Wulf Schiefenhövel

Martin Brüne

Medicine is grounded in the natural sciences, among which biology stands out with regard to the understanding of human physiology and conditions that cause dysfunction. Ironically though, evolutionary biology is a relatively disregarded field. One reason for this omission is that evolution is deemed a slow process. Indeed, macroanatomical features of our species have changed very little in the last 300,000 years. A more detailed look, however, reveals that novel ecological contingencies, partly in relation to cultural evolution, have brought about subtle changes pertaining to metabolism and immunology, including adaptations to dietary innovations, as well as adaptations to the exposure to novel pathogens. Rapid pathogen evolution and evolution of cancer cells cause major problems for the immune system to find adequate responses. In addition, many adaptations to past ecologies have turned into risk factors for somatic disease and psychological disorder in our modern worlds (i.e. mismatch), among which epidemics of autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity, as well as several forms of cancer stand out. In addition, depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions add to the list. The Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Medicine is a compilation of cutting edge insights into the evolutionary history of ourselves as a species, and how and why our evolved design may convey vulnerability to disease. Written in a classic textbook style emphasising physiology and pathophysiology of all major organ systems, the Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Medicine will be valuable for students as well as scholars in the fields of medicine, biology, anthropology and psychology.

The Oxford Handbook of Evolutionary Medicine

Helen Macbeth

Beer is an ancient alcoholic drink which, although produced through a more complex process than wine, was developed by a wide range of cultures to become internationally popular. This book is the first multidisciplinary, cross-cultural collection about beer. It explores the brewing processes used in antiquity and in traditional societies; the social and symbolic roles of beer-drinking; the beliefs and activities associated with it; the health-promoting effects as well as the health-damaging risks; and analyses the modern role of large multinational companies, which own many of the breweries, and the marketing techniques that they employ.

Beer and Brewing in Cross-Cultural Perspective

Liquid Bread

Dorothea Sich

Beiträge und Nachträge zur IV. Internationalen Fachtagung der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Ethnomedizin über traditionelle Geburtshilfe und Gynäkologie in Göttingen 8.–10.12.1978

Die Geburt aus ethnomedizinischer Sicht

beer and brewing in cross-cultural perspective

Liquid bread

Beer is an ancient alcoholic drink which, although produced through a more complex process than wine, was developed by a wide range of cultures to become internationally popular. This book is the first multidisciplinary, cross-cultural collection about beer. It explores the brewing processes used in antiquity and in traditional societies; the social and symbolic roles of beer-drinking; the beliefs and activities associated with it; the health-promoting effects as well as the health-damaging risks; and analyses the modern role of large multinational companies, which own many of the breweries, and the marketing techniques that they employ.--Publisher description.

Judith Schuler

Wolfgang Schievenhövel

Rupert Pöschl

Geißel in den weniger entwickelten tropischen Ländern sind die (im weitesten Sinne) infektiösen Erkrankungen, und gerade gegen sie vermag die Val ksmedi zi n zumeist weniger auszurichten als unsere hochentwickelte Pharmazie (vgl. H. VELIMIROVIC in diesem Band). Es mag einen "unspezifischen Heiler-Effekt" geben, etwa das, was man hierzulande z. T. etwas abschätzig als die "Droge Arzt" bezeichnet. Wenn man einige Hei 1 er aus einer gegebenen Ethni e quasi als Consi 1 i ari i zu einem Patienten rufen würde, kämen sie, das ist jedenfalls die Erfahrung aus Melanesien, wahrscheinlich selten zu einer einheitlichen Diagnose. Daß sie desungeachtet ihre Rolle als Ärzte, wenn auch selbstverständ lich mit unterschiedlichem Erfolg, ausfüllen, ist vermutlich gerade in dem 'Heiler-Effekt' begründet, zu dessen Wirksamwer den ohne Zweifel eine gehörige Portion Wissen und (im besten Sinne) Intuition, also Heilkunst nötig ist. Die Antwort des menschlichen Organismus auf materielle und immaterielle Stressoren ist trotz der unleugbaren Verschieden heit der Kulturen prinzipiell ähnlich. Wenn aber die unendlich bunt erscheinende Palette der therapeutischen Ansätze nichts destoweniger dazu führt, daß Patienten überall auf der Erde immer wieder von den Heilern ihrer Heimat Behandlung erbitten, müssen Vorgänge eine Rolle spielen, die im Heilungssuchenden selbst, nicht in der Weise der Therapie begründet sind.

Wulf Schiefenhövel

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