Biological Terrain Analysis

How it all began....

The science of Biological Terrain had its beginnings in Europe over 100 years ago. A French physiologist named Dr. Claude Bernard formulated a theory that the primary cause of most illness and disease was due to imbalances in the underlying biochemistry of the body. He believed that disturbances in the body’s "Milieu Interior" or Biological Terrain, compromised cellular functioning. The Biological Terrain is the interstitial fluid that bathes and nourishes every cell in the human body. Dr. Bernard believed that the disturbances or imbalances in this cellular environment affected the entire body, including the immune system. Over time, a compromised immune system had difficulty fighting disease and maintaining health.

Bernard's theory was opposed by Dr. Louis Pasteur. Dr. Pasteur subscribed to the theory that most illness and disease was caused by microbes outside of the body, such as bacteria and viruses. These two scientists opposed one another for many years. Shortly before Pasteur's death, he was quoted as claiming that Bernard's "Milieu Interior" theory was indeed correct-that illness and disease are caused primarily by imbalances in the body's Biological Terrain.

Dr. Claude Bernard's theory claimed that illness and disease are caused primarily by imbalances in the body's interstitial fluid environment. This theory later developed into the science known as Biological Terrain.

In the many years since Bernard developed his theory, the science and application of Biological Terrain concepts continues to grow and is now becoming an integral part of nutritional therapies throughout the world. Advances in technology have enabled scientists and researchers to develop sensitive computerized equipment that enables researchers and health care providers to monitor key components of the Biological Terrain by assessing the body's biological fluids.

Through the precise monitoring of the body's Biological Terrain, valuable information may be obtained that may help individuals address underlying imbalances that may be contributing to cellular stress and lack of vitality. With this valuable information, proper nutrition, stress management and detoxification of specific toxins and poisons may be implemented. These measures, in turn, may help reestablish and support healthy cellular functioning.

The Science of the Cellular Environment

The science of Biological Terrain involves the in-depth study of the cells in the human body and the nutrient-filled, mobile, interstitial environment that bathes and nourishes those cells. Biological Terrain clinicians and practitioners closely monitor this cellular environment in order to gather important information about an individual's cellular health. They understand and appreciate the vital role that a healthy biological terrain environment plays in establishing and supporting an individual's overall state of health, vitality and well-being.

Biological Terrain incorporates the study of biochemistry and physiology. Its concepts honor the important roles that nutrition and hydration play in creating and maintaining health. To enhance one's understanding of the science of Biological Terrain, it is helpful to compare its concepts to the science of Horticulture. Plants and human cells have something very important in common; they both need to exist in healthy, nutrient-rich environments in order to grow and maintain health. The soil or terrain that surrounds a plant's roots, for example, provides the plant with the nutrients that it needs to thrive. Elements from the soil are absorbed by the roots and are sent through the stem into the branches, leaves, blossoms and flowers. The integrity of the plant's roots and the vitality of the soil strengthen the probability that the plant will grow and flourish.

The one hundred trillion cells in the human body are bathed in a nutrient-filled fluid matrix called the Biological Terrain. Other names for this fluid include the interstitial matrix and the "internal milieu." This environment, like the soil, feeds and nourishes all of the cells in the body. The outermost wall of every cell is called the cell membrane. This membrane is permeable, which means that certain elements can flow in and out of this membrane. The cells absorb electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fluid in very specific amounts. These nutrients are then utilized by the cell to maintain cellular health and create substances called energy-rich intermediates. These substances are then used by the body to produce energy in the form of ATP. ATP is the energy that fuels many critical actions and reactions in the human body. The waste products from these cellular reactions within the cells are then released back into the Biological Terrain for proper filtering and disposal by the body. The integrity of the cell, its cell membrane and the vitality of the Biological Terrain increase the probability that the cell will grow and thrive.

The Biological Terrain of the human body and the soil or terrain that supports plant growth both require very specific and balanced chemistries. Maintaining a balanced chemical environment includes the monitoring of the pH or acid-alkaline levels of the terrain as well as assessment of the specific mineral, vitamin, electrolyte, enzyme and hormone levels. In addition, both the body and plants require plenty of biologically pure water, love and sunshine.

