Introduction
In my previous post titled "St. Geoerge Mushroom", I explore the paths along the forests to find the infamous Calocybe Gambosa. Easy to spot and delicious, it grows in something called a fairy circle. In German hexenring, which translates to witch circle. Until now, I come across them quite frequently and pick them up on my regular walks in the forests.
In this post I'd like to explore how trees can heal us and help connect to our rehabilitating parasympathetic nervous system. The vegetative nervous system is also known as the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which is a division of the peripheral nervous system. It is divided into the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system regenerates, repairs, rejuvenates and heals our bodies. They are often divided into Sympathetic-Fight and Flight and Parasympathetic-Rest and Digest. The magic happens in something we call the enteric nervous system that produces 30 neurotransmitters that actually act like a nose, sensory organ and is currently a really hot topic in science.
Let me squad for a minute, because there is just so much going through my gut before I start this... Dear Indian's! You should have never installed those western toilets! The squad position is a healthier way defaecate, specially for our rectal nerves. This preprogrammed notion also causes us to neglect the muscles in our lower back. Just to add some shit in my introduction..
I'd like to explore how humans have always had a symbiotic relationships with trees. In two Posts on Barefoot Walking, 1 and 2, I explore the Fascia. The Fascia or connective tissue network is also known more broadly as the ECM(Extra Cellural Matrix), although the Fascia was traditionally defined to be more specific. The thoracolumbar fascia, the fascia lata, the pannicular fascia and the fascia profundis. As ongoing research reveals a broader encompassing interplay, we seem to be tapping into a new exciting realm within our biological fabric. As a very understudied area, our biological regulatory system is highly interesting and exciting. I'd like to touch on some points here in a rather philosophical way.
Into The Wild
Trees can see
Citizens of the Hive!
Imagine that trees actually have their heads in the ground as much as their minds. Interconnected and in symbiosis with other organisms in the forest such as mycelium they thrive within a larger and complex biological network. Like the mind of the earth, the fabric that makes up mycelial networks closely resembles the system of brain neurons (Quote: Paul Stamets). Plants have their reproductive organs on the surface and towards the top, which gives us another way to imagine our world. Fungi needs to spread their spores above the surface to reproduce as well. It all reminds me of a harmonious clicking sound inaudible but the magic below can still be sensed. With each leaf containing millions of chlorophyl cells, the leaf of trees can be imagined like our eyes. Called Synechocystis cyanobacteria, they are single celled organisms observed in photosynthetic substrates. They were previously hypothesised by Francis Darwin in 1907 and were observed as structures. Later they were defined as ocelli in the early 20th century. The tree's photon receptors, leaf, are like our eyes. Phototrophic prokaryotes move towards light and are sensitive towards certain wavelengths. I imagine since their cell membrane acts like a retina, they resemble our eyes, as probably an evolutionary relative. Yes, Trees can see! Birch trees for instancelearn. Florianne Koechlin, a botanist also mentions that Plants have up to 15 receptors to detect light, for which humans only have 5. Research tell us that plants can feel us and express this in how they grow over time.
Trees can Hear
Native American's claimed that birds sing fruits into ripeness. The genes for ripening have actually been related to the control of a network of signalling pathways. Plants as sessile organisms and their response to sound is still understudied due to the lack of an organ. A growing body of evidence has emerged in biological studies on the response of plants to sound waves. Plants are highly sensitive organisms that generate and react to sound signals from their environment. The use of sound waves on plants and trees have resulted in more yields in fruits. Plants are believed to benefit from sound through their mechanosensory machinery. When objects vibrate, this vibration is transmitted by the oscillation of the particles and pass through an organism. Several responses have been detected in numerous scientific experiments with the mechano-sensitive channels of plants.
