These beliefs mimic the critical functions of our own bodies the steadiness of our heartbeats and the blood streaming through our veins, said Sherwin Nuland, who wrote How We Die and The Wisdom of the Body. That wisdom is programmed into us at every level, from the molecular to the systemic. They keep us alive by operating in unison. In his 33 years of surgery, most recently as a clinical professor at Yale's school of medicine, Nuland has seen the body's emergency response team kick in time and time again. Sensing devices in our arteries let our brains know when our blood pressure is normal and when it is plunging toward catastrophe.
Enzymes cruise up and down our constantly reproducing DNA molecules, patrolling for errors.
When they spot one, they pluck it out and repair it. In addition to Neims, Alvord and Nuland, the symposium featured five other physicians, six religious and spiritual leaders and nearly a dozen alternative practitioners. Most, like Neims, had the contemplative, ecumenical perspective that comes with middle age. Neims cited a phone survey in which 42 percent of those contacted admitted to using alternative health care, which in many instances could be more accurately described as ancient. The Chinese used acupuncture 2,000 years ago, a practitioner told us.