Fig & Ginger Health & Wellness

(And What You Can Do to Shift the Story)

“Genes load the gun. Environment pulls the trigger” – Dr. Pam Peeke

We’ve long been told that our genes determine our destiny. That if illness runs in our family, we’re bound to get sick. That trauma lives in the past. That aging, inflammation, fatigue, and disease are inevitable.

But science – and ancient wisdom – say otherwise.

The truth is, while we can’t change the genes we’re born with, we can influence how those genes express themselves. And that’s where healing begins.

Trauma and DNA: The Epigenetic Link

Our DNA is like a library of possibilities. But not every gene is always “switched on.” Epigenetics is the study of how environmental and emotional factors turn genes on or off – without altering the actual genetic code.

This means things like chronic stress, unresolved trauma, poor diet and toxic exposure, sleep deprivation, sedentary lifestyle, and addictive patterns can all influence how our genes express. They don’t change the blueprint – but they do affect which chapters get read.

And here’s the beautiful part, so can rest, nourishment, movement, connection, ritual, and deep care.

Trauma Travels Through Lineage

Scientific studies show that trauma can be biologically passed down. For example, children of Holocaust survivors show altered methylation in genes that regulate stress response.

This isn’t just metaphorical – the pain your body carries may not have started with you.

But it can end with you.

Lifestyle: A Message to Your Cells

Every choice you make – what you eat, how you move, how you breathe, who you spend time with – sends a message to your DNA.

That message can say: “We’re under threat. Conserve, inflame, shut down.”

Or it can say: “We’re safe, heal, repair, grow.”

Rewriting the Story

So what can you do if you’ve lived through trauma or made choices that may have damaged your body?