Trees and fungi communicate with each other through Terpenes. Trees and plants physically nourish us as much as our love, intention and state of being is sensed by them and can act as spiritual fertilisation for them. Even acoustics and sound waves are something trees resonate and respond to. By converting sunlight and water to sugars we must not forget that the ancient organic molecules that might have come to earth through panspermia in meteorites and were sugar and phosphate as much as our DNA is. I think that trees actually made us to aid them. I also think that on some symbiotic level, they can also hear us, attend to our needs and tune into our parasympathetic state. I challenge anyone to try this and give it your most genuine intention without ridicule or judgement. You will be richly rewarded, specially if you are healing from cancer or any other auto immune disease. Trees will listen to you and they will respond. Science and research proves this.
Trees can smell
When herbivorous insects or parasites attack a tree's leaf, it can send out a messenger molecule called a semiochemical that can attract predatory insects that specifically feeds on that parasite. Volatile phytochemicals serve as airborne semiochemicals, even deterring interactions between plants and insect herbivores. So called volatile terpenoids signal specific insect parasitoids to distinguish between infested and noninfested plants, and thus aid in locating hosts or prey. These interactions are much greater in forest than in agro-ecosystems and are yet to be fully understood by science. I could go well into detail here but there are several scientific publications on the matter if you'd like to delve in more.
SHINRIN-YOKU or what people refer to as forest bathing can truly elevate our well being. Interacting with forests has many health benefits. Also referred to as Silvotherapy it is proven to constitute to physical and mental wellbeing. It could almost mean that a certain part of us responds to the forest and it can hear us? Maybe because we produce what they inhale and they exhale what we inhale? The exchange or response can be interpreted in many ways but might be beyond the grasps of our current knowledge and provoke our rational understanding. I encourage to read Qing Li's paper's and the one on Forest Bathing for more references.
Not only do walks in the forest decrease our stress levels, heart rates and blood pressure, but strengthen our immune system. Research reveals that trees emit Phytoncides. Phytoncides are amongst the molecules secreted by trees beneficial to humans and these defend themselves against bacteria. There are over 5000 such molecules in existence that are known to improve our health emitted by the Pinus (conifers) genus of trees. One such important molecule is called Alpha-Pinene. They can lower cortisol levels, decrease the level of glucose in the blood of diabetic patients and are proven to have very positive effects on depression. Studies conducted by the university of herbal sciences in London reveals some astonishing facts about the beneficial effects of trees and other plants on humans. Even known plants that improve respiratory health issues can simply be inhaled in forests and some are proven to yield better results from pure aromaticsynthesis of bioavailable airborne substances as opposed to drinking them as a tea. Another reason to make use of our forests wifi network?
I also imagine that mycelium is the immune system of earth, because so many fungal species were proven to be the best ailments to auto-immune disease and carry a biota depending on the surrounding vegetation. Much is still to be explored on the genus of trees and fungal species and the interwoven fabric that produce these mycorrhizal, parasitic or saprotrophic fungi. These also interact with our GI and the consumption of edible mushrooms can be associated with evolutionary leaps and fungi are known to have some of the best anti viral properties. Bacterial fermentation of dietary fibers within the colon by the consumption of fruit bodies from such rich forests directly affects our gut brain communication. Known as the vagus nerve, Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota play an important role in our Gut-Brain-Axis. Still a hot research topic, the underlying mechanism still need to be elucidated. The findings could reveal more on how humans are affected by auto immune and neurodegenerative diseases. The epigenetic implication of this research opens a whole new door into new fields of system's biology, which puts general medicine on it's head and makes us redefine everything we thought we knew. Making up 99% of our Genome, the gut microbiota also makes up most of our immune system.
Conclusions
Walking in the forest barefooted can profoundly connect us to the workings in the ground and stimulate fascia. We can train unchartered sensory activity neglected by humans growing up in typical urban environments. Bark, rocks and the forest floor induces stimuli. The moisture nourishes us by softly penetrating the pores of our skin and the cool air, rich in thousands of beneficial molecules heals and enlivens the soul.
Trees need our help. Old trees are often felled even if they are still healthy. Respecting the forest, keeping it clean and letting it thrive as well as teaching this to our fellow beings is crucial.
