ourdoodah

by Cindy Stiteler

HARDLY!!! The US ranks 37. There are 36 countries with better health care and I believe it.

My daughter-in-law was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer in January of 2009 after complaining of chronic abdominal cramping. Her GP ordered a scan and found a nodule on her thyroid which turned out to be cancerous He did not refer her to an endocrinologist but sent her to a general surgeon who removed her whole thyroid gland. Then she fell through the cracks in Denver. Thanks to family intervention, she was finally treated with a radiation pill to remove any leftover cancerous tissue 7-8 weeks after surgery. (the norm is 4-6 weeks) Because she went so long with out a thyroid gland or meds, she became extremely loopy. Her boss (and doctors) apparently didn’t understand what the lack of a thyroid or thyroid meds does to a person, and she was working 10-12 hours a day when she should have been home. She was finally given temporary disability after the pill and met her radiation oncologist who was amazed she had yet to see an endocrinologist. FINALLY, in September she was referred to an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid cancer.
She lost her job the day she went back to work in May. Due to the radiation treatment and 2 follow up scans, she went several more weeks without meds. She had a very difficult time with her 3 year old and an equally hard time trying to apply for jobs while on unemployment. Her husband dealt with a loopy emotional wife as well as he could during all these months.
Today, 11 months after diagnosis, she is finally getting back to her normal self. I believe that if her GP had referred her to a specialist from the start, she would still have her good paying job and would have recovered much sooner. She is just now feeling well enough to schedule interviews for a new job.

Last year a friend in Taos got sick with what she thought was the flu. It got so bad that she couldn’t keep water down. She drove herself to the ER in Taos, NM and was diagnosed with pancreatitis. She stayed there for 6 days, seeing a different doctor each day, still not keeping any food or liquids down. The next day a doctor gave her Imodium D, which finally helped her. She realized she could have tried that at home and decided to check herself out of the hospital. Before she left, a doctor drew a line around the IV site infection and said to call if the redness spread. She’ll never return to that hospital. We all try to avoid that hospital in Taos.

Another Denver friend came to Taos last week to visit her parents. She’d been recovering from pneumonia . She ended up in our Taos hospital with complications from the pneumonia. The staff in Taos said she would receive better care in Denver so they sent her via ambulance all the way back. The Denver doctors found a spot on her lungs but couldn’t quit figure it out so they said they would send her home and “watch” the spot for a few weeks.

What is going on here? The amount of insurance paid out from these three people was enormous. GOOD health care? I think not.

What have I learned? Do your own research or get a friend or family member to help. Don’t let your GP treat cancer. Get a second or third opinion. Get a health care advocate if possible.
Get your immune system up to speed.

by Jane Odin
In the late ‘90s I attended a Lakota sweat lodge at least once a week for several years.  The experiences were memorable and I was saddened when they were no longer held. Given my positive experiences I can’t imagine circumstances like those described in the news regarding $9000 a person sweats resulting in the death of 2 people and hospitalization of many others.  James Arthur Ray, one of the authors of the well known New Age book “The Secret”, was the leader of the group and in attendance at the sweat.  It is reported online he constructed the lodge out of tarps and plastic. Why would anyone use off-gassing tarps and plastic to cover a tightly enclosed area that gets hot as fire.  Sweat lodges are supposed to be healing environments; tarps off-gas BPA, phythalate and other toxins with gusto when heated.

I never paid dollars to attend a sweat. I brought food for the later-meal and tobacco for the Lakota leader. But James Arthur Ray didn’t get paid with choke cherries and watermelon - he cleaned up on this event ….$495,000 - given 55 attendants at $9,000 each. Is my math right? Imagine that – half a million and he couldn’t afford appropriate covering for the sweat lodge frame. Given my experiences with 12 in attendance I can’t imagine a lodge with 55 people stuffed inside. It was obviously a money maker and had nothing to do with physical healing and/or spiritual enlightenment.  Not surprising in these days of New Age capitalism. The industry term for these New Age gatherings is “Large Group Awareness Trainings.” Never went to one. Not interested in large group consciousness raising.

To enter a sweat lodge one must bend down to walk through a flapped door and remain in the bent over position until seated. With 55 people in a circle around a pit of hot rocks it would be very difficult to climb over everyone to get out in case of an emergency.  When a traditional Lakota ceremony is conducted the ritual goes through several distinct stages with more rocks brought in throughout from an outdoor fire. The fiery rocks are transported on pitchforks – it’s sometimes a little tricky moving them through the door. A person unfamiliar with the ritual might find it difficult to choose the appropriate moment to leave.

