Page 116 - Psychoceramics and the Test of Fire

Arbor Vitae Cortex

“Fine,” said I. “We do have experienced graphics designers and
copy writers on contract, but your insights would be invaluable.”
“Okay. Here’s the angle: the old and the new. I have taken the
wisdom of the ancients and applied it to cutting-edge neurobiological
research. That will appeal to both ends of the spectrum.” He waved
an arm toward the rest of the expo and its teeming throngs. “First,
the grand old tradition known today as the doctrine of signatures. It
follows the deeply-held belief in microcosmic-macrocosmic
synchronicity and resemblance; in essence, that whatever creative
forces are at play in the cosmos do not create similarity by accident.
If a plant resembles some portion of our anatomy, then it probably
will work to heal or strengthen that body part. Thus, from the
classical Greek physicians to the early Medieval naturalists, this belief
has been attached both to materialistic and theological explanations
of the universe. Look at all the plants whose names end in ‘wort;’
most of them fall into this medicinal category: lungwort, liverwort,
feverwort, and so on. Walnuts, structurally and visually analogous to
the skull and its brain, must be good for the head. Mandrake and
ginseng look too human in their bifurcation not to be beneficial.
Most people interested in herbal remedies understand this intuitively,
if not explicitly.”
He was getting into it, no more droopy depression evident. I knew
about this nonsense already from the dossier—someone like Sol Wise
would be steeped in such goofy cure-alls; anyway, no cautious
businessman would enter into a commitment without a bit of
background information, right?
“Now for the scientific angle,” said Betzaroff, looking academic, if
not downright pedantic. “Mental function is the last frontier for
herbalism. It’s owing to the blood-brain barrier; the large molecules
in herbal extracts simply cannot get into the brain. Obviously,
ongoing research in nanoparticle delivery systems will allow targeting
identified cerebral components in coming years. But I have found a
way to distill organic matter into suspensions of essential elements
without expensive equipment and unproven technology. Thus I have
crossed that hurdle. With what? An extract of arbor vitae, the tree of
life!”

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