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Bio-Terrain, Evolutionary Biology, and the Practice of Medicine in the Early 1900’s: An Intro to René Quinton’s Marine Plasma

published in Explore! Volume 15, Number 4, 2006

Wholistic clinicians schooled in the fundamentals of Biological Terrain Theory recognize the clinical challenges of restoring balance to the milieu intérieur. If you’re like me, you have always looked long and hard for something to re-establish that perfect internal balance so essential to optimal health. In 1897, René Quinton discovered, harvested, and purified a unique marine plasma capable of doing just that. It’s been in clinical use throughout Europe for over 100 years, yet until now this vast compendium of research remained untranslated, and therefore virtually unknown to the English-speaking world.

René Quinton was recognized in France as a national science hero. He was a research scientist, explorer, inventor, physiologist, war hero, aviator, author, and humanitarian – a self-taught Renaissance man. Yet it would not be until after his death that his theories would gain support and momentum in the scientific community.

Quinton made connections between bio-terrain, infectious disease and chronic illness that have only in the last twenty years been proven. He applied the principles of hygiene in the treatment of inflammatory conditions on an advanced level long before modern researchers would validate his theories and clinical observations. Just as the theories of DaVinci and Einstein were considered radical (if not implausible) before they were accepted as revolutionary, so would Quinton’s theories eventually prove correct and the man would be understood as a true visionary.

Most wholistic clinicians have studied the works of Bechamp and Bernard, but most don’t even realize that through his study of marine plasma, René Quinton played a vital role in shaping bio-terrain theory and its clinical applications. For Quinton, it wasn’t enough to theorize about bio-terrain. He was compelled to do something to restore it.

René Quinton, the Germ and Bio-Terrain

For the last century, Western medicine has focused its efforts on addressing treatment of the Germ. Yet even Louis Pasteur, the father of modern pathology, admitted on his deathbed that homeostasis is the key to health when he said, “Bernard is right. The microbe is nothing; terrain is everything.”

When the young scientist René Quinton began his study of physiology, it was within the context of this great debate. During the early part of Quinton’s life, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution was making an impact on the scientific community. The idea that all life on earth was a product of a single-celled oceanic organism fascinated Quinton. Building on Darwin’s early observations, Quinton asked the question, “Where did all life actually begin?” It was this question that led him to explore unique oceanic environments to find the answer.

What he found was plankton, the single-celled microcosm of life. In seeking to discover the relationship of the simple single-celled plankton to the incredibly complex cellular structure of the human body, Quinton stumbled upon the amazing properties of the ocean water in which large colonies of plankton drifted. He found that plankton secrete a fluid as they wander, and that fluid, mixed with the surrounding seawater had profound implications for human health. He called it marine plasma, and by 1897 Quinton had developed the protocol for harvesting, processing and administering it to effect unprecedented results.

He traveled around the world caring for the sick with what was rapidly becoming known as Quinton Plasma. With it he successfully helped hundreds of thousands of people suffering from a mind-boggling array of health challenges related to a deficient bio-terrain. The list of conditions positively impacted by treatment with Quinton Plasma goes on and on. Why? Because Marine Plasma is the quintessential solution for homeostasis; it is nature’s argument for bio-terrain theory.

The Unique, Natural Science of Marine Plasma

Marine plasma is a natural ecological by-product of unique vortex-shaped oceanic plankton blooms and the life forms they support.

Under very specific life-incubating conditions of light, temperature, ocean currents and weather patterns, enormous vortexes form and stretch deep into the ocean floor, stirring up rich mineral beds that rarely mix with the upper layers of seawater. In addition, the vortex walls create a natural barrier between the waters within the vortex and the waters without. It is within the protective vortex that the plankton bloom thrives. The earth’s oceans sustain between six and seven vortexes at any given time, which satellite photos show to be hundreds of miles across.

Within each bloom, teeming phytoplankton colonies give rise to a rich mixture of zoo-plankton that consumes the phytoplankton, leaving behind a fluid of bio-active minerals, amino acids, unmodified RNA, antioxidants, polysaccharides and fatty acids. The zoo-plankton activates and structures these bio-significant nutrients into a living matrix that supports the explosion of life occurring within the isolated vortex bloom environment. Scientists refer to this unique process as ‘biocenosis’.

Why is this story of evolutionary biology relevant to us? Because the marine fluids resulting from this ‘biocenosis’ process, in its isotonic form, bares a striking resemblance to human blood plasma (see figure below). It was this proven observation that led René Quinton to postulate that all animal life forms developed their complex physiological and biological processes based on the specific ratios of minerals, amino acids and fatty acids found in this marine plasma. For this reason, Quinton called marine plasma “the origin of life”.

The energetic and physiological power generated within these unique vortex plankton blooms can best be summed up in two important observations. The first is that the largest mammals currently alive today, the great blue whales, travel thousands of miles at a time to reach these blooms. They owe their entire gargantuan existence to seasonal feedings on plankton and krill that spontaneously arise within these precious blooms. There is enough energy and nutrients within this nutrient-rich “soup” to satiate the appetite of a blue whale, while supporting all of its complex biological functions. The second observation is that the vegetation created inside plankton blooms are greater than all of the vegetation found on land put together (over 6 billion tons).

