IN A CLASSROOM OF 30 CHILDREN… HAVE YOU NOTICED?

Posted: June 4, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Health | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments »

In a classroom of 30 children have you noticed:

  • 3 have learning disabilities
  • 3 have food allergies
  • 3 have respiratory allergies
  • 3 have skin allergies
  • 3 have asthma
  • 3 have attention disorders
  • 1 has autism

Have you ever wondered why?

NAC REDUCES IRRITABILITY AND REPETITIVE BEHAVIOR IN AUTISTIC CHILDREN

Posted: May 31, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Health | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Article Summary

  • Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital studied 31 children with autism.
  • In a double-blind study, the children received N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) or a placebo for 12 weeks.
  • The NAC used was a pharmaceutical-grade preparation donated by the neutraceutical manufacturer BioAdvantex Pharma.
  • Subjects were evaluated before the trial began and every four weeks during the study using several standardized surveys that measure problem behaviors, social behaviors, autistic preoccupations, and drug side effects.
  • During the 12-week trial, NAC treatment decreased irritability scores from 13.1 to 7.2 on the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist, a widely used clinical scale for assessing irritability.
  • In addition, according to two standardized measures of autism mannerisms and stereotypic behavior, children taking NAC showed a decrease in repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. The researchers believe that NAC could be the first medication available to treat repetitive behavior in autism – if the findings hold up when scrutinized further.
  • The change in irritability scores is not as large as that seen in children taking antipsychotics. But these drugs cause significant side effects, including weight gain, involuntary motor movements and metabolic syndrome, which increases diabetes risk.
  • By contrast, the side effects of NAC are generally mild, with gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, nausea, diarrhea and decreased appetite being the most common.
  • Dr Hardan cautioned that the NAC for sale as a dietary supplement at stores differs in some important respects from the individually packaged doses of pharmaceutical-grade NAC used in the study, and that the over-the-counter version may not produce the same results.
  • He said: ‘When you open the bottle from the drugstore and expose the pills to air and sunlight, it gets oxidized and becomes less effective.’
  • Researchers speculate that NAC reduces irritability and repetitive behaviors by increasing the capacity of the body’s main antioxidant network and modulating the glutamatergic family of excitatory neurotransmitters.
  • The scientists are now applying for funding to conduct a large trial in which they hope to replicate their findings.
  • Stanford University is filing a patent for the use of NAC in autism, and one of the study authors has a financial stake in a company that makes and sells the NAC used in the trial.
  • The researchers said that the findings must be confirmed in a larger trial before NAC can be recommended for children with autism.
  • The study appears in Biological Psychiatry.

More Information on NAC

  • Serves as a precursor for the synthesis of glutathione. (Glutathione plays a critical role in protecting the liver from toxins and protecting cells from oxidative damage. Low levels of glutathione is lined to a number of diseases that are associated with oxidative stress).
  • NAC is also known for its mucolytic properties and its ability to chelate heavy metals.
  • NAC may be part of a treatment plan for neurological diseases, liver disease, chronic infections, or any other disease associated with a compromised antioxidant defense where a higher glutathione level is desired.

Our Opinion

For years, the autism community has used NAC to help our children. While we are glad that, at last, a supplement is getting some positive “press” from the mainstream medical community, we were disheartened to hear that NAC will likely become a prescription pharmaceutical. Once this happens, our cost will go from $8.00 per bottle to $80.00 per bottle, plus the cost of a doctor’s visit to obtain a prescription.

It was also disappointing that one of the study authors has “a financial stake in a company that makes and sells the NAC used in the trial.” Hmmmm – is it really true that over the counter versions of NAC are not as effective as the pharmaceutical version (as the study cautions) or perhaps, are profits at play here?

For information on possible dosage amount, check with your practitioner and read the following articles: http://www.treatingautism.co.uk/news/580/nac-supplement-useful-for-treating-irritability-in-children-with-autism/

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1018-N-ACETYL%20CYSTEINE.aspx?activeIngredientId=1018&activeIngredientName=N-ACETYL%20CYSTEINE

TOP TEN TOXIC CHEMICALS SUSPECTED TO CAUSE AUTISM AND LEARNING DISABILITIES

Posted: May 4, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Crusade For Answers (Why 1:88?), Health | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

“Knowledge of environmental causes of neurodevelopmental disorders is critically important because they are potentially preventable.” This is according to Philip Landrigan, MD, MSc, a leader in children’s environmental health and Director of the Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Children’s Environmental Health Center (CEHC) developed a list of ten chemicals found in consumer products that are suspected to contribute to autism and learning disabilities. The top ten chemicals are:

