Health is Based on Family and Community - a podcast by Michael Lingard BSc. DO. M.DOC Cert.WPNut. Orthopath Buteyko Educator Plantrician

This podcast very briefly outlines the ground-breaking work of the Peckham Experiment that demonstrated the long-term connection between health as an adult and our childhood environment. It highlighted the vital importance of the family unit, mother and father and the support of the community. Although this may not be accepted as valid in today's world, especially in the UK where family and community life has broken down, we are still the same human beings as our ancestors, we have not changed even though our social attitudes have.

As part of my drive to discover the fundamentals of health and wellbeing I studied the work of a remarkable doctor, Dr Scott-Williamson. In his later years as a brilliant pathologist he asked himself a very simple question that would become the basis for his work and research for the rest of his life. As a pathologist he was reasonably happy that he knew the aetiology of most common diseases, what were the key causes of each disease, that was his profession, but when he asked himself what was the aetiology of health, what in other words were the key causes of health, he had no answer. He then began a search through all published research papers in this country and abroad but could find little on this subject. What he knew, as most of us would agree, is that health isn’t just what is left after we remove all diseases, it is far more than that. 

To summarize over twenty years research in just a few words, what he discovered was that health was based on a child growing up with a father and mother in a community that supports them as a family. He also took for granted that the child needed an adequate diet, exercise and an environment where it could develop its own talents as fully as possible. 

This conclusion was based on the experience of over a thousand families who were part of what became called the Peckham Experiment. In Peckham, in London, a large modern building was designed with swimming pool, gymnasium, cafeteria, crèche , and areas for outdoor recreations as well as a medical unit where all participating families has their annual health audit. Anyone who were found to need medical attention or tests were advised to see their own doctor, whether they did or not was their decision. This was all part of encouraging self-responsibility for their own health and that of their family.

By every medical measure, the health of all participants improved year on year.

It was regarded as the most important medical research of its time and the centre had thousands of visitors from home and abroad every year, even including the queen. 

When the NHS was being planned a group approached the Government to propose that similar centres should be established throughout the country to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation, the other group that approached the government suggested that if people had better access to modern medicines this would ensure a healthier nation. We now know who won the day and only now are we seeing a growing recognition that drugs and medical interventions do not lead to improved health but simply help manage diseases. 

As a nation we may lead the world in this, as we have a record of ever increasing numbers of broken families and poor community support; those two prime factors that Dr Scott-Williamson and his co-worker Dr Innes-Pearce proved were essential for the development of a healthy child. We are seeing an worrying rise in childhood mental problems through stress and anxiety, besides the adverse effects of diet and lack of exercise leading to an epidemic of obesity and related diseases.

The very word health is derived from Hale, old English for whole. 

The rationale behind the Peckham Experiment findings is that for a child to fully develop as a whole person they need a secure environment of a mother and father, as only when we have the union of a male and female is there a whole human. Every man is essentially half a human, as is every woman, but together they represent a model of a whole human that the child learns from.

The rich environment of many families meeting, working and playing together in the Peckham Centre increased the possibility of children growing to their fullest potential.

All the latest research is pointing to the importance of our childhood development from birth to early schooling, how this experience can strengthen or weaken a child for life. As another pioneer in this area Dr Glen Doman says education begins at around 6 years of age but our learning begins at birth. In fact the capacity of a toddler to learn is many thousands of times greater than an adult’s learning ability. 

 

Further episodes of Your Health in Your Hands!

Further podcasts by Michael Lingard BSc. DO. M.DOC Cert.WPNut. Orthopath Buteyko Educator Plantrician

Website of Michael Lingard BSc. DO. M.DOC Cert.WPNut. Orthopath Buteyko Educator Plantrician