From a Nurse-Using Coconut Oil as a Treatment For Eczema
By Helen Hecker
Sometimes one has to resort to alternative, natural eczema treatment methods to get the best cure or results for their eczema problem. And often it's a better choice, due to less exposure to drugs and chemical-laden products.
It should always be the first treatment to consider when you want to take the best care of your skin.
First of all, eczema and dermatitis are often referring to the same thing in the medical world. They cover a variety of inflammations of the most outer portion of the skin. There are three different, broad types of eczema.
The type of eczema depends on the cause and where it occurs on the body. The types are basically, allergies, rashes, and nutritional deficiencies. The eczemas include atopic, dyshidrotic and nummular eczema.
Naturally you'll want to eliminate any internal cause of eczema as in non-contact allergies, rashes, and nutritional deficiencies.
For local causes of eczema such as contact dermatitis, you want to avoid having your skin come into contact with the offending item.
It could be jewelry, perfumes, chemicals in any cosmetics, shellac in mascara, lipstick, nickel, lotions, soaps, fabric softener sheets, pesticides from contact around the mouth, latex gloves, etc.
I'm assuming here that you already have a diagnosis of eczema.
The best thing I've found to heal eczema is extra virgin coconut oil. It works better than eczema creams, which are usually chemical-laden products, whether for babies, teens or adults.
Make sure you're working on eliminating the cause of your eczema, whether internal or external, which we won't go into here.
Extra virgin coconut oil has helped many I know to help heal the skin. Ultimately, of course, the immune system and body do the healing if you were to do nothing, but coconut oil can speed up the process.
If you also have acne it'll treat acne too and is better than most chemical acne products.
You want to make sure you get the extra virgin type that is not refined, bleached or deodorized. You can order it online.
Whole food-type markets are carrying more coconut oil, in pint and quart jars and especially the extra virgin coconut oil. Get the organic kind if you can.
Coconut oil cures many other skin conditions and skin disorders too, besides making the skin soft and smooth. I use it for everything including as a make-up remover and under my foundation. My skin is always soft, silky, smooth, and free of rashes, bumps, blemishes, blisters, etc.
It stops itching and flaking too.
Coconut oil is very inexpensive therefore, a good, cheap home remedy. Keep it around to treat any other skin problem. It's actually healthy to eat too. It's a plant saturated fat, not an animal saturated fat.
I add two big tablespoons to my smoothies, to help my skin from the inside out too, and have been doing so for many years.
Although we refer to it as coconut oil, it isn't actually oil until the temperature climbs above 77 degrees. It can be applied when it is in the oil-state or non-oil state.
To apply the extra virgin coconut oil, massage it deep into the affected area. You can heat it if you like but you don't have to. Depending on how severe the eczema is, apply it three or four times a day or more and especially at bedtime.
It's important to keep the area moist with the oil. You may have to apply a loose bandage to your skin, soaked with the oil. If the eczema is on your hands, you'll have to apply it even more often.
Also you can expose the area to direct sunlight for 20 minutes or so each day. You'll get your daily dose of vitamin D that way too.
Many have used coconut oil as a treatment to cure or heal their eczema or their baby's eczema.
It just takes motivation, a willingness to try it, and diligent application of coconut oil several times each day and at bedtime.
And your eczema and its symptoms, providing you've removed the cause, should go away. Continue using coconut oil and good clear skin will be your reward.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Morgellons Disease Article - Doctors slow to recognize mysterious disease
Doctors slow to recognize mysterious disease
Victims of Morgellons suffer real symptoms but accused of delusions
JACK CALAWAY
In 1979 Charlotte businessman Marc Iverson fell ill from a mysterious, debilitating ailment. Many doctors didn't believe his symptoms were real, much less the herald of a new disease.
Because symptoms didn't fit any established medical models, physicians couldn't make a definite diagnosis. That was a crushing blow for Iverson, a corporate vice president crippled at age 28.
But he persevered in seeking research, diagnosis and treatment of what became known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome. This led to his Charlotte founding of the CFIDS Association of America. Hundreds of thousands of sufferers have since been diagnosed
A few years earlier, Connecticut housewife Polly Murray had complained to health authorities that her family was suffering from an unknown ailment. Persistence got her labeled a hypochondriac. She eventually convinced Yale researchers to investigate, and that led to the identification of the bacteria that had infected her and others with what is now commonly called Lyme disease.
So, will a new malady that has stigmatized a North Carolina woman and thousands of other Americans win similar acceptance in 2007, or will the allegation that they suffer from nothing but delusions cause Morgellons Disease to simmer on the medical back burner?
Debbie Drake -- not her real name -- of Cleveland County hadn't heard of Morgellons when she turned off the bedroom light one night last March and husband Jerry asked why she had blue glitter on her face. She turned the light back on and went to a mirror, but saw nothing unusual. A short while later Debbie felt something biting her legs and face. Pulling back the covers, she expected to find fleas. Instead she saw tiny black specks on her side of the sheets. Strange, she thought, that whatever it was had left Jerry alone. But the biting and crawling sensation continued throughout the night.
Just a case of scabies?
That was the start of an affliction for which her regular physicians can provide no satisfying diagnosis. Her symptoms include severe fatigue, memory loss and especially the intense, itchy lesions in which strange fibers and granules -- auto-fluorescent in some cases -- appear on her skin.When hair started falling out in clumps, she went to a dermatologist who said she had scabies, an allergic reaction to skin mites. It produces itchy rashes when female mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs. Males roam atop the skin, creating a crawling sensation. Since these symptoms matched a few of Debbie's, the doctor prescribed a regimen of topical medications.
But after weeks and weeks of head-to-toe coatings, Debbie's situation had not improved. "I thought I was going to die. The itching was terrible. I reached the point where I hated to go to bed at night." Drake recalled. "I took leave from my job for a short time and was embarrassed to leave the house because of the welts and lesions on my body."
Like Iverson and Murray, she felt she was being treated with skepticism instead of with serious medical attention. "My family doctor didn't come right out and say it, but I got the impression she thought I was experiencing some sort of mental problems," said Drake.
Later she learned that many dermatologists claim the skin fibers and the sensation of parasites crawling under the skin are the effect of a psychosis called "Delusional Parasitosis." Not so, say Drake and other activists.
It appears that the Morgellons equivalent of a Marc Iverson or Polly Murray is biologist Mary Leitao, who in 2002 founded the Morgellons Research Foundation, now based in Maryland. Leitao got involved when fibers appeared on her 2-year-old son. She named the disease after a medical reference to a similar symptom displayed by 17th-century French children called "morgellons."
At least 5 cases in Charlotte
"The number of cases reported to us by persons with the symptoms has doubled in the past year," noted Leitao. "Nearly a quarter of those are from California. Texas and Florida also rank high. So far I know of at least five in Charlotte, and about 70 elsewhere in North Carolina."
Leitao's nonprofit advocacy group has cooperated with medical researchers at Oklahoma State University and funded some of their work. Debbie Drake attended a Morgellons conference there last summer and was relieved to meet folks with similar symptoms.
MRF and online advocacy groups have pressured the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to escalate a long-delayed examination of Morgellons. That study is scheduled to focus on the California outbreak and will begin the first quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, Debbie Drake holds her head high, and hopes.