1. LEAD

  • HOUSE PAINTS: Before 1950, lead-based paint was used on the inside and outside of most homes. It was used to make several colors including white, and was known to dry to a hard, durable surface. In 1977, federal regulations banned lead from paint for general use. But homes built before 1977 are likely to contain lead-based paint.
  • SOIL: Soil (dirt) near heavily used streets and roads may contain lead because lead used to be used in gasoline. Lead may also be found in the soil next to homes that previously had been painted with lead-based paint. Lead in the soil can contribute to high levels of lead in household dust.
  • DRINKING WATER: Lead may get into drinking water when materials used in plumbing materials, such as pipes, lead-based solders, brass and chrome plated faucets, begin to corrode (break down).
  • OTHERS: Lead has recently been found in some plastic mini-blinds and vertical blinds which were made in other countries. In addition, lead may be present in old toys, some imported toys, lead-glazed or lead-painted pottery, leaded crystal, and some inks, plasters, hobby and sports materials (such as artists’ paints, ammunition, stained glass treatments, or lead sinkers used in fishing). Lead contaminates are in some imported candy, especially from Mexico. Lead has been found in some traditional (folk) medicines used by East Indian, Indian, Middle Eastern, West Asian and Hispanic cultures. Cosmetics and hair dyes may contain lead.

2. METHYLMERCURY

Mercury is emitted from waste incinerators and coal-fired power plants. Fish is the main source of human exposure to methylmercury.

Other sources of mercury exposure include:

  • Dental amalgams used to fill cavities — the major source of inorganic mercury exposure in the general population
  • Drugs and related products, including topical mercury-based skin creams, infant teething
  • Powders, cosmetics, contact solutions, nasal sprays
  • Some vaccines
  • Breaking of household items that contain mercury, such as old thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs (for how to clean up breaks, click here)
  • Some folk remedies

3. POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs)

Found in fluorescent lights, pesticides, fire retardants, plasticizers, transformers, capacitors, paints, wood treatment, printing inks, recycled paper, roofing materials, and landfills. PCBs are in hundreds of items. For a full list, go to http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/cu/nwr/PortlandHarbor/docs/SourcePCBs.pdf

4. ORGANOPHOSPHATE PESTICIDES (OP)

These chemicals are applied to crops, buildings, ornamental plants, and lawns. Agricultural uses include field applications on corn, cotton, canola, alfalfa, produce, and nuts. Exterminators use OP pesticides in residential and commercial structures and certain pest control products for cats and dogs contain OP compounds.

Products containing OPs include Dursban and Lorsban (containing the OP chlorpyrifos), Spectracide (containing the OP diazinon), and Sevin (containing the carbamate carbaryl).

People are commonly exposed to OP pesticides through eating fresh and processed vegetables, contacting pesticide-contaminated surfaces, breathing air near pesticide applications (both indoors and outdoors), and drinking pesticide-contaminated water. The multiple uses and ubiquitous nature of these chemicals result in routine exposures to many different OP pesticides for most people.

5. ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES

  • ON LAND: agricultural fields, golf courses, sports fields, playgrounds, roadsides, gardens and lawns
  • AT HOME: professional exterminations and carpet treatments, flea sprays and dips for dogs and cats
  • INSIDE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY BUILDINGS: professional exterminations and carpet treatments, pressure-treated (CCA) lumber
  • ON BODIES: head lice treatments, insect and tick repellants
  • ON FOOD: during cultivation on farms as well as after harvesting to deter fungal growth during shipping

6. ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS

Chemicals that are known endocrine disruptors include diethylstilbestrol (the synthetic estrogen DES), dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT, and some other pesticides.

  • BISPHENOL A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.
  • Di(2-ethylhexyl) PHTHALTE (DEHP) is a high production volume chemical used in the manufacture of a wide variety of consumer food packaging, some children’s products, and some polyvinyl chloride (PVC) medical devices.
  • PHYTOESTROGENS are naturally occurring substances in plants that have hormone-like activity. Examples of phytoestrogens are genistein and daidzein, which can be found in soy-derived products.

7. AUTOMOTIVE EXHAUST

According to an article on cbsnews.com written by Sammy Rose Saltzman, “A new study shows that children in families who live near freeways are twice as likely to have autism as kids who live off the beaten path.”

A short list of the likely pathogens in car exhaust:

  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Nitrogen dioxide
  • Sulphur dioxide
  • Suspended particles, PM-10 particles less than 10 microns in size.
  • Benzene
  • Formaldehyde
  • Polycyclic hydrocarbons

8. POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHs)

PAHs are a group of approximately 10,000 compounds. Most PAHs in the environment are from incomplete burning of carbon-containing materials like oil, wood, garbage or coal. Many useful products such as mothballs, blacktop, and creosote wood preservatives contain PAHs.

