Healthy does not mean alive!

Wulf Shifenhevela ( Wulf Schievenh öh ) can be safely called the master of German evolutionary and anthropological medicine. Among other things, his research changed the obstetric care procedure in Western countries, the attitude to breastfeeding . He came to Russia at the invitation of Novosibirsk State University. Professor Shifenhewele, Professor Shifenhewele , gave his lectures not only to students and colleagues, but also to the general public - as part of the Eureka scientific cafe program , the recent nominee for the Minobrnauka Award for Science . To listen to the head of the research group on the human ethology at the Institute of Ornithology of the Society of Max Planck, a professor at the University of Innsbruck and the University of Munich , about 200 people gathered in an informal setting . We could not deny ourselves the pleasure of asking him a few questions. Talked Julia Cherny.

- You lead the group of human ethology at the Institute of Ornithology . Don't you think this is a paradox ? For what at the Institute of Ornithology of Labo Ratoria of the human ethology ?

- Conrad Lorenz is one of the founders of ethology. And he studied not man, but mainly birds, and primarily waterfowl birds. The work of the Lorenz about imprinting is especially well -known: if the husser, having hatched, is the first to see a person who makes sounds similar to the sounds made by a goose, then he will consider this person his mother. This process is very fast and irreversible. So ethology and ornithology are closely connected historically.

But not only my work today and my institute associate close historical ties with Lorenz. Lorenz in 1940-1941 worked in the city, which is today called Kaliningrad, at the same department where Immanuel Kant once worked. But then the Lorenz was called a soldier to the front. From there he was captured and found himself in the Soviet camp. Where he lived from 1944 to 1948. Naturally, in the camp he had neither normal paper nor a normal pen. But all these years, Conrad wrote his work on the ethology of animals and humans on layers of paper, which he managed to clean and tear off from the bags from under cement. He wrote a whole book on these pieces of bags. Lorenz’s daughter was able to process and publish this book only in 1992. It is noteworthy that at the end of the term the NKVD employee, who proposed to continue working on a typewriter, but warned that one copy of the book would remain in the USSR. Since that sweat, this copy is stored in Moscow in the Russian State Military Archive.

- Evolutionary medicine helps to understand the causes of some diseases . But does it help to treat ?

- In some cases, yes. In others, she makes us reconsider our views on illness. For example, one of the first important discoveries in this area was associated with sickle cell anemia. In East Africa, the percentage of this disease is very high. You probably know that at the same time, the cells of red blood cells change their shape and resemble a sickle rather, not a pillow, as they should. As a result, red blood cells tolerate oxygen worse. But plasmodies that carry tropical malaria are attached to such cells worse. It turns out that the disease protects the inhabitants of East Africa from death! It was contributive. Since ancient times, doctors had the opinion that health and a long life are the lack of a disease. But the evolution in these conditions put it precisely on sick people. Similar examples can be found in other parts of the world. The same red blood cells for many inhabitants of the Pacific region of an unusual oval form, and this also protects them from malaria.

- This is still an example of a very specific disease and specific conditions . And can we can be able to be able to be evolutionary medicine with more common sickness ?

- Our Western world, including Russia and China, faced the problem of obesity. But this is easy to understand if we come to terms with the fact that our bodies are imprisoned under the search for easily transcious sugars. Once such a “passion” helped us survive: to remain active, work, hunt. In our world of shops and supermarkets, access to easily digestible sugars has become too simple. Those evolutionary mechanisms that once helped us survive, now make us sick. Residents of the traditional New Guinea do not know what hypertension or strokes are. It is interesting that when the same people moved to the mainland, they began to live in cities, they began well -known health problems: obesity, heart problems and pressure.

Or another scourge of modern civilization - depression and increased anxiety. In Germany, for example, life could be called very safe - we have no fighting, no epidemics; If you have lost your job or get sick, the state will take care of you. Nevertheless, it is in modern Germany that there are many patients with increased anxiety.

We have the growth of the number of patients with chronic pains. Today, doctors are of the opinion that if a person is not rid of the pain on time, giving painkillers, the pain will become chronic. I categorically disagree with this opinion. I am sure that we need to learn to cope with pain, we must teach our bodies to develop endorphins and other “natural painkillers”. I think we need to return a little to the evolutionary past and use the mechanisms with nature, along with antibiotics, modern drugs and the latest research methods.

- You study anthropological medicine . Is this a study of traditional medicine ? Do you welcome such treatment methods ?

- Well, in some cases, these methods have a rational grain. But do not exaggerate popular wisdom ... I have two steel prosthesis instead of legs. I have a lot in my hands. Therefore, of course, it would be inappropriate for me to complain about modern medicine. And in no case do I urge to abandon her achievements. But humanity should think about their lifestyle, eat less, pay attention to physical activity, live in families ... Do not be surprised, the family protects us, it gives our life meaning. Do not abandon all the rituals that we got from our ancestors - they also protect. Get rid of that very anxiety and depression.

- Including faith ?​​

- Here I am an atheist. But I know that believing people live longer. I don't even understand what to do with this knowledge ...

- What are your latest research on ?

- I will give two examples of research in which I am now actively participating.

According to our data, the menstruation of girls in New Guinea began at about 17 years old. In recent years, their lifestyle has changed. Including food changed: they began to use oil for cooking, there are more fish, etc. And we observe a decrease in the age of the first menstruation: now they begin in girls at 13 years old, cases have been recorded in eight -year -olds. In Russia and Germany, this age is on average 12 years. Of course, this is madness: they, in fact, are still children, can already have their offspring!

Another pr, is based on archaeological and ethnographic data. You probably noticed how often individual parts of the body and different jewelry are used to demonstrate belonging to a particular ethnic group. Someone makes beads of bones, someone from the teeth, and someone from stones or shells-including this distinguishes different ethnic groups. Our critics say that there were no ethnic groups in the Paleolithic era, there was no hierarchy - it is useless to attract archeology. But today in New Guinea we see thousands of ethnic groups. So far we cannot explain this, and I think it is worth looking for an answer in the past.

- You study mainly the peoples of Oceania , including the New Guinea . Do these studies affect the lives of your country ?

- Yes, and no. For example, one of my most significant works over the past 40 years has concerned the traditions of obstetric care. I managed to convince my doctors-doctors of the importance for women the vertical position of the body during childbirth and social understanding. An ideal place for childbirth is a house, not a hospital, it is he who is the territory of a woman. I think, including thanks to my work, the process of childbirth in Germany has changed a lot.

In addition, I talked a lot about how important the contact of the child with the mother is important: you need more physical interaction, it is necessary to increase the period of breastfeeding. I can proudly state that the changes have occurred. Of course, not only thanks to me ...

Other topics that I raised until they found understanding from the broad masses.

- Can you give examples of such “underestimated research” ?

- If you allow you, I will give two examples. First of all, about the role of grandmothers. My colleague and I wrote a book on the basis of this study. You see, women need much less time to achieve reproductive age and educate the offspring than they live. The question arises: why did women have such a life expectancy during evolution? I think that they have a time to be a grandmother - to help educate the offspring of their children. This idea really does not like the feminists, and I'm not sure that someday it will have a great influence. The second study concerns religion. I published a book about why, in my opinion, human beings are so religious. Even if they are not religious in the usual sense of the word, they create quasi -sorelism: horoscopes, fortune telling, signs ... So far, society is not ready to accept these research. But I hope ...