Victims of Morgellons suffer real symptoms but accused of delusions
JACK CALAWAY
In 1979 Charlotte businessman Marc Iverson fell ill from a mysterious, debilitating ailment. Many doctors didn't believe his symptoms were real, much less the herald of a new disease.
Because symptoms didn't fit any established medical models, physicians couldn't make a definite diagnosis. That was a crushing blow for Iverson, a corporate vice president crippled at age 28.
But he persevered in seeking research, diagnosis and treatment of what became known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome. This led to his Charlotte founding of the CFIDS Association of America. Hundreds of thousands of sufferers have since been diagnosed
A few years earlier, Connecticut housewife Polly Murray had complained to health authorities that her family was suffering from an unknown ailment. Persistence got her labeled a hypochondriac. She eventually convinced Yale researchers to investigate, and that led to the identification of the bacteria that had infected her and others with what is now commonly called Lyme disease.
So, will a new malady that has stigmatized a North Carolina woman and thousands of other Americans win similar acceptance in 2007, or will the allegation that they suffer from nothing but delusions cause Morgellons Disease to simmer on the medical back burner?
Debbie Drake -- not her real name -- of Cleveland County hadn't heard of Morgellons when she turned off the bedroom light one night last March and husband Jerry asked why she had blue glitter on her face. She turned the light back on and went to a mirror, but saw nothing unusual. A short while later Debbie felt something biting her legs and face. Pulling back the covers, she expected to find fleas. Instead she saw tiny black specks on her side of the sheets. Strange, she thought, that whatever it was had left Jerry alone. But the biting and crawling sensation continued throughout the night.
Just a case of scabies?
That was the start of an affliction for which her regular physicians can provide no satisfying diagnosis. Her symptoms include severe fatigue, memory loss and especially the intense, itchy lesions in which strange fibers and granules -- auto-fluorescent in some cases -- appear on her skin.When hair started falling out in clumps, she went to a dermatologist who said she had scabies, an allergic reaction to skin mites. It produces itchy rashes when female mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs. Males roam atop the skin, creating a crawling sensation. Since these symptoms matched a few of Debbie's, the doctor prescribed a regimen of topical medications.
But after weeks and weeks of head-to-toe coatings, Debbie's situation had not improved. "I thought I was going to die. The itching was terrible. I reached the point where I hated to go to bed at night." Drake recalled. "I took leave from my job for a short time and was embarrassed to leave the house because of the welts and lesions on my body."
Like Iverson and Murray, she felt she was being treated with skepticism instead of with serious medical attention. "My family doctor didn't come right out and say it, but I got the impression she thought I was experiencing some sort of mental problems," said Drake.
Later she learned that many dermatologists claim the skin fibers and the sensation of parasites crawling under the skin are the effect of a psychosis called "Delusional Parasitosis." Not so, say Drake and other activists.
It appears that the Morgellons equivalent of a Marc Iverson or Polly Murray is biologist Mary Leitao, who in 2002 founded the Morgellons Research Foundation, now based in Maryland. Leitao got involved when fibers appeared on her 2-year-old son. She named the disease after a medical reference to a similar symptom displayed by 17th-century French children called "morgellons."
At least 5 cases in Charlotte
"The number of cases reported to us by persons with the symptoms has doubled in the past year," noted Leitao. "Nearly a quarter of those are from California. Texas and Florida also rank high. So far I know of at least five in Charlotte, and about 70 elsewhere in North Carolina."
Leitao's nonprofit advocacy group has cooperated with medical researchers at Oklahoma State University and funded some of their work. Debbie Drake attended a Morgellons conference there last summer and was relieved to meet folks with similar symptoms.
MRF and online advocacy groups have pressured the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to escalate a long-delayed examination of Morgellons. That study is scheduled to focus on the California outbreak and will begin the first quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, Debbie Drake holds her head high, and hopes.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Discover the Proper Approach to Effective Skin Care
Discover the Proper Approach to Effective Skin Care
By Michael Russell
The largest organ of the body is right out there for all to see - your skin. Yes, it is an organ with specific functions. One main function of the skin is to help remove toxins and waste from the body through the facility of sweating. If the toxins are trapped in clogged pores they can result in symptoms like acne. If the skin can't "breathe", it can't properly cleanse itself.
When thinking about skin care, remember that your skin is a gateway, not a barrier. Oxygen and other chemicals move through the skin, going in and out of the body.
Americans spend millions of dollars each month on skin care products, but are they getting the right ones? Do you know what your skin needs to stay healthy and vibrant and therefore good-looking? The first place to start is to determine the type of skin you have. You can then move on to discovering what regimen will help you to maintain its health.
There are three basic skin types - dry, oily and combination skin. Probably you will find your skin is some mixture of these types, as they are quite broad.
Oily skin tends to be shiny and typically prone to acne and blackheads. This type needs no moisturizing, particularly during youth. Containing an excess of sebum, the material that keeps the skin from drying out, oily skin tends to attract and trap dirt and whatnot in the pores. You may benefit from plain, MILD soap and water. Wash with warm water, which will open the pores and loosen the dirt and rinse with cold to help the pores close back up. A toner or astringent, which are drying agents, may be applied after cleansing. Avoid alcohol-based products, as these kill the skin cells and do not apply any oily substances. If the label says the product contains mineral oil or alcohol, then choose another.
Dry skin looks dry and can be flaky. There is a lack of sebum, which creates this dryness and the skin can be easily chapped. In very hot or cold weather, dry skin reacts by tightening up - you can feel the tightness if you have it. Mild, alcohol-free cleansers and make-up are important to combat the dry flakiness and you should moisturize the skin daily.
Most people, of course have some combination of dry and oily areas. Commonly there is an oily area around the forehead, nose and chin, called the "T" zone, with drier skin elsewhere. Unless these differences are severe, you shouldn't need two products, but use a mild cleanser and arm water. There are several cleansers designed for combination skin and you might want to experiment with these. You could also experiment with moisturizing the dry areas.
An important point, which should be clear from the above, is that any product containing oils should be avoided, regardless of skin type. The old theory was that the oils would trap moisture inside the skin and therefore keep it hydrated and young. This has been proven to be a very poor approach to skin care because, as mentioned, the skin is a membrane through which liquids and gases must pass. Sealing it up with oil merely traps dirt in the skin and prevents the necessary sloughing off of skin cells. Further, when sealed this way your moisturizer cannot get into the skin where it is needed.
Choose your skin care plan carefully, drink plenty of water and you can maintain youthful skin for many decades.
By Michael Russell
The largest organ of the body is right out there for all to see - your skin. Yes, it is an organ with specific functions. One main function of the skin is to help remove toxins and waste from the body through the facility of sweating. If the toxins are trapped in clogged pores they can result in symptoms like acne. If the skin can't "breathe", it can't properly cleanse itself.
When thinking about skin care, remember that your skin is a gateway, not a barrier. Oxygen and other chemicals move through the skin, going in and out of the body.
Americans spend millions of dollars each month on skin care products, but are they getting the right ones? Do you know what your skin needs to stay healthy and vibrant and therefore good-looking? The first place to start is to determine the type of skin you have. You can then move on to discovering what regimen will help you to maintain its health.
There are three basic skin types - dry, oily and combination skin. Probably you will find your skin is some mixture of these types, as they are quite broad.