Sources of PAHs include:

  • BREATHING: Most people are exposed to PAHs when they breathe smoke, auto emissions or industrial exhausts. Most exhausts contain many different PAH compounds. People with the highest exposures are smokers, people who live or work with smokers, roofers, road builders and people who live near major highways or industrial sources. Automobile exhaust, industrial emissions and smoke from burning wood, charcoal and tobacco contain high levels of PAHs. In general, more PAHs form when materials burn at low temperatures, such as in wood fires or cigarettes. High-temperature furnaces produce fewer PAHs.
  • DRINKING/EATING: Charcoal-broiled foods, especially meats, are a source of some PAH exposure. Shellfish living in contaminated water may be another major source of exposure. PAHs may be in groundwater near disposal sites where construction wastes or ash are buried; people may be exposed by drinking this water. Vegetables do not take up significant amounts of PAHs that are in soil.
  • TOUCHING: PAH can be absorbed through skin. Exposure can come from handling contaminated soil or bathing in contaminated water. Low levels of these chemicals may be absorbed when a person uses medicated skin cream or shampoo containing PAHs. They are also found at low concentrations in some special-purpose skin creams and anti-dandruff shampoos that contain coal tars.

9. BROMINATED FLAME RETARDANTS (BFRs)

BFRs have been used for many years as the primary flame retardant in many products. These chemicals are commonly found in high concentrations in:

  • Electronic plastic casings (televisions, computers, etc.)
  • Foams in furniture
  • Textiles (drapes and children’s clothing)
  • Products that have a potential to burn quickly
  • The largest source of BFRs in the home is actually house dust, because these chemicals tend to be released from their products and settle throughout the home.

10. PERFLUORINATED COMPOUNDS

  • PFCs are broadly used in manufacturing, including protective coatings for carpets and other non-stick coatings, airplanes, computers, cosmetics, and household cleaners. Some well known PFC containing products include Teflon, Stainmaster, Scotchgard, and Gore-Tex.
  • For a comprehensive look at PFCs, including information on what you can do, visit the Environmental Working Group report of PFCs at the Environmental Working Group website.

To read the full article, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120425140118.htm

Sources:

http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/explore/pollute/lead.htm

http://www.diabetesandenvironment.org/home/contam/metals

http://www.deq.state.or.us/lq/cu/nwr/PortlandHarbor/docs/SourcePCBs.pdf

http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/cs_organophos.htm

http://www.minddisrupted.org/about.php

http://niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/endocrine_disruptors.pdf

http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/chemfs/fs/pah.htm

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20025991-10391704.html

TWO PINK LINES

Posted: April 30, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Healing Brody | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

 HEALING BRODY – PART 2

In June, 2002, two pink lines announced unexpected news… a baby was on the way.

That was all I needed to go into full, healthy  pregnancy mode. I checked off all the no no’s I could think of – wine, caffeine, hair color, and tuna fish. I took my pre-natal vitamins (when I could stomach them) and drank my orange juice to make sure I was getting my folic acid. I naïvely believed an unborn baby’s health was the sole creation of the mother. Not once did I consider (or Tom for that matter) how his lifestyle could impact our future baby’s health and development.

During my first trimester, Tom was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. We were devastated and shocked. How could this happen to an athletic 34-year-old? So many questions and thoughts swirled through our heads. For the first time in our adult lives, we were faced with life or death decisions. Mortality slapped us in the face.

Besides worrying about my husband’s health and comfort, I worried about the impact of exposing our unborn baby to chemo and radiation. Was it safe to sleep in the same bed after Tom received his treatments? The doctor tried to calm my fears and told me not to worry, but secretly I didn’t believe him. I knew Tom needed me, so I put my concerns on the back burner.

I was beyond stressed. The fear of losing my partner, friend, and father to my children was unbearable. Deep down I knew I had to put on a strong front. Not only for the family, but for the sake of our unborn child. Stress could not possibly be good for our developing baby.

Within weeks of Tom’s diagnosis, I began to spot. A new fear surfaced. It gripped my soul. Was I going to miscarry? I remember driving to the doctor’s office, tears uncontrollably escaping my eyes. Painful sobs racked my body. I pleaded to God. “Please not my baby and husband.”

I arrived and sat in the car for a moment, wiping away the evidence of my breakdown and began to prepare myself for the dreaded words- “There is no heart beat.”

To our relief, we never heard those heartbreaking words. Our baby was alive and I swore right then and there, no matter what, I would always be his protector.

To read more - Healing Brody

THE GREATER GOOD OR THE GREATER EVIL?

Posted: April 26, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Ventings | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

We are combining ideas from two articles we came across about mandatory participation in vaccine trials.

