Explanation of the philosophy

For the innocently modern-thinking human being, the term “urheimisch“ already represents a certain challenge. “Particularly in medicine, what are the advantages of an approach oriented towards the roots of the human being in the era of globalization and in light of triumphs of chemistry and technology? – one may ask.

More and more scientific results support the “urheimische” philosophy.
First, in academic offers in the field of ethnomedicine (institutes, chairs, courses).

Second, in modern drug research that has discovered, for example, that innate features significantly influence the effects and side effects of pharmaceuticals. These features transmitted by genes are partly passed on only within families but also within complete ethnic groups. Morphine used as painkiller during surgery, for example, is degraded more quickly in children of African origin than in white children. Therefore, dosing must be adjusted according to that principle.

American studies have shown that important physiological systems in patients with black skin suffering from high blood pressure are quite different from white patients. Thus, certain high blood pressure medicines such as beta blockers or ACE inhibitors are less effective for therapy and calcium channel blockers are first choice medicines.

What is also clear is that ethnic differences are correlated with the geographic origin. Depending on the region they are in, human beings thus develop different and heritable metabolism abilities and features in interaction with their living environment.

In our “modern” time, our body is confronted with so many artificial substances as never before. Food plants cultivated in industrial agriculture increasingly contain chemical additives from fertilizers and pesticides, whereas the content of healthy ingredients is sharply declining. Old and established varieties can represent an “urheimische” alternative to these sometimes genetically modified new varieties. Ironically, their cultivation is fatally threatened to be massively restricted on the basis of planned EU regulations. As if this is not enough – the supply of synthetically produced food supplements and chemical drugs is increasing steadily. This does not remain without consequences: the majority of the population suffers from intolerances and other health problems. Every third person now shows allergic reactions. The numerous alien substances have become potential allergens to which the body responds with the production of antibodies. The number of antibodies, however, is limited. If more foreign substances appear than the body can repel, allergic reactions will occur and the immune system will be burdened. In the long run, this even makes the healthiest body sick.

Adaptation of an organism to foreign substances lasts many generations. In people, millions of small genetic alterations have taken place over the course of evolution - mainly via adaptive radiation - [a] by which humans are optimally and individually adapted to their homeland and local living conditions. This genetic adaptation takes place over very long time periods (over thousands of years). In contrast, short-term adaptations of the organism (over the course of hundreds of years) seem to be made via epigenetic modifications [b]. The information of the genome itself does not change but instead its subordinated use or implementation changes.

From a biological point of view, it therefore makes sense to make use of the adaptation of our organism to its environment. The nature familiar to us provides digestible and healthy remedies and food for the people living in it. This particularly applies with respect to the wide range of foreign and toxic substances that modern humans must face again and again. Without reflection to our roots, we cannot predict where the journey of the current generation is heading, since these humans no longer live in an “urheimisch” manner.

“Those who wish to avoid the risk of negative effects on health are better off relying on “urheimische” foodstuffs and remedies”

So summarized Münster geneticist Prof. em. Dr. K. Müller in a letter to Dr. G. Pandalis.

New studies repeatedly confirm the “urheimische” philosophy of Dr. Pandalis and show that isolated substances, for example, do not achieve the desired effect. What is even worse, the opposite happens – mice with existing tumors show accelerated tumor growth when treated with isolated antioxidants [2].

1. Wennerstrand P, Mårtensson LG, Söderhäll S, Zimdahl A, Appell ML: Methotrexate binds to recombinant thiopurine S-methyltransferase and inhibits enzyme activity after high-dose infusions in childhood leukaemia. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2013 Sep;69(9):1641-9.
2. Urban TJ: Race, ethnicity, ancestry, and pharmacogenetics. Mt Sinai J Med. 2010 Mar-Apr;77(2):133-9.
   
   

a) Adaptive Radiation = Term used in evolutionary biology; (lat. adaptare – to adapt; radiatus – radiant) - diversification (radiation) of a less specialized plant or animal species into many more specialized species whereby they specifically accommodate (adapt) to the present environmental conditions.

b) Epigenetics = field of biology; (gr. epi – beyond) deals with cell properties that are inherited but not set out in the genomic sequence.