Oily skin tends to be shiny and typically prone to acne and blackheads. This type needs no moisturizing, particularly during youth. Containing an excess of sebum, the material that keeps the skin from drying out, oily skin tends to attract and trap dirt and whatnot in the pores. You may benefit from plain, MILD soap and water. Wash with warm water, which will open the pores and loosen the dirt and rinse with cold to help the pores close back up. A toner or astringent, which are drying agents, may be applied after cleansing. Avoid alcohol-based products, as these kill the skin cells and do not apply any oily substances. If the label says the product contains mineral oil or alcohol, then choose another.
Dry skin looks dry and can be flaky. There is a lack of sebum, which creates this dryness and the skin can be easily chapped. In very hot or cold weather, dry skin reacts by tightening up - you can feel the tightness if you have it. Mild, alcohol-free cleansers and make-up are important to combat the dry flakiness and you should moisturize the skin daily.
Most people, of course have some combination of dry and oily areas. Commonly there is an oily area around the forehead, nose and chin, called the "T" zone, with drier skin elsewhere. Unless these differences are severe, you shouldn't need two products, but use a mild cleanser and arm water. There are several cleansers designed for combination skin and you might want to experiment with these. You could also experiment with moisturizing the dry areas.
An important point, which should be clear from the above, is that any product containing oils should be avoided, regardless of skin type. The old theory was that the oils would trap moisture inside the skin and therefore keep it hydrated and young. This has been proven to be a very poor approach to skin care because, as mentioned, the skin is a membrane through which liquids and gases must pass. Sealing it up with oil merely traps dirt in the skin and prevents the necessary sloughing off of skin cells. Further, when sealed this way your moisturizer cannot get into the skin where it is needed.
Choose your skin care plan carefully, drink plenty of water and you can maintain youthful skin for many decades.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
NPR Morgellons Disease Program
Online Campaign Sparks Interest in New Disease
by Patricia Neighmond
A disturbing disease is getting increased attention from the Centers for Disease Control. Patients from California, Texas and Florida describe symptoms including rashes and sores, and the sensation of things crawling under their skin. Many sufferers believe they have something called Morgellons disease. A vigorous online lobbying campaign has made it a CDC priority.
Read more and listen to the program here
by Patricia Neighmond
A disturbing disease is getting increased attention from the Centers for Disease Control. Patients from California, Texas and Florida describe symptoms including rashes and sores, and the sensation of things crawling under their skin. Many sufferers believe they have something called Morgellons disease. A vigorous online lobbying campaign has made it a CDC priority.
Read more and listen to the program here
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Foods That Can Help Keep Your Skin Healthy
Foods That Can Help Keep Your Skin Healthy
By Nathan James
Your skin is a reflection of everything that you put into your body in the way of food. A poor diet will often lead to skin problems. At the same time, eating properly will help keep your skin healthy and attractive. And as you get older, your skin becomes more and more sensitive to these things.
The following foods have been shown to have positive effects on a person's skin:
Green Tea
Green tea is loaded with many health benefits, not the least of which is great skin. It helps reduce inflammation and fights the free radicals that can cause skin damage.
Water
As you've probably heard before, we need at least 8 glasses of water a day (just water - not water mixed with other things). It will help to flush out toxins and purify your body.
Fatty Acids
These acids are found in oils such as flaxseed and walnut oil. Certain fish, such as tuna, mackeral and salmon are also rich in these essential acids.
Dairy
Low fat dairy products have high amounts of vitamin A, which can help to improve your skin.
Selenium
Selenium is found in foods such as tuna, turkey and whole grain breads. It has a number of benefits and one of these foods should be included in your diet daily.
Fruits and Vegetables
There are many fruits and vegetables that help with the health of your skin, but some are particularly helpful. Certain berries, such as blueberries, blackberries and strawberries are high in powerful antioxidents which contribute to the health of your skin.
Brightly colored vegetables, such as yellow or red peppers and sweet potatoes are also good for the health of your skin.
On the flip side of the coin, there are certain types of foods that are not good and should be avoided as much as possible.
White Flour
Foods that contain white flour, such as white bread, rice, and pasta are not as good for you as their whole grain equivalents and should be cut down as much as possible.
Alcohol
Alcohol can lead to dehydration of the skin and contributes to aging if not taken in moderation.
Processed Foods
Most processed foods are loaded with sugar and other additives that can wreak havoc with the health of your skin.
By Nathan James
Your skin is a reflection of everything that you put into your body in the way of food. A poor diet will often lead to skin problems. At the same time, eating properly will help keep your skin healthy and attractive. And as you get older, your skin becomes more and more sensitive to these things.
The following foods have been shown to have positive effects on a person's skin:
Green Tea
Green tea is loaded with many health benefits, not the least of which is great skin. It helps reduce inflammation and fights the free radicals that can cause skin damage.
Water
As you've probably heard before, we need at least 8 glasses of water a day (just water - not water mixed with other things). It will help to flush out toxins and purify your body.
Fatty Acids
These acids are found in oils such as flaxseed and walnut oil. Certain fish, such as tuna, mackeral and salmon are also rich in these essential acids.
Dairy
Low fat dairy products have high amounts of vitamin A, which can help to improve your skin.
Selenium
Selenium is found in foods such as tuna, turkey and whole grain breads. It has a number of benefits and one of these foods should be included in your diet daily.
Fruits and Vegetables
There are many fruits and vegetables that help with the health of your skin, but some are particularly helpful. Certain berries, such as blueberries, blackberries and strawberries are high in powerful antioxidents which contribute to the health of your skin.
Brightly colored vegetables, such as yellow or red peppers and sweet potatoes are also good for the health of your skin.
On the flip side of the coin, there are certain types of foods that are not good and should be avoided as much as possible.
White Flour
Foods that contain white flour, such as white bread, rice, and pasta are not as good for you as their whole grain equivalents and should be cut down as much as possible.
Alcohol
Alcohol can lead to dehydration of the skin and contributes to aging if not taken in moderation.
Processed Foods
Most processed foods are loaded with sugar and other additives that can wreak havoc with the health of your skin.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Patient delusion -- or medical confusion?
Patient delusion -- or medical confusion?
ZOE CORMIER
When Anet Greenley got sick four years ago, what upset her the most wasn't the continual nosebleeds, the numbness in her limbs, or even the fact that her stool had turned green. What really bothered her was the fact that nobody would take her seriously.
"My doctors all told me I was stressed out, that it was all in my head, that I was having panic attacks that upset my stomach," says the 38-year-old Ottawa native. "Even some of my family told me it was in my head.'"
But Ms. Greenley knew she was genuinely sick -- so sick that she had to quit the University of London and fly home from England. And several months later, after going from doctor to doctor, she finally found out she was right: She has multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), a condition that makes her extremely sensitive, you could say allergic, to synthetic chemicals.
These days, Ms. Greenley can control her symptoms, as long as she avoids everything she reacts to: cologne, dryer sheets and car exhaust are just three irritants on a very long list. Other than that, though, there's nothing much she can do. The syndrome is so new that doctors still don't know what causes it -- or how to treat it.
And Ms. Greenley is not alone. According to a Statistics Canada study released last week, more than one million Canadians are suffering from illnesses that are stumping their doctors.
