Like animals, humans are incredibly complex organisms consisting of millions and millions of cells. Simply put, all these somatic cells maintain their life functions by communicating, cooperating, and exchanging with other somatic cells.

This communication primarily works by means of neurotransmitters and hormones. They travel through the body and dock with the corresponding receptors. Thus, these receptors manage the neurotransmitters to carry their “messages to the intended users”.

The more complex an organism or a creature, the larger the number of different receptors available for the reception of the most diverse neurotransmitters. The sex hormones testosterone and oestrogen are the best examples for the receptor function. Reproduction works in accordance with this receptor principle and results - if everything goes well - in healthy offspring.

A further hormone that was vital and life-preserving particularly in prehistoric times, namely adrenaline, hopefully ensures a reasonable reaction (attack or escape) after having been released and bound to the adrenaline receptor.

AhR - a very special representative of the receptor family

One very special representative of the receptors is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) which is often referred to as dioxin receptor as it is most strongly activated by dioxin and dioxin-like substances.

After its discovery, chiefly by Dr. Alan Poland (1974), it became increasingly obvious that the signalling pathway of this receptor provided an explanation for a large number of or almost every so-called civilization disease.

Starting with autoimmune diseases via causes of cancer and not ending at prenatal development deficits or autism and ADHS. The signalling pathway of the Ah receptor disclosed the link of cause and effect to science. The extent of this increase in knowledge exceeded every expectation and - since its discovery by Poland and others (1974) - has been providing the globally recognized basis for most diverse research activities, chiefly those performed in pharmaceutical companies and medical universities.

Although root cause analysis, research and development (diagnosis, treatment) has been performed based on the signalling pathway of the dioxin receptor for decades, and DOW Chemical (appropriately) once called this receptor the best researched object in the history of medicine, this knowledge has not been applied to avoid (prevent) the health damage described above.

To this day, toxic and hazardous substances have not been examined with regard to their ability to trigger the dioxin receptor.  Therefore, the knowledge on the relationship between softening agents in plastic bottles and their harmful effects on our children (diabetes, adipositas), for instance, remains in the drawers of industry or just manages to become the subject of a doctoral thesis.

Now that we know that chemicals capable of activating the dioxin receptor to a relevant degree are responsible for the occurrence of almost every civilization disease, it is about time to apply this knowledge both to preventive measures and to practice and clinic.

Our website ‘Dioxin-Rezeptor.de’ is designed to provide the general public with the knowledge on these relationships and the possibilities of receptor toxicology.