We measure our world by the limits of our knowledge and experience. If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to treat everything like nails. Bigotry, bias, and prejudice are all words that describe this limited view (hammer) each of us tends to embrace and apply.
A dog does not comprehend poetry, nor does an infant calculus. The worlds of the dog and of the child are extremely limited in scope. For the dog it is predominantly genetically determined. Even if a dog would like to understand poetry, it couldn't and will never grow into it either. On the other hand, a child's view of the world can expand continually throughout life. Unfortunately, as we get into our teenage years and become certain that our knowledge encompasses just about all that could be known ? certainly more than both parents combined ? we become increasingly arrogant, and with this arrogance, closed minded. Intellectual growth can actually stop by about the age of 13, with vocabulary serving as an index of this growth and not increasing significantly for most people after this age.
With that as a preface, let me say that it is easy for us to believe that the world we were born into is the only real world. Fluorescent lights, conditioned air, automobiles, pop, French fries, television, and polyester may seem like the only real and natural world for humans. Without the perspective of history, there would be no way of knowing any differently.
But we do have history. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, which occurred about 200 years ago, we were by and large in an entirely different setting. We spent the majority of our time outside and without any of the modern conveniences and technologies we have come to believe to be as natural and automatic as a tree or the wind.
Our genes, however, are not equally convinced. They remain encoded for the natural world. They are, in fact, an inward definition of the external natural, pre-Industrial, more pristine world.
In this new modern synthetic world we are increasingly alienating our basic biological make up. We are like fish taken out of water.
The accompanying charts demonstrate the dramatic change occurring just in the last 100 years.
(see http://www.wysong.net/images/graph1.jpg)
(see http://www.wysong.net/images/graph2.jpg)
(see http://www.wysong.net/images/graph3.jpg)
(see http://www.wysong.net/images/graph4.jpg)
(see http://www.wysong.net/images/graph5.jpg)
This is only a small representation of the dramatic changes our modern world has produced related just to food. On a broader environmental scale, human activity rivals the natural processes that have built the biosphere. About 40% of the earth's photosynthetic capacity (plant growth) is now appropriated for human use. The biologically available nitrogen and phosphorus used by humans for fertilizer and chemicals about equals the amount produced by nature. We apparently can alter our atmosphere on a global scale (ozone, Chernobyl, greenhouse gases). Huge numbers of species stand on the curling tip of a wave of extinction ? and the list goes on.
Though it seems presumptuous to suggest that we, here, now in this generation are unique in all of history, the evidence supports that we are. We are a pivotal generation that can either turn things around or continue to fuel a degrading environmental/health spiral that soon, if unaltered by us, will continue in spite of any efforts we make later to change things.
Scary? Yes, indeed. But we need to get scared if that's what it takes to wake up. We are, without a doubt, a very special generation with the weight of the world's future literally on our shoulders.
Don't despair. You, yes little ole puny you, can do much. Everything ever done always began with one. Act on the things you know to be right, healthy, socially responsible, and environmentally sensitive.
Yes, you. Yes, now. Yes, there is no downside in doing so.
*Further Reading:
The Wysong Optimal Health Program?
What Does Our Genetic Program Say We Should Eat?
The Archetypal Diet
Genetic Context ? The Fundamental Key to Health
Look at the Big Picture
Be a Thinking Person
Do Not Let Technology Think for You
Stay Open to Learning ? Every Day
Man ? The Apex Predator
Humans Are Not Too Puny to Remodel the Whole Planet
Ozone Marks Environmental Threats
Using Intelligence in Food Choices
Are We Healthier?
