primal herbalism and ancestral memories max drake mnimh
TRANSCRIPT
Primal Herbalism and Ancestral Memories
Max Drake MNIMH
Ancestral health research Evolutionary Discordance Theorytheoretical basis in population studies &nutritional biochemistryphenomenologicaln=1
Herb Walks
Diversity of Urban Flora in BristolCumberland Basin
Castle ParkDocks areaClifton Downs LockleazeSnuff MillsNorthern SlopesDundry SlopesRiver side
Ground Ivy(Glechoma hederacea)
Member of the mint familyApril - June• Mild expectorant• Anti-catarrhal• Astringent
– Sinusitis– Tinnitus– Bronchitis– Chronic bronchial catarrh
Tea or tincture
Ancestral Memory
Phenomenology of herb walk:• Inviting closer scrutiny of
individual plants - small details• Awareness of diversity• Creating a map• Group experience – peripheral
vision • Importance of narrative• “Feels like coming home”
Evolutionary Environment of Adaptation
Paleolithic era• Immense amount of time • Relatively recent appearance of art and cultureThe Upper Paleolithic environment• Archaeological evidence• Chauvet caves
Upper Paleolithic Environment
• Wide diversity of flora and fauna• Large brains, capacity for language fully developed• Natural history domain – use of narrative for learning• Phenomenology of perception relating to plants
Pre History of the Mind
Evolution of consciousness• Cognitive fluidity (Mithen)• Drawing on the work of Cosmides and Tooby• The mind as a Swiss Army Knife• Four domains of intuitive knowledge• overwhelming evidence that suggests that by the age of two
or three, children seem to be using specialized, content-rich modules.
Four Domains
• Technical intelligence– Eg. Stone tools
• Social intelligence– Larger brains = larger groups
• Natural history intelligence– For acquisition of food, avoiding predators
• Linguistic ability– Chomsky
Cognitive Fluidity
Three phases of development1. The mind is dominated by general intelligence.2. Domain-specific modules supplement general
intelligence, each working independently and in isolation.
3. Domain-specific modules are working together with a seamless flow of information across domains.
Cathedral Metaphor• Generalised intelligence• Cognitive fluidity of chapels• Koestler: “the sudden interlocking
of two previously unrelated skills or matrices of thought” account for human creativity.
• Transformation of conceptual spaces
Phenomenology of Plant Perception
• The visual field• Attribution of Intention• Pre-agricultural equanimity• Embedded knowledge• Taste: – acquired liking and wanting – Innate preferences
• n=1
Evolution of Taste• Gustatory sense is important in the regulation of food
intake• Common sense suggests that sweet is beneficial and bitter
is harmful for health. Starts with babies at breast• Bitter taste receptors: evolution of these vital for survival as
they enable us to avoid ingesting toxic substances. Examples: strychnine, cyanide
• Differences in gene encoding for bitter taste receptors between humans and our closest relatives
• Mechanism of taste perception at a cellular level for bitter, sweet and umami tastes differ from salt and sour taste reception, suggesting a different evolutionary path.
Alliesthesia
• the dependence of the perception of pleasure or disgust perceived when consuming a stimulus on the “milieu intérieur” of the organism.
• Ground Ivy, Boneset, Hemp Agrimony, Valerian
• A brilliantly adaptive part of the equation of what makes a flavour appealing
Sophistication of differential tastes
• Thyme and chicken• Mint and Lamb• Turmeric and Black Pepper• Beef and Mustard /Horseradish
Primal Herbalism
• Health of HG Societies• Approximation of Paleolithic diet• Exercise & Rest patterns • Non hierarchical groups• Using herbs as an adjunct to diet, exercise,
stress reduction• N=1 : the evidence base is in your mouth
More Info
• seriouslystoneage.com– Courses on evolutionary health– Experimental research groups
• urbanfringe.org– Herb walks, herb specific courses
• primalherbalist.com– forthcoming blog