Organon, Philosophy & Methodology

'A new road paved towards a factual science of Vital Force.'

'Vital Force is Oxygen' is the first book of its kind which tries to establish the scientific VITAL FORCE

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authenticity of the vital force by elaborating and proving Vital Force is OXYGEN, in the most
significant manner and helps in easy understanding. The author Dr. Amarsinha Dattatray
IS

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T
OXYGEN
Nikam is the founder of unique and only existent Homeopathic hospital worldwide 'Aditya

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Homoeopathic Hospital and Healing Centre'. The book has tried to draw a similarity between

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every aspect of oxygen, in health and sickness with vital force. This work could be an answer
to the skeptics in the contemporary medicine, who are always doubting the scientific realism

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and legitimacy of Homeopathy.

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 Coherent portrayal of the working of vital force on human body, its mechanism, its
functioning, its damages etc.

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 Effusive explanation of disease dynamics with regards to oxygen and vital force

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explained
A
n
En
l
i
ght
e
ni
ngR
e
s
ea
r
c
hon
V
it
al
For
c
e

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 Opinions of Master Hahnemann and other pioneers of homeopathy regarding the vital
force have been described and discussed in detail

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Relationship of vital force with emotions and miasm makes for an interesting read

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

Dr. Amarsinha Dattatray Nikam is the best exponent of Classical

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Homeopathy in the country. No mix no remix, no adulterations and no

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abrasiveness. For a single patient only one medicine and that too of a

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minimum potency of 30. It's big wonder to see even extreme emergency cases
being dealt without any surgery, saline or injections. In fact, Dr. Nikam is in

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himself a most powerful expression of the power and might of Homeopathy in

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India.” He established 'Aditya Homoeopathic Hospital & Healing Centre' the

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first Homeopathic hospital in India on 2nd May 1995 (after 14 years wide experience in
Homeopathy). Dr. Nikam was selected as 'Indian Team Doctor' in International Sports
Tournament of Handicapped persons conducted in Brisbane, Touwamba, Australia in 1991.
Has authored various books on homeopathy like 'Homoeopathy - The Art of Rapid & Gentle
Healing', 'Research in Thermal Materia Medica'. 'The New Research in Manifestation of
Miasm (In Disease, Medicine and Mind)'. Dr. Nikam continuously addresses the medical

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community to go for scientific & practical approach towards Homeopathy and has addressed

r
.
many seminars both at national and international level.

Ama
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s
in
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.N
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ISBN: 978-81-319-0824-2
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9 7 8 8 1 3 1 9 0 8 2 4 2

Rs. 110.00

D
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Ama
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s
in
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 Vital Force
is
Oxygen
An Enlightening Research in Vital Force

Dr Amarsinha D. Nikam

B. Jain Publishers (P) Ltd.

An ISO 9001 : 2000 Certified Company
USA—EUROPE—INDIA
 Contents v

Preface

The vital force is an interesting concept of utmost importance

in Homeopathic science. But, the theoretical rather an
unscientific explanation of vital force was very confusing for
homeopathic students and doctors.
The subject of vital force (vital energy) is a scientific
and an important document of Homeopathy which was put
forth by Master Hahnemann. But, it has been transformed
into an unperceivable, an unexplainable, and an unscientific
philosophy which has made homeopathic science a target
for criticism in the medical world by other pathies.
Since, I was enrolled in first year in homeopathic college,
I was eager to understand this interesting subject of vital
force. But I was not being guided enthusiastically on this
subject.
My father was a homeopathic consultant. I had seen the
tremendous recovery and results. Since my childhood I had
developed full faith on this science as I had been born and
brought up with homeopathy. It compelled me to become
a follower of this wonderful science. The keen interest for
understanding the science kept me enthusiastic and my
efforts helped me to perceive the concepts without any
guidance.
vi Vital Force is Oxygen