This idea burst on to the scene back in January of 2012 when Oxford University’s Susanne Sheehy and Joel Meyer wrote an article entitled Should Participation in Vaccine Clinical Trials be Mandated?  The article was published in the American Medical Association’s Virtual Mentor journal.

This week, we read an article/interview between Natural News and Dr. Blaylock outlining reasons against requiring mandatory participation in vaccine trials.

Below, we give a high level summary of what the articles said in favor of compulsory vaccination. Then, we summarize the arguments against compulsory vaccination.

As always, the links to the full articles are included at the end of our summary.

 Reasons Participation in Vaccine Trials Should be Mandated:
  • To date vaccination has saved many lives and has the potential to save millions more, especially if vaccines are developed against the “big three”: malaria, HIV, and TB.
  • The lack of animal models that can reliably predict vaccine efficacy means that development still unavoidably relies on testing of novel vaccines in healthy individuals.
  • In recent decades there has been a significant decline in the numbers of healthy volunteers who participate in clinical trials, a decline that has the potential to become a key rate-limiting factor in vaccine development.
  • “Someday there’s going to be a big pandemic and if the vaccine industry doesn’t have this machinery and this investment in its infrastructure it won’t be able to churn out the cure that saves us all from total death and destruction.”
  • For every one person that is killed from a vaccine trial, maybe a million people will be saved, thus it’s for the greater good of society.

Dr. Blaylock’s Response Against Compulsory Vaccination:

  • It’s a violation of the Nuremberg medical code that is supposed to protect the public against being experimental animals for governments or vaccine companies.
  • It’s against the founding principles of our country. It is not consistent with the values of a free republic, rather it is socialist in nature.
  • A lot of the damage done by vaccines is hidden from the general public because: the mainstream media doesn’t cover it and it’s extremely difficult for a parent to appear before the vaccine injury court, let alone to get a settlement.
    • Blaylock says that often (like with Gardasil) the serious complications of vaccines exceed the death rate from the disease we’re vaccinating against. If we, the public, had accurate data on vaccines injury/death, we would see that we are “…harming more people than benefit from the vaccine.”
  • Blaylock argues that we (the USA) do have the capability to respond to a mass pandemic, however, the vaccine makers likely would not make the huge profits they are used to unless the vaccines were mandatory.
  • Sticking vaccines into the muscle of our children’s arms and legs actually suppresses the immune system. It causes the immune system to switch to TH2 type cytokine production, which inhibits immunity and leaves you with little protection against viruses and bacteria.
    • Dr. Blaylock says if you look on the CDC site they’ll tell you, “…if a child gets a HIB vaccine, for the next two weeks, they’re much more likely to get HIB and to die from it than they would if you didn’t give them the vaccine.”
  • Blaylock says that we, the public, have been led to believe that vaccines have controlled epidemics, but in actuality, “The vaccine came out at the very end of the fall in these infections.  The reason is, when you get natural infections, over time the population develops massive immunity to the infection.”
  • Blaylock mentions a “secret conference” called the Simpsonwood Conference held in Georgia where big wigs from the vaccine industry met to discuss whether giving mercury containing vaccines caused neuro-developmental problems. They concluded that mercury containing vaccines did cause a problem. When the chairman of the committee heard the data, he said he no longer wanted his grandchild to be vaccinated. Blaylock feels this is a common occurrence… that the very people pushing vaccines do not allow themselves, or their loved ones, to be vaccinated because they have knowledge we (the general public) are not privy to.

Blaylock’s Public Challenge to Anyone Pushing Mandatory Vaccination:

  • We (the public) should be able to see the vaccine records of anyone pushing mandatory vaccination (to see if they actually have been vaccinated).
  • If they have not been vaccinated, they should be publicly vaccinated with “off the shelf” vaccines like our children are (not a specially formulated version of the vaccine that has the toxic ingredients removed).
  • He wants the heads of the vaccine making companies, and their Boards of Directors to be vaccinated with every vaccine they manufacture.
  • He believes that if all vaccine pushers had to respond to this challenge, we would hear a lot less about mandatory vaccinations.

Sources and More Information:

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/january192012/vorced-vaccinations.php

http://www.vaccinationcouncil.org/2012/03/05/collectivism-family-or-state-an-essay-on-mandatory-vaccination-by-neurosurgeon-russell-blaylock-md/

http://www.putchildrenfirst.org/chapter2.html

http://ohsr.od.nih.gov/guidelines/nuremberg.html

A BAD CASE OF THE WHAT IFS

Posted: April 23, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Healing Brody | Tags: , , , , , , , | 8 Comments »

HEALING BRODY – PART 1

Over the years, many questions have haunted me. How did Brody become a part of the statistics… the 1:88? Was it something I could have controlled? Because nobody knows the cause(s) of autism, parents are left to ponder a list of possible culprits.

