If mitochondria already are known to be capable of anaerobic energy generating processes and, like other plant organisms, can theoretically utilize radiant energy as a power source for energy production, is it not possible that this ability extends to the use of high-energy gammas to supply energy within the cell? After all, prior to an atmosphere rich in oxygen, and their symbiotic relationship with the eukaryotic cells, the mitochondrial bacteria had to have some energy source that was abundant and powerful enough to provide all their energy needs. Dr. T.D. Luckey, an expert in cellular biology, coined the term for this gamma usage within human cells as "radiogenic metabolism." (Luckey, 1980) By Luckey's description, radiogenic metabolism is "the promotion of metabolic reactions by ionizing radiation and its products. Luckey hypothesized that radiogenic metabolism involved prephotosynthetic transformation of radiant energy into chemical energy. Metabolic adaptation to the utilization of free radicals from the radiolysis of water could be the evolutionary precursor to the use of active oxygen radicals in photosynthesis and respiration." (Luckey, 1980)
The "halo" effect
If this theory of radiogenic metabolism is correct, in that, high-energy gamma photons are being "digested" and utilized as an ongoing energy source by human cells, then there should be some identifiable "by-product" of the metabolism in the form of low-energy photon emissions. In fact, modern opto-electronic devices, such as single photon counters, are increasingly being used to detect just such occurrences. These emissions cover a broad spectral region from ultraviolet to near infrared, e.g., 200 to 900 nanometers. Researchers have noted that the photon-flux intensity of stationary luminescence averages between 10 to 1,000 hv/second/centimeter and strongly depends on the physiological state of the organism (Slawinski, 1987).
Other research has found that living systems emit electromagnetic radiation in a longer part of the spectrum, e.g., infrared or thermal radiation and radio waves. Brain, heart, and muscle activity reportedly elicit changes of electrical potential of about 0.1 volt with frequencies in the range of 0.5 - 3.0 hertz and 20 - 5,000 hertz respectively (Slawinski, 1987). These electromagnetic interactions extend beyond the parameters of the physical body to form a low-frequency field or "aura."
Recently published work by Dr. Fritz-Albert Popp of the International Institute of Biophysics in Germany further supports the hypothesis that low-energy biophotons emanate from human beings. In a long-term study, Popp demonstrated that photon emissions from each of the skin areas tested followed the same biological rhythms but were phase-shifted between various body parts, e.g., hands versus forehead. Popp also demonstrated that normal patterns are disrupted in people suffering from various illnesses and diseases (Cohen and Popp, 1997).
Given that gamma rays disappear around subjects receiving certain bioenergy therapies, there is reason to speculate that the crystal-like formations within the body, from mitochondrial DNA to connective tissues, may act as organic scintillators. The general description of a scintillator is a material that emits low-energy (usually in the visible range) photons when struck by a high-energy charged particle (Science News, 1996). When used as a gamma ray detector, the scintillator does not directly detect the gamma rays. Instead, the gamma rays produce charged particles in the scintillator crystals that interact with the crystal and emit photons. These lower energy photons are subsequently collected by photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) such as the one used in the previously described gamma radiation experiments. Ordinarily, materials transform ionizing energy into heat. Rather than radiate away all their energy as heat, however, scintillators transform some of this energy so that they glow with light.
The efficiency of a scintillator is determined by the extent to which light is produced versus heat, such that, a more efficient crystal scintillator, like sodium iodide, may produce about 13% of the gamma interactions in the form of light energy compared with other crystals, like bismuth germinate used to create PET scans, which may translate only 2% of the gamma radiation into light (Kahn, 1994).
If this theory is correct, then the crystalline formations and/or certain molecules within the body may be acting as collecting and/or processing points of gamma radiation which, in turn, produce some proportion of visible light versus heat. The degraded energetic by-product is eliminated from the body similar to the digestive process of food stuffs; however, the output point may be in the crown region. This would equate with basic physiology that teaches that the majority of the body's heat radiates from the top of the head.
Subsequently, the "halo" epiphenomenon may be explained by a preponderance of visible biophotons being emitted from the crown/top of the head and may coincide with one's capacity, as a crystal scintillator, to efficiently process the absorbed gamma radiation into light versus heat. It is most likely not a coincidence that religious archetypes describe "hell" in terms of high heat and fire, e.g., burning in hell, and "heaven" as the domain of pure light. Likewise, "saints" are enlightened, whereas, "sinners" are enmeshed in darkness.
Energetic Healing Effects
The term "energy medicine" describes such diverse therapies as homeopathy, acupuncture, mesmerism and healing touch. Proponents of hand-mediated energy techniques such as Reiki, therapeutic touch, Polarity, Qigong, claim it operates on the principal that health can be influenced by the subtle manipulation of a person's "vital energy" - energy which is innate to all living beings and which, when disordered or blocked, theoretically creates disease (Kaptchuk, 1996).