After completing my college curriculum I continued

with my study and practice. A continuous reading of
Dr Hahnemann’s philosophy and following his methods
and principles of prescription gave me good results. This
enhanced my knowledge and confidence in our pathy.
As I started practising, I came up with good results
and witnessed amazing recoveries of patients. This success
was giving me happiness. But, I wasn’t satisfied with it, for
me these results were of no use until they had a scientific
explanation. This allowed other people to criticize me, call
me a fluke and even a non-homeopathic method prescriber.
This criticism made me aware of the truth and with
acceptance I continued my journey.
I had done enormous readings of the books of
Philosophies of our pioneers Dr Hahnemann, Dr Kent’s,
Dr H.A. Roberts and Dr Stuart Close and many more.
This brought me to a conclusion that ‘Yes, our
homeopathic philosophy has a solid scientific foundation!
Today, nearly after three decades of my practice, I have
established an 80 beded homeopathic hospital which only
works on a standard homeopathic prescription of 30 potency.
Also, I have delivered many seminars through which I have
put forth my classical and scientific way of homeopathic
practice and understanding of homeopathic philosophy by
different angles.
For the first time, I introduced this concept of vital force
in 2005 at Singapore. The concept was greatly appreciated
and the crowd was eager to know the subject in deep. This
also inspired me to write a book on this concept.
To write a book was a very difficult task, I required a
proper data to put forth my thoughts. This took me four
 Contents
Preface vii

years of hard & heart work to complete each matter in a

scientific manner.
My only aim is to establish Homeopathy as a firm
science; so that no one can ever criticize or underestimate
it. To fulfill this purpose erasing the wrong concepts and
inculcate the basic scientific concepts on the mind of newly
emerging generation of Homeopaths is a necessity. It will
strengthen their faith and dedication to the pathy.
This will result in wide spread of the pathy from richest
to the commonest and to all corners of this world.
This book is a humble attempt made by me for better
understanding and development of our pathy.
This is my request to the readers, take help of this book
to make their concepts clearer regarding vital force and erase
all the doubts in their mind; as in my previous books - ‘The
manifestation of Miasm’ and ‘Thermal Materia Medica’.

Dr Amarsinha D. Nikam
 Contents ix

Acknowledgements

For the first time, I explored my deeper understanding of

‘Vital Force’ and shared my thoughts in the year 2005, at
Singapore Seminar.
Dr Rangachari, the Principal of Singapore Homeopathic
Faculty, and graduate and Post-Graduate students were
astonished with my lecture on the Vital Force. Everybody
appreciated and requested me to write a book on this
scientific subject. That’s why firstly I am expressing
my sense of gratitude to all the students and especially
Dr Rangachari.
Special thanks to Dr Rakhi Subhash Munot and Dr Neeta
Kiran Jain who wrote down my delivered speech and helped
me in writing this book. They have given me their precious
time for writing this book. And my heartiest thanks to my
daughter, Dr Suchitra and Dr Pallavi Bub for giving me full
time support in completing this book.
I convey my heartiest thanks to my loving nephew Dr
Rohit Deshmukh for helping and supporting me in every
book.
It would not have been possible for me to complete
the book within time, without the help of my students’
(mentioned above) prompt and perfect work following
action, under my guidance.
x Vital Force is Oxygen

My special thanks to Dr Bharat B. Kale, who is Ph.D.

