The Sacred Medicine
German New Medicine (GNM) might seem to turn our understanding of health on its head, but in truth, we’ve been looking at things upside down for too long. “La Medicina Sagrada” (the Sacred Medicine) fleshes out what chiropractic has known for over 100 years: that the intelligence in the body is supremely capable of healing—and that even the “scariest” symptoms have not only a purpose, but a predictable path and resolution. We’re finally finding our feet, and expanding into a new scientific frontier of the body and psyche. Here, I’ll dive deeper into what I’ve learned and offer more ways to think about this fascinating topic.
Let’s start with some eye-opening studies on field mice and hamsters. Initially aimed at determining if smoke causes cancer, these studies reveal a profound confirmation of GNM’s principles. When researchers exposed both field mice and hamsters to smoke, surprisingly only field mice developed lung cancer, while the hamsters by and large did not. In fact, many hamsters outlived their smoke-free counterparts.
This puzzling difference stumped traditional scientists, but it makes perfect sense through the lens of GNM. In consideration of their biological history and ancestral programming, we know that field mice lived above ground in fields where the smell of smoke signaled a life-or-death emergency. For these mice, smoke means fire, and fire means imminent danger. So their biology is hardwired to react to this threat, triggering what GNM calls a “death fright” conflict shock.
In GNM, a “death fright” shock activates a biological program controlled by the brainstem. This program causes additional cells to grow in the alveoli of the lungs to help the organism absorb more oxygen and survive the perceived threat. Essentially, the body is trying to maximize oxygen intake to survive the danger, leading to alveoli cell growth.
Hamsters, however, have evolved to live underground where smoke isn’t encoded as a death-fright. They don’t have the same biological response to smoke because, in their natural habitat through aeons of time, smoke rarely, if ever, signaled immediate danger. So, when exposed to smoke, hamsters don’t initiate this biological adaptation program of alveoli cell growth.
What was once a biological mystery becomes a clear and logical expression of intelligent adaptation within the framework of GNM. Modern researchers might look for genetic differences to explain why hamsters don’t “get cancer” from smoke, hoping to find a “cancer-fighting gene.” However, this approach misses the bigger picture: The key difference lies in the evolutionary history and inherited biological responses of these two species.
Field mice have evolved in environments where smoke meant imminent danger, so they’ve developed a programmed response to this threat over generations. Hamsters, on the other hand, have a different evolutionary history, living underground where smoke is not a danger. Their biology is tuned to different dangers, which means they don’t react to smoke the same way.
The same logic can be applied to humans as well. We can ask ourselves the question, what is the biologically encoded wisdom pertaining to human health, and what are the lifestyles and environments most befitting our health as a species?
Understanding these nuances offers incredible insights into why some individuals get certain diseases while others do not, but it also reveals something bigger. It highlights the importance of our individual experiences in connection with our ancestral inheritance and how these factors shape our biological responses.
Unlocking a Predictive Power in Health
GNM sheds a lot of light on the differences in health outcomes between individuals as well as species. Now, let’s dive into the revolutionary predictive power that GNM offers us as humans—offering a first-ever natural science of health.
One of the most groundbreaking aspects of GNM is its ability to predict and understand health conditions through the lens of biological programs. At the heart of this predictive capability is the discovery of the Hamer Foci (HHs) in the brain. By locating these HHs in specific brain relays, we can ascertain which biological programs are currently active in an individual’s body.
Imagine we find an HH in the brainstem’s lung alveoli relay. This would tell us three critical things:
- The individual has experienced a “death fright” conflict, a sudden and acute fear of death either for themselves or a loved one.
- Their body is responding to this conflict by multiplying cells in the alveoli of the lungs to increase oxygen absorption—an intelligent survival mechanism.
- Once the conflict resolves, the HH in the brain will dissolve, leading to an inflammatory healing phase in the organ, the lung aveoli, characterized by symptoms like coughing and phlegm as the cells are broken down and removed.
Even without a CT scan of the brain, understanding the principles of GNM allows us to make remarkably accurate predictions about an individual’s health. By recognizing whether someone has experienced a certain biological conflict shock (a Dirk Hamer Syndrome-DHS) or not, we can anticipate whether their body would be engaged in a precise biological program of adaptation. Moreover, we can predict that when a given conflict resolves, the body will enter a necessary organ-specific healing phase, which presents as an acute, symptomatic inflammatory “itis.” Imagine if we saw such inflammation as healing without acute fear or panic.
But the true magic of GNM’s predictive power is clearest when we have brain scans. A CT scan can precisely identify active HHs in the brain, confirming whether a conflict has initiated a biological program. This insight is incredibly powerful, enabling us to see the direct link between brain activity, the psyche’s experiences, and physical symptoms.
