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"The picture we have of viruses and their significance for human beings and nature has fundamentally changed in the last two decades but with hardly any of this more widely known although this Organism has occupied the headlines for many months. Viruses are the oldest, the most common and the most broadly distributed organic structures that evolution has ever created. Viruses basically are the most ancient building blocks of life; without this knowledge we will not be able to understand their role and the part they play in the course of illness." -- Dr. Thomas HardtmuthWith this backdrop, Dr. Hardtmuth tackles issues related to the Corona pandemic. We need to understand thoroughly the significance of viruses--not just as causes of illnesses, but also as a medium, under the right conditions, for building and maintaining health and as a carrier and modifier of genetic information in the service of evolution. The more we view them merely as enemies to be fought, the more we consign and limit ourselves to battleground stations. As Dr. Hardtmuth writes, this is perhaps even more the case for Covid-19.
The latest research and understanding is leading to very different conclusions. For generations, we have been deeply influenced by the domination of pathogenic studies of viruses, whereas the most astonishing recent research shows viruses--in their mutability and in their ability to change our DNA--to be essential life forms for maintaining health and allowing human beings to adapt to new situations--indeed, to evolve.
How does this apply to illnesses and to a pandemic? The simplistic view that viruses attack us and make us ill is outdated. Their effects depend on the situation and the host organism--ourselves. It is not simply a matter of cause and effect.
This is only one aspect of Hardtmuth's discussion. This brief book also delves into subjects such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and the so-called cycle threshold (Ct, or amplification) values; the psychology of fear and power; the inner-outer relationship between human health and environmental health; and the effects of fear as well as other factors on the human immune system.
Moreover, the author introduces the welcome subject of alternative therapies and the controversial subject concerning the uses and risks of vaccinations, in general as well as more specifically regarding Covid vaccines. On the latter, Dr. Hardtmuth details the processes by which the different types of vaccines are produced and their various means of affecting human cells and immune systems. He also considers the significantly shortened testing processes for Covid vaccines, the potential risks, and the immunological responses in the organism through vaccines in comparison to responses arising naturally through actual infections.
Most important, the author explores these issues in an open-minded way and from a holistic perspective. All of this is presented in an accessible way for the general reader.
About the author
Dr. Thomas Hardtmuth, MD, born in 1956, is a physician and freelance writer. He studied medicine in Munich and works as a senior physician specializing in thoracic surgery at the Heidenheim Clinic. Dr. Hardtmuth lectures and leads seminars in the field of medical and anthropological issues. His publications include Das verborgene Ich: Aspekte zum Verständnis der Krebskrankheit (The hidden "I" Aspects of understanding cancer), 2003 and Denkfehler. Das Dilemma der Hirnforschung (Errors in thinking: The dilemma of brain research), 2006.
Summary
Viruses are the oldest, the most common and most broadly distributed organic structures that evolution has ever created. As with bacteria, we need a thorough understanding of the role of viruses in illness as well as for health to make informed choices with Covid-19 & epidemics. Dr Hardtmuth tackles coronavirus issues with detail and transparency.
