Diseases - Do germs cause them? Do viruses make us sick?Most modern medicine is based on the germ theory of diseases as proposed by Louis Pasteur (1822-1895). In this theory, the body is viewed as a sterile machine that will operate properly unless a foreign substance is introduced. It is thought that when specific bacteria enter the body, they produce a specific illness. To return the patient to health, antibiotics and various chemicals are used to destroy these organisms. No bacteria, no sickness. According to this theory, health is defined as the absence of any germs that might cause ill health. This theory says that different viruses affect different parts of the body. The basic thought is that sickness is localized in one system and that health will be restored when the bacteria is removed from that system. This assumes that the rest of the body is healthy and only this one part needs help. The goal of medicine using this theory is to make sure that each body system works properly, and it will if it is free from bacterial and viral infection. French physiologist Claude Bernard (1813-1878) understood the concept of the whole. He emphasized the importance of the body’s internal environment. In contrast to Pasteur’s doctrine, Bernard taught that bacteria could not produce disease unless the environment was unbalanced. His theory was that the whole must be sick before any germs can make us ill. Microbiologist Rene Debous agreed with this basic principle, saying, ’most bacterial diseases are caused by organisms present in the body of a normal person. The bacteria or virus become the cause of illness when a disturbance arises which upsets the balance of the body'. So, it is not the presence of bacteria or viruses that cause illness; it is the imbalance of the body’s normal functions that fails to hold the bacteria in check. The bacteria is always there. Some are necessary to the body’s functions. But they only cause illness if the body is in a weakened or upset state. Microscopist Royal R. Rife, in the 1930’s, found that by altering the environment he could change harmless bacteria into deadly ones. More importantly, by returning the environment of the body to a state of wholeness, the potentially deadly bacteria could again be rendered harmless. A poorly balanced environment results in reduced immunity and more serious ill health. Diseases such as cancer diabetes, or Alzheimer’s results from instability of the internal environment and is only secondarily affected by the alien bacteria. They result from an imbalance of the whole, a chaos and discord of the internal environment. Pasteur denounced his own theory on his death bed, saying, ‘Bernard is right. The bacteria is nothing. The environment is all important. ‘Being whole’ is the key to better health. If the whole of the environment is disturbed from its healthy whole condition, disease is inevitable. This is not solely because of a foreign invader, but because of an imbalance and malnourished internal environment. Wholeness might be defined as health restored. This is balance at all levels, from the whole to each system, to each organ, to each cell, to each chemical reaction in the cells. When the cells do not work properly, the organ malfunctions. But many of the reasons for problems at the chemical level have to do with lifestyle choices that the person makes and lives out. All effective remedies for disease must take into consideration the whole person. Restoration of the body’s health begins with an understanding that supplying the body with ‘good things’ is foundational to becoming whole.
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