What if…

  • I never had cerebral vasculitis (associated with autoimmune disease)
  • Tom (my husband) never had cancer and received chemotherapy and radiation the entire time I was pregnant
  • Months before Brody’s conception, Tom and I never received the vaccination for Lyme disease that was subsequently pulled off the market for safety concerns
  • We didn’t live in a state notorious for its high rate of autism
  • I had the benefit of knowing we were living in a house contaminated with black mold

What if Brody…

  • Didn’t have fetal distress, causing him to be delivered via c-section 3 weeks early
  • Wasn’t born with wet lungs and treated with antibiotics in the NICU, preventing him from nursing on the first day
  • Didn’t have jaundice for the first 2 weeks of his life
  • Didn’t have constant bouts of thrush
  • Didn’t have a documented adverse reaction to the DTP vaccine at 2 months of age
  • Didn’t get a strep infection when he was 3 months old
  • Didn’t require 3 different surgeries (hypospadias repair, tubes put in twice) under anesthesia
  • Didn’t knock himself unconscious at a year and a half old

What if…

  • I listened sooner to the clues his body was giving
  • I listened to my “mom intuition” instead of the pediatricians who told me everything was fine
  • I acted sooner

Did my son ever have a fighting chance?

The nagging what ifs are my constant companions because… I will never know if  it was one thing, two things or all the above, that played a role or contributed to Brody’s autism. I will probably never know what the tipping point was. Or… if and when he regressed. But, I do have my suspicions.

I also have regrets. One of them, is of time lost. Why didn’t I act upon “the autism” sooner. Was I blind or a visitor in the land of denial?

Did I miss the subtle clues because he was such a peaceful baby (the envy of all my mom friends)? The baby I could take anywhere, anytime and he would just go with the flow. I really was the luckiest mom in the world (and still am). But, was it because he was so easy, I possibly missed subtle hints of regression?

I realize now, I have to look at the past for clues to heal the present.

To be continued…

POSSIBLE CAUSES OF EARLY PUBERTY

Posted: April 20, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Health | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

A century ago, the average age for the onset of puberty in girls was 16. Currently, the new age of puberty for girls is 10.

Early onset of puberty in girls can cause a number of problems later in life due to hormonal imbalance, including increased risk of breast cancer. Tony Isaacs reports, “Studies have shown that risk of breast cancer is reduced by 7 percent for every year the onset of puberty is delayed.”

According to experts, Bisphenol A, better known as BPA, is the prime reason for the onset of early puberty in girls.

BPA

  • BPA is used to make plastics.
  • Prolonged storage as well as high heat (like when you leave your plastic water bottle in the car or microwave your food in plastic) cause BPA to leech out.
  • When BPA is leeched into the human body, it mimics estrogen and can offset the delicate hormonal balance in the developing child.
  • In 2010, Canada was the first country in the world to declare BPA a toxic substance that poses risks to human health and the environment.
  • Annual BPA sales have been estimated at $8 Billion.
  • It is unlikely that the United States will take action anytime soon against such a highly profitable item.
  • Natural News recently reported that the FDA announced that it would not ban BPA due to lack of evidence of harm.
  • BPA is found in: the vast majority of plastics, most containers and plastic bags, dollar bills, toilet paper, lining of canned foods, microwavable food containers/bags.

Other Early Puberty Culprits

  • Phthalates - class of chemicals used as softeners, or plasticizers, in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) vinyl products like: children’s toys, decorating and building products, blood bags, solvents, cosmetics, personal care products, wood finishes, and insecticides.
  • Growth hormones - found in meat and dairy products.
  • Soy foods and products - often highly genetically modified and contain large amounts of estrogen (which affects hormone balance).

To read the full article, http://www.naturalnews.com/035504_BPA_puberty_chemicals.html

For more information:

http://naturalsociety.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/028616_puberty_chemicals.html
http://nutritionfacts.org
http://www.naturalnews.com/030343_BPA_toxic_chemicals.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/035453_FDA_BPA_chemicals.html

MERCURY IN AIR = BAD; MERCURY INJECTED INTO BODY = NO PROBLEM

Posted: April 18, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Ventings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments »

In Lisa Collier’s article, “What’s Causing the Autism Epidemic?”, she discusses what are and what are not potential causes of autism. For instance, she says that the “refrigerator mom” theory has been proven incorrect. Then, she goes on to say, “Another thoroughly discredited belief was that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in childhood vaccines, such as the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) shot, was the culprit.” 

