Season’s Greetings!

In keeping with the spirit of the season I hope you enjoy and find useful the following gift: a basic how-to instruction in Do It Yourself Genetic Modification.

Remember several years ago when the media was all a-buzz over the discovery of the BRCA1 and BRAC2 breast cancer genes? Much was made of this discovery and the postulated outcome promised immunity of some sort through tinkering with your genes. Well guess what? It turns out that only 5% of both cancer and cardiovascular conditions are rooted in heredity. Now that’s encouraging! Why? Because it also turns out that 95% of all the other cases are attributed to

environmentally induced epigenetic alterations and not defective genes. In other words, they are caused by things you can control. Thatapos;s what I call great news!

Still not cheering? Read on: The subject to celebrate is called

the science of epigenetics. It is defined, literally, as control above genetics. And in the past 10 years research in this area has established that the DNA blueprints you are born with are not necessarily your destiny. How what you have, genetically, unfolds in your life is biologically determined more by environmental influences like nutrition, stress and emotions. This means that the determining factors are all things that, once their impact is known (or even suspected) and understood, can be adjusted for optimal outcome.

I’ll spare you the detailed technicalities. Suffice it to say that while the geneticists were dismantling chromosomes and discarding the proteins that cover the DNA, epigeneticists were researching the protein cover itself and discovered that it is this covering, controlled by environmental signals, that determines which genes will become activated and which will remain unexpressed. When you consider all the basic tenets of holism, this just makes sense.

A parallel bit of information I’ve come across recently is the fact that an act of kindness results in biological markers of increased immunity for both the perpetrator of the act and the recipient. It would appear that both experience measurable increases in serotonin level, a

feel good chemical in the brain. That an act of kindness could improve your health has, up until recently, been considered unscientific. According to the epigeneticists, it is now a scientific fact. So if you find yourself feeling a little down, start knowingly performing acts of kindness and know that it is no longer a question, but that you are definitely altering your own brain chemistry as well as improving that of another. And all without drugs or worry of negative side effects!

Likewise, we know that laughter can have a positive effect on our health. Norman Cousins, in his book Anatomy of an Illness, details his recovery from an

incurableailment by sequestering himself from the outside world and watching funny movies. He changed his biology through laughter!

And we know through other research and kinesiology that our bodies are demonstrably either strengthened or weakened by various exposures. So with muscle testing you can determine what foods, fabrics, scents, and other choices contribute to your wellbeing or, conversely, work against it. Learning how to use this simple tool can mean the difference between long periods of trial and error to discover the offending energy, all the while continuing to suffer the ill effects, versus noting the discomfort and immediately recognizing that a reaction has taken place and testing for it. You can then more accurately assess what it might have been and either avoid it or take measures to correct your energetic reaction to it.

Energy psychology further utilizes this body of data and empowers us with techniques for moving blocked energy through our bodies. All of these things we now know biologically effect our genetic expression and are all things that are under our control from our own living rooms.

I’ve sifted through a multitude of health related subjects to arrive at this quarter’s topic. In truth I actually started out in October, aka Breast Cancer Awareness month, focusing on the merits of the little known Yellow Ribbon Campaign, which signifies the search for breast cancer causes, over those of the mainstream Pink Ribbon which focuses primarily on a pharmaceutical solution, or cure. The Yellow Ribbon campaign has its origins in a San Francisco based group called Breast Cancer Action, or BCA. Formed back in the 90′s, the purpose of this group was to refocus attention away from the victim viewpoint, dependent upon some unknown (but perpetually in need of funding) source for salvation, and instead shine the light on looking for the cause, thereby understanding better what had happened to them and leading the way to prevention and cure through knowledge. Little did I realize when I started researching that it would all lead back to the holistic, energy encompassing picture that it did.

Though a cure would be great, I do consider that a greater understanding of what is causing the unprecedented numbers of those with breast and other forms of cancer to be of more value. With increased understanding we can gain a more causative viewpoint over our own and future generations outcomes. We can take action to avoid or cease creating those health destroying conditions, be they environmental, nutritional, stress related, etc., and proactively and with full awareness go forward and create optimal health. Now, with the science of epigenetics unfolding, we are in a better position than ever to discover all we need to know and truly begin conquering the major health issues of our time. Ever increasing popular demand for a clean and healthy food supply and environment will cause conditions to improve across the boards. And now, with an unprecedented amount of evidence that our thoughts and emotions have the profound effect we always suspected they did, we are in a better position than ever before to determine an optimal outcome of genetic expression.

Wishing you good food, much laughter, and a multitude of kindnesses in the New Year.
Be Well,
Jean Franklin PhD
PS. For those of you to whom this is applicable, thermograms are a much safer and more accurate way of monitoring your breast health than mammograms. They detect through infrared pictures (no radiation!) heat patterns associated with activity in the tissues, revealing conditions that can be addressed long before they become cancerous.
For more info, or to find the nearest place, go to www.breastthermography.com or call the International Academy of Clinical Thermology at 650-361-8908.