasionally, until chicken is cooked through and mushrooms are soft, 20-25 minutes. Mix in coconut milk, fish sauce, and sugar. Divide soup among bowls. Serve with chili oil, cilantro, and lime wedges.

More about Thai cuisine and its history.

The Helfgott Research Institute's cell culture lab is off to a great start! The lab's first in vitro study will begin during spring term, with more students currently undergoing training. In addition, the lab has received its first cancer cell line which will be used to test the effects of a variety of natural substances.

If you have any questions about the lab, please contact Dr. Deanne Tibbitts at [email protected].

I have always been drawn to the liminal in work and life; the spaces that are not quite one thing and not entirely another--I love putting diverse concepts together to create new ideas! This explains why, as a social scientist with a background in natural childbirth, 16 years of experience in birth defects  epidemiology with a huge state government agency, and a doctorate in public health policy, I am finding my work at NCNM's School of Research & Graduate Studies and Helfgott Research Institute to be the perfect setting for pursuing my research interests. NCNM is nothing if not welcoming to novel approaches and out-of-the-box thinking.

Initially hired as a MSiMR student research mentor, I had the opportunity to teach technical writing in the winter term. As a communications and publications coordinator in the Texas Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance program, I have long helped colleagues with writing, editing, and the submission process for many journal articles and poster presentations, in addition to building a publication track record of my own. This was very much an on-the-job learning experience, so it was a welcome challenge to think about how the tricks and traps of scientific writing could be communicated in a classroom setting. One of the best things about the technical writing class was getting to know a lot about the fascinating array of students' research projects.

As a mentor, I see my primary responsibility as helping students to find research questions that truly reflect their passions and approaches to answering those questions that will help them build hands-on, real-world-application skills.

Dr. Case received her master's degree in Human Services Administration from St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. She received her PhD in Public Health Policy from the University of Texas in Houston.

More about Dr. Case.

Throughout my career I have been most excited about my role in empowering others to make positive changes in their lives. My own education in Applied
Behavior Analysis (ABA) gave me the opportunity to delve into study of the science behind learning and behavior change. This study included identification of the variables that promote or prevent desired changes, the development or application of empirically-supported procedures to enhance
change, and the data assessment methods to evaluate it. Outside of NCNM's School of Research & Graduate Studies and Helfgott Research Institute, my clinical work is centered on the treatment of children with autism, using ABA to help these children and their families to develop effective learning and parenting skills.

Within the MSiMR program, both teaching and serving as a research mentor to students, I enjoy helping the students to learn about how they can apply the principles of behavior to promote their patients' behavior change, whether it is consistently taking a supplement, a diet change, or complete lifestyle adjustment. Additionally, and whether it is for research or clinical purposes, I assist students in developing the skills to use valid and reliable methods to gain the relevant information from patients regarding their own behavior. This allows the researcher/clinician to more accurately determine the effects of treatment, and to develop the most appropriate treatment recommendations.

While I seek to share my knowledge and excitement for these areas with the students at NCNM, they in turn share their enthusiasm for and knowledge of naturopathic medicine with me. I look forward to each future collaboration with these amazing students.

Melissa Gard is a graduate of the University of Kansas where she received her PhD in Behavioral Psychology and her master's degree in Human Development and Family Life. She is also a certified behavior analyst (BACB-D).

More about Dr. Gard.

Nicolas Coletto, MSiMR Student
Nicolas Coletto is a member of the first cohort of stand-alone MSiMR degree students.

Q: Where is your hometown?
A: Portland, Oregon.
 
Q: What was the focus of your undergraduate study?
A: Neuroscience with a psychology concentration. My research was about sensory processing and the perception of time.
 
Q: What is your MSiMR research project?
A: I am studying the interactions between fermented foods and medicinal herbs. Basically, I am going to be making a lot of sauerkraut, some of which will have ginseng extract fermented along with the cabbage. The main goal of my research is to test how the complete sauerkraut microbiome, as compared to an isolated bacterial species, may transform the compounds found in ginseng. I will also explore the effects of ginseng on sauerkraut fermentation.
 
