Alternative for awesome_nested_set self_and_descendants and descendants. Basically with the idea of hitting the sql that are fired by the nested_set helper

nested_model.rb

class Group < ActiveRecord::Base
acts_as_nested_set

  def self_and_descendants_hashed
    ActiveRecord::Base.connection.select_all("SELECT * FROM groups WHERE lft >= #{self.lft} AND rgt <= #{self.rgt} order by lft")
  end

  def descendants_hashed
    ActiveRecord::Base.connection.select_all("SELECT * FROM groups WHERE lft >= #{self.lft} AND lft < #{self.rgt} AND id != 1 ORDER BY lft")
  end
  
end