Foods That Resemble the Organ They Heal
“Nature, which makes nothing durable, always repeats itself so that nothing which it makes may be lost.”
- Oscar Wilde
Whether you believe in the intentionality of intelligent design or the principles of natural law, there is a well-earned marvel about the shapes and patterns found in nature. Specific geometric shapes and patterns can be noticed everywhere. Although the world is becoming more modernized and humanly altered, these shapes and patterns will always subsist; they are the foundation of our world.
Early Greek philosophers were perplexed by and studied these patterns, with Plato, Pythagoras, and Empedocles attempting to explain their order in nature.
Pythagoras explained patterns in nature like the harmonies of music as arising from a number, which he took to be the primary constituent of existence. Plato argued for the existence of natural universals and considered patterns that consist of ideal forms of physical objects are never more than imperfect copies – like how a flower is never a perfect circle.
Since then, many philosophers and thought leaders quarreled with this question: If these properties exist, why?
For example, think of the standard swirl. This pattern is seen everywhere, from the shape of galaxies and hurricanes to the design of shea shells and individual plants.
Further, think of a tree’s root system and what it may resemble. The root system resembles many things, such as lightning, veins throughout the body, river systems running throughout the United States, and nerves. These patterns are called fractals.
These are two of many examples.
Doctrine of Signatures
Early physicians examined these natural patterns and created a pharmacopeia that centered around the idea that like affects like. These natural physicians believed substances that looked alike were intrinsically connected and possessed similar natures.
This idea began as the Law of Similarities and evolved to the Doctrine of Signatures, which states that herbs resembling various parts of the body can be used by herbalists to treat ailments of those parts.
These herbal pharmacists, also called Signatures, believed similar textures, shapes, and colors were considered benevolent signs from God, or nature, that humankind would easily understand.
However, in modern-day, conventional medicine does not allow for intuitional, philosophical, or spiritual beliefs in healing, and the Doctrine of Signatures has mainly been discredited by mainstream medicine, but much of this information was withstood many epochs.
In this article, we will review six foods that resemble the body part or organ they heal. *
Pomegranate
Pomegranates are well-known for their health benefits and resemble comparable signatures to many of the health systems they restore.
Perhaps one of the most noticeable characteristics of pomegranates is their deep, red color, which closely resembles the color of blood.
In a 2014 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, researchers investigated the effects of pomegranate extract [1]. The researchers noted that consuming pomegranate extract thirty minutes before running helped to increase the diameter of blood vessels, which increased blood flow. Also, the group that consumed the pomegranate extract had a delayed onset of fatigue during exercise and a significant increase in post-workout vitality [1].
Pomegranates are well-known symbols of fertility, thanks to their resemblance to human ovaries.
In ancient Greece, guests would bring a pomegranate to someone’s home as a symbol of abundance and fertility. Hindu, Persian, and Chinese cultures considered the pomegranate a symbol of fertility and procreation. In the Christian Bible, pomegranates were the fruits that were brought to Moses to demonstrate the richness of the promised land, and King Solomon is said to have designed his coronet based on the fruit’s serrated crown-like calyx [2].
Pomegranates also seem to affect several androgen and reproductive hormones in humans.
In a 2012 study, noted that pomegranate might increase testosterone levels in men and women [3]. The participants consumed pure pomegranate juice for fourteen days, and the researchers performed a salivary testosterone test three times a day. By the end of the study, female and male participants experienced an average 24% percent increase in salivary testosterone levels [3].
Research has also shown that natural substances in pomegranates may be useful in healing androgen-dependent [hormone-dependent] breast cancer, through suppressing estrogen production which prevents the growth of breast cancer cells and the growth of estrogen-responsive tumors [4] [5] [6] [7] [8].
Pomegranates even appear to support male fertility. In a 2008 animal study, researchers found that pomegranate juice improved sperm quality and antioxidant activity [9].
Epithelial tissue closely resembles the inside of a pomegranate. If you have drunk pomegranate juice, you have probably noticed the cleaning, astringent effect it had on the epithelial tissue in your mouth.
The same cleaning feeling that happens in your mouth’s epithelial tissue is also occurring in the epithelial tissue in the arteries, and the effect is clinically significant.
In a 2004 study, researchers evaluated the arterial cleaning effects of pomegranate over three years in atherosclerotic patients [10]. After just three months of drinking eight ounces of pomegranate juice daily, patients demonstrated a reversal plaque build-up in the carotid arteries by 13% [10].
Flaxseed
Flaxseeds have a similar signature of epithelial tissue because the seeds look like epithelial cells and are mucilaginous [slimy], just like epithelial cells which produce a protective mucus coating called glycocalyx.
Ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine has recognized the benefits of flax seeds for thousands of years [11]. Ayurvedic literature notes that flax seeds bring mental and physical endurance by fighting fatigue and controlling the aging process and promotes the elasticity and moisture of the skin [11]. This ancient literature also noted flax’s anti-inflammatory properties.
Around 650 B.C., Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine, advocated flax for the relief of abdominal pains, and Theophrastus recommended the use of flax mucilage as a cough remedy [11]. Since then, researchers have investigated the health benefits of flaxseed.
