Building Biology (Medicine of the Walls)
This article is written based on the reading of the book “Médecin des murs” by Rémi Florian, published by Bio-espaces, from which you will find certain excerpts.
Just as living beings have their caregivers, spaces also have their own form of medicine. The role of these “wall therapists” is to detect specific areas and treat them much like an acupuncturist placing needles on different energy points of our body. We have already touched on this topic in previous articles about Feng Shui, dowsing, and geobiology; here, I would like to address the broader concept of the medicine of places. Modern comfort techniques can sometimes drain spaces of vitality: excessive insulation, harmful materials, poor ventilation, lack of light, proximity to major roads or industrial areas, the presence of electrical currents and waves, improper humidity levels*. We speak of the “habitability” of a home, which can be greatly affected—just like the life force within each being.
The study of trees and their movements is very telling. In forests, and especially in orchards, among a majority of straight and healthy trees, it is not uncommon to find one or two that are completely twisted or warped, appearing as if they are desperately trying to escape a very localized, clearly hostile environment. Indeed, beneath the earth’s surface, as described in the article on geobiology, there is a network of energy fields created by the fusion activity of metals present in the Earth’s core. Some are stronger than others—and more harmful. Variations in the intensity of the Earth’s magnetic field can be detected using a highly sensitive magnetometer, with measurements generally expressed in nanoteslas. Our bodies are also equipped with natural sensors. Specific information reaches the central nervous system, and our bodies generate signals highlighting imbalances—this is known as a geo-stress reaction, a kind of reflex response. Our emotions also leave an imprint on spaces—this is referred to as the memory of places. Some individuals are more or less sensitive to these variations. We must trust our bodies—it is through our autonomic nervous system that information not solely originating from the physical world can be relayed.
Any “bad” place can become good. The medicine of walls places great importance on the occupant’s state of mind toward the place they inhabit. If there is true symbiosis, healing occurs. To hate the place where we live is to hate ourselves. To blame our home for all the ailments we suffer from is to refuse to look inward. It is always easier to place the blame elsewhere…
*The humidity level inside our home, at a temperature of 20°C, should ideally range between 50% and 60%. Beyond that, we begin to experience nasal congestion, feelings of cold, and heavy air. A dehumidifier can help in addition to daily ventilation. To purify your air, certain indoor plants can reduce formaldehyde levels in a closed room by half within six hours. Formaldehyde is a polymer found in laminates, particleboard, adhesives, and insulating foams. Let light in as well—the sun’s rays, for example, can kill dust mites present in your textiles.