Let us be clear. We DO NOT believe that vaccines are the sole cause of autism. Nor do we believe that thimerosal (mercury) is the only ingredient in vaccines that can cause a health reaction like autism.

We do, however, believe that vaccines can be one of the many environmental triggers of autism. In addition, we cannot logically comprehend how it could be safe to inject thimerosal into our children’s bodies (through vaccines). We question why thimerosal in vaccines has been ruled out as a potential autism trigger.  We wonder why there is such a campaign to make the public think mercury containing vaccines are completely safe when our own government agency, the CDC, puts out the following guidance on how to properly clean up a mercury spill from a light bulb or thermometer:

CDC Instructions on How to Clean up a Small Mercury Spill
(a broken thermometer, thermostat or compact fluorescent bulb)

Step 1. Isolate the spill and ventilate the area right away.

  • The person who will clean up the spill should have everyone else, especially children, leave the spill area, including pets. Don’t let anyone walk through the mercury on their way out. L&M Comment: Don’t let your children, or even your dog, walk through the mercury…but please, inject it into your child’s body
  • Open all windows and doors that open to the outside of the house.
  • Close all doors between the room where the mercury was spilled and the rest of the house.
  • Close all cold air returns so that mercury vapor is not carried throughout the house.
  • Turn down heaters and turn up single-room air conditioners, but don’t use central air conditioning.
  • Use fans to blow mercury-contaminated air outside. Turn off fans that do not blow air to the outside.

Step 2: Get the items needed to clean up a small mercury spill.
You will need the following items:
1. 4 or 5 zipper-top plastic bags
2. trash bags (2 to 6 mm thick)
3. rubber, nitrile or latex gloves
4. paper towels
5. cardboard or squeegee
6. eye dropper
7. duct tape, or shaving cream and small paint brush
8. flashlight
9. powdered sulfur (optional)

Step 3: Cleanup Instructions

  • Put on rubber, nitrile or latex gloves.
  • Pick up any broken pieces of glass and place them on a paper towel. Fold the paper towel, place it in a zipper-top bag, and seal the bag.
  • Clean up the beads of mercury. Use a squeegee or cardboard to slowly roll the beads onto a sheet of paper. An eye dropper can also be used to collect the beads. Slowly squeeze mercury from the eye dropper onto a damp paper towel. Put the paper towel, paper, eye dropper, or anything else that has mercury on it, into a zipper-top bag, and seal the bag.
  • After you remove larger beads, put shaving cream on top of a small paint brush and gently blot the affected area to pick up smaller hard-to-see beads. You can also use duct tape or masking tape to collect smaller hard-to-see beads. Place the paint brush or tape into a zipper-top bag.
  • It is OPTIONAL to use commercially available powdered sulfur to absorb beads that are too small to see. The sulfur does two things: (1) it makes the mercury easier to see since there may be a color change from yellow to brown, and (2) it binds the mercury so that it can be easily removed, and it helps to keep mercury that may have been missed during the cleanup from vaporizing into the room. Mercury spill kits that contain sulfur can be purchased from laboratory, chemical and hazardous materials response supply manufacturers. Read and understand how to use the cleanup kit before using. Note: Powdered sulfur may stain fabrics. Also, when using powdered sulfur, avoid breathing in the powder as it can be moderately toxic.

Step 4: Look for mercury that may have been missed during the cleanup.

  • Take a flashlight, hold it at a low angle close to the floor in a darkened room, and look for additional glistening beads of mercury that may be sticking to the surface or in small cracks. Note: Mercury can move surprising distances on hard and flat surfaces, so be sure to carefully inspect the entire room when you are searching.

Step 5: Remove contaminated carpet and throw away.

  • Place outside the house in a safe place until household trash is picked up.

Step 6: Remove mercury from shoes, clothing, and skin.

  • If mercury had touched your skin, shoes or clothing, remain still and have someone bring you a plastic trash bag and wet paper towels. Wipe off any visible beads of mercury with the wet paper towels and then put them into the trash bag. Remove contaminated shoes and clothing and place them in a trash bag. Seal that bag and place it in another bag. L&M Comment – Our children are contaminated with mercury from their vaccines… does this mean that we need to throw them into a trash bag?

Step 7: Properly dispose of contaminated cleanup materials.

  • Place all materials used in the cleanup, including gloves, in a trash bag. Place the zipper-top bags that contain mercury and other objects into the trash bag. Close and seal the trash bag and place it in a safe place outside your house. Label the bag as directed by your local health or fire department. Contact your local health department, municipal waste authority, or your local fire department for proper disposal in accordance with local, state and federal laws.

