posted June 20, 2004 11:17 AM         

VANCOUVER (CP) - Forget the hype surrounding the Human Genome Project and
start realizing that perceptions, thoughts and beliefs have a bigger impact on
people's health than their genes, says a cellular biologist. Bruce Lipton is
among a small but growing number of researchers who say people need to take
responsibility for their environment instead of believing they are victims of their
genes.

Lipton, a former researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine,
now disagrees with the conventional belief that people are born with a set of
genes that control their lives.

Instead, he says genes adapt on an ongoing basis depending on the needs of
cells as they respond to the environment.

"Our perceptions turn on our genes and turn off our genes and our perceptions
can rewrite our genes," he said.

Lipton is taking his brand of the so-called "new biology" on the road, with
lectures scheduled in several American cities and, starting this month, in
Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax.

Despite the recent multibillion-dollar worldwide effort to map the human
genome - our genetic code - only about five per cent of diseases have any genetic
connection, he said from Santa Cruz, Calif.

"Genetics gives us a key into thinking about therapeutic approaches that can
have an impact but it's only one of the approaches that are necessary."

Scientists believe that findings from the worldwide Human Genome Project have
provided them with a blueprint of life that will help them unlock the
mysteries behind what causes diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's.

Treatments to prevent or treat various conditions are years away.

"As you change your perception, as you change your beliefs, you actually will
change the biological activation in your own biology," Lipton said.

Such beliefs swing the pendulum back to the nurture side of the classic
nature-nurture debate.

Even when the nucleus of a cell is removed, the cell will function well for
some time, proving that genes don't control an organism's behaviour, he said.

"Genes are involved but they're down in the level of control," he said.
"Environment is at the top level of control."

Dr. Craig Venter, head of Celera Genomics, the private company that mapped
the human genome along with publicly funded groups, recently said that too much
emphasis has been placed on genetic determinism and that the environment is a
big factor in health outcomes.

While the Human Genome Project involves billions of dollars in public funds,
drug companies will make the big profits as researchers work to develop new
treatments for diseases, Lipton said.

"Our vision has been so focused on the Human Genome Project that all of our
attention, by the media, was always directed that way, but interestingly
enough, scientists were finding all this new stuff that didn't get the coverage," he
said of the new biology.

The term seems to be interchangeable with "the biology of belief," put
forward by Herbert Benson, founder of Harvard University's Mind-Body Medical
Institute, who wrote the book Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Belief.

Placebo effects in clinical trials to test the effectiveness of various drugs
or treatments are a powerful illustration of how beliefs impact people.

Those given sugar pills often report an improvement in their symptoms because
they believe they're getting the proper drugs for their condition.

Results of a recent trial in Houston, Tex. featured on the Discovery Channel,
were particularly startling.

They showed that people who were lightly anesthetized before they had sham
knee operations - incisions made into their knees before they were sewn back up
- fared no worse than those who had a conventional arthroscopy.

The real surgery involved cleaning out the joint and scraping away cartilage.

The findings add weight to the emerging field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)
or mind-body medicine and could herald a change in the way doctors practise
medicine.

Several hospital studies have also shown that prayer is powerful medicine
when it comes to healing.

posted June 20, 2004 04:12 PM         

I think that this proves the power of our own personal thoughts are very strong. It also reinforces (to me) that a major cause of disease is DIS EASE.

I love everything you have to share, Gia. I'm thankful you're here in LL. You really are a god(ess)send.

posted June 20, 2004 10:09 PM         

Yes, I am very familiar indeed with Dr. Masaru Emoto's work and have been for many years. I wrote him a couple of letters asking for more information on his latest studies. He recieved an awful lot of publicity for the results of his polluted lake project. Many of his more doubtful, critical, and totally incredulous peers, were there to monitor results both before and after the imprinting. Japanese press went wild when he succeeded. You can read more on this subject by going directly to Teaselbaby's posting ---- PAPER REMEDIES on this very same healing forum.

Libra Sparkle,

When I see your name I always think of lights and especially

Yes, it's very interesting about Dis-ease is it not? Read PAPER REMEDIES for more clues.
A very wise teacher of mine used to tap me really hard on the forehead everytime I went off on a tangent and started to rant. He used to shout at me. I mean really shout,
"Gia, stop!!!. How many times have I told you that words have wings?" He also pulled and squeezed my left earlobe a lot, mainly as an illustration of the power of words to hurt. It is hard to keep reminding myself even today how not to use certain words by familiar habit. Is the saying of something the same as thinking it. Sure. Speaking is a thought expressed and writing it, just another specific manner of expression. Think about prayers, spells, mantras, all words used to MANIFEST. Lexi the words and you'll often find more clues that are both helpful and telling. I believe that the written word is often way more powerful. Why? I believe that it's because of it's permanence. A constant reminder of your projection of thought. Everytime you read it, you imprint again and even if it's only for a split few seconds it's an affirmation.

AFFIRMATION = AFFIRM = THERE IS A REASON IT HAS THE WORD FIRM RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

DISEASE = IS IDEA SAID.

Libra Sparkle. I'm going to take a dinner break and go back to the subject of your father later. I may need more info.and you may wish to do this in a more private manner in order to respect his privacy and mine. Let me know.

Lots and lots of

Gia.