The Body Electric: Electromagnetism And The Foundation Of Life

Taming Heavenly Fire Wilson L.Thompson, Ph.D. Independence Day fireworks pale in comparison to thunderstorms that regularly rip our skies. Since Benjamin Franklin’s daring kite experiment with lightening, Americans have sought to tame electricity. More recently, Dr. Robert Becker reviews some twenty years of pioneering medical research that drives his electrotherapy in The Body Electric (William Morrow, NY, 1985). Readers learn of research-backed efforts to stimulate bone healing with low-level electric current. Still, advanced surgical skills must be augmented by the body’s healing response. The Body Electric is indexed, well illustrated and has a helpful, technical glossary. Much of Becker’s research addresses regeneration of limbs in salamanders. But, Dr. Becker is concerned, as an orthopedic surgeon, with regenerative growth needed to repair patients’ broken bones that too often fails to take place. Since there are “electrical currents in salamander limb regeneration, it was at least plausible that similar factors controlled the mending of fractures.” (p 137). Indeed, Becker reports using silver electrodes in his experimental electrotherapy to stave off amputation for first a Vietnam vet and then a muskrat trapper. He finds that electrified silver is “especially well suited for use against several kinds of bacteria simultaneously. It kills even antibiotic-resistant strains.” (p 167). His research targets “a cure for two of an orthopedist’s worst nightmares -- nonunion [of fractures] and osteomyelitis (bone infection)” (p 168). Becker’s salamander- regeneration research opens the door for correcting our understanding of cancer. He questions the dogma that a cancer cell cannot be dediffferentated and reprogrammed back into a normal cell. Becker notes Merl Rose’s hypothesis that “regeneration’s guidance system could control cancer, too” (p 217). Further, Austrian cancer researchers have found that induced salamander tumors revert to normal skin after tail amputation. “The salamander ended up with a new tail and no cancer” (p 220). Becker also probes the impact of earth, moon, and sun’s electromagnetic fields upon human life. He finds relationship between sun’s magnetic storms and the rate of psychiatric admissions. In a sample of 28,000 patients in psychiatric state hospitals, “Significantly more persons were signed in to the psychiatric services just after magnetic disturbances than when the field was stable” (p 245). Not surprisingly, Becker is also concerned about hazardous biological effects of electropollution radiating from electromagnetic sources in our wired industrialized society. He cites research of Lester and Moore who found cancer incidence in Wichita, KS “was highest where the residents were exposed to both [airport tower] radar beams ... [with death rates] twice that of the area’s nursing homes. It was lower where only one beam penetrated but lowest where the population was fully shielded behind hills” (p 300). Nevertheless, grants have been restricted for scientific study of dangers noted above, that is needed to refute “the oft repeated claim that these are just coincidences” (p 303). Was it really a coincidence that a “1979 study of Swedish high-voltage substation workers [found] an 8-percent incidence of genetic defects” among employees’ children (p 302)? Was it happenstance that raised birth defect alarms at Sears Dallas headquarters? Among their female staff exposed to emissions from video display terminals (VTDs) in newly computerized offices, “only four of twelve pregnancies ended normally” (p 302). Becker criticizes technological medicine for over-reliance on petri dish experimentation. This fosters a fragmented reductionist understanding of the body’s neural system. Such an “approach ultimately fails in the study of living things – hence the widespread demand for an alternative, holistic medicine – for life is like no machine humans ever built” (p 230). Robert Becker is implicitly at odds with the reigning evolution paradigm in medicine and biology. “There’s no room in technological medicine for any presumed sanctity or uniqueness of life. ... no need for the patient’s own self-healing force nor any strategy for enhancing it” (p 19). He views denigrated placebo effect as “a physiological effect of mind on body, just as real as the effects of wind on a tree” (p 231). For Becker, the advanced research findings recorded in The Body Electric “presage a revolution in biology and medicine ... [in which] whatever we achieve pales before the self-healing power latent in all organisms” (p 21). But, as Thomas Kuhn tellingly observes, “a scientific theory is declared invalid only if an alternate candidate is available to take its place.” (p 77) 1 . Accordingly, support for the failing evolution paradigm in medicine is not driven by scientific research. Rather, non-scientific matters of bureaucratized research and political correctness combine to prop up the theoretical status quo against assault of irreverent facts. In fact, a secular theorist, Carl Becker, has been emboldened to parody Psalm Eight in the Bible. “What is man that the electron should be mindful of him! Man is but a foundling in the cosmos, abandoned by the forces that created him”(p 15) 2 . Sadly, soaring medical costs, a rise in degenerative diseases, and routinization of medical care have intensified since Becker voiced his concerns (p-19). Medical care is further eroded by an abortion industry that supplies body parts and euthanasia coming online. God’s people are directed to Choose Life. We are committed to the Creation paradigm within which to expand our understanding of the body’s electrical grid. Dr. Becker’s findings are congruent with faith-induced strength that postmenopausal Sarah received to conceive Isaac (Hebrews 11:11) and the Psalmist’s observation that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (139:14). Yes, truly! 1. Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Yale University Press, New Haven, 1962). 2. Carl Becker, The Heavenly Cities of the Eighteenth Century Philosophers (University of Chicago Press, Chicago,1932).