Step 8: Following the spill

  • Keep the area well ventilated to the outside (i.e., windows open and fans in exterior windows running) for at least 24 hours after cleaning up the spill. Continue to keep pets and children out of the cleanup area. If anyone gets sick, call your doctor or the Poison Control Center at (888) 222-1222 immediately.
  • You may want to hire a contractor who has monitoring equipment to screen for mercury vapors. Consult your local environmental or health agency to inquire about contractors in your area.
  • If young children or pregnant women are in the house, seek additional advice from your local or state health or environmental agency.

Something to think about…

For More Information:

BIG PHARMA TO THE “RESCUE”

Posted: March 12, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Health | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments »

We read a great article by Dr. David Williams discussing the possible reasons for the astronomical rise in ADHD and Bipolar disorder in our children. He also discussed alternative treatments for parents who would like to avoid using medication. The following is a summary of what we learned:

Prevalence of ADHD and Bipolar Disorder:

  • Some studies estimate 1 in 10 children has been diagnosed with ADHD. Some say as many as 15% of all boys and 6% of all girls have the problem. Others say as many as 20% of all school-aged children have ADHD. (Am J Public Health 99;89:1359–1364)
  • The number of young people being treated for bipolar disorder increased 40-fold in the United States between 1994 and 2003. (Arch Gen Psychiatry 07;64(9):1032–1039)

Big Pharma to the “Rescue”:

  • Insurance reimbursement is skewed in favor of medication. Dr. Williams spoke with many psychiatrists who say insurance companies pay them three times the money for “checking and adjusting” a child’s medication than they do for spending the same amount of time counseling them.
  • Children are being prescribed powerful mind-altering drugs at a time when their central nervous systems are still developing. No one yet knows the true damage or future consequences of such risky practices.
  • Children are being given the same drugs as adults—drugs that have been shown to have very serious side effects like diabetes, hormonal disruption, infertility, significant weight gain, and blood disorders. Additionally, it has been proven that these drugs can cause the very same problems they are being given to treat—problems like hyperactivity, depression, insomnia, and psychosis.
  • There are no blood tests or brain scans that can definitively confirm a diagnosis of either condition. The diagnosis becomes a subjective judgment call.
  • Mainstream doctors feel that diet, nutrition, and the child’s home environment have little, if anything, to do with the disorders.
  • Parents are told the best thing they can do is focus on pharmaceutical ways to immediately help the child until the medical community discovers more about the problems.

What does Dr. Williams Think is Causing the Rise in ADHD and Bipolar Disorder?

  • According to Dr. Williams, practically every case of ADHD and bipolar disorder can be directly linked to dietary/nutritional, hormonal, or environmental factors. Or, most commonly, a combination of these.
  • The environmental factor Dr. Williams believes most often triggers ADHD or Bipolar disorder is the increase in fear/stress for today’s youth.

How Does Fear/Stress Contribute?

  • Chronic stress takes a physiological toll on the adrenal glands. In response to stress, the adrenals release several hormones—one of which is cortisol. Cortisol increases blood sugar levels by counteracting the effects of insulin, suppresses the immune system, and helps metabolize fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
  • These are all things that help increase your body’s ability to “fight or flee” and survive when confronted with stress.
  • When the stress passes, cortisol levels return to normal and the body relaxes.
  • But, in a chronically high-stress situation, levels don’t return to normal and we begin to experience many negative effects. The same effects you’ll recognize as being diagnostic markers for ADHD and bipolar disorder:
      • Impaired cognitive performance (mental performance suffers)
      • Blood sugar levels are imbalanced (swings in mood and energy levels, craving for carbohydrates)
      • Decreased immunity (allergies, increased susceptibility to illness, slower wound healing)
      • Thyroid dysfunction (weight gain or weight loss, fluctuating energy levels, depression, skin diseases)
      • Sodium loss (craving for salt, increased blood pressure)
      • Increased abdominal fat (metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes)
  • Some kids deal with stress by internalizing it which causes them to become numb and have difficulty concentrating or paying attention. They can become pessimistic, depressed, and lose interest in those things that they once valued.
  • Other children use action to deal with their fears. They act out and exhibit hostility toward others in an attempt to regain control of their life. They refuse to cooperate with parents, teachers, and other authority figures. They get busier and busier trying to outpace their fears, but their hyperactivity becomes less focused and less useful. It’s as though their minds need to be constantly stimulated so there’s no idle time available to concentrate on the fear or stress at hand.
  • The two patterns are the same characteristics exhibited by children being diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar disorder.

