September 2005

Hello,
One of the reasons I don’t ever stop studying, be it medicine or otherwise, is that I am always in search of the truth. “Truth” is relative in the world of medicine, as you may already know, but you will see more about it in this newsletter. I’ve chosen to share what I think is key information about cell functioning and protomorphogens, which form the basis of much of my therapeutic treatment.

On another note, I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by Dr. Meg Jordan on her Global Medicine Hunter radio show a few weeks ago. What a great host she is, always interesting, always provocative. If you’d like to hear the interview, it is available for listening online at www.megjordan.com — look for the 8/21/05 edition under the Radio Archives tab.

Before closing, I want to mention that I’ll once again be joining Sally Fallon and a group of distinguished speakers in the Washington DC area for the 6th annual Wise Traditions conference, November 11-14, 2005. For more information, you can visit the WAPF website, www.westonaprice.org. I hope to see some of you there.

Best,
Tom Cowan

Focus: The Truth about DNA & Cell Function

Every age in human history has certain “truths” that seem to be the background of the intellectual activity of that era. These “truths” are the ideas and beliefs that one could get virtually unanimous agreement on amongst the general population and the academic elites. The problem with these “truths” is that as time goes on they change, revealing themselves not to be truths after all, but merely widely agreed on concepts of reality. True seekers always question, even that which seems to be universally agreed upon in one’s time.

Such is the case with the current view of the relationship between DNA and the function of our cells. Since the discovery of DNA in 1954 and the gradual uncovering of how DNA is translated into the proteins that make up all biological life, a central dogma has guided the study of genetics. That dogma is that DNA is comprised of independent, separate genes, that there are specific sequences of the nucleotides which make up this DNA, which become translated into RNA, which then in turn becomes processed into proteins. Implicit in this understanding is that genes are fixed entities, that this translation process is uni-directional — DNA to RNA to protein — and not in any other direction, and that each protein is coded by one gene. Everything in the era of biotechnology, genetics, and gene research is based on this understanding.

What this means is that if you take a gene from a flounder and put it into a tomato, the only new thing that happens is you get copies of this new flounder gene expressed into this particular protein in the new bio-engineered tomato plant. There are many other examples I could give to demonstrate this, but the important point here is the “accepted” theory of how genes/DNA/proteins work.

In the last years of the 20th century one of the greatest scientific projects in the history of mankind was completed: The entire human genome (sequence) of genes was mapped, and the number of proteins was counted. Unfortunately, there was a problem. Researchers found there were 30,000 genes and over 200,000 proteins (a few more than your average fruit fly). This was an astonishing result: How could 30,000 genes code for 200,000 proteins, if each protein is purportedly coded by only one gene? It seems that the central dogma has failed to stand the test of the facts.
Genome mapping – True or False?

In fact, a number of renegade scientists had been predicting this for many years. They claimed the DNA is only the storage part of the system and that specific proteins in the cells actually “cut and paste” the DNA sequences to make “what they want”. In other words, the proteins control the DNA, not the other way around. And this whole system is very flexible so that it can meet the ongoing, changing needs of the organism. If a certain effect is needed, the proteins can actually re-arrange the DNA, even to make a completely new protein. Biological systems are far less fixed, far more creative and adaptable than previously thought.

One way I like to think of this system is like a game of Scrabble. The object in Scrabble is to use letters (DNA sequences) to make words (proteins). You need letters or you can’t make words, but in no way do the letters determine the word. A-T-E can be made into “ate”, “eat” or “tea”, depending on the intention of the player. It is the intention that becomes the key factor here. Likewise, intention works through the proteins to determine the life and activity of the cells. No wonder genetic engineering is such a misguided nightmare. The process of genetic engineering is like putting a new letter into the alphabet: It will not make just one new protein as we are told, but will literally change everything. This change, so far, doesn’t appear likely to be positive. The mistake with its accompanying ramifications goes right back to the belief in the “truth” of the central dogma which, as we’ve seen, is actually not the truth at all.