The most commonly reported conditions are MCS, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (all of which affect twice as many women as men). Reports of a host of other mysterious diseases -- such as Morgellons and vulvodynia -- also seem to be increasing in both the United States and Canada.
What these disparate illnesses have in common is patients' struggle not only to find a cure for baffling symptoms, but to establish legitimacy for their complaints. The causes of these conditions remain controversial -- and many doctors continue to label symptoms as delusional.
Some of the skepticism patients encounter is understandable -- especially when they claim to have something as bizarre as Morgellons disease. People who suffer from this affliction say they are plagued by constant itching, burning and crawling sensations, open sores that won't heal, and strange "fibres" (black, white, blue and red) erupting from their skin.
Although at least 4,000 people have now registered with the Morgellons Research Foundation in the United States -- including former Blue Jays pitcher Billy Koch -- the vast majority of doctors do not consider Morgellons disease to be anything more than a textbook example of "delusions of parasitosis" or DOP, a psychiatric condition.
This is what Stan Skoumal's dermatologist clearly thought was his problem. After waiting seven weeks for an appointment, the 54-year-old from Victoria says his symptoms were simply dismissed.
"The whole visit took 11 minutes, I received a seven-minute lecture about the wonders of the mind, I was given a psychotropic medication, and then I was out of there," he says. "The man never came any closer to me than about 10 feet."
Frustrated, Mr. Skoumal launched a lobby and support group called the Morgellons Society of Canada last fall. He avoids medical doctors and treats himself with baths, diets and exercise. And he combs blogs and chat rooms, where suffers have posted hundreds of amateur microphotographs of their skin showing their "fibres" and the parasites they believe have infected them.
Still, some medical professionals believe that such attempts -- while addressing patients' helplessness and anger at the reaction of conventional health practitioners -- may do more harm than good.
"Interpreting things under microscopes are fraught with danger -- you'll find what you're looking for," Dr. Jay Keystone says. "Lie on your back and look at the clouds. It's a good analogy."
Dr. Keystone, who practises with the tropical medicine unit at Toronto General Hospital, has studied parasitic diseases for more than 30 years and has treated many patients with DOP, and a small number of whom claim to have Morgellons. "From time to time, I do see what they're looking at, I do see the occasional 'fibre,' " he says.
He adds that, in response to stress, the nervous system releases chemicals that can cause some strange symptoms.
But he also says all the lab tests have shown absolutely no evidence of parasites. He is certain that most patients have open sores because they have itched and scratched themselves raw.
Not all doctors agree. Dr. Vitaly Citovsky, a professor of biochemistry and cell biology at the State University of New York, says he found a gene from agrobacterium -- a germ that normally infects plants -- in skin samples from two Morgellons patients.
This is just an idea, though -- two samples do not constitute proof that the condition is not psychosomatic. And it's a long way from an idea to a treatment. All of which means patients may suffer for years, even decades, waiting for answers.
Even when a mysterious syndrome has been concretely established, the stigma of earlier psychosomatic diagnoses can remain, affecting patient care.
For example, roughly 15 per cent of women experience vulvodynia -- debilitating, sometimes crippling, genital pain caused by muscular and nervous dysfunction. Mainstream medicine has recently recognized vulvodynia as a real disease, but doctors continue to tell women that their condition is "all in their heads."
"Doctors tend to go through their routines, and if their routines don't give them an answer, then they say it's all in your head," says Dr. Kaye Kilburn, who studies MCS at the University of Southern California. "It is shoddiness, and it is widespread. But it doesn't mean the physicians who are in the minority aren't right."
Laurie Clark can attest to this. When the 53-year-old from Regina starting having constant burning pain on her vulva, she was told that she had emotional problems. "So I went to a psychiatrist," she says, "and even though I wasn't depressed at first, you start to become depressed because you go from doctor to doctor and nobody can tell you what's wrong."
Michelle Living was luckier. When the 24-year-old's pain started two years ago, just before she got married and moved to Victoria, she got a diagnosis fairly quickly -- in seven months. Unfortunately, her dermatologist did not tell her about any treatments.
On her own, Ms. Living discovered anesthetic creams and chemical "nerve blocks" that could help her. Before then, she says: "I was depressed, hopeless, I didn't think there was anything I could do."
None of these treatments have universal success, however. And, although vulvodynia affects six million women in the U.S., there have been only eight studies funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Indeed, researchers who study unexplained syndromes all complain of the same thing -- that there is simply not enough money for research. Funds tend to be earmarked for high-profile, fatal diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
As for the million-plus Canadians who suffer from MCS and chronic fatigue -- conditions that have been dubbed "yuppie flu" and "20th century syndrome"?
Studies are emerging to explain the cellular and biochemical causes of these strange disorders. For example, researchers affiliated with the University of Toronto are looking into enzymes that they say are slightly different in people with MCS, preventing them from detoxifying foreign chemicals properly.
But effective treatments are still a long way off. Ms. Greenley, for one, doesn't think she will ever be cured -- so she and her husband have installed charcoal filters on the air vents in their new house and purchased a $4,000 hypoallergenic mattress.
"When you have MCS, it is very easy for people to think you're a paranoid person," she says. "I'm not. I'm just trying to protect myself and make it so I can have a normal life."
ZOE CORMIER
When Anet Greenley got sick four years ago, what upset her the most wasn't the continual nosebleeds, the numbness in her limbs, or even the fact that her stool had turned green. What really bothered her was the fact that nobody would take her seriously.
"My doctors all told me I was stressed out, that it was all in my head, that I was having panic attacks that upset my stomach," says the 38-year-old Ottawa native. "Even some of my family told me it was in my head.'"
But Ms. Greenley knew she was genuinely sick -- so sick that she had to quit the University of London and fly home from England. And several months later, after going from doctor to doctor, she finally found out she was right: She has multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), a condition that makes her extremely sensitive, you could say allergic, to synthetic chemicals.
These days, Ms. Greenley can control her symptoms, as long as she avoids everything she reacts to: cologne, dryer sheets and car exhaust are just three irritants on a very long list. Other than that, though, there's nothing much she can do. The syndrome is so new that doctors still don't know what causes it -- or how to treat it.
And Ms. Greenley is not alone. According to a Statistics Canada study released last week, more than one million Canadians are suffering from illnesses that are stumping their doctors.
The most commonly reported conditions are MCS, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia (all of which affect twice as many women as men). Reports of a host of other mysterious diseases -- such as Morgellons and vulvodynia -- also seem to be increasing in both the United States and Canada.
What these disparate illnesses have in common is patients' struggle not only to find a cure for baffling symptoms, but to establish legitimacy for their complaints. The causes of these conditions remain controversial -- and many doctors continue to label symptoms as delusional.
Some of the skepticism patients encounter is understandable -- especially when they claim to have something as bizarre as Morgellons disease. People who suffer from this affliction say they are plagued by constant itching, burning and crawling sensations, open sores that won't heal, and strange "fibres" (black, white, blue and red) erupting from their skin.
Although at least 4,000 people have now registered with the Morgellons Research Foundation in the United States -- including former Blue Jays pitcher Billy Koch -- the vast majority of doctors do not consider Morgellons disease to be anything more than a textbook example of "delusions of parasitosis" or DOP, a psychiatric condition.
This is what Stan Skoumal's dermatologist clearly thought was his problem. After waiting seven weeks for an appointment, the 54-year-old from Victoria says his symptoms were simply dismissed.