From time to time one is breathing fire. This happens when water is poured on the rocks and fiercely hot steam fills the lodge. Throughout my first experience I kept hoping my clothes wouldn’t catch on fire.  But I never felt bad physically – during or after the ceremony  - and I never saw anyone get sick in any fashion. Since so many folks were hospitalized at this recent event in Sedona I would imagine some kind of toxic fumes were released from the tarps or something else. There is something wrong with this picture.

To my knowledge and experience each sweat has a purpose and the temperature in the sweat is determined by the purpose. For example, if the focus-person has a life threatening illness the leader may use 50 to 70 rocks and the more the rocks the hotter the sweat. The rocks are increased throughout the sweat until the  target number is reached.   The circumstances don’t seem appropriate for a large number of rocks to have been used in the Sedona event.

The leader of the ceremonies in Taos was a Lakota speaking Sioux raised at Pine Ridge to follow a lineage of medicine men.  The attendees were primarily Indians from different tribes from all over the southwest.  The drum was passed around the circle and songs in the languages of the Ute, Comanche,  Pueblo and Sioux singers were sprinkled throughout ceremonies that were not advertised and never attended by tourists or casual observers.  Every week town folks could see smoke from a large, hidden fire rising in the middle of town and that was the extent of general knowledge.  No one involved was in the money making business. I was deeply blessed and honored to be there.

Post  Script

And now a third person has died and local law enforcement is said to be examining the materials covering the sweat lodge. Well it’s about time! They should also be interested in knowing the seating arrangements such as who was closer to the entrance to the lodge and who was seated at the back.

by Jane Odin

Judging from wide-spread chem trails aloft around the world one must conclude aerosoling the sky is a top priority for governments world-wide. (They have their reasons.) Among other things, chemtrails generate  (+) ions creating an imbalance in the ratio between (+) and (-) ions.  We are living in a sea of (+) ions which is incredibly hazardous to mental stability and general health. To understand this brief opening statement please read “How Aerosol Chemtrails Affect Atmospheric Ions” at http://ion_effects.tripod.com/

It’s interesting to note that the U.S. military protects soldiers from (+) ions with passive negative ion generator patches sewn into the collars of uniforms. The patches create ambient negative ionic environments around the individual soldiers so they can function with normal cognition and future health in situations of high (+) ion saturation.  http://www.hyperstealth.com/ECU/index.html

It is believed (+) ions are ‘serotonin releasers’ and produce ‘serotonin syndrome’. This complicated syndrome creates a wide variety of serious effects, determined by ones individual weaknesses. You can read about the symptoms and effects of this neurohormone here: http://ion_effects.tripod.com/

Although the passive (-) ion generators used by the military are not available for civilians there are other options for the rest of us. I use the Mini Mate negative ion generator from Clean Air Services. It’s worn around the neck. I tend to wear it most in the house when sitting in the middle of a bunch of (+) generators such as computer, tv etc. I also wear it on super-bad chemtrail days. The following links show some  alternatives to the military patch.

http://www.negativeiongenerators.com/portableairpurifier.html

http://www.megabrainpower.com/chionizer.htm

http://www.cleanairservices.com.au/air_purifiers_mini-mate-as-150mm.htm

http://purelyproducts.com/products/ionic-lifestyle/ionic-lifestyle-for-home.aspx. You definitely want to check this out.

Give links a careful read and you will have a a better understanding of the chemtrail situation.  If you find the info is valid, take action in terms of emails and conversation – a little each day. But don’t ignore it like a friend who says, “I can’t do anything about it so I don’t want to know about it. Please spare me the details.” This statement reminds me of the Germans living within ½ mile of Buchenwald who said they had no idea what was going on down the road. The details of this type of mentality are documented in “They Thought They Were Free” by Milton Mayer. http://www.lightwatcher.com/chemtrails/patents.html

http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/peterr/photos/chemtrails/chemtrails.html.

Ignore is the root of ignorance. Registering protest against atrocities does have far reaching impact.  Europeans have been able to impede the flow of GMO products and toxic plastics into their countries by word of mouth and visible protest. Silence and apathy never generate change. In the meantime check out the idea of wearing a negative ion generator, particularly if you have symptoms of ‘serotonin syndrome’.

For more topics of a similar nature just google: “chem trails positive ions”

by Jane Odin

Beware Fire Retardants

(It is helpful to read Beware Plastics article first.)

I’m removing nasty toxins from my home. My nasties come in the forms of plastics, brominated fire retardants (BFRs) and nylon, stain-resistant area-carpets. One of the items was with me for decades, causing a friend to remark: “Don’t you think you’re over-reacting? The damage is done.” Funny nobody felt that way when I quit smoking after 45 years of contaminating myself and the universe.

