By Saya Norm
According to the confirmed shreds of evidence, ancient medical practice was existed 10,000 years before. But modern medical practice was well developed only.
In the 19th and 20th centuries with foundations of genetics, germs theory and antibiotics therapy. In the 1950s, the structure of DNA was uncovered and then the human genome project was completed in 2003. With the help of modern technologies, man had better known about the relationship between genes and major chronic diseases. Since the dawn of the Age of Genetics, the common opinion has been that DNA determines so much of who we are — from eye and hair colour to susceptibility to certain addictions, disorders, and even cancer.
However, until the end of the 20th century, almost all different medicines assumed that gene-related diseases were untreatable. Also in traditional Myanmar medicine, those diseases are defined as Wootnar (disease of compensation) and Kannar (disease of karma) and put them on the list of impossible to cure.
To this day, millions of people believe they are victims of heredity and attribute poor health to inevitable biochemical mechanics rather than a combination of mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual causes. There is no doubt that some diseases, such as Huntington’s chorea, beta thalassemia, and cystic fibrosis, can be blamed entirely on one faulty gene. But single-gene disorders affect less than two per cent of the population; the vast majority of people come into this world with genes that should enable them to live a happy and healthy life. The diseases that are today’s scourges — diabetes, heart disease, and cancer — short-circuit a happy and healthy life. These diseases, however, are not the result of a single gene, but of complex interactions among multiple genes and environmental factors.
The confusion of people occurred with the misunderstanding of two words; correlation and causation. Let’s see the difference between those words based on a given situation. An ignition key, for example, can ignite the car to operate and the word correlation can be used in this scenario. The key is correlated with the control of the car. But the key can’t control the car without the help of a man.
The person who turns the key actually controls the car. The genes related to causing diseases are the same phenomenon. The specific genes are correlated with an organism’s behaviour and characteristics. But these genes are not activated until something triggers them. The notion that genes control biology is a supposition that has yet to be proven and, in fact, has been undermined by the latest scientific research.
The science of epigenetics, which literally means “control above genetics”, has profoundly changed our understanding of how life is controlled. Epigenetic research has established that DNA blueprints passed down through genes are not set in concrete at birth. The genes are not destiny. Environmental influences including nutrition, stress, social engagement and emotion can modify those genes without changing their basic blueprints. In this article, I’d like to emphasize the role of mental activity. One of the most important mental activities is social communication. An epigeneticist Steve Cole discovered that whole sectors of genes look markedly different in lonely people versus people who are socially secure.
In fact, social isolation is the best established and most robust social or psychological risk factor for disease out there. Nothing can compete. Of the 19,000 human genes, lonely and not lonely people showed sharply different gene expression responses in 209 genes, many of which play roles in inflammatory immune responses. That is why, among HIV carriers, lonely ones succumb so much faster to the disease than socially active ones. A similar result was also seen in the health comparison between poor kids and well-off kids. The poverty influence only didn’t affect their health but kids’ perception of their vulnerability and their perception of how scary the world is, did. Thus, poor kids showed more asthma attacks and other health problems.
Ultimately, belief modification can induce rapid changes in gene activity.
When individuals raise their levels of optimism and deepen their social connections, hey not only raise their level of happiness but also dramatically improve every single business and educational outcome tested for. Belief is important in healing because it plays a significant role in the mind-body connection and the overall well-being of an individual. Why belief is important in treating major diseases?
There are reasons which are crucial in the healing process. Those reasons are like these.
– Belief fosters hope and optimism which are essential components of the healing process. Hope provides individuals with the strength and determination to persevere through difficult times while optimism promotes a positive outlook and expectation for a better outcome. By nurturing belief individuals can maintain hope and optimism which can have a profound impact on their overall healing experience.
– Belief in healing empowers individuals by giving them a sense of control over their health. It allows them to actively participate in their own healing process rather than passively relying solely on medical interventions. This sense of control can positively influence treatment adherence, reduce anxiety and enhance overall well-being.
– Belief in the possibility of healing can motivate individuals to actively engage in their own recovery journey. When people believe that they have the power to influence their health outcomes, they are more likely to take proactive steps such as adhering to treatment plans, adopting healthy lifestyle changes and seeking appropriate support. Belief can provide the necessary resilience and determination to overcome challenges and setbacks along the healing path.
– The mind and body are intricately connected and our thoughts emotions and beliefs can have a profound impact on our physical well-being. Positive beliefs and attitudes can boost the immune system, reduce stress and improve overall health. On the other hand, negative beliefs and pessimistic attitudes can hinder healing and exacerbate illness or symptoms. By cultivating positive beliefs and maintaining a hopeful mindset individuals can facilitate their own healing process.
– The placebo effect refers to the phenomenon where a person experiences a positive response to a treatment simply because they believe it will work even if the treatment itself doesn’t have any pharmacological effects. This highlights the power of belief in influencing the body’s response and healing process. Believing in the efficacy of a treatment can activate the body’s natural healing mechanisms and enhance the overall outcome.
Gene alone can’t decide your destiny. Even when you’ve inherited genes from your biological parents, they might or might not be active in your own markup.
A condition in which a gene is activated, in other words, gene expression can be affected by your experience and even by your thoughts and feelings. More recent discoveries show that the epigenome can and does change during your entire lifetime. Alterations are made in response to your environment, which includes your surroundings, life experiences, diet, personal behaviour and even beliefs.
It is true that problems caused by our behavioural genes can be fixed by our minds. We can experience personal empowerment. By assessing our thoughts and then through editing and reversing negative thoughts, we can manifest a healthy, happy and harmonious life. It is mind-over-genes matter.
