Our Health Journey

Toxic Talk Tuesday Today!

2012-02-07T08:38:00.002-07:00

Join my husband Chris and me today, February 7, for another Toxic Talk Tuesday on Chris Fabry Live! We'll continue our conversation about healthy eating and introduce the exciting momsAWARE Natural Year Challenge, both Food and Household editions! Tune in live at 2:00 p.m. Central time or visit the Chris Fabry Live! website to listen via audio stream or podcast.

Garlands of Rosemary

2012-02-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

I have a keen interest in the subject of working memory. I lost a great deal of memory function while living in our toxic home. I also have an interest in the subject of chemicals. Because of our exposure, we have eliminated them from our home and diet.

Last fall the staff at our small charter school allowed me to conduct a science experiment. The experiment asked one question: Do chemicals and/or essential oils affect working memory?

The chemicals used were perfume, dryer sheets, and window cleaner. The essential oils were lavender, peppermint, and rosemary.

We decided to allow each child to participate. Some would be test givers; others would be test takers. More than 40 students participated over the course of two weeks. We conducted control tests measuring the working memory of each participant using Digit Span Testing.

According to Psychology Wiki:

Digit span testing is a measure of memory span which is the number of items, usually words or numbers, that a person can retain and recall. Where numbers are used it is also known as digit span, and the test is called digit repetition. It can be seen as a measure of working memory (or short-term memory, depending on the psychological framework used), although other factors such as attention and comprehension also contribute to the performance on this test.

In a typical test of memory span, a list of random numbers is read out at about the rate of one per second. The test begins with two to three numbers, increasing until the person commits errors. Recognisable patterns (for example 2, 4, 6, 8) should be avoided. At the end of a sequence, the person being tested is asked to recall the items in order. The average digit span for normal adults without error is seven plus or minus two.

Reverse repetition is more difficult and requires more processes besides immediate recall.

Here is one of our test sheets:

The directions were as follows:

"I am going to say a series of numbers for you to remember. When I am finished, I want you to say them in the reverse order in which I said them. Do you understand, or should I give you the directions again?"

On separate days we asked the participants to smell a designated scent for 30 seconds. We had them wait silently for two minutes and then tested them with the alternate set of numbers.

Our findings were inconclusive for the most part, with one significant exception.

Colin's graph shows the increase and decrease in scores for the three essential oils. Rosemary clearly had an impact on working memory. Of the 43 test subjects, 2 scored lower after smelling the oil, 11 remained the same, and 30 showed improvement. What is even more interesting is that those 30 individuals improved by a total of 46 points!

Our experiment simply validates what Greek scholars knew centuries ago. They wore garlands of rosemary during examinations for focus and recall. Shakespeare understood this benefit as well. In his play Hamlet, Act 4 Scene V, Ophelia gives her brother Laertes a flower, saying, "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance."

This 2003 study concluded that "rosemary produced a significant enhancement of performance for overall quality of memory and secondary memory factors, but also produced an impairment of speed of memory compared to controls." (We didn't test the speed of the recall, simply the performance.)

What is it about rosemary that helps memory? According to Dr. James Duke, former U.S. Department of Agriculture chief of medicinal plant research, "Rosemary contains more than a dozen antioxidants and a half-dozen compounds reported to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine." Acetylcholine is a vital neurotransmitter, and when compromised, has been implicated in memory deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease. See this article for other reported health benefits of rosemary.

Greek scholars, Shakespeare, and a USDA official all agree with our middle school students. Rosemary is a wonderful herb well worth. . . remembering!

Rashes

2012-01-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

Brandon reached into the refrigerator the other night and applied some whey to a rash on his arm. The rash is nothing new. It's been there for more than four years. Fortunately, it has substantially diminished in size. The rash used to go from the top of his arm straight through to the inside of his elbow. Many times I wondered if the pigment would ever return. Slowly but surely, his rash is healing; it's down to a patch at the top of his arm.

Every now and again he'll decide to put something on it, and whey is one of our options.

I had no idea the rashes we experienced while living in our toxic home were connected with our environment. Of course, the skin is an easy port of entry and exit for the body, so in retrospect it's obvious.

Since our detoxification process began three years ago, we've seen some incredible rashes, many of them more dramatic than the ones we saw in the house. I've captured a fraction of them in the slideshow below.

What are some helpful solutions for rashes? These are our top five:

Calcium bentonite clay. I keep a jar of liquefied clay in the cupboard. Living Clay offers an excellent quality product. Add clay powder to water at a ratio of 1 part clay to 8 parts water. Calcium bentonite clay can be combined with raw apple cider vinegar for added benefit.
Grapefruit seed extract. GSE is antimicrobial and often helps with itching. NutriBiotic offers a reliable option. GSE is best diluted before application.
Tea tree oil. Also highly antimicrobial.
Whey, kefir. The probiotics in homemade dairy products can be very beneficial and soothing.
Coconut oil. Unrefined virgin coconut oil is optimal. Wilderness Family Naturals offers an excellent option.

Kids and Diet

2012-01-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

"How will my kids possibly adjust to a life without processed and refined foods?" This was my greatest concern as I moved toward an all-natural, whole foods diet two years ago.

It's not been easy, but our kids' willingness to try new foods has astonished me. Recently Colin (age 12) and Kaitlyn (age 13) were required to write a compare-and-contrast paper about their family's diet versus the typical American diet.