No, I don’t think I’m over-reacting and neither do my little dogs whose respiratory problems/allergies seem to have improved. I keep discovering things to remove - like the office chair - because it is made of foam and foam off-gasses more with age. Soon I’ll have an empty house. Why would I go to these extremes? Just knowing the potential of these nightmare chemicals instills abhorrence for everything they inhabit.

*Phthalates*

My body load of phthalates is probably higher because of an enormous, vinyl covered, over stuffed chair. It is a true beauty given by my 2nd husband. Appearance is not always reality and the reality here: the PVC “beauty” is off-gassing phthalates. It has to go.

Don’t have any Tupperware to throw out. It always looked too, too alien. Unfortunately I had no clue various plastic wraps and plastic food-containers off-gas phthalate. Now that I know, it’s hard to purchase anything but fresh foods, given that my local organic grocer stores bulk goods in a slotted rack of BPA leaching #7 plastic and fish and cheese are wrapped in phthalates. Paying big bucks for organic produce laced throughout with BPA and Phthalates is demoralizing. I might as well shop at the local Super Save. Not really.

Stain-resistant chemicals

Bonita’s asthma should improve with removal of the cheap, Wal-mart area rugs treated with stain-resistance chemicals. I didn’t know. Content tags rarely tell the whole story. The tags on the rugs said 100% nylon period. Guess what – most nylon rugs are treated with super toxic levels of stain-resistance chemicals such as isocyanate, silane and polyurethanes. These are truly nasty chems. Isocyanate is extremely reactive and harmful to living tissue. It causes asthma. Silane is highly flammable and causes respiratory system damage. Nylon is made from petrochemicals, with all that implies.

BFRs

My small hearth-rug is so fire resistant I can put a flaming log on it and not a mite of damage occurs. Ahgga! Gone, without mercy. No wonder the Chihuahua has allergies. Brominated fire retardants (PBDE, HBCD, TBBPA) are unregulated and considered more toxic than PCBs. Less was known about PCB’s when banned than is now known about fire retardants found in the dust of every home and business tested. BFR neurotoxins are used in infant/toddler sleepwear, bedding, mattresses, fire retardant fabric, TVs, computers, textiles, electronics and foam furniture.

PBDE and other BFRs are added to plastics, in particular hard polystyrene, polyurethane foam, epoxy resins and usually constitute up to 30% of the final product. The BFRs are mixed with polymers as plastics are being made. Problem: they don’t bind chemically and off-gas continuously from the final product.

BFRs are bioaccumulative, meaning they continue to buildup in the body over a life time. In minute doses BFRs impair attention, learning, memory and behavior in lab animals. In humans - thyroid, liver, fetal brain development and respiratory systems are under direct attack; no wonder childhood asthma is the most common chronic childhood disease. It is at epidemic levels with one in 13 children wheezing through life. For the bromine atom – it’s all in a day’s work.

Therefore: get rid of products containing BFRs and keep floors dust-free where infants and toddlers crawl and play. Contrary to some misinformation, BFR in the form of Deca is widely used commercially in the U.S. http://www.ewg.org/reports/inthedust Alternative products are available. Phone manufacturers and ask questions before a new purchase. When they say the information is proprietary tell them you are chemically sensitive and need to know the kind of fire proofing and stain resistance used.

Wall to wall carpet is one of the more toxic products on the market. A recent true story points this out. A small terrier in Georgia was suffering from extreme, unmanageable allergies. He had been furless for over a year. Several months after carpets were removed throughout the house, the fur began to return and now the terrie is fully recovered. If you know of stories of this nature please share them with us.

Researchers with detection devices claim the source of most BFR in homes is TV sets. They suggest keeping screens and areas around and under TV very clean, in a manner that doesn’t spread dust. Be sure TV is off when cleaning the entire set with a damp cloth. You will be amazed at the blackness on the cloth. The concluding remarks of an article on “Toxic Dust Devils” in 1/09 BARK magazine states “Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.”

Speaking of vacuums I must recommend the amazing vacuum just purchased for $69.00 via amazon.com: Hoover Widepath Tempo Allergen Filtration. It may be the best deal I’ve ever gotten. The suction is is remarkable on bare floors, rugs/carpets and the design is most functional. Be sure and check it out. No charge for delivery. While at Amazon.com you might also check out: “How To Grow Fresh Air” about houseplants that purify the environment.

Scan the internet links for some of the terms and phrases in this article and be amazed at how EPA and similar government agencies have failed us. Europe has already banned Deca and other persistant flame retardants. Our desire for “change” could have been supported by appointing Robert Kennedy Jr. director of the EPA. Meanwhile, cleanliness is next to…… life- support.