I had to skip a few pages when the author described the animal experiments - but what a book. they came upon a possible solution for bad healing bone breaks, may be even regrowing limbs or part of limbs! Very interesting and I hope someone picked up their research as they had to stop by lack of funding.

This book is more history than current practice or understandings. Dr. Becker’s curiosity of salamander regeneration in the 1960’s opened the field of human regeneration of damaged bones and limbs. He was not heralded for his experiments and fought the medical establishment for decades to use electric currents to heal human bones. He was allowed to use his techniques to repair bones so damaged beyond normal pins and casting. His electrical stimulation is used only on the most severely damaged limbs. The book describes in much detail the laboratory experiments with salamanders and rats that developed the regeneration techniques. I admired Dr Becker’s spirit to pursue his dream against overwhelming obstacles, no funding, no peer support with little scientific recognition. Only decades of effort yielded success and recognition he deserved and got. The book is easy reading with little jargon or trade words. The diagrams make explicit the experiments discussed. Last chapters (pg 227-326)in the book wonder off into odd subjects like physic phenomenon, ELF fields effects on the body. The first 226 pages was enough for me.

The power of energy is just as profound in humans as in nature. What if the link between electromagnetism and electricity could enable us to heal ourselves through self-regeneration? Such is the premise of this fascinating book by renowned medical researcher Robert O. Becker, a pioneer in regeneration experiments. His books should be required reading for anyone hopeful about our future health and a willingness to think outside the box about our bodies and what we currently know and/or believe about medicine and healing. This book mesmerizes with revolutionary ideas in human biology and medicine -- a theory based on the author’s extensive lab experiments in regeneration that have led to some radical thinking about human healing, health and longevity. As lives are longer and diseases ever rampant, such thought-provoking concepts about the potential for “self-healing” offer an alternative to life and longevity as we know it. Becker makes compelling arguments about the bioelectric nature of humans and the essential nature of “electricity” to human life. Harnessing these elements in targeted ways means the possibility of self-healing. It’s hard to deny the sense this eye-opening information makes, and also the establishment forces opposed to it. For me, it redefined how I look at the treatment for every illness, infection, disease and injury. If a star fish can grow new limbs, or salamander grow two heads where there was only one … why can’t humans harness bioelectricity for basic healing, curing cancer, or regenerating limbs? The experiments are complex, the information detailed but readily understandable, and I came away as a mind-blown convert to the potential of a radically different way to look at human healing and longevity that seems within arm’s reach.

Why is Amazon not capable anymore to ship books like they did back in the beginning??? Now almost all books come damaged, that is infuriating! Don't want to send them back all the time or replace them. JUST GET IT RIGHT PEOPLE! Book itself is great, although it is bend and crooked. I did not want to take away from the greatness of the book! It is informative and a good read for sure!

Eccellente documento storico della evoluzione dello studio dei processi rigenerativi che porta l'Aurore ad interessanti conclusioni e prospettive future. Un Must

Absolutely amazing book, it's a must for all to read. It teaches us about the magnificent way out body operates and interacts with our environment in a totally new & extremely interesting perspective! Cannot recommend enough!

i found this book absolutly brilliant i never realised so much information coming from a different angle existed it opened my eyes and it was written in an interesting and easy to follow manner

Excelente

Good book for Physical Therapy students and interns. Inspiring!