(Scientist-E) who helped me with the scientific references.
Also his student, Mr Yogesh Sonawane, who provided me
the required and needed information.
My special thanks to Dr Vijay Satav, (M.D. Pathology),
Chinchwad, Pune, who gave me valuable information about
Pathology for this book.
All my thanks to my budding students Dr Sneha, Dr Sona
and all my students and many budding students from B. V.
P. Medical College, and other colleges whose great efforts
made this task easy.
Difficult task of computerized formatting and composing
of this book was done by Ms Vandana Kale by giving her
valuable efforts to fulfill this task within time.
Special thanks to my close friend and colleague
Dr Arun Jadhav, Principal, Bharati Vidyapeeth Homeo-
pathic Medical College, Pune.
Mr Mahendra Konde, P.R.O. in my hospital who is always
busy with Hospital activities and has always treasured the
moments of special events by his excellent photography.
My mother who not only loves me but gives me
encouragement, affection and blessings in every moment of
my life.
Thanks to my wife, Sudha who is sacrificing her life for
me and always encourages me in every moment of my life.
She also gives attention towards Hospital Management and
makes my task easy. My son Dr Vijaysinha and Dr Manish
who helped me a lot for this book.
My brother, Mr Mahesh and his wife Mrs Rajashree look
after my patients and are doing excellent service in Aditya
Cafe.
 Contents
Acknowledgements xi

My sisters and their family members always supported

me in my mission.
My staff members who are tirelessly working day-night
for my hospital in maintaining the rigors and serving my
patients promptly to make this organization a unique picture
of human service.
I want to thank lots of people who have always influenced
and inspired me in my progressive work and whenever I
remember them, I thank them in my heart.
 Contents xiii

Special Thanks
and Gratitude

My special thanks to Hon.Cabinet Minister Mr Prithviraj

Chauhan, Hon. Ex-Minister, Central Government,
India, Mrs Suryakanta Patil, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh
(Heavy Industry, Cabinet Minister), Mr Govindrao Adik,
Mr Vijaysinha Mohite-Patil, Mr Prataprao Bhosale and
Mr Ulhasrao Pawar, Mr Sadakant (I.A.S. Joint Secretary,
Home Ministry), Dr Patangrao Kadam (Hon. Minister,
Maharashtra State), Mr Laxman Jagtap (M.L.A.),
Mr Vilas Lande (M.L.A.), Mr Gajanan Babar (M.L.A.),
Mr Prabhakar Deshmukh (Ex-Collector, Pune),
Mr Gulabrao Pol (D.I.G. Police, Maharashtra State),
Mr Dilip Band (Divisional Commissionar, Maharashtra
State), Mr Anil Diggikar (Deputy-Comissionar, Mumbai) and
Mr Pravinsinha Pardeshi (Ex-Commissionar, P.C.M.C.
& Pune), Mr Shengaonkar, D.C.P., Pune (Commissioner
Office)
My special thanks to Mr Shivajirao Kadam, Vice
Chancellor of Bharati Vidyapeeth, Mr Uttamrao Bhoite
(Executive Director) B. V. P, Pune, Mr S.F. Patil, Ex-Vice
Chancellor, Principal Mr K. D. Jadhav, Director audit and
Law, B. V.P. Pune.
xiv Vital Force is Oxygen

My friend Mr Umeshchandra Upadhyay, Mr

Umesh Chandgude (Social worker), Mr Hasan Tamboli
(Industrialist, Satara), Mr Gaikwad Mama, Mr Amol Prabhu,
Mr G. M. Mahale, Advocate Mr Mukundrao Awate.
My thanks to Principal and staff of Bharati Vidyapeeth
Homeopathic Medical College, Pune, who honoured me
with a post of Honorary Professor as well as Homeopathic
Faculty member and encouraged me to share my work with
budding Homeopaths.
Padmashree Dr D.Y. Patil and Mrs Patil (D.Y. Patil
University), and Mr Arun Chopra, Ex-Comd. N.D.A., always
inspire me.
Dr Mrs Dehalani Madam, Vice Principal, Foster Hom.
Med. College, Aurangabad.
I.I.H.P. (Mumbai) the biggest group of classical
Homeopathy taking tremendous efforts to spread
Homeopathy in practitioners and students, always invited
me every year to conduct a Seminar on Homeopathy.
‘Study Circle Group’ from Mumbai which is also popular
among the practitioners and students, conducting lots
of my Seminars at Mumbai to share my experiences in
Homeopathy.
UHA, Classical Homeopathic Group from Nagpur –
Dr Ashish, Dr Shilpa, Dr Yadnik and other students who are
doing good work for spreading Classical Homeopathy.
To various Homeopathic colleges from all over India
which have regularly invited me to deliver a speech
on Classical Homeopathy and Homeopathic Hospital
practice.
Editor of ‘Homeopathic Community Journal’,
Dr Neelam Avtar Singh and Association for Scientific
 Special Thanks and Gratitude
Contents xv