Be sure to watch the video below.

Websites for alternative products:

*http://www.healthylegacy.org/resources.cfm?refid=100431*

*http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/how-the-companies-line-up*

*http://www.thenaturalbedstore.com/*

*http://crystalbabyorganics.com/index.pmg/rd-1?sid=baca00d92edf3d82e81d140cbf43280f*

*http://www.ecobedroom.com/*

*http://www.green-furniture.com/*

*http://www.greenhome.com/products/kitchen/*

*

by Jane Odin

(Preventative Medicine in Townsend Letter)

We have learned to actively participate in maintaining good health by using alternative methods of diagnosis and treatment. We don’t gobble down pharmaceuticals or blindly follow the directives of Dr.So& So. Who can afford it? And who has the courage to embrace a system of medicine responsible for preventable death from medical error being the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. amounting to 238,337 preventable deaths ’04 through ‘06 ? http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080408085458.htm

Preventative medicine is the way to go - with endless resources and disciplines to inform every decision. The fantastic journal: “Townsend Letter (TL) - The Examiner of Alternative Medicine” contains details of research on natural/herbal therapies for both preventative measures and specific diseases. Their website features a free archive and is worth the visit. Meanwhile look at the items below and you may find something you’ve been looking for.

TL, P. 47, 4/08 issue, the reader learns details regarding Vitamin D’s success at reducing cancers of the colon and rectum. According to the National Cancer Institute high blood levels of vitamin D produced a 72% reduction in risk of dying from colorectal cancer. 2004 statistics found 53,580 men and women died of colorectal cancer. If 72% were prevented, over 37,000 lives would be saved. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/statistics/

The national media hasn’t covered the need for greater exposure to sunlight and vitamin D for people with a family history of colorectal cancer. According to TL: “the reaction of the media to the study revealed in a stark way their deeply ingrained prejudice against nutritional solutions to cancer.” But big pharm funded tv media did push the AMA decision for all of us to maintain healthy hearts by taking statin drugs, including children 8 years and older. http://xtendlife.squarespace.com/warren_matthews_blog/2008/7/14/statin-drugs-for-childrena-disgrace.html Read about side effects of statins and wonder how the AMA can ethically recommend statins to everyone. Soon high cholesterol will not be a requirement for statin prescriptions. The 3/08 issue of TL has two good articles on statins: “Statin Dangers” and “Statins and Cancer.” An overview of the risks and benefits of statin drugs is available at www.medicine.ucsd.edu/SES/index

On P.91 of the same issue, “Autism and Vitamin D” concludes sun avoidance is being taken too far and adequate vitamin D levels must be restored “in the hope that vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and nootropic properties will modify autism’s clinical course.” Keep in mind that low Vitamin D3 can feed the development of both osteoporosis and an overworked parathyroid.

“Healing with Electromedicine and Sound Therapies” on P.102 of the same issue discusses the following energetics devices used in various techniques: Rife, PERL, Pulsed Technologies, TENS, Tennant Biomodulator, ONDAMED, LazrPulsr 4X. I loved the authors summary in which the electromagnetic biologic function of all living things is defined by frequency both incoming and outgoing. Understanding our electrochemical natures gives evidence of why cell towers and all forms of microwave transmissions can be cell changing experiences.

Here is a list of some super helpful information found in TL issues. Each listing is brief & incomplete but with enough info for the reader to follow up on the internet and experience the benifits of both alternative and complimentary medicine.
• When considering the risk-benefit ratio of the new HPV vaccine recommended for teenage girls, folic acid supplementation might offer a low cost, low risk alternative.
• Omega 3 fatty acids – fish oil – improves anxiety in drug abusers.
• Over-cooking brassica vegetables destroys the glucosinolate known to protect against certain cancers.
• The natural anti-aging adaptogens I found interesting: carnosine, SAMe or TMG,
CoQH-CF(www.allergyresearchgroup.com) ECE(brown algae), Omega 6, dandelion, ganoderma, schisandra, rhodiola, resveratrol and L Carnitine. The actions of these adaptogens can be found on P.91, July 08. Details on reseveratrol describe it as “potent and versatile” with the “ability to upregulate or downregulate cell death.”
• P 117, 7/08 has advice for dog parents. Three 40 mg tablets of Ginkgo extract has
a significant effect on 79% of elderly dogs suffering from age related behavioral
disturbances such as disorientation, listlessness, anxiousness, aggressive behavior
and low vitality.
• Ecklonia Cava Extract (ECE) is a brown sea algae considered more potent as a
Super antioxidant than EGCG from green tea.3/08, P80
• 1200 mg of turmeric a day for a month clears up psoriasis, followed by 400mg for another month and the psoriasis didn’t return. 10/08, p41
• “The Health Detective’s 456 Most Powerful Healing Secrets” reviewed in 3/08 TL, P111 is a dynamite book of alternative medicines.

