| "We have the means to transmute our lives | | | | to sustain us. Our minds consist of trillions of |
| through a new understanding of information, and | | | | informational connections that feed information to |
| through how we use information." | | | | our bodies. Spirit too can be thought of as an |
| Fred Alan Wolf, PhD | | | | even more complex informational structure |
| I have been a proponent of alternative medicine, | | | | working to support us. |
| holistic healing and wellness for many years. I | | | | Dr. Wolf alludes to the idea of transmutation |
| even became an alternative medicine practitioner | | | | through a new understanding of information. In |
| and continue to practice as a chiropractor. The | | | | other words if we learn to tap into the constant |
| idea that we exist in mind, body and spirit has | | | | flow of information to us and through us we can |
| been a fundamental tenet of alternative medicine | | | | change our state of existence. We know about |
| since its inception thousands of years ago. | | | | how thinking positive thoughts has a positive |
| Unfortunately, mainstream medicine based on | | | | effect on our bodies. There is even mounting |
| objectivity has been slow to come around to | | | | evidence in the relatively new science of |
| recognizing multiple levels of existence. The | | | | epigenetics that our behaviors have an effect on |
| scientific paradigm is changing as science delves | | | | the expression of our genes. Also, many of us |
| deeper into the physics of reality. What is | | | | have had positive spiritual experiences in which |
| beginning to emerge is a new understanding of | | | | some greater force affected our lives. |
| reality in terms of information. | | | | If living and healing are seen in terms of |
| What lies beneath physical matter and energy | | | | information flow then the boundaries between |
| may be a field of pure intelligence or information. | | | | mainstream and alternative medicine begin to melt |
| When one probes into the constituents of matter | | | | away. All healing is in essence supporting the |
| one finds subatomic particles. Probing deeper | | | | information systems in the body. For example, |
| reveals a kind of web of relationships that | | | | medications present information to the body by |
| permeates all space and time. These relationships | | | | virtue of their shape. When the medication |
| can be thought of as pure information. | | | | molecules fit certain cell receptors they transfer |
| We can apply this idea of information to living | | | | information to the cell. The same goes for |
| systems and healing. When we do we can | | | | nutrients and herbal substances. Information |
| formulate a universal theory of life and healing. | | | | transfer occurs via upward causation. The small |
| Throughout the ages life continues to increase in | | | | molecules transfer information to cells that affect |
| complexity. Life progressed from simple chemical | | | | larger body systems. |
| reactions to bacteria to cells, and finally, the living | | | | Likewise information flow from mind or spirit to |
| systems we see today. Life moves in a direction | | | | body occurs via downward causation. The more |
| of increasing complexity because of its ability to | | | | complex informational structure of mind has an |
| extract and integrate information from its | | | | effect on the less complex structure of the body. |
| environment. | | | | Systems of healing such as energy healing or |
| If we consider ourselves as informational | | | | Reiki can be explained in terms of information |
| structures capable of capturing and integrating | | | | flow. Prayer too can be seen as a nonlocal |
| information from the environment we can explain | | | | communication of information between individuals |
| body, mind and spirit in terms of informational | | | | or originating from a higher source. |
| complexity. Each level of existence corresponds | | | | Recognizing that information has such a powerful |
| to a hierarchy of information. In other words our | | | | influence on our lives is the first step toward |
| physical existence can be thought of as an | | | | developing a new approach to healing. Perhaps |
| information structure existing on the physical plane | | | | one day we will have a true common ground on |
| while mind and spirit are more complex structures | | | | which both alternative and mainstream systems |
| existing at higher planes. | | | | of healing can stand. In order to achieve this we |
| All planes of existence work to support our | | | | must look deeper into the essence of healing. The |
| existence by providing us with a constant supply | | | | transmutation Dr. Wolf talks about can indeed be |
| of information. Our bodies are full of thousands of | | | | a transmutation toward a greater state of |
| chemical feedback systems that use information | | | | existence, a greater state of health. |