"The whole visit took 11 minutes, I received a seven-minute lecture about the wonders of the mind, I was given a psychotropic medication, and then I was out of there," he says. "The man never came any closer to me than about 10 feet."
Frustrated, Mr. Skoumal launched a lobby and support group called the Morgellons Society of Canada last fall. He avoids medical doctors and treats himself with baths, diets and exercise. And he combs blogs and chat rooms, where suffers have posted hundreds of amateur microphotographs of their skin showing their "fibres" and the parasites they believe have infected them.
Still, some medical professionals believe that such attempts -- while addressing patients' helplessness and anger at the reaction of conventional health practitioners -- may do more harm than good.
"Interpreting things under microscopes are fraught with danger -- you'll find what you're looking for," Dr. Jay Keystone says. "Lie on your back and look at the clouds. It's a good analogy."
Dr. Keystone, who practises with the tropical medicine unit at Toronto General Hospital, has studied parasitic diseases for more than 30 years and has treated many patients with DOP, and a small number of whom claim to have Morgellons. "From time to time, I do see what they're looking at, I do see the occasional 'fibre,' " he says.
He adds that, in response to stress, the nervous system releases chemicals that can cause some strange symptoms.
But he also says all the lab tests have shown absolutely no evidence of parasites. He is certain that most patients have open sores because they have itched and scratched themselves raw.
Not all doctors agree. Dr. Vitaly Citovsky, a professor of biochemistry and cell biology at the State University of New York, says he found a gene from agrobacterium -- a germ that normally infects plants -- in skin samples from two Morgellons patients.
This is just an idea, though -- two samples do not constitute proof that the condition is not psychosomatic. And it's a long way from an idea to a treatment. All of which means patients may suffer for years, even decades, waiting for answers.
Even when a mysterious syndrome has been concretely established, the stigma of earlier psychosomatic diagnoses can remain, affecting patient care.
For example, roughly 15 per cent of women experience vulvodynia -- debilitating, sometimes crippling, genital pain caused by muscular and nervous dysfunction. Mainstream medicine has recently recognized vulvodynia as a real disease, but doctors continue to tell women that their condition is "all in their heads."
"Doctors tend to go through their routines, and if their routines don't give them an answer, then they say it's all in your head," says Dr. Kaye Kilburn, who studies MCS at the University of Southern California. "It is shoddiness, and it is widespread. But it doesn't mean the physicians who are in the minority aren't right."
Laurie Clark can attest to this. When the 53-year-old from Regina starting having constant burning pain on her vulva, she was told that she had emotional problems. "So I went to a psychiatrist," she says, "and even though I wasn't depressed at first, you start to become depressed because you go from doctor to doctor and nobody can tell you what's wrong."
Michelle Living was luckier. When the 24-year-old's pain started two years ago, just before she got married and moved to Victoria, she got a diagnosis fairly quickly -- in seven months. Unfortunately, her dermatologist did not tell her about any treatments.
On her own, Ms. Living discovered anesthetic creams and chemical "nerve blocks" that could help her. Before then, she says: "I was depressed, hopeless, I didn't think there was anything I could do."
None of these treatments have universal success, however. And, although vulvodynia affects six million women in the U.S., there have been only eight studies funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Indeed, researchers who study unexplained syndromes all complain of the same thing -- that there is simply not enough money for research. Funds tend to be earmarked for high-profile, fatal diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
As for the million-plus Canadians who suffer from MCS and chronic fatigue -- conditions that have been dubbed "yuppie flu" and "20th century syndrome"?
Studies are emerging to explain the cellular and biochemical causes of these strange disorders. For example, researchers affiliated with the University of Toronto are looking into enzymes that they say are slightly different in people with MCS, preventing them from detoxifying foreign chemicals properly.
But effective treatments are still a long way off. Ms. Greenley, for one, doesn't think she will ever be cured -- so she and her husband have installed charcoal filters on the air vents in their new house and purchased a $4,000 hypoallergenic mattress.
"When you have MCS, it is very easy for people to think you're a paranoid person," she says. "I'm not. I'm just trying to protect myself and make it so I can have a normal life."
Thursday, January 18, 2007
How to Detox Your Body
How to Detox Your Body
By Alex Fir
When your energy levels are very low, your body aches and your mind is drained, it is time to detox your body. Detoxification mostly involves blood cleansing by way of eliminating impurities from the blood in the liver, through kidneys, lungs, intestines, lymph and skin.
How to detox your body:
First, you must decrease toxins in your body. You need to reduce cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, eating foods with refined sugars and saturated fats. Next, you should reduce the use of personal health care products such as toothpaste, shampoos, deodorants and cleansers as well as chemically-based household cleaners.
There are lots of ways to detox your body and you should select those that suit your lifestyle and preference.
- Juice fasting involves drinking only fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrot, spinach, celery, cabbage, apple, pineapple and cranberry (no citrus fruits). Duration of juice fasting is typically one to three days.
- Water fasting means that only water is consumed. This way your digestive tract and organs rest completely and toxin build-ups are eliminated.
- Change your diet. Include in your daily diet whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables instead of packaged and fast foods that are rich in fats and sugar.
- Use sauna as a regular part of detox. It is a fantastic way of removing chemical buildups in fat cells.
- Skin brushing removes old skin cells, stimulates the lymph system and draws out toxins through the skin. You should use a dry skin brush made of soft vegetable bristles. Before you take a shower, lightly brush your feet in circular motion towards the chest area for 2 minutes.
These are just a few cleansing methods that will improve your health. It is vital to know the different ways on how to detox your body before you start with the different programs.
By Alex Fir
When your energy levels are very low, your body aches and your mind is drained, it is time to detox your body. Detoxification mostly involves blood cleansing by way of eliminating impurities from the blood in the liver, through kidneys, lungs, intestines, lymph and skin.
How to detox your body:
First, you must decrease toxins in your body. You need to reduce cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, eating foods with refined sugars and saturated fats. Next, you should reduce the use of personal health care products such as toothpaste, shampoos, deodorants and cleansers as well as chemically-based household cleaners.
There are lots of ways to detox your body and you should select those that suit your lifestyle and preference.
- Juice fasting involves drinking only fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrot, spinach, celery, cabbage, apple, pineapple and cranberry (no citrus fruits). Duration of juice fasting is typically one to three days.
- Water fasting means that only water is consumed. This way your digestive tract and organs rest completely and toxin build-ups are eliminated.
- Change your diet. Include in your daily diet whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables instead of packaged and fast foods that are rich in fats and sugar.
- Use sauna as a regular part of detox. It is a fantastic way of removing chemical buildups in fat cells.
- Skin brushing removes old skin cells, stimulates the lymph system and draws out toxins through the skin. You should use a dry skin brush made of soft vegetable bristles. Before you take a shower, lightly brush your feet in circular motion towards the chest area for 2 minutes.
These are just a few cleansing methods that will improve your health. It is vital to know the different ways on how to detox your body before you start with the different programs.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Morgellons Disease Article -- All in the head?
All in the head?
By Elaine Monaghan
Imagine one day you see strange fibres, usually clear but sometimes blue, red or black, protruding from your skin, like a piece of spaghetti, or a hair where none is supposed to be.
You itch all over, lesions appear and you have an unnerving, infuriating feeling that bugs are crawling under and on your skin.
