When it comes to understanding infectious disease modern medicine relies heavily on what is called germ theory.
Germ theory states that disease is caused by pathogens or germs that invade an organism, and their presence in the body causes disease in the host.
Germ theory was postulated back in the 16th century and continued to develop as science progressed and could actually begin to see these germs – viruses and bacteria – and develop cures for the diseases they caused.
Louis Pasteur, the French scientist who discovered pasteurization in the mid 19th century, was pivotal in the development of germ theory.
His groundbreaking work on vaccinations – where he weakened the virus before reinjecting it into farm animals -catapulted germ theory into the public eye.
Pasteur went on to postulate that every germ could have its cure – and that these cures could save mankind from the threat of infectious disease.
But Pasteur had a rival named Antoine Beuchamp.
Beuchamp disagreed with germ theory. He stated that the health of an organism did not depend on the germs that invaded it but rather on the status of microzymas in the host.
He postulated that microzymas were tiny molecular granulations which build and recycle an organism. They theoretically respond to the internal environment of the organism (such as the pH or acid/alkaline state) and therefore can be either beneficial or harmful – depending on the health of the host.
Few supported Beuchamp’s microzyma/host theory and he was shunned. Pasteur’s germ theory ruled the day. The microbe was everything – the host was irrelevant.
Yet there is a myth circulating that on his deathbed Pasteur conceded to Beuchamp and declared: the microbe is nothing, the terrain is everything. (I believe the first time this was seen in writing was in 1922 a few decades after Pasteur died)
Whether the deathbed story is true or false – it highlights an important point – while germ theory is important – perhaps it’s not the whole story.
I don’t believe Beuchamps microzymas have ever been identified in the cell, but we do know that the health of an organism does affect how it responds to germs and microbes.
How can you determine if your body is healthy and resilient to invading germs and organisms?
How can you improve your own terrain to create health and resilience?
Stay tuned…
