Dr. Bob Graybill ND

12/23/2021

I am out of the office with my family awaiting Santa and Snow from today and Friday and will be back Monday. As we celebrate the cross cultural magic of light in the darkness, I hope you all have peace, warmth, and hope. Tina the Christmas Unicorn agrees.

12/06/2021

I have to reschedule patients today and thought someone may giggle at the story. This is also a good reminder that the only difference sometimes between an effect and side effect is intention.

To preserve my hair and vanity, I decided to start Minoxidil (Rogaine) topically.

Minoxidil was originally developed as a medication to open up your blood vessels and decrease blood pressure. Hair growth was a side effect. Now it’s available topically to encourage that side effect.

That said, rarely the topical can cause drops in blood pressure, so I’m home and dizzy, unable to sit up for long periods all because of trying to fend off aging.

I should be back up on my feet tomorrow no problem. I think I might invest in a wig someday or just wear the faux fur blanket camouflaging Rosie.

11/25/2021

A reminder that giving thanks needs to be more than thank you. Gratitude means reflecting on the past, both dark and beautiful and what has gotten us to where we are. Gratitude is taking stock of the present, and appreciating our capacity while not erasing the struggle. Gratitude should shape what we do next. I mark and am gracious for the people on this land before me. I will take time to discuss the day of mourning and true history that has led to now. I am gracious for the patients that share their stories with me. Where can this gratitude lead in the next year? How have the last few years changed that perspective? Wherever you are, may the harvest be delicious and the day peaceful. Thank you.

11/23/2021

I found this in the kiddo’s journal for school. She’s right, we were excited. I cried in the pharmacy when her first shot was finished. I think she’s also super excited at the prospect of having sleep overs. Vaccines are safe and reliable at greatly lowering risk of severe disease as well helping us move into a long term maintenance phase of dealing with COVID 19.

Note: also love that Cheshire Cat Grin.

10/30/2021

I got my Covid Booster after my last patients today. The boosters are an important piece of continuing our collective healing. Keep safe everyone and Enjoy the brisk sun and mildly spooky delights of the season.

10/22/2021

The Oregon Coast makes The Goonies finding Pirate Treasure and a Ghost Ship believable. Celebrating my 16th wedding anniversary on the haunting Oregon Coast.

Given the rapidly approaching rain we brought a suitcase of board games. Board games are great for your health and brain. Game or play based health intervention is a growing technique in helping people make lasting behavior change. This idea is something I hope to implement more in my practice because fun is important.

On another note, about to try out a new game called Cascadia recommended by The Portland Game Store.

It looks fantastic. Flatout Games@theportlandgamestore

10/19/2021

Remember, exercise is moving your body in a way you enjoy! (And eat Fiber) (and safely stand on the table?). Just a friendly reminder that movement is critical for heart health but also your mental health and pain management. Feel free to call me out for not moving enough next time you’re in the office, because I fully admit to my imperfection on this topic. Putting extra movement into a packed and stressful day isn’t easy and we all need support and suggestions!

10/16/2021

It’s Pumpkin Season! Remember that the winter squash that make a fine decorative tableaux also are full of nutrition and with a decent knife are pretty easy to cook! There’s even evidence of your pumpkin seeds lowering blood sugar.

10/16/2021

Fuse beads and Pandemic have been hand and hand at our home throughout the pandemic. It’s meditative for the adults and great for kids’ fine motor skill. Also making art and creating things is amazing for your mental and physical health. Presented here is a drawing my daughter is meticulously recreating.

10/16/2021

10/11/2021

The Autumn Colors are beautiful but should also encourage reflection. Today is indigenous People’s Day. As a white, cis-gendered man and Physician, it is my responsibility to recognize that the seeds of privilege came at the expense of Native peoples. Medical and social research shows the continued impact of this past on many Native communities’ health and well-being.

