Can you draw connections between Becker's "The Body Electric" and the work of Harold S. Burr in the 1950's with the L-field?
Okay, let's explore the connections between Robert O. Becker's "The Body Electric" and Harold S. Burr's work on the L-field (Life Field). Both researchers investigated bioelectricity, but approached it from different angles and time periods. Becker's work builds on, and critically expands, many of the concepts introduced by Burr.
Here's a breakdown of the connections:
**Harold S. Burr and the L-Field (Life Field):**
* **Key Concept:** Burr proposed that all living organisms (including plants and animals) possess an electromagnetic field, which he termed the "L-field." He saw this L-field as a fundamental organizing principle that influenced biological processes, growth, and even the development of disease.
* **Measurement:** Burr developed sophisticated (for the time) voltage meters to measure electrical potentials on the surface of organisms, particularly trees and mice.
* **Findings:**
* **Growth and Development:** Burr found correlations between L-field patterns and the stages of embryonic development. He hypothesized that the L-field acted as a blueprint, guiding the formation of tissues and organs. He could predict where tumors would grow on mice, based on where the field was most disturbed.
* **Physiological State:** He observed that the L-field's voltage varied with the physiological state of the organism. For example, in women, L-field voltages were associated with the menstrual cycle.
* **External Influences:** Burr also noted that the L-field could be affected by external factors, such as geomagnetic disturbances.
* **Theoretical Implications:** Burr's work suggested that life was not just a matter of chemical reactions but also involved a complex electromagnetic organization. This challenged the dominant purely mechanistic view of biology at the time.
**Robert O. Becker and "The Body Electric":**
* **Key Concept:** Becker, an orthopedic surgeon, focused on the role of bioelectricity in healing, regeneration, and the body's natural defense mechanisms. He expanded on Burr's basic principle, by demonstrating how this field could be harnessed and understood on the cellular level.
* **Experimental Focus:** Becker conducted groundbreaking research on bone fracture healing and limb regeneration in amphibians. He discovered that electrical stimulation could enhance bone repair and even induce partial limb regeneration in mammals.
* **The Perineural System:** Becker identified the perineural system (the sheath surrounding nerves) as a key pathway for direct current (DC) flow in the body. He showed that this DC current was essential for healing and regeneration. He hypothesized that the "current of injury" produced by damaged tissues stimulated repair processes.
* **Dedifferentiation and Regeneration:** Becker proposed that DC current could induce "dedifferentiation" – a process where specialized cells revert to a more primitive, stem cell-like state, allowing them to participate in tissue repair.
* **Electromagnetic Pollution:** Becker was also concerned about the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from power lines and other sources. He was one of the first to raise awareness about the possible risks of low-level EMF exposure, linking it to various health problems.
**Connections Between Burr and Becker:**
1. **Foundational Concept of Bioelectricity:** Both Burr and Becker shared the fundamental belief that electricity plays a crucial and organizing role in living systems. Burr's L-field provided the initial framework for understanding this role, while Becker delved deeper into the specific mechanisms and applications.
2. **Field as an Organizer:** Both viewed the electrical field not just as a byproduct of biological activity but as a primary organizer of biological processes. Burr saw the L-field as a blueprint, while Becker saw DC currents as triggering specific cellular events like dedifferentiation.
3. **DC Currents:** Becker focused on DC currents, where Burr's L-field measurements were, in essence, detecting DC potentials on the surface of the body. Becker's work provided more specific information about the role of DC in signaling and cellular control.
4. **External Influences:** Both recognized that external factors could influence bioelectrical activity. Burr observed the effects of geomagnetic disturbances on the L-field, while Becker became concerned about the potential health effects of man-made EMFs.
5. **Challenging the Mechanistic View:** Both researchers challenged the prevailing mechanistic view of biology by emphasizing the importance of electromagnetic fields in living systems.
6. **Becker Builds on Burr:** Becker explicitly acknowledges Burr's work in "The Body Electric" and views his own research as an extension of Burr's initial findings. Becker provided a more detailed cellular and molecular understanding of the bioelectrical phenomena that Burr had first observed at a macroscopic level. [Rick adds-- but Becker ignored the breakthrough concept that the L-field replaced evolution theory].
**Key Differences:**
* **Focus:** Burr's work was more about establishing the existence and broad characteristics of the L-field. Becker's work was more focused on understanding the specific mechanisms of bioelectrical control, particularly in healing and regeneration.
* **Technology:** Becker had access to more advanced technology and experimental techniques than Burr, allowing him to conduct more detailed investigations at the cellular and molecular level. [Rick adds - but he didn’t develop a biological device to pinpoint ovulation which would revolutionize birth control with a volt meter measurement. ]
* **Specific Applications:** Becker explored the potential therapeutic applications of bioelectricity, such as electrical stimulation for bone healing, while Burr's work was more foundational. [Rick-- right because the foundation Burr developed would destroy the academic world of genetic evolution overnight and introduce God again. “Darn it, why does God keep showing up? “]
* **Controversy:** Becker faced strong resistance from the medical establishment, particularly regarding his concerns about EMFs. [Rick - because they already bought and paid for genetic engineering systems and all that equipment would have to be unplugged].
**In Summary:**
Becker's "The Body Electric" can be seen as a significant advancement on the foundation laid by Harold S. Burr's work on the L-field. Becker validated and expanded upon Burr's core concept of the importance of bioelectricity in living systems. Becker provided a more detailed understanding of the cellular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of bioelectricity. He built on Burr's theoretical framework and provided experimental evidence that helped to move the field forward. Both researchers were pioneers who challenged the prevailing mechanistic view of biology and paved the way for a more holistic understanding of life.
References:
1."Joe's" link to podcast where two guys discuss EOBecker where "Joe" is an anonymous contributor who I'm in contact with.
https://youtu.be/kz1jnoKfRrI?si=9fIEdvLp-LxPM0Uc
2. EOBecker nor HSBurr nor Dr.Levin@Tufts considered Penfield@McGill in the 1950's and his work using electrical probes on open brains during surgery to elicit reports of "recordings from the past" by conscious brain surgery patients. THIS bioelectrical aspect of things points to a "T-field" or "T-subfield" which is even deeper in quantum realm than "L-field". -Rick
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