The Cosmic Connection of Blood: A Journey Through Time

This piece is a blend of humor and science, exploring the essence of our being.

I recently stumbled upon a fascinating fact that added to my ever-growing list of unknowns. It sparked my curiosity, compelling me to write this article, which I hope you find enjoyable.

Did you know that all human blood traces its origins back to a supernova? I certainly didn't. It turns out that we are composed of cosmic particles that landed on Earth, which is quite astonishing. This revelation set my imagination in motion.

Indeed, we are stardust! If that doesn't elevate your sense of self, I don't know what will—well, perhaps winning the lottery might. But in a more profound sense, nothing compares to this realization.

As usual, I digress.

Once, there was a journalist named Rose George who ventured into the world of research, ultimately publishing her findings. That's the proper approach, by the way. :)

She wrote an article filled with such enlightening information that I had to pause several times to absorb it all.

As it stands, the average human body contains between 9 to 11 pints (approximately 6.25 liters) of blood. We often take this for granted, and it's time to rethink our perspective.

Red blood cells transport oxygen, while white blood cells combat the insidious parasites that threaten our existence. I have no idea why—they just do.

Additionally, platelets and plasma proteins work together to form clots, safeguarding us against excessive bleeding. We certainly want to avoid that!

These components also play a crucial role in providing stem cells from bone marrow, which must be restored or even transplanted in dire situations to save lives.

Blood is capable of regenerating through this intricate process.

But what exactly is blood? Its primary components are water and salt, encompassing all those pints—11 for larger individuals, perhaps.

Each day, blood circulates through our bodies, covering a distance of 12,000 miles (about 19,312 kilometers)—and it doesn't hitchhike. That's roughly the distance from here to Novosibirsk, Russia. Our network of veins, arteries, and capillaries stretches an impressive 60,000 miles, enough to circle the Earth twice.

Are you astounded yet? Just wait for more revelations.

Blood holds an air of mystery, deeply intertwined with historical symbolism.

Even Medusa had her struggles with blood. According to Greek mythology, it's quite the enigma. But let's keep that under wraps around the Greeks.

It is said that the left side of her brain contained blood so toxic it could be fatal, while the right side was known for miraculous healing properties.

Throughout many cultures, blood loss has posed various challenges—not in the way you might assume.

Unfair Treatment

Take, for instance, the story of Radha, a 16-year-old girl in India. She belongs to a group known as "chau," or untouchables. Due to her menstruation, she faces severe restrictions: she cannot enter temples, stay in her family home, or even touch her friends or other women. The community believes that if she were to touch a buffalo, it would fall ill and stop producing milk. It's hard to grasp such a mindset.

When she is fed, the rice is thrown to her to maintain distance.

On the other hand, just 300 miles away, near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, menstruating girls are celebrated, viewed as symbols of fertility and strength.

She might want to relocate, I say.

In Wogeo, a small island off New Guinea, men imitate menstruation by inflicting cuts on their own bodies with crab claws.

Ouch! Just writing that causes discomfort.

In Ancient Rome, the situation was dire. While it was believed that menstruation did not ward off evil spirits, a naked woman walking through fields was thought to eradicate pests threatening crops.

In Jewish and Muslim traditions, food prepared by a menstruating girl is deemed unfit for consumption.

Such hypocrisy knows no bounds. They marry girls at the age of 12 but restrict their involvement in food preparation.

At least Jesus showed some compassion when he established what became the Eucharist. He symbolized bread and wine as his body and blood, which challenged Roman beliefs of the time. I align with him on this. Period. (oops)

During that era, the blood of saints was considered sacred and capable of curing ailments. For instance, St. Thomas A. Beckett was renowned for performing miracles by sprinkling his own blood on the faithful, much like Saint Peter Martyr did in 1252.

We mustn't overlook the Stigmata phenomenon and ongoing studies attempting to unravel this extraordinary mystery. Scientists are confident it isn't a mere illusion—a captivating topic worthy of its own exploration.

Interestingly, the human body lacks a natural means of expelling blood, except through menstruation.

Medieval "Cures and Remedies"

Enter the world of alchemy and the use of leeches. As absurd as it may seem, leeches were essential to medical practices in medieval times. We've all seen movies where doctors employed them for bloodletting to save the king's life.

However, the truth is that not all leeches are created equal.

Some simply refused to consume human blood, perhaps opting instead for camels—inside their nostrils! But these leeches were savvy; they had a pact never to harm their host. Thus, some of these bloodsuckers were hesitant to feed on the blood of a sick king, while others were less discerning.

Richard Sugg has authored an insightful book on this subject, titled "Mummies, Cannibals, and Vampires" (2011).

Mention my name to him; you might score a discount.

Sugg traces the belief in blood's healing properties back to ancient Rome, where drinking blood was a common practice in the Colosseum and other gladiatorial arenas. Victors would cut their conquered foes' necks and drink from the wounds, much like one might dine at a school cafeteria today.

Yuck!

Even during the reign of Constantine, the converted Christian Emperor, this practice persisted, even as he aimed to eliminate such absurdities. Nevertheless, he continued to endorse drinking the blood of executed criminals.

Why not enjoy it while it's fresh, right?

The gravely ill were the first in line. If there ever were vampires, these individuals embodied that concept.

These are historical facts—this was our reality and our actions.

Another famous case involves King Louis XI, who would soak his meals in the blood of a young child in a futile attempt to cure ailments like leprosy.

Then there was a Jewish physician who proposed that Pope Innocent VIII drink the blood of a six-year-old child—get ready for this—to regain his youth!

The charlatans of that era were truly outrageous. Thankfully, these superstitions waned by 1628, though they lingered until 1666 when genuine science finally took hold, paving the way for blood transfusions.

However, not every transfusion went smoothly. One doctor's misguided decision to use a calf for a transfusion ended tragically when the recipient died. It's baffling why he thought this would work—he essentially sacrificed his patient for a dubious experiment. While it failed, it did contribute to the understanding of blood types, thanks to Dr. Karl Landsteiner. He and Dr. Vienna identified various blood types and their characteristics: A; A-B (universal recipient), and O (universal donor).

A New Discovery

Parabiosis (Greek for "Next to Life")

Now, a company called Ambrosia has revived the age-old notion of achieving immortality—or at least extending life. Its founder, Jesse Karmazin, was charging $8,000 for a chance at semi-immortality, provided the donor was under 25.

One truth remains: this bloody topic has kept us engaged throughout history. It has woven itself into our lives like few other aspects of existence. After all, it constitutes our very being, and like oxygen, we couldn't survive without it.

Blood undeniably fascinates us. It occupies a significant space in our collective consciousness, both conscious and subconscious. Some individuals revel in horror films featuring the most gruesome scenes. The cheesier, the better, especially in struggling countries. If a film is produced for $20, it is considered a financial success. Meanwhile, American audiences are captivated by vampires and zombies, having exhausted the Dracula narrative. What about video games for the youngest? A game without blood and gore? Total failure. Parents are left astonished by the language they encounter.

Ancestry.com and its competitor, 23andMe, are thriving because people are eager to uncover their bloodlines. I wish they’d just asked me; I would have charged a fraction of the price.

We should simply move on from all that.

Ultimately, remember that you are stardust—cosmic and magical, just like the supernova from which you originated.

References: - Young Blood Rejuvenates Old Bodies: A Call for Reflection - Could Young Blood Stop Us From Getting Old? - Looking to Young Blood To Treat the Diseases of Ageing

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Thank you for reading!