When a healthy plant is placed in an environment of healthy soil, it flourishes. This plant enjoys a much higher resistance to disease and opportunistic microbes and pests. The vitality of the soil terrain, therefore, is essential to the overall health of the plant.

A healthy plant living in a healthy soil terrain will flourish.

When a human cell is placed in a healthy Biological Terrain, it, like the plant, will thrive. Essential nutrients flow into the cell through the cell membrane and waste products flow out of the cell. This balanced exchange enables the cell to thrive, grow, reproduce, resist microbes, illness and disease and experience longevity.

A healthy cell living in a healthy Biological Terrain will thrive.

When a healthy plant is placed into an unhealthy terrain, it will fail to thrive. Too much or too little hydration and deficient or excessive levels of nutrients in the soil can create stress for the plant. Toxins or poisons in the soil or water can interfere with the root's abilities to absorb vital, life-sustaining nutrients into its biological system. With prolonged exposure to these stressful conditions, the plant can experience illness, disease and increasing susceptibility to harmful microbes and pests. The condition of the terrain plays a major role in determining the longevity of the plant.

A healthy plant living in an unhealthy terrain will fail to thrive.

When a cell lives in an unhealthy Biological Terrain environment that lacks the proper pH or balance of nutrients, the cell, like the plant, can become unhealthy and fail to thrive. Too few as well as too many nutrients and substances in the terrain can interfere with the cell's abilities to procure the critical balance of elements that it needs to survive. With prolonged exposure to these stressful conditions, the probability that the cell will lose its vitality and develop illness or disease increases significantly. With a lowered vitality and resistance, the cell, like the plant, also becomes more susceptible to the effects of microbes and organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, yeast and fungus.

A healthy cell living in an unhealthy terrain will fail to thrive.

The body's cells and its Biological Terrain have been created with many complex and intricate systems to handle stress. In fact, research has proven that a certain degree of stress is necessary for cellular and human survival.

Each and every moment of each and every day of your life, your body's chemistry is endeavoring to maintain homeostasis or balance. Subtle and specific adjustments are constantly being made within the cells and the Biological Terrain to help the body survive and maintain health. If we lived in a worry-free, relaxed world and stress could be kept to a minimum each day, it would be relatively easy for the body to remain strong and healthy.

A certain amount of stress is necessary for life. Chronic stress can create disturbances within the cellular environment. The Biological Terrain may reflect this state of imbalance.

In today's stress-filled world, however, excessive levels of stress are creating excessive work for the body's cells and its Biological Terrain. Chronic stresses, day after day can, in fact, prove to be very harmful to the body. Juggling work, home and family responsibilities, worries over insurance and mortgage payments, sitting for hours in rush-hour traffic, too much or not enough exercise, too little sleep and poor diets are making it more and more challenging for the body and its cells to maintain homeostasis. In addition, continued exposure to poisons and toxins in the air, water and environment are creating additional internal biochemical stress. As a result, deficiencies and excesses are being created that are severely affecting the integrity of the Biological Terrain. This, in turn, may be contributing to the development of degenerative ailments and premature aging. A compromised terrain is less equipped to support the health of the trillions of cells that rely upon it for nourishment and support.

Unlike the soil terrain that remains relatively stationary around the plant, the body's Biological Terrain is fluid and mobile. It continually circulates throughout the body. Its components are used to produce energy, to supply vital nutrients for sustaining life and to create the biological fluids of urine, lymphatic fluid and saliva. Therefore, the chemical state of the Biological Terrain, in essence, may affect the chemical state of all of the body's biological fluids. Assessing the biological fluids, therefore, may serve as a means of monitoring certain aspects of the underlying biochemical state of the body.

The characteristics and condition of the Biological Terrain may affect the entire body. This fluid, matrix environment travels throughout the body. The strengths and weaknesses, as well as the imbalances of this interstitial terrain can become an integral part of saliva, lymph and urine formation. These bodily fluids, therefore, may serve as mirrors or indicators of what is happening at the deepest cellular level.

Precise assessment and study of these fluids may provide valuable information about the underlying factors that may influence the overall state of our vitality and well-being.