Q: Who are your mentors?
A: I'm working most closely with Dr. Kim Tippens on my research. Also, Morgan Schafer, Dr. Andrea DeBarber, and Dr. Paul Kalnins have provided invaluable support and expertise.
 
Q: What are your plans for after graduation?
A: I'm not entirely sure yet. I may eventually end up going back to school again, but not yet. I have been in school for most of my life, so I think it would be good for me to step back from academe before deciding on a new direction. I have so many different interests that I am excited for the opportunity to have some space to explore the different ways that I can bring them together.
 
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: As a small child, I really wanted to be a theoretical physicist. I also fantasized about making and selling medicinal herbal teas.
 
Q: Now what do you want to be when you grow up?
A: Everything. At some point, I would like to do something that combines my interests in food, microbes, and brains. Or maybe explore the ocean--while making tea.
 
Q: When is your favorite time of year in Portland?
A: Early fall: The stretch of warm, sunny days in late-September to mid-October is one of my favorite things about Portland. I also love the first fall rain, before it has overstayed its welcome. I always miss the rain by the end of summer. By then, the rain is always so relieving that I get almost giddy. Plus, fall has so many tasty things to eat and drink (apples, squash, hops, hazelnuts...). And, it's a great season for fermenting things!
 
Q: If you could go back in time and advise yourself just before starting school at NCNM, what would you say?
A: Remember to plan research to take advantage of the unique resources and opportunities available at NCNM; some potential projects may be difficult due to our small size, but we also are able to do research that would be difficult or impossible at most other research institutions. Also, take a few classes from the ND and Chinese medicine programs. They can provide interesting perspectives that you would not otherwise be exposed to.

  

The dual track ND/MSiMR degree has provided the foundation for me to pursue these interests in the international setting. As a third year medical student, I lived and conducted research for six months in the capital city of Ghana, West Africa.

My thesis research is ethnographic in nature and aims to first elucidate how and in what capacity biomedicine and traditional ethnomedicine are currently utilized by parous Ghanaian women and, secondly, to compare maternal experiences of childbirth in different settings.

In a broader sense, this research attempts to bring awareness to the value of women's experiences as a tool for improving obstetric care in West Africa and to influence women's health care reform on a global scale. My ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of a culturally and economically sustainable evidence-based model for integrated medicine in West Africa.

More about Global Health Research at NCNM.

The idea for the Naturopathic Oncology Delphi Panel I recently organized at the 2014 OncANP conference originated from my desire to support the clinical practice and research development of the emerging field of Naturopathic Oncology.

The Delphi Panel gathered eight experienced naturopathic oncologists to discuss and debate a series of questions regarding ethics, philosophy, and research development as they pertain to naturopathic oncology. This project was the first major collaborative effort between the Oncology
Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP) and the Helfgott Research Institute.

The protocol for this panel used a modified-Delphi approach and incorporated
participation from numerous practitioners in the field of naturopathic oncology to assist in panel member nomination and debate question formulation.

The summary article and content analysis of the Delphi Panel is intended to provide clarity and education to various audiences including current
naturopathic physicians, conventional medical professionals, future
naturopathic physicians, medical researchers, cancer patients, and the general public.

More about the 2014 OncANP Naturopathic Oncology Conference.

Interested in Ayurveda?

A new study is looking at the reliability of Ayurveda constitutional questionnaires.

More information about this study.

Can mud therapy help your arthritis symptoms?

A new study is looking at the effects of therapeutic mud pack therapy on knee osteoarthritis.

More information about this study.

Learn about the traditional Korean medicine called Sasang constitutional medicine.

Researchers in Korea have created a program that analyzes people who are of Korean descent to find out their Sasang type.

These researchers are doing a similar study in Portland, Oregon to assess the Sasang type of white people of European descent.

More information about this study.

Maybe you should stand up for this...
A group of researchers looked at the effects of sitting for long periods of time and the possible health outcomes for individuals living in Australia. The study found that, "Prolonged sitting is a risk factor for all-cause mortality, independent of physical activity."

That means that if you sit for six consecutive hours, it doesn't matter if you worked out at the gym in the morning. You will still be at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Read the paper published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, "Sitting time and all-cause mortality risk in 222 497 Australian adults."