The Microbe is Nothing, The Environment is Everything

In the 19th century, two French giants of scientific medicine set out radically different standards for the understanding and treatment of disease that are still relevant today.

Who discovered the Germ Theory?

Louis Pasteur, a chemist and microbiologist, put forward the germ theory. This set out that diseases are caused by infectious microbes, which impair the structures and functioning of different organ systems. This paradigm formed the basis for the use of antibiotics; to destroy these invasive microbes - and vaccines (that administer low doses of a microbe) - to challenge the body's immune defences, and thereby prevent infection.

Was this controversial? 

Pasteur's contemporary friend, the physiologist Claude Bernard, argued instead for the importance of a balance in the body's internal environment. This is what he called ‘Le milieu intérieur’ (meaning “The constancy of the interior environment is the condition for a free and independent life.”)

Bernard thought that the body becomes susceptible to infectious agents only if the internal balance is disturbed. After all, there are billions of microbes and bacteria inhabiting our guts, blood and whole body. Why do we sometimes get sick from them, sometimes not? And when a bacterial or viral agent is “going around”, why do some people become ill and others remain healthy?

Legend has it that Pasteur renounced his germ theory on his death-bed (17 years after Bernard passed away), saying that “Bernard is right. The microbe is nothing. The environment is everything.”

The renowned 20th century French-American microbiologist René Dubos (1901-1982) agreed with Bernard's principle: “Most microbial diseases are caused by organisms present in the body of a normal individual. They become the cause of disease when a disturbance arises which upsets the equilibrium of the body.”

How does this differ from today?

Today, Pasteur's germ theory of disease provides the rationale for the pharmaceutical industry's billions of dollars research and sales programs for ever more potent anti-bacterial and anti-viral drugs, the use of these antibiotics as a feed-additive in the disease-prone, overcrowded environments of industrial farming – with the predictable consequence that bacterial evolution is out-stripping the discovery rate of effective antidotes.

The Bernard/Dubos theory that health and resilience is a function of homeostatic balance in the internal environment is reflected in the growing influence of the ancient medical systems of India and China, as well as the field of functional and integrative medicine.

In all these approaches, the maintenance of health and prevention of disease involves conscious attention given to factors of life-style, environment, nutrition, exercise and recreation, as well as psychological well-being and spiritual practice.

It is of utmost importance to be grateful for the wonderful discovery of the works of Louis Pasteur. Infectious diseases that were once lethal can now be effectively treated thanks to Louis Pasteur.

Unfortunately, his theory of acute disease management has not been fruitful in the treatment of many chronic diseases. Our present medical system still looks for the "one" treatment for many debilitating diseases like diabetes, auto-immune disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer. We constantly see a group of people rallying around the "CURE" for such diseases.

We are asked for donations to fund an instant "CURE" for such diseases. Again, this is in line with the faulty theory of Louis Pasteur - as it relates to chronic, long-standing health issues. 

How does this relate to the Lantern Clinic?

Instead we need to embrace the workings of Claude Bernard. He was absolutely correct in stating we need to spend more of our time in fixing the balance in the body's internal environment. That is the focus of functional medicine and at Lantern Clinic; we are passionate to get to the root/cause of your symptoms and disease. Our results are amazing, helping people with long-standing health problems, unexplained symptoms and those that are interested to reverse their conditions. 

Would you like to find out more about the Lantern Clinic? You can book a FREE discovery call with Dr Margarita below.