Therapeutics: Protomorphogens

We’ve enlightened ourselves on the “truth” about DNA sequences and the making of proteins. How does this relate to therapeutics and medicine? In the middle part of the last century, Royal Lee, one of the true geniuses of medicine and founder of Standard Process, was looking for medicines that would help normalize the function of the different organs. He came upon the idea that there are proteins in the cell’s nucleus, called nucleoproteins or protomorphogens, that somehow control the activity of the cell. He also postulated that illnesses become chronic when these nucleoproteins leak out of injured cells. This leakage then calls on the body’s immune system to digest the damaged cells, which leads to more leakage of these proteins, which keeps the whole cycle moving. This process is the phenomenon we now know of as auto-immune disease, in which the body essentially digests itself. Thus, Royal Lee was the first modern discoverer of auto-immunity and of the proteins that control the functioning of the DNA. Metaphorically, like discovering the intention of the person in the Scrabble game, his findings describe the way this intention is translated into a cellular effect.

Royal Lee then reasoned that if a cell was not making what it needs — therefore causing dis-ease — if he gave healthy protomorphogens to the sufferer, these protomorphogens would direct those cells to restore healthy function. He also reasoned that if you wanted to stop the antibodies from assaulting these cells, you could decoy the antibodies by eating these same protomorphogens from the cells the antibodies were attacking. So if your thyroid gland is not making correct type or amount of thyroid proteins, taking thyroid protomorphogens (in this case from a cow) will direct the thyroid to make the correct proteins. Or if you are making antibodies against your cartilage (rheumatoid arthritis), eating cartilage nucleoproteins will direct the antibody attack against the ingested cartilage nucleoproteins and leave your own knees alone. This was the theory which is the basis for what we call oral tolerance therapy.

In a paper in Practical Allergy and Immunology (9:4, 1994) entitled “Oral Tolerance in the Treatment of Autoimmune Disease”, researchers found that oral tolerance therapy works for every auto-immune disease they tested. This included type 1 diabetes, uveitis, Multiple Sclerosis, and others. In the Standard Process repertoire there are protomorphogens, nuclear proteins isolated from a cow, for each organ. I have found these medicines to be among the best for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or even for general restoration of an organ function. When this therapy is combined with good nutrition to help the organ heal and otherwise regain function, it becomes one of the most powerful combinations of therapeutics I have come across. In Standard Process nomenclature, the protomorphogens are always referred to by organ and by the PMG, as in Utrophin PMG, which is Uterus nuclear proteins.

The story of protomorphogens is a study in effective medicine, but also one of the breaking of medical dogma. It teaches us that truths that turn out to be not true can poison our thinking and keep us from grasping helpful ideas that are right before our noses.

Preview

Fourfold Conference Goes Straight to the Heart

“Blissful”, “…perfect in every way”, “…a life-changing experience.” These are but a few of the wonderful comments shared by some of the more than 160 participants in the inaugural Fourfold Path to Healing Conference held in Oakland July 29-31st. The conference was based on Tom Cowan’s book The Fourfold Path to Healing (with Sally Fallon and Jaimen McMillan).

From the opening speech on, the table was set for a truly unique experience. Dr. Cowan began the event with his lecture “The Heart is Not a Pump”, addressing the diverse audience of doctors, nutrition professionals, teachers, parents, and healing arts practitioners from all walks of life. Breakout sessions included talks by Dr. Cowan, as well as food activist and Nourishing Traditions author Sally Fallon. Movement sessions were led by Spacial Dynamics founder Jaimen McMillan, where scores of people were swept up in an incredible ebb and flow of energy. Participants were treated to meals and snacks lovingly prepared by Wise Food Ways chef Jessica Prentice.

The lectures were captivating and informative, but there seemed to be one overall uniting factor: the food. Delicious smells continually wafted from the kitchen, and the unique menu and the quality of the ingredients was apparent. Chef Jessica met with many of the farmers and ranchers in creating the menu, and shared the background and history of the food before each meal with the participants. At mealtime, the auditorium was transformed, and meals were shared as students from the East Bay Waldorf High School serenaded the crowd with classical instrumental music while they ate.

We’re stiIl gathering stories and would love to hear from those who attended. Won’t you take a few minutes to send us a note with your comments and reflections? You can email them to us at conference@fourfoldhealing.com.

If you missed the conference, MP3 CD’s will be available soon at a nominal fee (thanks to the generous funding by Joel Rosenthal). Please check back to our website in the next few weeks for more information.
About the author: Carol Thompson is the mother of two children, a graphic designer, freelance writer and Waldorf teacher at her home pre-school, Mama Bears Playcare in Pinole, California.