Research in Homeopathy Group who arranged my seminar

at Patiala – Dr Amar Singh Maan, Dr Avtar Singh and
Dr H.S. Matharoo who comes all the way from Punjab to
observe Classical Homeopathic work at my hospital.
Editor of ‘Homeopathic Mind Journals’ Dr Ashok
Gupta, who always spends his valuable time for me, writing
articles on my hospital cases. Now, he is enjoying Classical
Homeopathy at Baithia, Bihar. He has also arranged video
seminar of my cases at Bihar.
The Organizer of ‘The Research Society of Homeopathy’
– Dr C.P.Singh, Dr Anurudh Verma, Dr Jitendra Verma
and other students from U.P. who invited me for - National
Seminar on Applied Homeopathy at Lucknow.
I would also like to forward my gratitude to the editor of
H-pathy Dr. Manish Bhatia.
I also thank my friends Mr Faizy Dalal and Mr Lalit
Fulfagar for bringing critical cases to me.
I am also thankful to B. Jain Publishers, Dr. Geeta Rani
Arora and all editorial staff of B. Jain Publishers.
 Contents xvii

Contents

Dedication iii
Preface v
Acknowledgements ix
Special Thanks and Gratitude xiii

CHAPTERS
1. Introduction 1
2. Different Concepts of Vital Force 7
APHORISMS RELATED TO VITAL FORCE
CONCEPT BY Dr KENT – SIMPLE SUBSTANCE
CONCEPT BY Dr HERBERT ROBERTS
CONCEPT BY STUART CLOSE – VITAL PRINCIPLE
CONCEPT BY VITHOULKAS – CONCEPT OF RESONANCE,
ELECTRO-DYNAMIC IELD F
3. Oxygen 19
OXYGEN HISTORY
• 18th ntury
ce
• 19th ntury
ce
• 20th ntury
ce
STRUCTURE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
OCCURRENCE
BIOLOGICAL ROLE
ALLOTROPES OF OXYGEN
• Dioxygen
• Singlet xygen
o
• Ozone
• Tetraoxygen
ISOTOPES
OXIDES AND OTHER INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
xviii Vital Force is Oxygen

4. Oxygen Energy is Nothing but the Vital Energy 27

5. How the Vital Force (Oxygen) enters the Human Body? 31
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
EXCHANGE OF RESPIRATORY GASES BETWEEN BLOOD
AND LVEOLI
A
DIFFUSION OF OXYGEN
• From atmosphere to the alveoli
• From alveoli into the blood
• Diffusion of oxygen from blood into the tissues
TRANSPORT OF OXYGEN IN BLOOD
• As simple physical solution
• In combination with haemoglobin
ROLE OF OXYGEN IN RESPIRATORY CONTROL
6. Cell and Oxygen Physiology 41
MAJOR CELL STRUCTURES AND ITS FUNCTIONS
• Cell membrane
• Nucleus
• Cytoplasm and organelles - cytoskeleton, ribosomes,
endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus or complex,
lysosomes, centrioles and centrosomes, flagella and cilia
• Mitochondrion
—Origin
—Structure
—Functions
—Dysfunction d an
isease
d
NORMAL CELLULAR AGEING AND DEATH
• Cellular eing
ag
• Cell eath
D
7. Role of Oxygen (Vital Energy) in Metabolism 53
PHOSPHORYLATION
KREBS CYCLE OR CITRIC ACID CYCLE
CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM
FAT METABOLISM
PROTEIN METABOLISM
EFFECTS OF INTRACELLULAR Po2 ON RATE OF OXYGEN USAGE
EFFECTS OF BLOOD FLOW ON METABOLIC USE OF OXYGEN
• Functions of ATP in cells
FATE OF ANAEROBIC METABOLISM
8. Exercise and Oxygen 67
CLASSIFICATION OF EXERCISE
• Severe exercise/violent exercise
 Contents xix

