Tuesday, January 5, 2016

THE WONDER-WORLD OF HORMONES


Dr. Ivo has emphasized the predominant role of hormonal glands on one's psychology development in his book entitled -"Glands of Distinctly". He cites the example of Napoleon Bonapart - stating that, Napoleon lost the battle of Waterloo because his pituitary gland and become defective; he was therefore unable to take any decision; in the mangled state of mind he lost the opportunity of turning the strategic planning into his favor. The inference of Dr. Ivies is based on the postmortem report of the little corporal in which the deformation of pituitary gland was a significant finding. In terms of occult anatomy, the visible or perceptible components of the body and their activities do not form the system of life. The conscious energy working in even the tiniest form of these elements is the real source of life. The subtle aspects of vital functioning in the living beings are still beyond the reach of the knowledge attained in the fields of physiology, anatomy and other and other biomedical sciences. In other words, our contemporary knowledge of our own body is yet incomplete.
Consider the endocrine glands for instance: Very minute, almost negligible as compared to the amount of blood in our body, large quantities of hormones are secreted by these glands. The secreted hormones get dissolved in the blood and produce tremendous effects that after the source of normal functioning of human body and mind in many respects. How these glands are developed - what is the source of their existence? Why and what types of transformations take place in their activities? Why do the bio-chemicals secreted by these glands vary so much in nature? What is the mechanism of their significant effects on body functions? These questions yet remain unanswered. So far, only the manifestations- in terms of normal and abnormal growth and functions of the body and behavioral aspects and chemistry of some of the hormones secreted by these glands have been elucidated. However, the research studies are silent on why, from where…., these effects?
Early research in neural chemistry had found the presence of some hormones which are secreted by the endocrine gland and which make temporary or permanent effects on specific organs or physicochemical functions of the body. Advanced results have found newer secrets in terms of the association of these hormones with the nature and inherent character of humans. In view of their tremendous effects on regulating the physical, mental and emotional states of a person, the hormone-secreting glands appear like the 'fingers' of a hidden juggler who makes the humans dance like puppets under the control of the hormonal 'threads'.
The internal hormonal and other neuro-chemical secreting system - the endocrine system - has long been a challenging puzzle for the anatomists and physiologists. Whatever hypotheses and inferences are drawn in one point of time, they are often required to be modified or changed after some time because of the newer or contradictory observations. The secrets of this system seem to be hidden behind such a curtain which gets more entangled into a mesh of unknown facets whenever opened up a bit.
As early as during the times of Luis XV in France, an anatomist named Dr. Thuffe had conjectured the presence of a somewhat supernormal (in terms of physical existence) system in the body which secrets special juices and chemicals that can significantly alter the functions of different components of the body. An Italian Anatomist, Dr. Eustachi had reported a well-structured hypothesis on hormonal glands in the upper poles of the kidney as early as 1563. Later on, some researchers of the Vodak Institute of Science had thrown light on the adrenal glands. Around 1850, Dr Karl Inge of Britain and Dr. Yeri of Paris had given experimental evidences to illustrate the remarkable effects of some hormonal secretions inside the body on the physiological and biochemical functions. Research in the fields of hormones/neurochemicals geared up gradually in the later years.

At present, the research on neurohormonal secretions and allied topics is one of the most active areas of advanced sciences. Dr. Luis Warman of Columbia university had recently published an article entitled "Glands Regulating Personality" to highlight the predominant role of hormonal glands in the psychological makeup of a person. The author states that there are some special glands in the body, which are tiny in size but colossal in effects…. Besides their apparent role in controlling the organ development, metabolism and other activities of the living body, they also have significant influence on the mental functions. Disharmony of some secretions may lead to the decline of one's personality in many respects; one can even go whimsical or insane because of such imbalances. An orderly controlled, refined state of such secretions, on the other hand, might endow one with a courageous, foresighted, cheerful, charming and talented personality.

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