Radical

radical (adj.)
late 14c., in a medieval philosophical sense, from Late Latin radicalis "of or having roots," from Latin radix (genitive radicis) "root" (from PIE root *wrad- "branch, root"). Meaning "going to the origin, essential" is from 1650s.
(Etymology)

To whatever question or conundrum is posed, there is probably a radically simple answer; an answer in the root of the query. There are many so-called "right ways" and alternatives to the current unhealthy paradigm we are playing out, it becomes difficult to find personal truth. Collectively, we follow the experts and trust in those who have confidence, but where do we find the answers for ourselves?

Roots

The answer is in the roots. Roots symbolize the beginning and deep support. In a health-conscious world, we have people eschewing one practice while promoting others. The experts market this product and preach the dangers of another. Who are we to believe?

We believe in our roots, ancestors, Mother Earth... our own guts!

We are creatures in the throws of evolution and are constantly adapting to our circumstance and environment, and we must remember the changes from hunter/ gatherer to agriculturist did not happen over night. Any authoritarian claim or heroic measures must be taken with a grain of salt (this may be an issue for those who are on a low-sodium diet). Each individual has specific needs and must listen to their own gut to know what they truly need.

Cellular Memory

I feel inherent in our unique genetic and biochemical makeup(s) is the diversity and spectrum of needs and characteristics. There is nothing that suits us all best, for we are blessed creatures with stories in our cells from individual and ancestral circumstances.

The essence of the the current health movement can be seen as an attempt to return or ascend to some great level of vitality by avoiding or including certain foods, practices or cultures.

But this cannot be found by a modern guru. It is truly found by returning to and understanding our roots. We are children of the Earth, we all have innate gifts and needs, and they are all manifest in a rainbow of expressions within our DNA.

While some prize the paleolithic diet- mimicking our ancestor heavy on the meat & light on grains- is our truest expression, others claim that in only consuming living, raw plants and algae, the body will be pure and in a more spiritually-realized state. Others still insist on brown rice being the perfect food to balance us, while some run from the high glycemic index of grains. There is simply too much to weigh and consider and too many opinions and theory! Without the long term empirical evidence, who can stand behind these claims with scientific proof? One things is certain though, we are not the healthiest species we could be.

Indigenous

By returning to our ancestral roots, connecting to the Earth and being indigenous (of a place) we are able to more know our roots and realize health, which can be seen as a knowing of self and balance in the world. The famous dentist Weston A. Price studied numerous indigenous cultures and came to striking conclusions of oral hygiene. In essence, the various diets and lifestyles of the peoples he studied were based on rootedness to a place and those that followed the traditional diets showed negligible sign of the modern industrial affliction that show up in our teeth. These people were eating in line with their traditions, their home and heritage, and no two cultures shared identical diets, but across the board they were healthy specimens.

What does this mean for us as global internet researchers?

Not every youtube video is based on scientific data, not every blog post or claim is substantiated, and not anyone other than yourself knows what’s best for you. There IS a lot of groundbreaking and inspiring work being done in the field of integrated medicine and preventative healthcare, AND the answers are in the roots.

(Chaga)
What Russian folk lore has be saying about chaga’s (aka inonotus obliquus or “the king of herbs”) use as a strategy against cancer has been proven by dedicated scientific research. The superfoods of today’s acclaim are mostly ancient plants that have fallen out of favour and been rediscovered and marketed on a global scale. The task for us now is to be discerning and make the choices that suit our bodies, our lifestyle and our ethics the best, not to surrender to a guru who has the magic potion for health. There are countless local superfoods that we don't need to be told are superfoods to recognize as the foods our bodies needs. Have the mentality to look for these where you live.

The one-pill-cure-all mentality is what got us into many of the unhealthy patterns today, so why should it be any different when it comes to natural health?

Inside each one of us are 3 neurological centers; our brain, our heart and our gut.

Within this system we are unique and capable of enormous adaptability, in a constant torrent of change in a magical balancing act of biochemistry. There are as many right ways as there are people. The roots we all share lie in the Earth below our feet, and the wisdom is in the plants, fungi, algae, animal, bacteria and other beings that spring forth.

The answer to our questions in search of health reside in the roots, the beginnings, the radicle: the part of the seed that emerges first upon germination to seek water and connect with its new home.

The answer is inside of us where our ancestors still live on through our genes.

All images from Pixabay