It is not my responsibility to be taught but to learn; it is not my responsibility to be passive but to engage; it is not my responsibility to be right but to be open to new perspectives. It is my responsibility to stand and support my patients.

I keep trying to add more words but the words aren’t mine to say.

10/11/2021

Today is Indiginous People’s Day. As a white, cis-gendered man and Physician, it is my responsibility to recognize that the seeds of privilege came at the expense of Native peoples. Medical and social research shows the continued impact of this past on many Native communities’ health and well-being.

It is not my responsibility to be taught but to learn; it is not my responsibility to be passive but to engage; it is not my responsibility to be right but to be open to new perspectives. It is my responsibility to stand and support my patients.

I keep trying to add more words but the words aren’t mine to say.



https://www.npr.org/2021/10/11/1044823626/indigenous-peoples-day-native-americans-columbus

A growing movement recasts Oct. 11 as a day to appreciate the diversity and history of Indigenous communities. That visibility, say Native Americans, can help us see what else needs to change.

10/08/2021

A picture from almost 30 years ago of me, proud of my costume and hoping to someday be a ninja turtle. I have over time abandoned that goal, but the need to move my body and exercise remains. When I talk about exercise with patients, I talk about movement in a way you enjoy. Maybe you’ll enjoy some adult martial arts or just pretending and shadow boxing in your basement? I want adults to approach movement like kids where the border between exercise and play is blurred. Exercise is moving your body in a way you enjoy. We’ll go from there.

10/07/2021

I love poetry as it can say so much through well placed metaphor. The same can be said in understanding our body’s and health. Sometimes we need a scientific map of the moon and other times we need to just stare at the stars and dream. Medicine is often the line right in the middle. Poem by Walt Whitman in Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Joy edited by John Brehm.

10/06/2021

The Struggle is Real, as declared by my ancient cat Deco. School is in swing and the seasons are changing and it gets hard to see through the challenges. If you’re having mental health issues or digestive issues or just aren’t feeling well in general, give the clinic a call (Center for Natural Medicine - 503-232-1100) and we’ll see what we can do. Don’t ignore your health despite the struggle.

10/05/2021

A little walk in the liquid sunshine. It’s the shifting of the seasons and seasonal depression is real. Make sure to get outside and greet the rain and jump in a puddle. The dark and dreariness can worsen depression for some people but interestingly research shows health benefits from the sound and smell of rain (especially the early rains of the year). Be like a 4 year old in gum boots.

10/05/2021

Tried to post this this morning but the Facebook outage devoured it.

The Nobel Peace Prize for medicine was given out this week to David Julius of the University of California, San Francisco, and Ardem Patapoutian of Scripps Research in La Jolla, Calif., for their research into the molecular basis for sensation, pain, hot and cold, and touch in general.

The research, ongoing since the 90s started with the use of capsasin, the spicy chemical in peppers that is often used for topical pain management, being applied to cells and seeing the chemical response.

This research has huge potential in finding new treatments for and understanding of chronic pain. I am curious to see if we can learn how I find capsasin delicious and would ruin my partners day? Why is soft touch healing for one person and painful for someone else with a trauma history?

The articles about this are interesting as this isn’t a prize for making a singular drug but for a long term process of learning and experimenting that is ongoing.

So enjoy some light science, have a good night, and let’s keep making things better.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/2021-nobel-prize-in-physiology-or-medicine-awarded-for-discoveries-in-sensing-temperature-and-touch1/

David Julius’s and Ardem Patapoutian’s research revealed the molecular basis of these basic senses

10/03/2021

Surprised my daughter today with a trip to Halloweentown in St. Helens. The idea of the suprise started causing a lot of anxiety which was easy to misread as rudeness and being unappreciative. Sometimes surprises make things worse because anxiety is so related to the upcoming unknown. Instead of getting angry we let her in on the secret and the worry turned into excitement. Excitement and anxiety are close cousins and sometimes changing the approach can save the day.