​​By Angus Nicol

Weeks 1-3 - Cellular function & Connection with universe

Even before the moment of conception, our physical form has to fight to survive. The journey for a sperm to meet it’s soul partner ovum/egg is dangerous. Throughout pregnancy, there are so many different challenges that a developing embryo/foetus has to face. To survive these challenges, we rely on cooperation with other living things (mother, bacteria, mitochondria) to help us survive.
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Our bodies, like the Earth, consist of ~70% water. Water is the main component in every cell
in our body, and outside of our cells too, and this is why it is ESSENTIAL for all life. Water is
composed of H2O (two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen). . Hydrogen can sometimes be
known as the “god molecule”. During the Big Bang, it was the high power collision between
two hydrogen atoms in process of “nuclear fusion” that released tremendous amounts of
energy. This caused a cascade of collisions between atoms that got increasingly larger, and
resulted in the formation of all of the natural elements that make up our Earth (and our solar
system) today… including all of the elements which are CRITICAL for life (especially
hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus… alongside all the others). It’s the
combination and connection between these elements in infinite combinations of intricate lattice frameworks that make up EVERY physical thing (the things we can see, and the things we can’t…everything that isn’t ENERGY).

This first “Big Bang” that happened at the beginning of time, and that occurs with the birth of
every star in the solar system, is similar to the process that occurs just immediately following
fertilisation, right at the beginning of our physical life. After it’s treacherous journey, when the
sperm meets it’s destined egg and our physical fate becomes reality, a process of rapid
expansion called “cleveage” occurs through a process of cell division/multiplication known as

mitosis. This process happens at a rapid rate during the first 12-24h after fertilisation, and
slows but continues for the first three weeks of pregnancy.

​DNA holds the “blueprints”/genetic code for every protein in our body. Long, continuous
chains of DNA can be separated into units known as “genes”, and sequences of genes flow
along structures known as chromosomes. We inherit 23 chromosomes from the egg from
Mum, and 23 from Dad’s sperm cell. During fertilisation/fusion, this genetic information is
fused in a complicated process, giving each little human 46 sets of chromosomes spread out along 21,000 genes (~3 billion base pairs of DNA). Within this genetic code lies the information for our “innate/true self” - it dictates how we look, what our personality is predisposed to be (before the influence of “human experience”), what illnesses we may be predisposed to etc. Similar to the natural course of the universe being decided during the first “Big Bang”.

DNA is held within the nucleus of a cell. As a foetus develops and cells begin to rapidly
multiply by process of “mitosis” they also become more specialised, and serve specific
functions in our body. This process happens quickly from Day 4 - Week 3 of embryonic
development, through a process known as “blastulation”. This cell specialisation eventually
gives rise to the development of all the different body systems, organs, structures, muscles,
bones, nerves etc in our body.

​One type of specialised cell organelle that lives within each and every cell in our body is
mitochondria. Mitochondria are the “powerhouses”/batteries of our cells, and create energy
by converting sugar into chemical energy in process of “cellular respiration”. Respiration at a
macro level is the process inhalation and exhalation… also known as breath. In many
cultures, the etymology of the word “breath” is synchronous with “spirit”. For example… In
Hebrew, spirit & breath are known as “ruach”, “hu-akh” in Egyptian and “pneuma” in Greek.
In Sanskrit/yogic philosophy, breathing techniques are referred to as pranayama. This is
derived from two parts - “prana” meaning “vital life force”, and “yama” meaning “to gain
control”. Similarly, in traditional Chinese medicine, “breath” is synonymous with “chi” which
also describes vital energy. The breath, through respiration, drives our life force because it
enables us to harvest oxygen from our external environment. This oxygen is then infused
through specialised cells in the lungs and enters systemic circulation through our arteries,
much like the roots of trees, and is transported in the bloodstream all over the body to where
it is most required. Here, it enters the microscopic environment of the cell. Some of the
oxygen is used in a very special cell organelle known as mitochondria to undergo
“glycolysis”, the process of breaking down glucose (sugar) into usable energy, in a process
known as cellular respiration (respirationwithin individual cells).

​Mitochondria are special because they are non-human - they have a similar size and
structure to bacteria, with their own unique genetic blueprint/DNA code. However, we rely on
this non-human entity for the creation of energy to power EVERY function in our body -
every movement, every thought, every physiological process, that occurs within our physical
being, relies on something outside of ourself. This includes all of the physical and
physiological changes that occur during embryological/foetal development (pregnancy).
Mitochondria has a plant sibling whose function is equal and opposite - chloroplasts,
specialised non-plant organelles with their own DNA, harvest light energy directly from our
sun, our star, and convert it to chemical energy in the form of complex sugars/carbohydrates
via the process of photosynthesis. Plants are then consumed by animals and that chemical
energy this converted back into energy by mitochondria. Ourouboros - circle of life. This
emphasises the inherent connection between ALL life on Earth and our sun. There are so
many different examples of codependency within our body, another important one being
within our gut. The bacteria that live in our gut and aid in their digestion and absorption of
nutrients that we rely on to continue living.

​During weeks 3-8, developing embryo continues process of gastrulation and development of
germ layers - the ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. Endoderm (“within”) forms lining of
GIT, stomach, colon, liver, pancreas, bladder, lung. Many structures that Eastern medicines
such as TCM and Ayurvedic approaches focus upon. The mesoderm (“middle”) forms
muscle, bone, connective tissue, notochord, kidneys, gonads, circulatory system. The
ectoderm (“outer”) forms Skin, hair, nails, brain, spinal cord, peripheral nervous system…interesting that even from an embryological perspective our brain and nervous system, who makes up who we are, in perceived as being “outer”, outside of us, connection to outside world. These germ layers then fold in on themselves to form tubes, with our guts on the inside and our skin on the outside.

​These processes all occur whilst we are suspended, floating within the protection of the
placenta, in a pool of amniotic fluid. The placenta itself is composed of tissues that originate
from both the growing embryo, and from the inner lining on Mum’s womb, the endometrium. Here, the umbilical cord, connects from the placenta to bub’s belly button (umbilicus), and sheaths the umbilical artery and umbilical vein. The umbilical vein supplies the growing foetus with nutrients and oxygen vital for it’s growth, whilst the umbilical artery removes waste products for excretion.

By Kirby Edwards

Dry brushing for the skin is exactly that, brushing your skin without water. It can help to detoxify the body more effectively and can be performed at home. 

The lymphatic system is an integral part of the immune system and is helpful to defend against infections. A bit of a waste disposal really consisting of a few parts including lymph nodes which are located around the body. One of its main tasks is to balance fluid levels of the body by draining any extra lymph and other fluids from the body tissues and return it to the blood to leave the body. If it was not drained by the lymphatic system, this extra fluid would build up in the tissues and make them swell. This can lead to stagnation or inflammation.

A previous blog goes into much more detail about the lymphatic system  https://www.hmcosteopaths.com/blogs/the-lymphatic-system-clearing-the-bodys-sewerage-system-to-promote-natural-immunity

By improving lymphatic circulation, we can promote better body detoxification and reduce swelling. Other benefits may include reduce bloating, decrease instances of constipation, energy increase, improve immune function, decrease inflammation and clearer skin.