by Jane Odin

*Gagging From Stinking Up with Artificial Fragrances*

Have you seen the endless TV ads for artificial fragrances, pushed on possibly unsuspecting consumers looking to cover a big stink of some sort ? One of my favorite ads shows a grandmother-type arrive for a visit, ignore the children and immediately fall into an ecstatic trance, sniffing Febreze scented air, tennis shoes and various fabrics.

We are inundated with toxic artificial fragrances in the form of odor neutralizers, plug-ins, aerosols, room fresheners, car air fresheners, fabric fresheners, perfumes, scented candles/oils, paraffin candles and garbage bags. Scented garbage bags are the pits. Some brands are kind enough to put “scented” on packaging, others are not so thoughtful. I opened a box of Glad bags and became nauseous immediately from a Febreze-like odor. Gag!!!!!!!!! Upon returning to the store I punched little holes big enough to catch a whiff of the inner contents before purchasing more bags.

Why do we need so many kinds of artificial fragrances? Guess folks prefer cover-up to clean –up. It’s hard to imagine a stink bad enough to force one to reach for an artificial fragrance. Hopefully they aren’t used around infants and pets. It doesn’t really matter what the fragrance-peddlers say about the safety of petrochemicals and exotic toxins, we know better. Asthmatics claim attacks are most often triggered by artificial fragrances.

If you frequent 2nd hand clothing shops and don’t like the smell of Febreze - beware - sniff out the garment before purchase because the odor will not come out. It’s there for all eternity. And if you are a traveler with sensitivities to Febreze and other noxious odors, it’s a good idea to call ahead and ask questions.

Wafting Aromas: Ingredients

Artificial fragrances are composed of untold combinations of highly volatile petrochemical derivatives. The raw materials of perfumery are the solvents hexane and petroleum ether. According to a Natural Resource Defense Council sponsored test, 12 out of 14 air fresheners contain phthalates. These off-gassing chemicals are never listed as ingredients. They are claimed as proprietary secrets. Other chemicals found in a majority of air-freshners includes formaldehyde, (used as a preservative) benzene and naphthalene.http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/newscience/oncompounds/PBDE/whatarepbdes.htm

Perfumed garbage bags are created through a process that involves perfumed composites of ethylene and various co polymers such as vinyl acetate and ethyl acrylate which enable bags to retain fragrance for a year or more. Other types of perfumed objects are coated with polyurethane to sustain the release of various fragrances.

Procter and Gamble had to seek approval from the NYS Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials in order to register *Febreze Antimicrobial* because it contains Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride. This product is used on fabrics to kill odor causing bacteria. Wow. Imagine some of that stuff up against your skin for 10 hours. The official letter from the Director of the Bureau of Pesticides Management states DDAC is a severe skin and eye irritant and goes on to say * “In the risk assessment conducted by the U.S.EPA, post-application dermal exposures were determined to pose unacceptable risks.” *Yet – the product was given the O.K. for production.

Over the holidays I almost gave a toxic gift of an evergreen infusion. It looked great with a graceful bamboo wicking system and it had a pleasant aroma. Interestingly enough it did not list one ingredient. I called the company and discovered ½ of the content was a “cosmetic preservative”. Most cosmetic preservatives are extremely toxic, including many of the innocent looking creams that have the various parabens in the ingredients. I use organic cosmetics that list all ingredients.

Alternatives

There are many alternatives including the placement of cotton balls scented with essential-oils or cooking flavors such as cinnamon, lemon around the home. You can google “organic, natural room fresheners” and find an assortment of products such as: Aura Cacia Air Freshener, California Scents Air Freshener , Aubrey Organics Blue Cypress Air Freshener, and Baby Ganics Air Freshner and Odor Eliminator.

You might want to check out an air sanitizer device that uses UV-C light technology: Germ Guardian Plug In Air Sanitizer. Smellkiller K 15006 Classic Air Cleanser is a clever odor removal technique that uses no electricity or fragrance.

Baking soda is a good odor absorber that might work wonders for the auto - instead of those horrible smelling doodads hanging from the rear view mirror.

Never has it been more important to know what you are putting into your personal environment. Take great precaution with everything that is not apparently organic and non-toxic. Look up exotic items such as medicines, supplements, pet medicine and products used in the service of the big stink.