"Brain fog" and short term memory loss set in. You are plagued by chronic fatigue. You can't work or go outside much because you don't know if you're infectious and anyway, you're too tired.
Doctor after doctor sees the evidence you bring to your visit - the fibres and the scabs - as the "matchbox" sign that you are imaging things because sufferers of delusional parasitosis traditionally bring their "proof" in a matchbox.
Still the lesions appear, and the fibres. Sometimes you see things that can only be called "fuzzballs," or sometimes grains of sand, or other times, black granules. It hurts. You try to pull the fibres out when you can see them but it doesn't help. Years later, you're still searching for a cure. You might get temporary relief from powerful, long-term antibiotics but as soon as you stop taking them, the symptoms return.
It may sound like a scene from Alien, an elaborate hoax or a biblical parable you forgot. But for an estimated 3,500 self-reported cases, many of them in California, Florida or Texas, it is 21st century reality. These sufferers have registered at a website that seeks support for clinical studies into a mystery disease they have named "Morgellons." Cases have been reported in all 50 states here but also all over Europe, including Britain, many of them by nurses and teachers, according to the Morgellons Foundation. Some doctors have been reported to take it seriously, and one says he has had success treating it with antibiotics. Another physician who specialized in treating Morgellons was in the news a lot lately after he had his license revoked.
But most doctors believe Morgellons is not in the skin, but in the head.
Read the rest of the article here
By Elaine Monaghan
Imagine one day you see strange fibres, usually clear but sometimes blue, red or black, protruding from your skin, like a piece of spaghetti, or a hair where none is supposed to be.
You itch all over, lesions appear and you have an unnerving, infuriating feeling that bugs are crawling under and on your skin.
"Brain fog" and short term memory loss set in. You are plagued by chronic fatigue. You can't work or go outside much because you don't know if you're infectious and anyway, you're too tired.
Doctor after doctor sees the evidence you bring to your visit - the fibres and the scabs - as the "matchbox" sign that you are imaging things because sufferers of delusional parasitosis traditionally bring their "proof" in a matchbox.
Still the lesions appear, and the fibres. Sometimes you see things that can only be called "fuzzballs," or sometimes grains of sand, or other times, black granules. It hurts. You try to pull the fibres out when you can see them but it doesn't help. Years later, you're still searching for a cure. You might get temporary relief from powerful, long-term antibiotics but as soon as you stop taking them, the symptoms return.
It may sound like a scene from Alien, an elaborate hoax or a biblical parable you forgot. But for an estimated 3,500 self-reported cases, many of them in California, Florida or Texas, it is 21st century reality. These sufferers have registered at a website that seeks support for clinical studies into a mystery disease they have named "Morgellons." Cases have been reported in all 50 states here but also all over Europe, including Britain, many of them by nurses and teachers, according to the Morgellons Foundation. Some doctors have been reported to take it seriously, and one says he has had success treating it with antibiotics. Another physician who specialized in treating Morgellons was in the news a lot lately after he had his license revoked.
But most doctors believe Morgellons is not in the skin, but in the head.
Read the rest of the article here
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Doctors slow to recognize mysterious disease - Morgellons Disease Article
Doctors slow to recognize mysterious disease
Victims of Morgellons suffer real symptoms but accused of delusions
JACK CALAWAY
In 1979 Charlotte businessman Marc Iverson fell ill from a mysterious, debilitating ailment. Many doctors didn't believe his symptoms were real, much less the herald of a new disease.
Because symptoms didn't fit any established medical models, physicians couldn't make a definite diagnosis. That was a crushing blow for Iverson, a corporate vice president crippled at age 28.
But he persevered in seeking research, diagnosis and treatment of what became known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome. This led to his Charlotte founding of the CFIDS Association of America. Hundreds of thousands of sufferers have since been diagnosed
A few years earlier, Connecticut housewife Polly Murray had complained to health authorities that her family was suffering from an unknown ailment. Persistence got her labeled a hypochondriac. She eventually convinced Yale researchers to investigate, and that led to the identification of the bacteria that had infected her and others with what is now commonly called Lyme disease.
So, will a new malady that has stigmatized a North Carolina woman and thousands of other Americans win similar acceptance in 2007, or will the allegation that they suffer from nothing but delusions cause Morgellons Disease to simmer on the medical back burner?
Debbie Drake -- not her real name -- of Cleveland County hadn't heard of Morgellons when she turned off the bedroom light one night last March and husband Jerry asked why she had blue glitter on her face. She turned the light back on and went to a mirror, but saw nothing unusual. A short while later Debbie felt something biting her legs and face. Pulling back the covers, she expected to find fleas. Instead she saw tiny black specks on her side of the sheets. Strange, she thought, that whatever it was had left Jerry alone. But the biting and crawling sensation continued throughout the night.
Just a case of scabies?
That was the start of an affliction for which her regular physicians can provide no satisfying diagnosis. Her symptoms include severe fatigue, memory loss and especially the intense, itchy lesions in which strange fibers and granules -- auto-fluorescent in some cases -- appear on her skin.When hair started falling out in clumps, she went to a dermatologist who said she had scabies, an allergic reaction to skin mites. It produces itchy rashes when female mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs. Males roam atop the skin, creating a crawling sensation. Since these symptoms matched a few of Debbie's, the doctor prescribed a regimen of topical medications.
But after weeks and weeks of head-to-toe coatings, Debbie's situation had not improved. "I thought I was going to die. The itching was terrible. I reached the point where I hated to go to bed at night." Drake recalled. "I took leave from my job for a short time and was embarrassed to leave the house because of the welts and lesions on my body."
Like Iverson and Murray, she felt she was being treated with skepticism instead of with serious medical attention. "My family doctor didn't come right out and say it, but I got the impression she thought I was experiencing some sort of mental problems," said Drake.
Later she learned that many dermatologists claim the skin fibers and the sensation of parasites crawling under the skin are the effect of a psychosis called "Delusional Parasitosis." Not so, say Drake and other activists.
It appears that the Morgellons equivalent of a Marc Iverson or Polly Murray is biologist Mary Leitao, who in 2002 founded the Morgellons Research Foundation, now based in Maryland. Leitao got involved when fibers appeared on her 2-year-old son. She named the disease after a medical reference to a similar symptom displayed by 17th-century French children called "morgellons."
At least 5 cases in Charlotte
"The number of cases reported to us by persons with the symptoms has doubled in the past year," noted Leitao. "Nearly a quarter of those are from California. Texas and Florida also rank high. So far I know of at least five in Charlotte, and about 70 elsewhere in North Carolina."
Leitao's nonprofit advocacy group has cooperated with medical researchers at Oklahoma State University and funded some of their work. Debbie Drake attended a Morgellons conference there last summer and was relieved to meet folks with similar symptoms.
MRF and online advocacy groups have pressured the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to escalate a long-delayed examination of Morgellons. That study is scheduled to focus on the California outbreak and will begin the first quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, Debbie Drake holds her head high, and hopes.
Victims of Morgellons suffer real symptoms but accused of delusions
JACK CALAWAY
In 1979 Charlotte businessman Marc Iverson fell ill from a mysterious, debilitating ailment. Many doctors didn't believe his symptoms were real, much less the herald of a new disease.