Comparison Between Original Quinton™ Isotonic and Blood Plasma

Marine Plasma, Evolution and the Physiology of the Human Body

In my previous article entitled “The Aqua-man Theory of Evolution”, I summarize the theory that rapid evolution of the human brain was triggered by early human’s return to the ocean – where our ancestors began to consistently swim and fish the oceans. By hygienically exposing the human body to rich oceanic nutrients, the body gained access to physiologically important trace minerals and nutrients of which it had previously been deprived on land.

It is truly awe-inspiring to think that the very first single cell, with its specific mixture and balance of nutrients, dictated the future genetic code that would be the primitive inheritance of the most complex mammals living today. It would be our genetic inheritance. In the single cell is the mystery of the spark of life, captured in marine plasma. When considered in this light, it is no surprise that our bodies respond so profoundly to the effects of marine plasma.

Our land-locked bodies strive each day to recreate the primordial marine environment from which our single-celled ancestors emerged. A complete spectrum of minerals is necessary to metabolize 100% of the amino acids we consume. When critical minerals are missing or represented in deficient amounts, our bodies fail to optimally metabolize and convert amino acids and enzymes into energy. The molecular mystery of Quinton Marine Plasma is that it not only contains the full spectrum of mineral salts in the ratio we need, but (in its isotonic state) each of the minerals is represented in quantities that mirror, almost perfectly, those of human blood plasma and extra-cellular fluids.

In 1904 Quinton published these findings in his treatise, Seawater, Organic Matrix. This book demonstrated, through years of laboratory research, that human blood plasma and extra-cellular fluids were virtually identical in mineral salt make-up to isotonic marine plasma.

Everything in the human body responds to the condition of our extra-cellular fluid – the “sea aquarium” or “marine terrain” as René Quinton often referred to it. It is the microcosm of the sea itself. When you restore the quality of this internal sea aquarium to its original marine inheritance, every cell, organ, and tissue begins to respond and function as it was intended.

If René Quinton were alive today, he would say that the modern practice of medicine is shallow in its attempt to force health within a depleted bio-terrrain by putting even more stress on the body. I believe he would say it was analogous to asking a magnificent fruit tree to bear fruit while growing on dry, depleted soil.

Clinical Significance

Over the last 100 years, Original Quinton Marine Plasma has been used with remarkable success to restore physiological balance, support gastrointestinal health, encourage the healthy growth of intestinal probiotics, encourage optimal growth, maintain optimal performance, and enhance physiological stamina. While detailed protocols exist for each of the following clinical uses, I will explore each of these clinical indications in future publications and will just mention them in summary here.

Prenatal Care: Supports optimal fetal development.

Pediatrics: Supplements nutritional intake, optimal growth and development, and cellular hydration.

Gynecology: Supports optimal glandular function, vaginal health, and supports normal menstrual cycle.

Dermatology: Restores mineral balance necessary for optimal formation of the collagen matrix.

Respiratory Health: Helps normalize respiratory function after acute or prolonged stress.

Dental Applications: Helps to strengthen gums and promote optimal oral pH and proliferation of healthy oral bacteria.

Gastro-Intestinal Health: Normalizes intestinal and physiological pH; Supports the healthy proliferation of probiotics in the intestines; and Facilitates the metabolism of amino acids.

Hormonal Production: Supports optimal hormonal production due to the presence of bioavailable minerals and amino acids.

Neurology: Supports optimal brain function and neuronal development.

General Recommended Protocols

Mode of Action

Re-establishes bio-terrain by replenishing extra-cellular fluid with full spectrum bio-active minerals, salts, and amino acids. Facilitates homeostasis through principles of intra- and extra- cellular osmosis. Facilitates balanced re-hydration (i.e. it is an electrolytic balancer)

Initial Dosage

1 x 10 ml vial of Quinton™ Isotonic per day on an empty stomach for the first 7 days. Increase to 2 vials of Quinton Isotonic per day on an empty stomach for the next 3 weeks.

Dosage After 1st Month

In the second month, introduce 1 vial of Quinton™ Hypertonic in the morning on an empty stomach and continue on 2 vials of Quinton Isotonic in the afternoon on an empty stomach. As much as 4 vials of Quinton Hypertonic and 4 vials of Quinton Isotonic can be taken daily under health professional supervision and under specific circumstances.

Maintenance Dosage

After taking Quinton plasma for three consecutive months, it is recommended that people take 1 to 2 vials per week of either Hypertonic or Isotonic.

Secondary Effects

It is important to work with clients to ensure that their bowels are moving regularly. If not, in rare circumstances, the client may develop temporary signs of detoxification such as skin blemishes and constipation. No adverse effects have been reported.

Quinton Plasma is harvested from the same plankton bloom and according to the original proprietary protocol developed by René Quinton in 1897. Quinton plasma is cold filtered to remove any microbial pathogens. The marine plasma is never exposed to heat, radiation, or UV light during the course of manufacture, as René Quinton proved that such exposures substantially limit the biological activity.

The pharmaceutical manufacturing facility now located in Spain maintains both ISO 9001 and E.U. GMP manufacturing certifications. The vortex plankton bloom is protected under international maritime laws and the extraction of Quinton™ plasma is carefully monitored to ensure that the plankton bloom is preserved.