• Moderate xercise
e
• Mild exercise/Non-violent exercise
FACTORS INVOLVED IN INCREASING THE PULMONARY
VENTILATION DURING EXERCISE
9. How Symptoms Manifest in Human Body? 73
SYMPTOMS
SENSATIONS
DISEASE
ISCHAEMIA - CAUSE OF PAIN
10. Relation of Oxygen to Disease State 79
FREE RADICALS-MEDIATED CELL INJURY
CAUSES OF CELL INJURY
• Hypoxia and Ischaemia
—Reversible cell injury
—Irreversible ll cenjury
i
• The Most Important Cause of Vital Energy
Derangement: Hypo
xia
—Types of hypoxia
—Local effects of hypoxia
—Response ypoxia
to h
—Effect of hypoxia on synaptic transmission
—The relation of vital force with hypoxia
—Effects of fetal hypoxia
• Physical & Chemical injuries
—Physical njuries
i
—Chemical njuries
i
• Microbial agents
—Bacteria
—Viruses
—Fungi
—Parasites
• Immunologic agents
• Nutritional derangements
• Genetic factors
• Psychological factors
11. Mapping of Vital Energy Damages (Investigations
and its use) 106
USE OF INVESTIGATIONS FROM HOMEOPATHIC POINT OF VIEW
PULSE-OXIMETRY
12. Oxygen (Vital Force) and its Relation to Miasm 109
PSORA
xx Vital Force is Oxygen

SYCOSIS
TUBERCULAR
SYPHILIS
13. Oxygen (Vital Force) and its Relation to Emotions 115
EMOTIONS
STRESS AND DISEASE
• Neuroendocrine regulation of stress
• Catecholamines
• Cortisol
EMOTIONAL DYSPNOEA
14. Vital Energy Derangement – Origin of Pathology 12
INTRODUCTION
ACUTE DISEASES
CHRONIC DISEASES
• Inflammation
—Stages of the inflammatory response
—Acute nflammation
i
—Chronic nflammation
i
• Haemodynamic Disturbances
—Disturbances in the volume of the
circulating blood
—Circulatory disturbances of obstructive nature
• Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
• Environmental and Nutritional Diseases
—Environmental iseasesD
—Nutritional iseases
D
—Effect of blood flow on gastrointestinal absorption
• Neoplasia
• Immunopathology
• Genetic seases
di
15. Oxygen and its Relation with Homeopathic Medicine 153
NERVOUS SYSTEM DIVISIONS
• Receptors
METHOD OF PREPARATION OF DYNAMIC MEDICINE
DRUG PROVING / ACTION OF HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE
ON HEALTHY HUMAN BEING
ACTION OF HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE ON DISEASED PERSON
16. Importance of Vital Force (Oxygen) 165

Bibliography 171
74 Vital Force is Oxygen

CHAPTER
9
How Symptoms Manifest
in Human Body?

When the body is in equilibrium, the functions and the

sensations in the body and mind are in normally active and
balanced state. This is the state where the human being feels
contentment. The body feels at ease, weightless, trouble-free
along with complete physical, mental, & social harmony.
Usually, if any changes occur in the body or its function, it
is perceived by the patient. Symptoms represent subjective
experience of the disease, which is narrated by the patient in
their complaints or history of present illness.
The various aspects of general symptom analysis includes
mode of onset, progress (gradual or sudden), duration and
precipitating factors, characteristics, location, radiation,
severity, timing aggravation [<] & amelioration [>] factors.
These symptoms are expressed by various kinds of
abnormal sensations. Sensation means a feeling or
awareness of the conditions within the body resulting from
the stimulation of sensory receptors.
The word ‘disease’ is produced by mixture of two words
 How Symptoms Manifest in Human
Introduction
Body? 75

i.e. dis + ease. The man, who is not at ease, is in disease.

