We live in a world that is run on false pretense and lies. Sciences and politics that used to hold true yet have since been outmoded are still paving the roads of modern “breakthroughs”. This is all only relevant to mark the significance of what Bruce Lipton is saying in his book, the Biology of Belief. In short but not summary, Biology is wrong. By wrong I don’t mean to say that we have no cells and we are actually not breathing or eating to sustain life. By wrong I mean that the Newtonian physics that have been used to guide researchers and cell biologists to their conclusions in health, medicine and general happenings in the body is rather limited in contrast to Quantum physics, which is actually quite applicable, according to Bruce Lipton, in cell biology research. A symptom or side-effect to a disease or medication can only be traced through a very specific chain mapped out using Newtonian physics where the possibilities span a great deal further with a similar mapping using Quantum physics instead.
Simply, we control what our cells do, be it consciously or unconsciously. The environment of the cell is even more crucial than the genetics behind it:
"In fact, only 5% of cancer and cardiovascular patients can attribute their disease to heredity. [Willett 2002] While the media made a big hoopla over the discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes, they failed to emphasize that ninety-five percent of breast cancers are not due to inherited genes. The malignancies in a significant number of cancer patients are derived from environmentally induced epigenetic alterations and not defective genes." (Lipton, pg 72)
In other words: "DNA does not control biology and the nucleus itself is not the brain of the cell. Just like you and me, cells are shaped by where they live. In other words, it's the environment..."(Lipton, pg 73)
When matter only exists in its tendency to exist, you’ll find that fewer conclusions can be written in stone. In a book that’s as funny as biology can be, though still reading inevitably close to a text book, Bruce Lipton redefines the cell and its inner workings with computer sciences and quantum physics that were not available when cells were first studied and “understood”. i.e.:
“At that early morning hour I was redefining my understanding of the structural organization of the membrane. Starting first with the lollipop-like phospholipid molecules and noting that they arranged in the membrane like regimented soldiers on parade in perfect alignment. By definition, a structure whose molecules are arranged in regular, repeated pattern is defined as a crystal. There are two fundamental types of crystals. The crystals that most people are familiar with are hard and resilient minerals like diamonds, rubies and even salt. The second kind of crystal has a more fluid structure even though its molecules maintain an organized pattern. Familiar examples of liquid crystals include digital watch faces and laptop computer screens.” (Lipton, pg89- 90)
Lipton was able to conclude that “the membrane is a liquid crystal”. Additionally, Lipton continues his defining by noting that only some things may pass through the membrane while others can not. “The membrane is a semiconductor”. Lastly, Lipton notes that a membrane has receptor or “gate” and channel molecules. “The membrane contains gates and channels”. Lipton’s final description of the membrane is “The membrane is a liquid crystal semiconductor with gates and channels.” This redefined cell is important because of it’s similarity in definition to a computer chip. “A crystal semiconductor with gates and channels”. In other words, cell membranes and computer chips are structurally and functionally equivalent. This hypothesis was confirmed in 1997 by an Australian research consortium headed by B.A.Cornell when they successfully turned a biological cell membrane into a digital-readout computer chip.
My first question after the first few chapters of this book was “how does belief fit into any of this?” Not too long after my question Bruce responded with the placebo effect. A placebo as many people know is a sugar-pill that really shouldn’t help the body any more than any other sugar you put in your mouth and swallow. However there is incredible evidence showing that many human ailments are at the very least relieved by these placebos. In fact some people taking placebos will suffer from the common side effects that the pill they think they are taking exhibits. Take most medications on an empty stomach and you'll feel nauseous. Take a placebo on an empty stomach, you might just get a stomach ache.
The fact that you believe the pill will work makes it work. Hence, your belief controls your biology. Bruce Lipton goes further in his epilogue to explain what all of this information thrown together and analyzed means. The spiritual implications alone are enough to keep you turning the pages. If you are not interested in spirituality then the possible physical and mental benefits you could experience through controlling and changing your day to day beliefs is more than worth paying attention to.
All in all the Biology of Belief is one of the more informative and interesting books I’ve read. Biology coupling with Quantum physics could just be the beginning of a very enlightened society. Quantum Biology coupling with some intense and positive beliefs could take that same enlightened society and cause them to change the world and everyone, thing in it. It would be in violation of every moral fiber in my body not to recommend this book to others.
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