Galen: On the Natural Faculties -Nurturing or Poisoning

Nurturing or poisoning?

Brian Tucker

Science and Math Tutorial

April 22, 2005

Galen: On the Natural Faculties

The human race has become fascinated and awe-struck by the phenomenal research and findings of the past century. From improved sanitation to prescription drugs for every cough or ache, technology makes life simpler and healthier. Humans are living longer, experiencing better health and suffering from illness and disease less. Right? On the contrary, in the United States, one in three people die of cancer, one in five suffers from mental disorders and one out of every five pregnancies result in miscarriage (Fallon, 1). Alzheimer's, epilepsy, chronic fatigue, dyslexia, hyperactivity, ulcers, obesity, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and diabetes are only a few of the ailments that hinder the American population.

Chronic disease afflicts nearly half of the population of the United States and causes an astonishing three out of four deaths. Although such physical and mental problems once characterized the elderly, more and more children and teenagers are struck by chronic illness than ever before (Fallon, 1). In light of every medical advancement and scientific breakthrough, why is it that more people than ever suffer from chronic illnesses, obesity and heart disease?

The human body is a complex, living organism that has taken thousands of years to comprehend and fathom on the simplest level. Today, most Americans view the human body as something constantly rebelling, breaking down, aging or malfunctioning. With every ache and pain or cough and sniffle, the body demonstrates its downfall and weaknesses. In combating these ailments, the majority of our powerless nation depends on prescription drugs, shots, surgeries and other medical treatments for any chance of recovery or improvement. All the while wondering about the source of such diseases and health disorders. Meanwhile, the average diet consists of fast foods, candy bars, and carbonated beverages loaded with preservatives, artificial sweeteners, salt and empty calories. Although the consumption of certain foods cannot account for every chronic disease and illness one hundred percent, the nutrition derived from food plays an important role in how the body functions.

First and foremost, the view of the human body must change in order to comprehend the purposes and intricate workings of its components. In its natural state, the human body is a picture of beauty, wholeness, balance and vitality (Fallon, 1). Thousands of years ago, Galen sought to grasp an understanding of this magnificent creation through experiment, dissection and research. For Galen the body was a detailed masterpiece waiting to be unraveled. When describing the birth and life of an animal or human, he says "after it has been born, an affect in which all parts share is the progress of each to its full size, and thereafter its maintenance of itself as long as possible" (Galen, 169). In order to describe this process of life beginning at conception, he describes the three activities or principal effects of Nature involved, including "Genesis, Growth and Nutrition" (Galen, 169).

In genesis the actual parts of the body take shape from the veins and organs to the fingers and toes. Next, growth increases and expands for the maturation and development of the animal. In order for these processes to come about, there must be nutrition. If a body does not intake nutritive material, the body will be hindered from growth or take on a false appearance o growth. Therefore, nutrition is absolutely necessary for the maintenance and growth of animals and human beings. According to Galen, nutrition occurs when "the inflowing material becomes assimilated to that which has already come into existence" (Galen, 171). The inflowing material is the food eaten by the animal, which is then assimilated into bone, blood and anything else the body needs. The animal or human cannot eat just anything in order to receive correct and suitable nutrition. The body can only break down those materials that can be assimilated into what already exists in the fibers and make-up of the body. When the body cannot properly receive nutrition or process food for nutriment, diseases such as leprosy and dropsy.

To completely understand the ideas expressed by Galen, the modern digestive system must be analyzed. The digestive system is simply "the process of preparing food to enter the body" (Sullivan, 89). From the point the food enters the mouth, it is being broken down into smaller and smaller particles in order for the body to use the proteins, fats, nutrients and minerals