The concept of disease and illness differs in that disease is
usually measurable whereas illness is highly individual and
personal. Thus, a person may have a serious but symptom
free disease i.e. hypertension, diabetes mellitus and even
myocardial infarction.
As from the homeopathic point of view, when we are
treating the sick i.e. the unwell-being of the person, the
homeopathic physician must consider the physical generals
and characteristic symptoms along with mental symptoms
(i.e. patient as a whole).
Usually the symptoms and the abnormal sensations
indicate that there is some dysfunction in the human body.
Whenever there is less oxygen supply, at that time the cells
start their abnormal behavior and at the same time changes
occur in aerobic metabolism. The indication of this abnormal
behavior of the cell is received by the different receptors and
they give information through the nerves to the brain. So
the lack of oxygen is most probably responsible for all kinds
of symptoms.
Whenever the body is in well being state, each and
every cell receives appropriate amount of oxygen via the
respiratory system. Lack of oxygen leads to cell injury which
depends on the duration of hypoxia and every physician
make an effort to find out the cause for the oxygen lack in
human body.
Disease occurs due to lack of ease in the cellular
metabolic process. Multiple biochemical disturbances
occur in metabolic pathway leading to various diseases; for
example - atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia
etc. for which again disturbance in oxygen energy or vital
76 Vital Force is Oxygen

force is responsible. The symptoms, abnormal sensations,

and dysfunction in the body occur due to inappropriate
oxygen supply. Example, pain occurs whenever any tissues
are being damaged, and it causes the individual to react
to remove the pain stimulus. Even such simple activities
as sitting for a long time on the ischia can cause tissue
destruction because of lack of blood flow to the skin where it
is compressed by the weight of the body. When skin becomes
painful as a result of the ischaemia, the person normally
shifts body weight subconsciously.
When blood flow to a tissue is blocked, (ischaemia) the
tissue often becomes very painful within a few minutes.
The greater the rate of metabolism of the tissue, the more
rapidly the pain appears. One of the suggested causes of
pain during ischaemia is accumulation of large amounts
of lactic acid in the tissues formed as a consequence of
anaerobic metabolism. Probably, other chemical agents,
such as bradykinin and proteolytic enzymes, are formed in
the tissues because of cell damage and these stimulate the
pain nerve endings.
 How Symptoms Manifest in Human
Introduction
Body? 77

Fig. 9.1: Transmission of pain signals into the brain stem, thalamus,
and cerebral cortex by way of the fast pricking pain pathway
and the slow burning pain pathway

The physiology behind the pain is ischemic condition

of the affected tissue which releases the pain stimulation
through the receptor to the neuron and message is sent
through hypothalamus and cerebral cortex. It indicates
alarming situation to the body and the central nervous
system takes appropriate decision according to pain
stimulation. Here, again it is important indication that
pain is a manifestation of lack of oxygen (vital force) to the
body.
 Introduction 79

CHAPTER
10
Relation of Oxygen to
Disease State
FREE RADICALS-MEDIATED CELL INJURY
CAUSES OF CELL INJURY
• Hypoxia and ischaemia
—Reversible cell injury
—Irreversible cell injury
• The most important cause of vital energy derangement: hypoxia
—Types of hypoxia
—Local effects of hypoxia
—Effect of hypoxia on synaptic transmission
—The relation of vital force with hypoxia
— Effects of foetal hypoxia
• Physical & chemical injuries
—Physical injuries
—Chemical injuries
• Microbial agents
—Bacteria
—Viruses
—Fungi
—Parasites
• Immunologic agents
• Nutritional derangements
• Genetic factors
• Psychological factor
80 Vital Force is Oxygen