Looking to the future, the potential for portable Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRT) devices is particularly exciting. Imagine a small, accessible device that families or holistic practitioners could use to scan the brain and map out active biological programs. With such a device, a family could scan their child’s brain to monitor for the activation of biological programs.
Here’s what they could do with this information:
- Identify Active Programs: Families could identify new biological programs as they become active in the body, providing insight into the child’s stressful experiences that they may have otherwise overlooked. These stressful conflicts then have direct organ effects.
- Understand the Biological Conflict Content: Knowing which brain relay and organ is affected by a biological program allows one to decode the specific conflict that the individual must have experienced. For instance, a brainstem lung alveoli program indicates a “death fright” conflict experience, while a cerebral cortex outer skin program indicates a “separation conflict.”
- Predict Healing Phases: With the active conflict identified, families can anticipate the symptoms of the healing phase, such as inflammation or other restoration processes, which will occur when that conflict is resolved. This ensures that they are prepared and not caught off guard by the symptoms.
When an individual enters the healing phase after resolving a conflict, their body requires a stable and safe environment to ensure the vagus nerve can function optimally.
Imagine the peace of mind this could bring. No longer would symptoms appear out of nowhere, triggering fear and panic. Instead, families would have a clear understanding of what to expect and why it’s happening. This knowledge transforms our culture’s approach to health, replacing fear and superstition with comprehension and anticipation.
This revolutionary system also empowers individuals to address health-related manifestations at their root cause. Each symptom corresponds to a biological program affecting the organ, which links back to an HH in a brain relay and therefore a specific type of biological conflict experience. By understanding these connections, we can predict and manage health more effectively than ever before.
The potential value of this knowledge is immeasurable, particularly in the hands of a chiropractor or holistic doctor who already works within a salutogenic model of care (more on this below). Imagine a world where health symptoms, including cancer, are no longer mysterious or frightening. Instead, they are understood as natural, predictable responses to life’s conflicts and challenges.
With GNM, we are on the brink of a new era in health science—one that liberates us from fear and empowers us with the foresight to navigate our health with confidence and clarity.
Integrating Salutogenesis and Polyvagal Theory
In our journey through German New Medicine (GNM), we’ve uncovered its profound predictive power and the revolutionary insights it offers into health and disease. Now, let’s delve into how the broader concepts of Salutogenesis and Polyvagal theory enrich our understanding of this new paradigm of health.
Salutogenesis, a term coined by medical sociologist Aaron Antonovsky, shifts the focus from disease maintenance to health creation. It emphasizes the importance of improving adaptability and resilience, the birthplace of our health expression. Central to Salutogenesis is our Sense of Coherence (SOC), which consists of three key factors: comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. Essentially, these represent an individual’s ability to understand (predict), manage, and find positive meaning in life’s stressful experiences.
This framework is a perfect complement to GNM within the context of scary symptoms. The ability to predict and understand the biological adaptive mechanisms that occur in response to conflicts, as highlighted by GNM, aligns seamlessly with the idea of comprehensibility in Salutogenesis. When individuals understand that their symptoms are predictable responses to specific conflict shocks, they gain a sense of control and manageability over their health. This understanding also helps them find meaning in their experiences, transforming fear into empowerment.
Polyvagal theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, explores the relationship between our nervous system, social connectivity and health. It highlights the crucial role of the vagus nerve, which regulates our physiological state and influences our ability to connect with others. According to this theory, feeling safe and supported by others is essential for our nervous system to function at an optimal level of health expression.
In GNM terms, when a biological conflict shock occurs (DHS), it’s almost always an isolating experience that disrupts our sense of safety and connection. Polyvagal theory provides a pragmatic antidote: community and social support, to align ourselves with our ideal nervous system resilience and state of function.
Now, let’s delve into the crucial role of the vagus nerve and the concept of vagotonia in the healing phase. For those studying GNM, we know that the post-conflict healing phase is characterized by something called “prolonged vagotonia.” This means that the healing and recovery from a resolved conflict is mediated by the vagus nerve. Therefore, all measures that support vagal function—especially creating a sense of safety—are crucial during this phase.
It turns out, not to much surprise, that sense of safety and community support are essential for successful recovery. “Vagotonia,” a state of the nervous system characterized by the dominance of the parasympathetic nervous system, is essential for healing. This state is crucial during the postconflict resolution phase when the body actively heals and repairs itself. However, the function of vagotonia depends heavily on the individual feeling safe. Without this sense of safety, the healing process can be disrupted, potentially leading to complications, especially if the healing phase is intensive due to a long-lasting prior conflict experience.
Understanding the hidden skill of harnessing vagotonia for oneself and others can transform our approach to healing. When an individual enters the healing phase after resolving a conflict, their body requires a stable and safe environment to ensure the vagus nerve can function optimally. This phase is a delicate time when the body’s resources are directed toward cellular restoration and system-wide recovery, making the role of the vagus nerve paramount.