It is so important for us to understand that heavy machined impact on forest grounds tighten the soil, stop carbon dioxide from escaping and make it difficult for the soil to store moisture. The use of pesticides and insecticides reduce diversity and aren't a holistic solution to commonly practiced agriculture. The bio dynamic equilibrium we see in forests can be taken as a model example of how efficient nature actually produces fruit. The common intervention in agro-ecosystems with monocultural GMO crops could be replaced by intercropping and creating biospheres that thrive like forests do. As humans explore new ways to create habitats, so might our understanding evolve alongside synergies with some of our oldest companions.
when you close your eyes and listen it isn't always your ears that hear. Even if your mind can see, there lies something beyond the perceivable and you can only chase it if you keep going. Just breathe slower and slower... - @yangyanje
#naturalmedicine, #spirituality
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Good article @yangyanje.
I wish I had read it earlier.
I grew up in the forest and now I often go to the forest (not as often as I want). Yes, the forest is alive, I talk to him and I think that he understands me.
In your article, you touch on many topics, there are many hints, but I have a feeling that there is not enough completeness in revealing each aspect. Perhaps this is because I am not a native English speaker and I use the services of a google translator.
Thanks for the helpful article anyway.
So much valuable information in this post! Thank you!
I can't imagine that anyone who has ever been in a forest does not know this. The trees speak, listen and connect with all of us in some way. What do you think?
You're right. I guess people would think this is some pseudo science, but science is actually proving that trees aren't just further up the evolutionary ladder, but regardless of having organs that we as humans look for, they do also posess all the senses to perceive on a whole other level. Thank you for this comment.
Qing Li.. I'm gonna check him? Her? right away! Thanks for diving us into the forest and bringing up so many cientific data to explain why we love living in the forest and why we love to be barefoot.. I just knew I feel like doing it, but always asked myself why do I need it so much! Thks thks thks!
What a cool comment! Dr. Qing Li is a he. Some of it were just like this all along, like you. It feels like it all makes more than logical sense. Maybe a feeling, sensation or more like a hunch? myofascial release or how much our fascia and ECM plays a role in how we experience the world. It has really taken up a new meaning in the midst of the hundred years we have been walking in bricks. Breaking our necks in the process, we began looking more like turtles than humans? I believe that even knee problems are actually though the misalignment in our hips and shoulders due to the impact on our spines. Really enjoy being in the forest when it rains BTW.
Really good info here! I don't know much about the subject but from experience, I know that being surrounded by trees, hugging trees and walking barefoot has a profound effect on my nervous system. It soothes, I wake up refreshed, I feel grounded and connected, the mind is calm, and relieves 100% stress. Thank you for this awesome article, I really like it :D
Thank you so much for your lovely comment and for stopping by. The biophilia effect is surely a proven fact, which gives the whole tree hugging so much more substance, depth and makes it very profound how it actually boosts our immune system.
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Interesting piece and well researched. I kind of agree with most of what you wrote in the post as a Botanist. I once jokingly told my vegan friends that the plants they are more comfortable eating also have lives but they all thought I was nut.
Really appreciate your comment a lot as a botanist. Actually gave up trying to come full circle about what was actually on my mind. I couldn't find a research paper i once read about conifers. Yeahh, the whole vegan thing as a dogmatic label is far from taking a decision to eat what's above the food chain rather than below? I am more worried about Glycoalkaloids in nightshades to be honest. Our often restricted and narrow versatility in food traditions call for much improvement in 2021? Vegan is still so new and most vegans eat so much of processed foods.
I think we are still yet to explore so much unchartered space in the fields Synechocystis cyanobacteria also. I am sure that a photovoltaic engineer and a biologist could have a great conversation on quantum biology? A botanist on hive! You made my day with this comment!
I agree that there is still ample room to explore as far as researching plants is concerned. We have barely scratched the surface but some species are already extinct before we can even discover them let alone research into them.
BTW, I know of at least two more Botanists on this chain in the persons of @oladunmoye, a fellow Nigerian, and @lupafilotaxia, a Venezuelan. They are both Professors anyway :)
Ha I do the same all the time.. And not like a joke! There is kind of a contradiction in many vegans defending life and respect of animals.. What about coliflowers? 😂
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