The Covid pandemic has highlighted significant racial disparities, alongside a rise in inflammatory illnesses like gastrointestinal disorders and asthma. Global mass uprisings against systemic racism and increasing climate refugees underscore a broader crisis of inflammation affecting our bodies, societies, and planet. This innovative work offers a medical exploration of our biological systems—digestive, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, reproductive, immune, and nervous—while revealing the connections between these systems and the injustices rooted in our political and economic frameworks. Inflammation is intricately linked to our diets, air quality, microbial diversity, childhood traumas, and ancestral experiences. It also relates to healthcare access and the prevailing health models practiced by physicians. Renowned political economist Raj Patel collaborates with physician Rupa Marya to propose a transformative solution: the deep medicine of decolonization. This approach seeks to heal divisions by restoring our connections with the Earth and each other. By integrating cutting-edge scientific research, insights from marginalized communities, activist fervor, and Indigenous wisdom, this work illuminates a path toward a holistic healing that could benefit both our bodies and the world at large.
