The Wallach Revolution

The Citizens Committee for Better Medicine is proud to present “The Wallach Revolution – (An Unauthorized Biography of a Medical Genius)”. The book is now available and chronicles the challenges, successes, and unique perspective of Dr. Joel D Wallach, a true pioneer in the field of science-based, clinically verified medical nutrition. (No portion of the content on this site may be exhibited, used or reproduced by any means without express written permission of the publisher.) Click HERE to get your copy of this brand new book!

Chapter 11 Page 1

Cystic Fibrosis in China: Further Debunking the Gene Theory of Disease

The generally accepted medical definition of cystic fibrosis identifies the disease as a genetic one known to affect those of Northern European ancestry (i.e., whites) and largely unheard of in Asians and Blacks. Having debunked the gene theory on the basis of his rhesus monkey discovery and his selenium deficiency discovery, Wallach nevertheless wanted to disprove the gene theory of disease further by establishing that, indeed, those of non-white extraction also suffered from cystic fibrosis. Wallach believes congenital or postnatal selenium deficiencies bring about cystic fibrosis in people regardless of race.

Joined by his wife Dr. Ma Lan, a noted Chinese medical doctor, clinician and micro-surgeon (Harvard, Texas Medical Center, University of California), Wallach went to China in 1989. Through Ma Lan’s familial and academic connections and based upon her good reputation in Chinese medical circles, Dr. Wallach was invited to perform 1,700 autopsies of children who suffered Keshan disease to see if any of them also suffered from cystic fibrosis.

Keshan disease is a form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by a selenium deficiency (originally thought to be an infection with a mutated strain of Coxackievirus. The disease is named for Keshan County in Heilongjiang province in Northern China. There, poverty stricken Chinese subsisting off of a diet largely comprised of locally grown wheat and corn were victims of soils lacking selenium. Low selenium levels in the soils translated into low selenium levels in the grain, leading to the deficiency that begets Keshan disease. Keshan disease is also more commonly found in New Zealand and Finland where selenium soil levels are also low. Those who are selenium deficient in these regions also have a higher incidence of cancer, vascular disease, cataracts, arthritis, strokes, and infections.

Consistent with Wallach’s theory that congenital or postnatal selenium deficiencies cause cystic fibrosis, he expected that a significant number of the 1,700 Keshan disease cadavers he examined would also bear the characteristic symptoms of cystic fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis in China: Further Debunking the Gene Theory of Disease

Interesting links

Recent Posts