Ticked Off I've mentioned Lyme disease to you before, but a recent study
compelled me to mention it again. The study said that the people
who are most likely to practice good prevention precautions
against Lyme disease are people who have already suffered from
it, or who know someone who has.
So let me tell you a story about my friend Dave -- a big, strapping
guy, maybe 6'4" and 210 pounds, solid build, very active and in
good shape. I see him once a week at church, like clockwork. One
summer, I noticed that he started walking with a limp and was a
little hunched over. He seemed tired all the time. It was as if he
was aging right before my eyes. Finally, he stopped coming to
church for about two months, and I knew something must be
wrong.
As you've probably guessed by now, he had Lyme disease that
went undetected for about six to eight months. By the time he was
finally diagnosed, he was so ill he considered taking a leave of
absence from his job. It took about a year after treatment before he
could honestly say that he felt like himself again.
Now, Dave and everyone who knows him are hyper-aware of how
a simple tick bite can wreak havoc on your health. And now that
you "know" him too (or at least his story), I hope it will motivate
you to protect yourself when you go out during the height of deer
tick season -- which is now, I might add.
Wearing protective clothing is your first defense -- long sleeves
and pants tucked into your socks. In the dead of summer, though,
this can be a tough one to follow.
The next best thing is to sport a scent that the ticks and other bugs
don't like. We discussed garlic at the beginning of the season.
There are also a number of oils that smell wonderful to us, but
apparently smell horrid to many insects. They are lavender oil,
citronella, cedar oil, rose geranium oil, American pennyroyal oil
(also called tickweed), eucalyptus oil, and tea tree oil. For a good
home brew, you need to start with the essential oils of any of these,
and then mix 10-20 drops with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or
safflower. You have to apply the mixture fairly often, but it should
offer good results.
There are also insect repellants on the market with all-natural
ingredients, drawing mostly from the list above. They come in
handy spray bottles that can fit into your pocket while you're out.
By all means, enjoy the outdoors, but be mindful. Cover up when
you can. Take your garlic pills (and chew your parsley to keep the
odor at bay). Concoct your own essential oil repellant, or purchase
some with natural ingredients. And do body checks for ticks as
soon as you come in the house after a walk or hike.
Just don't put off getting diligent about Lyme disease until you or
someone you know has a personal experience with it. It's not
worth the wait. *******************************************
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doctors ignore! Visit: http://www.youreletters.com/t/43824/2873601/641855/0/ ****************************************** An end to the SSKI hunting expedition
Q: Where can I find the SSKI Iodine that you recently
recommended? I have tried all of my neighborhood pharmacies,
and they look at me like I'm crazy when I ask for it. They ask me
if it's the same as Potassium Iodide that you would take in the case
of radiation exposure – is it?
JVW: In these days of terrorist threats, it makes sense that
potassium iodide (KI) is on people's minds. Governments and
individuals can stockpile KI pills in case of radiation poisoning as
it protects the thyroid if taken in time.
SSKI, however, stands for saturated solution of potassium iodide,
and it comes in a liquid tincture rather than the pill form of KI. It
also has a myriad of medicinal uses, most of which I discussed in
depth in the November 2002 edition of Nutrition & Healing, which
subscribers can look up for free by visiting
www.wrightnewsletter.com.
Although you shouldn't need a prescription to get it, you will need
to contact a compounding pharmacist. The International Academy
of Compounding Pharmacists website (www.iacprx.org) has a
convenient database where you can search for the one closest to
you.
I highly recommend that you work closely with a natural medicine
physician to be sure that you are taking the right dosage for the
right reasons. There are also some precautions to keep in mind
when using SSKI:
1) Staining: Anyone who remembers their grandmother putting
iodine on your cuts as a kid might also recall that iodine stains both
clothes and skin.
2) Allergy: Iodine allergy is possible, although it usually only
results in a red, bumpy skin rash. Sometimes people confuse
shellfish allergies with an iodine allergy, but having one does not
necessarily mean you will have the other.
3) Thyroid suppression: This is the biggest risk, and while it is still
a small one, close attention should be paid to this if you will be
using SSKI over any length of time. For example, SSKI is helpful
for treating COPD and cholesterol-related atherosclerosis. But if
this is the use you intend, be sure to have your thyroid function
monitored by a physician. Don't panic, though: Any interference
that may occur with your thyroid function would clear up as soon
as the SSKI is discontinued. ********************************************
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system of breathing techniques combined with simple body
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(if you can't open here use the HTML links listed below) ********************************************* What is…Peyronie's disease? Although you probably won't hear a bunch of guys discussing this
one in the locker room, Peyronie's disease is a disconcerting
problem for many men. It occurs when the tissue along the shaft of
the penis thickens. Erections become curved and painful, and, in
some cases, sex becomes impossible. While mainstream medicine
often resorts to surgery to treat this problem, SSKI can work
wonders to relieve it naturally and non-invasively. Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing Sources:
McKenna D, Faustini Y, et al. "Factors influencing the utilization
of Lyme disease-prevention behaviors in a high-risk population." J
Am Acad Nurse Pract 2004; 16(1): 24-30 Herrington JE. "Risk perceptions regarding ticks and Lyme
disease: a national survey." Am J Prev Med. 2004; 26(2): 135-140. Peden-Adam MM, Eudaly J, et al. "Evaluation of immunotoxicity
induced by single or concurrent exposure to N,N-diethyl-m-
toluamide (DEET), pyridostigmine bromide (PYR), and JP-8 jet
fuel." Toxicol Ind Health 2001; 17(5-10): 192-209 "Tick Repellant," Care2.com (www.care2.com), accessed 8/4/04 |
