(r)Evolutionizing Health at its Origins:
Healing the most primitive parts of human beings living in the modern world
Evolutionary mismatch: Our primitive circuitry and our 21st century environment
Restoring health and resilience in the human body requires that we must first understand the universal mismatch between our evolutionary biology and the realities of life in the modern world. Our physiology is not compatible with our modern-day environment, physically or socially. Modern medicine has become very skilled at preventing death, yet chronic illness is on the rise because no amount of technological advancement can restore balance to an organism whose most primitive needs for safety and connection (defined below) are not being met. Achieving true and lasting health requires that we understand and honor the needs of our most primitive biology, so that our capacity for health, growth and restoration can be reclaimed.
Navigating your way through chronic illness means understanding the Origins of wellness. Let OCC show you the way.
The Science Behind the OCC Difference:
The Autonomic Nervous System:
The most primitive circuit of our autonomic nervous system is the dorsal vagus as described by Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory. When a human’s need for cues of safety is overwhelmed by environmental messages of threat, be they relational, pathogenic, or from physiologic lack of health, the brilliant mechanisms of conservation are engaged. While this appropriate response to threat (be it real or perceived threat) serves the survival goals of the organism initially, the myriad threats from our 21st century environment eventually cause the messaging from the ANS to get stuck with a pattern of protection and conservation, disallowing the proper digestion, detoxification, and resolution of inflammation necessary for maintenance of well-being.
The Immune System:
The immune system is responsible for surveillance against threats, but also for healing and restoration after injury or infection. The immune system has internal communication capacity, but first and foremost, it gets its instructions from the autonomic nervous system (ANS). When the messaging from the ANS is that of threat, the immune system is alerted in a congruent pattern, and our most primitive immune cells, the mast cells, are activated and on alert. When the messaging for a state of protection persists for too long, an internal environment of chronic, systemic inflammation ensues, and the immune system is directed away from healing and restoration.
Additionally, increasing exposure to an overwhelming number of environmental threats (pollution, pesticides, toxins, pathogens, antibiotics) also cause our mast cells (our most primitive perimeter guardians) to become overprotective, increasing inflammation and placing even more demand on the mitochondria to keep us going.
The Mitochondria:
The organelles that create the energy necessary for every activity of life within our cells—the mighty mitochondria—evolved from a symbiotic bacterium such that our multicellular, complex human organism relies on these little “energy factories” for our very existence. Our mitochondria are brilliantly resourced and self-sustaining under the right conditions. But, our modern-day lifestyles place a level of stress on the mitochondria that requires them to work around the clock to keep up with the energy demand. The act of making energy creates exhaust (free radicals) which, in excess, damages mitochondrial integrity, and yet even more energy is required to keep cleaning it all up. A circular challenge ensues — too many repairs requiring too much of our available energy, causing the mitochondria to quickly fall behind. Before you know it, you barely have enough energy to keep your systems going, with inadequate energy for running the immune system’s process of inflammation resolution. Resolving inflammation is not a passive process — it requires energy and sufficient resolution phase chemistry.
When our most primitive immune cells, the mast cells, have become overprotective due to being overwhelmed by environmental threats, and are constantly being instructed by our primitive ANS circuitry that there is danger — inflammation becomes widespread and chronic, creating even more demand for the mitochondria — resulting in an organism that’s completely exhausted and unable to keep up with all that’s required to maintain optimal health.
Without enough energy for healing and repair, organ system function is eventually compromised, as is any sense of vitality.