Dietary/Nutritional and Hormonal Factors Contributing to ADHD and Bipolar Disorder:

  • Two of the most common underlying problems directly associated with ADHD and Bipolar disorder are weak and poorly functioning adrenal glands (hypoadrenia) and poor blood sugar control (typically hypoglycemia).
  • That’s why cutting caffeine (an adrenal stimulant), high-fructose corn syrup, and refined carbohydrates (white flour, cereals, sugar, candy, fruit juices, sodas, etc.) from the diet and replacing those with nutrient-dense foods higher in protein and fat often makes such a huge difference.
  • Fats are crucial for normal growth and the development of children’s nervous and other systems. Eating quality fats doesn’t make one fat…refined carbohydrates do. Children need to eat the proper amount of healthy fats like olive oil, beef, butter, and lamb.
  • Other things that help include: eating more frequent but smaller meals throughout the day, not skipping meals, and eating high-quality protein snacks like nuts, peanut butter, cheese, whey powder, and avocados.
  • Vitamins and nutrients have been shown to help resolve ADHD and bipolar disorder. This includes several of the B vitamins, zinc, folic acid, chromium, iron, vitamins A, C, D, and E, and magnesium.
  • He also recommends: protein shakes with lecithin (choline) granules, adrenal glandular, thyroid glandular, and omega 3 fatty acids.

Conclusion:

  • Dr. Williams does not want to downplay the seriousness and the difficulty of dealing with either ADHD or bipolar disorder. For the child and the family, both can be a nightmare.
  • There may be cases where either the type of changes he has discussed won’t solve the problem, or the underlying cause can’t be determined.
  • He believes some of these disorders have a contributing genetic basis, maybe from a mother’s drug use or the child’s earlier exposure to some toxin. These cases may require medication.
  • However, based on research studies, his experiences and that of hundreds of other practitioners, he thinks that is more of the exception than the rule.

Our Thoughts:

We believe this article applies equally well to autism. After all, it is at the opposite end of the spectrum from ADHD. We believe reducing stress, eating a healthy/balanced diet, and adding supplements can make improvements in the symptoms of autism as well.

To Read the Entire Article Go To:

http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/resources/drdavidwilliams/newsletter/static/1dab5477-d48f-4477-9a20-4f1809da04ee.pdf

UPDATE FROM DR. SHAW – ACETAMINOPHEN AND AUTISM CONNECTION

Posted: March 2, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Crusade For Answers (Why 1:88?), Health | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments »

Back in January, we did a post summarizing what we learned from a webinar we attended given by Dr. William Shaw of Great Plains Lab. He discussed the connection between autism and acetaminophen. Dr. Shaw did not release any official information or transcripts after the webinar, despite tremendous public interest, because he had not yet released his official study. But just yesterday, we got Dr. Shaw’s e-newsletter, with an official statement about the autism acetaminophen connection.

Here is a summary of what the update said (in mom-lingo):

  • “It appears that the marked increase in the rate of autism throughout much of the world may be largely mediated by the marked increase in the use of acetaminophen in genetically and/or metabolically susceptible children and perhaps the use of acetaminophen by pregnant women.”
  • Because many children with autism have defective sulfation, they cannot properly detoxify acetaminophen. Therefore, it becomes toxic.
  • This then leads to intestinal Clostridia bacteria overgrowth.
  • Then the Clostridia bacteria cause overproduction of brain dopamine and reduced concentrations of brain norepinephrine.
  • Too much dopamine leads to obsessive, compulsive, and stereotypical behaviors.
  • Too little norepinephrine leads to reduced exploratory behavior and learning in new environments.
  • Because sulfation is often defective for people with autism, the body cannot use proper pathways to get rid of acetaminophen. Therefore, the body sends a larger than normal amount of acetaminophen to be detoxified by a pathway called cytochrome p450 2E1.
  • The problem with this pathway is that it leads to excessive production of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), a very toxic metabolite.
  • NAPQI is dangerous because it depletes glutathione which then reduces the body’s ability to detoxify a host of toxic chemicals in the environment.
  • In addition, the increase of NAPQI creates oxidative stress which leads to protein, lipid, and nucleic acid damage from free radicals. It also causes an increased rate of damage to mitochondrial and nuclear DNA.
  • NAPQI production has been found to be increased in humans at recommended dosages of acetaminophen and would be expected to be even higher in people with diminished sulfation capacity (as is often seen in autism).
  • BOTTOM LINE: Question your acetaminophen use.

By the way, acetaminophen is not just linked to the increase in autism. It has also been implicated in the rise in asthma. For more information, please read the following article  http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/02/20/147002356/does-tylenol-worsen-asthma-for-kids.

For more information on Dr. Shaw’s original webinar about this topic, please read: http://ventography.wordpress.com/2012/01/14/acetaminophen-and-its-possible-connection-to-the-rise-in-autism/.

If you want to stay updated about news on this topic and future studies, please visit Dr. Shaw’s facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/acetaminophenandautism.

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