Because symptoms didn't fit any established medical models, physicians couldn't make a definite diagnosis. That was a crushing blow for Iverson, a corporate vice president crippled at age 28.
But he persevered in seeking research, diagnosis and treatment of what became known as Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome. This led to his Charlotte founding of the CFIDS Association of America. Hundreds of thousands of sufferers have since been diagnosed
A few years earlier, Connecticut housewife Polly Murray had complained to health authorities that her family was suffering from an unknown ailment. Persistence got her labeled a hypochondriac. She eventually convinced Yale researchers to investigate, and that led to the identification of the bacteria that had infected her and others with what is now commonly called Lyme disease.
So, will a new malady that has stigmatized a North Carolina woman and thousands of other Americans win similar acceptance in 2007, or will the allegation that they suffer from nothing but delusions cause Morgellons Disease to simmer on the medical back burner?
Debbie Drake -- not her real name -- of Cleveland County hadn't heard of Morgellons when she turned off the bedroom light one night last March and husband Jerry asked why she had blue glitter on her face. She turned the light back on and went to a mirror, but saw nothing unusual. A short while later Debbie felt something biting her legs and face. Pulling back the covers, she expected to find fleas. Instead she saw tiny black specks on her side of the sheets. Strange, she thought, that whatever it was had left Jerry alone. But the biting and crawling sensation continued throughout the night.
Just a case of scabies?
That was the start of an affliction for which her regular physicians can provide no satisfying diagnosis. Her symptoms include severe fatigue, memory loss and especially the intense, itchy lesions in which strange fibers and granules -- auto-fluorescent in some cases -- appear on her skin.When hair started falling out in clumps, she went to a dermatologist who said she had scabies, an allergic reaction to skin mites. It produces itchy rashes when female mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs. Males roam atop the skin, creating a crawling sensation. Since these symptoms matched a few of Debbie's, the doctor prescribed a regimen of topical medications.
But after weeks and weeks of head-to-toe coatings, Debbie's situation had not improved. "I thought I was going to die. The itching was terrible. I reached the point where I hated to go to bed at night." Drake recalled. "I took leave from my job for a short time and was embarrassed to leave the house because of the welts and lesions on my body."
Like Iverson and Murray, she felt she was being treated with skepticism instead of with serious medical attention. "My family doctor didn't come right out and say it, but I got the impression she thought I was experiencing some sort of mental problems," said Drake.
Later she learned that many dermatologists claim the skin fibers and the sensation of parasites crawling under the skin are the effect of a psychosis called "Delusional Parasitosis." Not so, say Drake and other activists.
It appears that the Morgellons equivalent of a Marc Iverson or Polly Murray is biologist Mary Leitao, who in 2002 founded the Morgellons Research Foundation, now based in Maryland. Leitao got involved when fibers appeared on her 2-year-old son. She named the disease after a medical reference to a similar symptom displayed by 17th-century French children called "morgellons."
At least 5 cases in Charlotte
"The number of cases reported to us by persons with the symptoms has doubled in the past year," noted Leitao. "Nearly a quarter of those are from California. Texas and Florida also rank high. So far I know of at least five in Charlotte, and about 70 elsewhere in North Carolina."
Leitao's nonprofit advocacy group has cooperated with medical researchers at Oklahoma State University and funded some of their work. Debbie Drake attended a Morgellons conference there last summer and was relieved to meet folks with similar symptoms.
MRF and online advocacy groups have pressured the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to escalate a long-delayed examination of Morgellons. That study is scheduled to focus on the California outbreak and will begin the first quarter of this year.
Meanwhile, Debbie Drake holds her head high, and hopes.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Border mystery disease: Is huge scare even real?
Border mystery disease: Is huge scare even real?
Symptoms include persistent lesions, fibers popping out of skin, brain fog
A nonprofit foundation is working to drum up awareness of a border-area mystery disease that's been described as something out of a horror film, but which most mainstream doctors refuse to admit exists.
The Morgellons Research Foundation hopes to inform lawmakers and public-health officials of the disease to try to work toward an eventual cure.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Morgellons disease, a mysterious infection seemingly similar to one documented 300 years ago, is spreading throughout South Texas. While the disease has not been known to kill and doesn't appear to be contagious, it's the horrible symptoms that have some working feverishly to find an effective treatment.
The South Texas outbreak's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border comes at a time when the issues of illegal immigration, border security and possible amnesty for over 12 million illegal aliens are being debated in the U.S.
According to the foundation's website, symptoms include skin lesions that do not heal, a crawling sensation on the surface of the skin, fatigue, cognitive difficulties and, perhaps the most disturbing, fibers popping out of the skin.
Read the rest of the article here
Symptoms include persistent lesions, fibers popping out of skin, brain fog
A nonprofit foundation is working to drum up awareness of a border-area mystery disease that's been described as something out of a horror film, but which most mainstream doctors refuse to admit exists.
The Morgellons Research Foundation hopes to inform lawmakers and public-health officials of the disease to try to work toward an eventual cure.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Morgellons disease, a mysterious infection seemingly similar to one documented 300 years ago, is spreading throughout South Texas. While the disease has not been known to kill and doesn't appear to be contagious, it's the horrible symptoms that have some working feverishly to find an effective treatment.
The South Texas outbreak's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border comes at a time when the issues of illegal immigration, border security and possible amnesty for over 12 million illegal aliens are being debated in the U.S.
According to the foundation's website, symptoms include skin lesions that do not heal, a crawling sensation on the surface of the skin, fatigue, cognitive difficulties and, perhaps the most disturbing, fibers popping out of the skin.
Read the rest of the article here
Friday, January 12, 2007
Parasites—How Do You Know if You Have Worms and What to Do About Them
Parasites—How Do You Know if You Have Worms and What to Do About Them
By Denice Moffat
By Denice Moffat
I had a client a while back who had this question for me: “I’ve noticed that I’ve been getting menstrual cramps the last few months and I don’t usually have them. Can you tell me what you think it is?”
It was determined, strangely or not so strangely enough, that the cause of those menstrual cramps was parasites! And this isn't the only disease caused, in part, by parasites. Read on. . .
I recommend for her, and for you, that you worm both your pets and yourselves about twice a year.
I’ve tried natural wormers over the years—actually LOTS of natural wormers such as: garlic, cloves, black walnut, cilantro, wormwood, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate, diatomaceous earth, Rascal, Zymex, Vermifuge, several other natural wormer formulas and homeopathics, but nothing seems that effective. I’ve even tried the Hulda Clarke “Zapper” (which does not work by the way, because the voltage of the thing is not strong enough to penetrate the fecal material within the bowels—save your money by not purchasing or building one!) I am sorry to report (as a naturopath) that studies show these herbal treatments are only about 20% effective. The Certified Organic organization says when all else fails, use ivermectin (which is not organic in any way), but have you seen the list of side affects to that particular product? Three pages long!
I will say that when a client comes to me, I ask them if they have any cravings. One sure sign they are “wormy” is when they tell me they crave cloves. Clove oil has been shown to penetrate the egg and kill it where the other herbs only kill the adults. Herbs that kill parasites are often found in herbal cancer formulas because parasites are often a core cause of that particular disease.