Each and every person is biologically and chemically unique. Although many human bodies and their functions appear to be very similar in nature, the science of Biological Terrain demonstrates that each and every individual's cellular environment responds a bit differently to stress, change, health and illness. Research has proven that genetic and hereditary factors, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social and environmental factors all affect cellular functioning and play major roles in determining the health and well-being of an individual. Because of the many factors that can affect the cellular environment, a Biological Terrain clinician endeavors to be an investigator. He or she spends time exploring the underlying chemistry of a client to address the underlying cause of the problem and resulting imbalances. In addition to monitoring the biological fluids for very specific parameters, a Biological Terrain clinician will also gather additional information through extensive questionnaires. Some of these questionnaires may require that you step back a bit in time to explore the possible contributing factors of your present imbalance. These factors may include such events as a history of poor nutrition or allergies, a stress-filled childhood or career or exposure to environmental toxins or chemicals. Licensed practitioners will also perform physical exams and order additional laboratory tests and evaluations. As a Biological Terrain client, you will be encouraged to work together with your clinician as an investigative team. Working together will prove to enrich and enhance your endeavors to achieve your goals of improving your nutrition and strengthening your overall state of vitality and well-being.

The science of Biological Terrain may help you to discover underlying problems that may be contributing to cellular stress.

Monitoring the Biological Terrain "The BTA^tm"

The Biological Terrain or interstitial cellular environment has many vital functions. Its primary responsibility is to deliver nutrients to every cell in the body. These substances include electrolytes, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, hormones and water. The trillions of cells in the body depend upon the Biological Terrain to supply the specific levels of nutrients and hydration that it needs to maintain life and vitality.

A second important function of the Biological Terrain is to transport energy-rich substances throughout the body for the production of energy or ATP. Many critical actions and reactions that take place in the body require ATP, therefore, the transport of these vital, fuel-building chemicals is essential for life.

A third function of the Biological Terrain involves the movement of minerals from the cells. Because nearly every cellular reaction requires the proper levels of minerals, this function, likewise, is essential to maintaining life and vitality not only within the cells but throughout the entire body.

Life would not be possible without the many critical, life-sustaining functions of the Biological Terrain. Balance and health within this fluid environment create life and balance within all of the cells in the body. Precise monitoring of the Biological Terrain, therefore, is critical to understanding the underlying factors that may create vitality as well as imbalance within the cells.

Monitoring the Biological Terrain involves assessing the biological fluids of urine and saliva. These fluids have specific characteristics and contain certain levels of elements that are released by the cells into the Biological Terrain environment for transport to various locations and destinations throughout the body. Some of these elements enter the blood. Other substances enter the lymphatic fluid, saliva and urine. Measurement of specific factors within these fluids, therefore, may offer a biochemical window into the underlying functioning of the cells.

There are many factors that can create imbalances within the Biological Terrain. These can include but are not limited to poor nutrition, enzyme deficiencies, chronic stress, allergies, dehydration, surgery, genetic & hereditary factors, a disease process, certain drugs & medications, bacteria, viruses, fungi and a lack of sleep. Certain heavy metals and environmental chemicals and toxins in the air, food and water can also create disturbances in the terrain environment. Sometimes these substances or activities can deplete the body of vital enzymes and nutrients. Some of these factors can damage delicate cell membranes, interfering with the cells’ abilities to absorb nutrients or produce the energy-rich substances needed by the body to create ATP. Some of these stressful activities or substances can create congestion, stagnation or demineralization of the Biological Terrain, all compromising critical cell functioning.

Although each and every individual's Biological Terrain may have similar characteristics, each person's response to stressful factors may be chemically unique. Some individuals may react immediately and at times, violently to certain stressful substances or activities. Other individuals may store the chemical insult deep within the body for many years before it is discovered. Like an onion with many layers, these stresses and toxic insults lie hidden deep within the body, slowly and subtly compromising its functioning and contributing to lowered resistance, the development of cellular stress and such situations as premature aging.

The biochemistry of each and every person responds a bit differently to such factors as long-term exposure to heavy metals and toxins and poisons in the air, food and water. These chemical agents can damage the cells, interfering with their abilities to function and maintain health. Monitoring the biological fluids may provide an in-depth look at some of their biochemical effects.

