BodyEcology

This course looks at the whole bodymind from the perspective of evolutionary biology and ecology. Our species, Homo sapiens, has lived as an integral part of a balanced ecosystem for the first 99% of its history - in a particular range of environments in the external world AND with an internal ecosystem of microbial friends in a delicate dance with our immune system. In the last hundred or so years, these external and internal ecosystems have dramatically changed, precipitating most of the major health issues that face the Western world today. We will look at the impact of changes: 1. In our microbiome, the community of microbial species that are an integral part of our bodies, on our health. • What is the microbiome? • Who are the key microbial players that keep us healthy? • What are the key drivers of microbial change in our lives right now and how can they be rebalanced? • What about the pathogens? 2. In the microbiome biodiversity on the function of our immune system. • Our immunesystems haveevolved for millennia alongside bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. As new microbes evolve and old microbes disappear from our daily lives, our immune cells are going haywire into an allergic, inflammatory and autoimmune imbalance. Why is this and what can we do about it? 3. In our daily diet and food sources – diversity, additives, toxins, abundance. • What is the impact of these factors on our physiology and health? • What is the impact of these factors on our microbiome? In each of these three key areas we will take a look at the latest scientific understanding, together with BodyTalk strategies to address the imbalances the ecosystems of our bodies are facing today 7 Introduction 8 The Microbiome 10 Thinking Microbial 16 Microbiome Basics 19 Our Human Microbiome 20 Summary of the Human Microbiome 21 Mutualist Functions of each Microbe Class 22 The Gut Microbiome 30 The Ocular Microbiome 32 The Respiratory Microbiome 34 The Oral Microbiome 36 The Skin Microbiome 38 The Vaginal Microbiome 39 The Male Urogenital Microbiome 40 The Gut Microbiome – Brain Connections 42 The Three Brains 51 Factors Impacting Microbiome Diversity 56 Let's Meet the Pathogens 57 Pathogenic Viruses 65 Pathogenic Bacteria 72 Pathogenic Parasites 76 Pathogenic Fungi 80 The Immune System 81 What is it and why do we need one 82 The Two Main Divisions: Innate and Adaptive Immunity 83 The Tissues of the Immune System 90 Team Innate 95 Team Adaptive: The Lymphocytes 100 The Immune System and our Psychology 101 Microbiome and the Immune System 102 Evolutionary Entanglement 105 The Immune System Impacts the Microbiome 106 The Microbiome Impacts the Immune System 107 The Immune System’s Role in Pathogen Defense 112 Fundamental Substances 113 Introduction 113 Minerals 114 Macro Minerals 118 Trace Minerals 124 Minerals as Toxins 123 Vitamins 127 Carbohydrates and Sugars 128 Protein 130 Fats 130 Fiber 132 Prebiotics and Probiotics 134 Practical Application 135 BodyParts 136 Microbiome Practical Application 144 Immune System Practical Application 158 Fundamental Substances Application 159 Three Brains Practical 160 References 164 Appendix 165 Glossary 167 Body Parts 168 Immune Map: Tissues 169 Immune Map: Cells 170 Mutalists of the Microbiome 172 Meridians for BodyEcology