Scale of Change
We Can Make a Difference
Saving the Environment
Time Compression
Lamenting the Foods of Old
The Wysong Directory of Alternative Resources
Prevention/Therapy Guide
Dr. Wysong is a former veterinary clinician and surgeon, college instructor in human anatomy, physiology and the origin of life, inventor of numerous medical, surgical, nutritional, athletic and fitness products and devices, research director for the present company by his name and founder of the philanthropic Wysong Institute. He is author of The Creation-Evolution Controversy now in its eleventh printing, a new two volume set on philosophy for living, several books on nutrition, prevention and health for people and animals and over 15 years of monthly health newsletters. He may be contacted at Wysong@Wysong.net and a free subscription to his e-Health Letter is available at http://www.wysong.net
Fungal infection of the nails is the one of the... Read More
Mom was right to insist on us eating our vegetables.... Read More
There are actually three common types of arthritis. These are... Read More
When the immune system in our body finds or realizes... Read More
One of the most popular myths I hear from my... Read More
Many doctors and others in the health field may tell... Read More
Herbal medicine has its origins in ancient cultures including those... Read More
Glasses, contacts, or surgery. These are the usual choices offered... Read More
Treating arthritis is not easy. Apart from the regular medication,... Read More
It is hard to believe, almost unthinkable. Everyday we are... Read More
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine used for over... Read More
Since the dawn of civilization, man has always turned to... Read More
The gallbladder is a 3 to 4 inch-long pear-shaped organ... Read More
Swedish massage is the most common form of relaxation massage... Read More
With the increased usage of herbs for treatment of ailments... Read More
Athlete foot is a common skin infection that is caused... Read More
Better Living With Essential OilsPractical formulas you can use in... Read More
Why do the Japanese have the longest lifespan? Last month... Read More
Vibrational medicine attempts to treat people with various forms of... Read More
Hypnosis is probably not what you think it is. Hypnosis... Read More
Keeping in tune with our commitment to providing the latest,... Read More
Alternative medicine is gaining more attention every day. The idea... Read More
Modern medical science has not been able to produce a... Read More
We can find many beneficial uses for natural herbs and... Read More
Autoimmune disorders, lupus, Sjogrens, MS, IBS, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia... Read More
The sources of the original "natural high," endorphins and ekephalins... Read More
Bedwetting also known as nocturnal Enuresis is a common problem... Read More
Have you ever attempted to perform a simple act and... Read More
In June 2002, I was a bridesmaid at my cousin's... Read More
Patchouli's History and UsesAh, Patchouli oil - people seem to... Read More
Can Color Therapy Be Used With Other Healing Techniques?Yes, color... Read More
I have been practicing an advanced form of qigong for... Read More
What exactly is infrared, or radiant heat? No need to... Read More
Have you ever read or have been told that "it... Read More
Is Olive Oil one of Nature's seven original wonders?According to... Read More
If you're anything like me, then you've got a certain... Read More
HERBAL PRODUCTS are comprised of herbal care remedies, such as... Read More
Here are four different herbs that can give you hemorrhoid... Read More
I am looking for freedom in my life. And I... Read More
"Hypnosis" refers to the power that words and ideas have... Read More
We measure our world by the limits of our knowledge... Read More
Do you like the arthritis pain relief you get from... Read More
If you suffer migraines or chronic headaches, you are not... Read More
The organic movement, which started with organic food, is moving... Read More
If you are conscious, have an IQ higher than about... Read More
Those who have watched the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"... Read More
Just because something is labeled or deemed "natural' does not... Read More
The term "organic" is used everywhere. What exactly does that... Read More
Plantar Warts are growths which occur on the bottom of... Read More
Many disciplines are designed to program the subconscious. But except... Read More
Intravenous chelation therapy was more popular than oral chelation initially.... Read More
Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland situated under... Read More
It's amazing what you can find when you start your... Read More
Stress caused by the day-to-day issues of home life and... Read More
Asthma can be a serous and often frightening condition that... Read More
Can magnets actually help us feel better? When I first... Read More
The sources of the original "natural high," endorphins and ekephalins... Read More
Hoshin Roshi Ryu is a scientific system for achieving an... Read More
Motion sickness is a normal response to real, perceived, or... Read More
Problems with sinuses, give rise to headaches, so you have... Read More
Complementary Medicine is the use of natural therapy and medicines... Read More
Royal Jelly is a milky substance produced by the worker... Read More
Dr. Roger Callahan is and American psychologist who discovered Thought... Read More
Have you been hearing about detoxification more often? That's because... Read More
If you have acid reflux or heartburn, using natural remedies... Read More
Insomnia ? according to the dictionary is a chronic inability... Read More
Alternative Medicine |