One reason why I push so much for routine worming is that the medical field often misses this diagnosis—especially if you don’t have a history of traveling outside the United States where parasites are often a big issue. I love working in my garden and often I am an open-mouth breather when I’m working up the soil. We also live in a windy area and dirt from the wheat and grass fields is often in the air. I try to wash my hands frequently, but anyone who works in the dirt knows that it’s nearly impossible to keep from getting it on you.
Another reason why I stay on top of the worm situation is that worms carry viruses into our body. Some of these viruses can cause cancer, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and a host of other horrid diseases.
In my opinion, the safest, cheapest, easiest, most effective way to worm yourself and your pets of the most common worms (roundworms--also called strongyles, thread worms, pinworms, ascarids) is to go to the local feed store and get a bottle of horse or dog roundwormer—Equi-Phar, ProTal, Strongid-T, and Nemex are all trade names of Pyrantel Pamoate. I say this because when you ask your doctor for a wormer, they usually tell you there is no need for you to be wormed. Make sure it says Pyrantel Pamoate on the label and nothing else added. Combination wormers are not always needed and not always safe.
Dosage: Use the dose of 5-10 mg/kilogram bodyweight (about 1 ml/5 pounds) of bodyweight for dogs and humans and 1 ½ ml/5 pounds for cats. In layman’s terms that is 1 teaspoon per 25 pounds. If you are not good at math, you’ll want to double-check that you are taking the correct dosage. Although this wormer is so safe that you can take 40 times the amount with no harmful side effects, you don’t want to under dose. And, “If a little is good, a LOT is not necessary better.”
One dose is all it takes if you are worming twice a year, but you may have to give a second dose 7-10 days after the first dose for the initial worming. I use this twice a year for myself as I have had a history of heart palpitations (another symptom associated with parasites.) The worms will be dead within 20 minutes. You won’t feel anything and should have no side-effects. Occasionally I see a pet get nauseated with an overdose, but in 30 years, I have never seen any other side-effect. No, you won’t likely see them pass in your stool.
Will store-bought wormer work the same? No. Many stores still carry Piperazine wormer which has been so overused that it is no longer an effective wormer. Piperazine is often marketed as a “monthly” wormer in the pet sections. I one saw a litter of puppies in full seizure who had just been wormed that week with piperazine. I immediately wormed them with Pyrantel and the worms just flowed out their little rectums and the seizures stopped within 20 minutes. It was incredible to watch!
If the product you purchase contains a tapeworm medicine (like clorpyriphos which is an organophosphate wormer), that may cause some serious side affects. Never use these store bought wormers on pregnant animals. The animal's guts can contract so strongly to pass the worms that they can rupture their uterus and die. Always get tapeworm medicine from your doctor or veterinarian as we carry much safer brands than the grocery or feed stores do.
How do you get worms? We pick up worms from some of the things we eat, from the dirt, and from the dust we breathe in. Eating dirt is a sign of iron deficiency. We should talk if you are doing that. . . I got pin worms when I was a little girl by eating a mud pie (my friend said she’d give me a nickel if I did it!) Pinworms are the equivalent of cat and dog roundworms, only they are a different species of worm so are not passed from us to them and vice-versa. See more on that below.
Most adults (pets and people) have enough enzymes in their mouths to break down most of the eggs coming in through our mouths and nose, our stomach acids break down even more, but some eggs get by both of those back-up systems where they hatch, find a home, and grow into adults within about 10-14 days in our small intestine. After 14 days, these adult parasites are producing more eggs—millions of them in their lifetime. Yuk!
We see worms most commonly in baby animals and humans because their salivary enzymes are not as strong, the hydrochloric stomach acids have not been totally developed yet, and because they have oral fixations and put lots of things into their mouths—they ingest more dirt than adults. Their immune systems cannot keep up with that. The “load” (number of worms) gets so great in the small intestine that it spills over into the large intestine and into the stomach. This is why it is so common to see babies either vomit worms or poop them out. Because adults have a better immune system, the load is controlled and the worms like the environment of the small intestine, so that is where they stay. We may still have worms, but it is not as evident as it was when we were young children (or pets under a year of age.)
How do you know if you should take a wormer?
Signs of roundworms include, fevers, cough, wheezing, stomach problems, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal cramping, appendicitis, gas, bloating, increased cramping (menstrual), heart palpitations, pain in the lower right quadrant that comes and goes (spasms in the ileocecal valve), itchy anus’, dry lusterless hair with split ends, seizures, pica appetite (often for sugar), clear mucous strands in the stool (yes you should be looking at it each time you go! And yes, I will ask you what it looks like if you ever consult with me.) People and animals with lots of parasites also have big bellies and lots of diameter below the belly button caused from the intestines losing their tone. Most times worms can be diagnosed by looking at the bowel contents under a microscope or doing a blood test, but not always. Protozooal parasites such as giardia are often missed.
Can I get roundworms and tapeworms from my pets?
Good question, and I get that a lot. If you worm your pets regularly, you won’t have this problem. Dog and cat worms are different than most human worms. There are only a few species of worms that are zoonotic (passed from your dogs and cats to you)—one of those is Toxoplasma cati, which is passed to the human from cat feces and causes blindness in children. But, the Pyrantel Pamoate kills that and if you clean the litter box every day, the probability of that being passed is nearly nil. Giardia lamblia, an intestinal protozoal parasite can be passed to you through your pet as well, but mostly humans get Giardia from drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated lettuce or water chestnuts. Mange is NOT passed from animals to humans and neither are head lice or public lice. Tapeworms are not transferred from dogs and cats to people (but they are from fish and some farm animals). Tapeworms are treated with different drugs than roundworms.
Ring worm is not actually a parasitic worm. It is really a fungus and that, too, can be passed from your pets to you. We have fantastic homeopathic drops for that, but keeping the area scrubbed and applying iodine to it can help. Also keeping your immune system and that of your pet healthy with good high-quality foods helps immensely.
Well, that’s worms in a nutshell (or in this case, an intestine!) Appetizing, eh?
Dr. Denice Moffat is a practicing naturopath, medical intuitive, and veterinarian working on the family unit (which includes humans and animals) through her phone consultation practice established in 1995. She has a content-rich website at http://www.NaturalHealthTechniques.com and free internationally distributed monthly newsletter.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Doctor in California Reports on Morgellons
On December 5th, 2006, Dr. Edward L. Spencer MD spoke to the Berkeley California Mayor and City Council Members on behalf of the Community Environmental Advisory Commission (CEAC).
HERE IS A TRANSCRIPT OF DR. SPENCER'S COMMENTS:
Honorable Mayor and
My name is Edward Spencer MD. I have practiced Neurology in
A very strange disorder named Morgellons disease is among us, and the world wide number of cases is approaching 20 thousand with major clusters in the Bay Area and
There now exists strong data indicating that this disorder is associated with nanotechnology, specifically nano machines in the form of nanofibers. The National Science Foundation (NSF) defines nanofibers as having at least one dimension of 100 nanometer (nm) or less.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Mogellons Disease on NPR
Online Campaign Sparks Interest in New Disease
byDay to Day, December 27, 2006 · A disturbing disease is getting increased attention from the Centers for Disease Control. Patients from California, Texas and Florida describe symptoms including rashes and sores, and the sensation of things crawling under their skin. Many sufferers believe they have something called Morgellons disease. A vigorous online lobbying campaign has made it a CDC priority.
Read the rest of the article and find the audio clip here
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