Values that provide vital information about the condition of the Biological Terrain include the pH, redox and resistivity. The pH measures the alkaline-acid balance of the fluids. Digestion and absorption of foods and nutrients, activation of enzymes, the binding of hormones with their receptor sites and many other processes within the body are all pH-dependent. This means that specific pH levels are necessary m order to ensure optimum function. pH levels that are too high or too low can interfere with these processes and at times, even stop certain critical biochemical activities from taking place.

The redox measurement, also called the ORP measurement, provides data regarding the level of electrons in the biological fluids. Long-term or chronic exposure to certain chemicals, toxins, viruses, bacteria and fungal conditions can damage the cells and create imbalances within the Biological Terrain environment. This can interfere with electron transport and energy production by the body. Over time, this may contribute to chronic fatigue, low energy conditions and lack of vitality within the body.

The resistivity measurement involves the level of minerals in the fluids. When fluids become congested with too many minerals, stagnation can develop. This can compromise the cells' abilities to function. When fluids contain too few minerals, demineralization can occur. Without enough minerals circulating in the body, enzyme activation is compromised and bone and muscle development and maintenance can suffer.

The body can store toxins and chemical insults. Like an onion, these toxins and insults can be peeled away to reveal underlying patterns and imbalances. The monitoring of the pH. redox and resistivity of the biological fluids may reveal the effects that these factors are having upon the underlying chemistry of the cells.

The biological fluids are monitored by a device called the BTA S-100^tm. Following a 12- hour fast, small amounts of urine and saliva are placed into this computerized device. Within minutes, the BTA S-lOO^tm provides data regarding the pH, redox and resistivity values of the fluids. These six values may provide valuable information regarding specific parameters of the Biological Terrain environment. Additional information, assessments and questionnaires may be recommended. Licensed BTA^tm practitioners may perform physical examinations and choose to order additional laboratory tests or analyses to gain more in-depth or specific data regarding a particular aspect of cellular fi.mctioning. With this valuable information, proper nutrition, stress management and detoxification measures can be explored and implemented to support healthy cellular functioning.

A BTA S-1OO^tm does not diagnose illness or disease. it is not a treatment device. This computerized device assesses, urine and saliva. It was designed to monitor subtle and specific parameters of the Biological Terrain environment.

In order to obtain the most accurate BTA S-100^tm results, a 12-hour fast with very specific guidelines is required. In a fasting state, the cells release their by-products of metabolism and minerals into the interstitial environment. These substances, in turn, enter the biological fluids for circulation and disposal by the body. The urine and saliva chemical parameters during this time may provide the clearest biochemical window into the underlying cellular environment.

Many individuals wonder why a fast is required. If one were to eat a meal and then have a BTA^tm, the results would be much different than in a fasting state. After eating food, the Biological Terrain becomes flooded with the nutrients and by-products of the foods, enzymes and chemicals secreted during the digestive process. Urine and saliva samples obtained during this time would reflect the biochemical changes created by the foods and the digestive process rather than the true functional state of the cells and the Biological Terrain.

 

Does the water that you drink meet the needs of your particular body?
The water that you drink has a big impact on your cellular functioning. The BTA S-100^tm can assess water samples for pH, redox and resistivity values.

In today's busy and demanding world, the human body's biochemistry is often working overtime to try and maintain the delicate and critical level of balance and homeostasis that is essential for life. Poor nutrition, chronic stress and a vast array of other factors are making it increasingly demanding for the body to carry out its functions. Monitoring the Biological Terrain provides subtle data that may provide answers to such questions as "How can I maintain health?" "What type of diet is best for me?" and "How can I help my body to enjoy greater vitality and longevity?"

A BTA^tm provides extremely valuable data that may expose underlying biochemical patterns that are capable of supporting as well as compromising and damaging the body's cellular functioning. Regular BTA^tm monitoring may serve to evaluate the biochemical changes, effectiveness or ineffectiveness of recommended nutritional and lifestyle modification programs. This chemical data offers feedback that enables Biological Terrain clinicians and their clients to choose the specific dietary programs that will help them to achieve their goals of health, vitality and longevity.