The body will always navigate our future optimally and in accordance with our highest desire and purpose if it is free to do so.
Imagine a person who has just resolved a significant conflict. Their body shifts into vagotonia, initiating the healing phase. If this person experiences acute panic or fear during this critical time, it can be detrimental for their recovery. Acute stress disrupts the vagotonia state, preventing the healing process and potentially exacerbating symptoms. This underscores the importance of creating an environment that supports the vagus nerve’s function.
This is where the pragmatic side of Salutogenesis and Polyvagal theory come into play. Salutogenesis emphasizes improving adaptability and resilience, helping individuals build their Sense of Coherence (SOC)—the ability to understand, manage, and find meaning in their stressful experiences, and Polyvagal theory highlights the importance of social connection and safety for optimal nervous system function. These frameworks provide a foundation for a successful healthcare system of the future.
For pragmatic purposes, the greatest way to support the vagus nerve and the vagotonia healing phase is to bring people together in knowledge and understanding of what the body is expressing. When a community understands the conflict that the individual faced and the biological program that was activated, they can offer compassion, empathy, and practical support. This collective understanding prevents panic and fear, which are signals of danger that disrupt vagotonia.
Consider a family using the insights from GNM to support a member in the healing phase. By recognizing the symptoms as part of a predictable biological program, the family can provide a sense of safety and stability. (Additionally, their chiropractor can create an informed space of healing and community with hands-on support for the nervous system and physical body.) This creates an environment where the vagus nerve can facilitate healing effectively.
The connection between the mind and body in this context is profound. We, as humans, can become conscious co-creators of our healing journey.
Brain Constellations and Psychiatric Conditions
Dr. Hamer’s research offers a new framework for not only understanding biological symptoms as responses to unexpected conflict shocks, but goes even further with novel insights into “psychiatric conditions.”
Hamer has uncovered that these conditions or “psychoses,” such as bipolar disorders, aggressiveness, or obsessive compulsive behaviors (and many others) originate from a “constellation” of HH’s that affect opposite brain hemispheres (two or more conflicts landing in diametric parts of the brain). In other words, the individual is dealing with two or more distinct biological conflicts in life, in confluence together. With the onset of a constellation in the brain, we observe an immediate and significant shift in the individual’s personality. This whole area of research is one of the most intriguing branches of German New Medicine, and has the potential to revolutionize the study of psychology, including child development as well as parenting and education, and offers hope for those affected by such conditions.
A New Natural Science: A Workable Knowledge of Innate Intelligence
German New Medicine is rightly considered a “new natural science.” This designation is very significant. Like Ecology, Biology, or Physics, it has the potential to be indispensable for our progress as a human species. How should we understand this “new natural science?” One way is to recall what B.J. Palmer, the developer of chiropractic, referred to as a “workable knowledge of Innate Intelligence.”
In his later years, B.J. wanted to impress chiropractors with a vital message for the future. “Does Chiropractic Need Innate?” he asked. “I can hardly conceive of any chiropractic school being of any service to its students, or those graduates to their patients, without a workable knowledge of Innate Intelligence behind that sees all, knows all, does all. Nobody can know the fundamentals of chiropractic unless he knows, understands, and has a workable knowledge of Innate Intelligence in and behind that makes all things possible in a living, sick, and healthy body.”
The body will heal, unless the conflict resurfaces or new fears and panic disrupts the nervous system’s vagal tone. We can proactively address these issues if we simply learn to support each other with this new knowledge.
B.J. Palmer’s words offer an important philosophical groundwork to begin to comprehend the new natural science of health upon us today. At its core, a “workable knowledge of Innate Intelligence” comes down to trust. How do we harmonize with the Innate Intelligence of life? Through trust. Trusting is more than a choice; it’s a skill we can develop. In our ability to trust, we have the pre-eminent and essential key to our health and our future.
Yet in our current times, this is precisely the challenge. How can we trust the Innate Intelligence of life when we have an entire framework of medicine that labels its manifestations as “malignant”? The truth is we cannot trust Innate while remaining loyal to that framework. And this is our predicament. If we continue to view the living power within us as being “evil” and “malignant”, reproaching it with fear, then we will never reach our full potential as a species. Or better said, this full potential will never be free to unfold within us.
To cultivate trust in Innate Intelligence, we must replace our accumulated “rational” fears with reasonable trust, based on the knowledge and evidence of Innate Intelligence in action. This is the gift of GNM: showing that everything the body does, including every symptom it expresses, is remarkably intelligent, revealing a biological purpose within the context of our lived experiences.
When our body sends us signals, especially in the form of symptoms, we need to appreciate them as vital messages for us in the present moment, filled with meaning and intention, not accidental or defunct but quite the opposite: wise beyond measure.