CHAPTER
10
Relation of Oxygen to
Disease State

In health, all expressions of vital force may be expressed by

perfect functioning of all parts of the body and by a sense of
general well-being.
In disease, this expression is vastly changed. There is
a sense of discomfort. The mental expressions are vastly
altered according to the degree of disturbance. The signs
and symptoms appear and all because of the disturbed
vital functions, either from external impressions having a
depressing effect, and the consequent reaction of the vital
force or from some hidden miasm coming into its full
expression in its impression on the vital force. Thus, disease
is a disturbed vital process.
Because of the impacts of these external impressions
and the miasms, each and every cell of our body undergoes
severe stress. This stressful situation affects the functioning
of whole body and its microcellular organelles. Every disease
is born through this process.
Most of the disease states begin with cell injury and
consequent loss of cellular function. Cell injury is defined as
 Relation of Oxygen to Introduction
Disease State 81

a variety of stress a cell encounters as a result of changes in

its internal and external environment.
In this chapter, I would like to specify the relation
between the disturbed oxygen energy (vital energy) and
disease process at the cellular level (cell organelle especially
mitochondria).
Cells need an adequate and constant supply of oxygen.
Without this, they cannot generate enough amount of energy
to maintain the metabolism and mechanisms (example, ion
pumps) that move some of the essential substances across
the cell membrane.
Initially lack of oxygen affects the cellular function
temporarily but with time irreversible damage is done and
revitalization is impossible. Absence of vital force for just
few minutes in the body creates a great hazard in each and
every cell of living organism and obviously the result will
be hypoxia, instant cell injury, and death. The cell cannot
survive without this vital energy i.e. oxygen.

Free radicals-mediated cell injury

Within every cell there are small micro organelle called
mitochondria. It is a power house of every cell which reduces
oxygen by the transfer of electrons to create energy in the
form of ATP and also produces a byproduct of water. This
process goes without any hitch at least 90 to 98 percent.
Generation of oxygen radicals begins within mitochondrial
inner membrane when cytochrome oxidase catalyses the
four electron reduction of oxygen (O2) to water (H2O).
Intermediate between reactions of oxygen to water, three
partially reduced species of oxygen are generated depending
upon the number of electrons transferred. These are:
82 Vital Force is Oxygen

1. Superoxide oxygen (O'2): one electron

2. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2): two electrons
3. Hydroxyl radical (OH-): three electrons
Free radicals are electrically charged molecules that
have an unpaired electron. Such molecules are unstable
and highly reactive. When an oxygen free radical takes an
electron from one molecule, that molecule becomes unstable
and borrows an electron from another molecule, which,
in turn, becomes unstable. These chain reactions lead to
cellular damage and death. Among the molecules attacked
by oxygen free radicals are proteins (such as enzymes),
neurotransmitters, nucleic acid, and phospholipids of
plasma membranes.
These free radicals are responsible for most of the life
threatening diseases in our life. Whichever part of body
receives the most free radicals damage, are the first to wear
out and this results in degenerative diseases. If this process
is developed in eyes, it causes macular degeneration or
cataract and glaucoma type of diseases. In a blood vessel
atherosclerosis develops which is responsible for infarction,
in joints it leads to arthritis, in brain it causes Alzheimer’s or
Parkinson’s disease, and in kidneys or liver the physiological
function of that organ undergo damage and pathology
develops.
When oxygen molecules maintain their strength there
is energy and life, but the breakdown of oxygen create
hazards in the life through the free radicals and this is called
oxidative stress. This oxidative stress is underlying cause
of almost all degenerative diseases. The aging process itself
is an oxidative stress that is caused due to free radicals. The
free radicals set off a chain reaction leading to potentially