Today, dieticians note flax because of its high lignan count, which is a part of the seed that has high antioxidant properties. Research has shown flaxseed lignan accelerates wound healing by stimulating collagen synthesis, which confirms its skin-supporting effects noted in Ayurvedic texts [12].
Research has also noted flaxseed potential in the treatment of obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, kidney disease, cancers, and cardiovascular disease [13-23].
Animal studies have also illustrated the seeds anti-cancer effects in cases of colon, skin, breast, and lung tumors. Flaxseed’s high lignan count is believed to be the reason why it is so successful in treating certain cancers. Lignans are a type of phytoestrogen, a plant compound that resembles human estrogen, and a diet high in lignans is believed to inhibit the growth of hormone-related cancers and tumors.
In a 2012 animal study, researchers noted that a diet of 5% and 10% flaxseed for eight weeks inhibited breast tumor growth by 26% and 38%, respectively [24].
Walnuts
Walnuts have one of the most astonishing signatures of the organ they protect; a whole walnut closely resembles the human brain, from the shape and texture to the composition and the nut’s bihemispheric nature.
Although walnuts are high in healthy fats, such as monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats, they also contain a disproportionately large amount of essential fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, that the brain requires for optimal health.
In a 2017 two-center, randomized, two-year clinical trial, researchers explored the role of walnuts in maintaining cognitive and retinal health [25]. The researchers evaluated the effects of ingesting walnuts daily for two years. The walnut group followed their regular diet and added walnuts to their food intake to account for 15% of energy intake. The placebo group abstained from walnuts for two years. The researchers noted the results of the study show that regular walnut consumption can delay the onset of age-related cognitive impairment [such as Alzheimer’s or dementia] and retinal pathology and called the results to translate into public health policy [25].
Moreover, walnuts contain several neuroprotective compounds, such as gallic acid, vitamin E, isomers, melatonin, folate, and polyphenols.
This raises the question: Are the healthy brain effects of walnuts coincidence, or is the walnut’s appearance an illustration of God’s [or nature’s] humor?
Carrots
If you slice a carrot crosswise, you will see the inside of the vegetable closely resembles an eye, with details even depicting the pupil and iris. Accordingly, carrots contain several compounds that are very beneficial for eye health, such as beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and lutein.
Beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and lutein are types of carotenoids, and research has shown the compounds can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration [26] [27] [28].
Further, alpha-carotene is partly converted to vitamin A in the body, and research has shown that people with low vitamin A levels are much more likely to experience night blindness, a condition that may diminish if individuals consume substances containing vitamin A or alpha-carotene [29].
Celery
Long, healthy sticks of celery look just like bones. Celery is an excellent source of silicon, an essential mineral for a healthy, strong bone structure [30]. Also, celery contains roughly the same percentage as sodium as bones.
In a 2004 study, researchers found that higher dietary silicon intake in men and younger women may have salutary effects on skeletal health, especially cortical bone health [31]. Further, in a 2014 study, researchers found a positive relationship between dietary silicon intake and bone regeneration [32].
Therefore, not only does dietary silicon have a beneficial effect on bone health, but it can also promote bone regeneration.
Silicon is also beneficial for joints, arteries, and all connective tissues [33], and celery contains additional minerals, including calcium, potassium, and sodium – all of which are important for bone health.
Citrus
Many citrus fruits, including lemons, oranges, and grapefruit, resemble breasts when sliced in half. These citruses contain compounds called limonene, limonoids, flavonoids, and coumarins, and researchers have investigated the compounds healing effects on breast cancer and other cancers [34].
In a 2013 quantitative, systematic review of six case-control studies, researchers noted a 10% reduction in risk of breast cancer associated with high intake of citrus fruits [35].
While citruses may contain several anti-cancer compounds, limonene has been identified as the most promising, and in a 2012 study, researchers noted that limonene could be topically applied and massaged into the breast [36].
Conclusion
In this article, we began by noting there are several patterns consistently found throughout nature, such as fractals and swirls, as if there is a natural law supporting their existence. Then, we examined the Law of Similarities and the Doctrine of Signatures, which was used by old physicals to connect certain plant compounds to benefit a particular tissue in the body they resembled, such as flax and pomegranate. Finally, we reviewed six foods that help the organ they resemble.
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References:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25051173
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11061746
[3] https://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0028/ea0028p313
[4] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100105095838.htm
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24800189
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20051378
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27016037
[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28125044
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18222572
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15158307
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4152533
[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25239193
[13] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28635182
[14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5467063
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17987126
[16] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30661699
[17] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23583514
[18] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9923725
[19] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17622740
[20] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21677123
[21] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17268413
[22] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28922068
[23] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29101172
[24] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22136581
[25] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28119602
[26] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16908818
[27] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17846363
[28] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24346170
[29] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6085992
[30] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17435952
[31] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14969400
[32] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25389960
[33] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23762049
[34] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4690266
[35] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23593085
[36] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24236248
* This article is for informational purposes only. By providing the information herein, Healthmasters and its associates are not diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any disease or medical condition. Before beginning any natural, integrative, or conventional treatment or regime, it is advisable to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.