When we achieve a rational love for life, nature, and the body, then we may finally uncover that “workable knowledge” of Innate Intelligence and see how life, in its totality, truly does express intelligence. This is when our understanding evolves into a sacred trust; not just thinking, but knowing, that the body will always navigate our future optimally and in accordance with our highest desire and purpose, if it is free to do so. When our body sends us signals, especially in the form of symptoms, we need to appreciate them as vital messages for us in the present moment, filled with meaning and intention, not accidental or defunct but quite the opposite: wise beyond measure.
Coming together at this time in history, we can experience the fulfillment of humanity’s innate potential. Although some aspects of our world may seem impossible to address, this just reflects the “impossible miracle” that lives within us that can grow beyond any obstacle. By learning how to engender trust, we unfold within us this impossible miracle, unleashing a truly sacred power of healing. With this power comes the power to live in wisdom and in purpose. And if we learn how to work with it, it can become the power that fulfills our future, unveiling the depths of our human interconnection, our love and recognition for one another, and a world that our hearts know is possible.
The insights and discoveries of GNM represent a gift to be nurtured and grown. This begins with awe and the humility to shed old, entrenched models of thinking; allowing a renewal of self-confidence and celebration for each other. We each have within us the ability to achieve great things—greater than we ever dreamed possible—by way of our reunion with nature’s Innate Intelligence. By coming together at this time in history with love and trust for our bodies, for ourselves, and for each other, we can experience the fulfillment of humanity’s innate potential.
I like to think of this fulfillment in terms of a newborn child’s development. We are one humanity, learning to stand upright and take our first steps in life. Decoding the body’s Innate Intelligence represents our first steps on a journey that will bring us to places we never thought possible.
Our philosophical evolution alongside the new science of GNM invites us to reconsider our views on health, healing, and the human experience. It opens us to embrace a new paradigm where the body and mind work together in a dynamic, interconnected process. We have before us the potential to revolutionize our approach to health, pragmatically speaking, leading us toward a future where we walk upright as a human family, fully aligned with the wisdom of our bodies and the clarity of our minds.
A New Look at Contagion and Metastasis
In modern healthcare, the hypothesis of cellular “metastasis” is widely accepted. For instance, a doctor may find a primary tumor in a patient’s liver and later discover another tumor in the lung alveoli. Traditionally, this sequence assumes a cell-mediated causal mechanism. However, German New Medicine (GNM) offers a deeper understanding by considering the psyche’s experience of panic, fear, and shock upon the discovery of the “primary” tumor.
In clinical settings, a tumor is often labeled “malignant” and “deadly.” If the patient interprets this diagnosis as a “death fright,” the psyche, via a precise relay in the brainstem, will activate one or more cellular growths in the lung alveoli. Thus, the secondary tumors are not due to the material transmission of “malignant cells” but an induced fear response in the psyche and brain, leading to the biological adaptation (cell growth) in another organ.
Another entrenched idea in modern medicine is “contagion” as a transmitter of disease symptoms. The notion of microscopic contagion seeks to explain why two or more people fall ill when in close proximity. However, GNM shows how these symptoms can be predicted by examining the brain. For instance, when multiple people experience the same biological conflict shock, their brains are impacted simultaneously.
When a family or community faces a collective shock, their nervous systems synchronize with the conflict, and upon conflict resolution, they collectively enter the post-conflict, inflammatory healing phase. A historical example is the collective conflict shock of World War I, followed by the so-called “Spanish Flu” when the conflict resolved in 1918.
Furthermore, one person’s symptoms can trigger a conflict shock in another. If the second person fears the symptoms as “highly contagious and dangerous” or develops a deep concern for the ill person, they may experience their own conflict shock. For example, a father suffering from strep throat after resolving a personal conflict of “not being able to swallow a morsel” (e.g., losing a rental contract or a work loan) might induce fear in his loved ones. Their concern about his inflammation and difficulty eating could lead to their own “unable to swallow a morsel” conflict, resulting in tonsillar inflammation once his symptoms improve and their concern for him resolves.
Additionally, when a leader or authority figure in a group experiences a biological conflict shock, his or her nervous system may resonate with those around them, prompting similar biological programs in the group. This idea suggests that one person’s distress can influence the nervous systems of others, leading to similar responses. Though in each case, there has to be an element of “shock” to initiate a biological program adaptation.
These investigations, enabled by the empirical inclusion of the psyche in biology, as mediated by the brain and nervous system, offer a new understanding of previously fear-clouded phenomena. German New Medicine provides a promising framework for the future of healthcare, emphasizing the interconnectedness of psyche, brain, and organ which re-affirms, above all, the Hippocratic Oath of “do no harm,” which in these cases means “do not induce fear and panic.”
Suggested resources:
GNMOnlineSeminars.com
LearningGNM.com
NewMedicine.ca