Colin took a somewhat humorous approach, raising only two commonalities: water and onions. As for the contrast, Colin pointed out:

I can't have half of a quarter of the food America eats. Therefore, my differences outweigh my similarities. Like, for instance, take sugar-infested Pop-Tarts. Everybody knows what a Pop-Tart is, and yet I have to miss out on the enjoyment of the soft crunch as you sink your teeth into it. But, I deal with it and continue to move on and stay healthy.

Kaitlyn compared the two diets to high school crowds, with the majority of Americans in the popular group and our family in "the outsiders."

For "the popular ones," it is typical to eat processed foods daily. The normal routine for my family a long time ago was wake up, eat cereal, head out the door, munch on some Doritos for snack, have a Lunchable, and come home to Macaroni and Cheese. This is not the case anymore. We now eat NO processed foods. None whatsoever; zip; zilch; nada. In fact, most of our food is bought from local farmers markets, which introduces the next difference between us, the outsiders, and typical Americans.

Usually, it never enters one's mind that they could get to know their own farmer, but for my family, not knowing the farmer is almost foreign. I have met, chatted with, and even visited almost all of our farmers. We know who we can trust and who we can't, which, I think, is very valuable. I used to pick a package off of the shelf without even thinking about where it comes from or what was in it and drop it into the cart. Most people do. Just like the popular clique in high school. They don't necessarily think deep about their actions; they just. . . jump on the bandwagon.

If I had a penny for how many differences typical Americans have with my family, I would probably be rich. But, money isn't what really matters. People get what's fast and affordable for their own convenience, but, no. My family and I have to do everything the hard way. Trust me, it's not easy, but it is the healthier choice. A while ago, we used to be like that; make food in just a minute. That's the drawback of eating healthy. You must throw all of your conveniences out the window and wait for your food like in a high-end restaurant. If my tummy is rumbling and I long for some food, I can't just pop a bag of popcorn in the microwave. Instead, I must chop vegetables, get some meat source cooking and fully cook a stir-fry that takes about 30 minutes to make. Although it takes that much time, it is absolutely, positively worth it in the end when I get to taste the spices, vegetables, and meat blended together perfectly and there are no side effects afterwards.

I doubt Robert Frost was thinking about food choices when he penned The Road Not Taken, but I find his words encouraging.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

As I reflect on Kaitlyn's essay and our decision to return to traditional foods, I am reminded how daunting the road was and still is at times. But our return to real food has, indeed, made all the difference.

New Year's Goals

2012-01-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

I’ve set some goals for the New Year (it's never too late). Twelve goals, for each month of the year. Of course I have some relational and spiritual goals as well, but the following goals are related to food, cooking, and health. I've found that one goal per month is realistic and much better than a weekly goal. I've also found that I learn best through my mistakes, so a full month gives me more time for trial and error.

My New Year's goals:

Grow wheatgrass.
Perfect our soapmaking recipe. (I failed in my first try and moderately succeeded in my second try.)
Make natto. (Natto is a fermented soy food—something I'm eager to try with organic, non-GMO soybeans. Proper fermention helps deal with the antinutrients while offering a powerful probiotic. Here is an interesting article on the subject.)
Make a liver recipe that my family will eat. (I eat raw liver and make capsules with dessicated liver for my kids, and throw in liver when I make sausage or meatloaf. I have yet to try to make a meal out of liver.)
Prepare a 15-meal menu planner.
Make pickles that taste as good as Bubbie's.
Learn to compost.
Make mustard.
Make cultured butter.
Expand my herb garden to include the herbs used for Four Thieves. (I love cleaning with Vinegar of the Four Thieves!)
Make a printable shopping list which includes all the items I order from the food co-op, online, Whole Foods, etc.
Make fermented salsa.

I purchased a brand new binder to help me stay focused and organized. I am in the process of collecting information sheets/recipes for each goal. Below is the binder, alongside my first goal: Wheatgrass.

(My first batch of wheatgrass went fine until I overwatered. I tossed the moldy batch and so far so good with batch #2.)

If all goes well I'll head into 2013 with a meal plan, a compost pile, and a shopping list! And some nice fresh wheatgrass, of course.

Toxic Talk Tuesday: Food Edition

2012-01-10T08:57:00.002-07:00

Join my husband Chris and me today, January 10, for another Toxic Talk Tuesday on Chris Fabry Live! With so many of us resolving to eat healthier in the New Year, we'll be talking about the foods we consume and the steps we can take toward a more natural, toxic-free diet. Join us for an encouraging conversation and a few challenging quiz questions to test your food awareness! Tune in live at 2:00 p.m. Central time or visit the Chris Fabry Live! website to listen via audio stream or podcast.

Kitchen Transformation

2012-01-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

When our family vacated our home in October of 2008 we left everything behind, including the contents of our spacious pantry. Because of legal action (which has since been dropped), we had our home inventoried. Every item in every room of our five-story home was accounted for and priced. The following is a partial list of the products in our pantry.

1000 ISLAND DRESSING
ANNIES HOMEGROWN WHOLE WHT BUNNIES 5 OZ
ARCHER FARMS BLUEBERRY GRANOLA W/FLAX CER
ARCHER FARMS ORG. P-BUTTER CHOCO TRAIL MIX BARS 6 OZ
ASSURED FRESHNESS ITALIAN RICE
BACK TO NATURE P-BUTTER COOKIES 9 OZ
BARBARAS LITE RITE ROUNDS 11 OZ
BARILLA PECCALINI MINI PASTA 1#
BOBS RED MILL 10 GRAIN PANCAKE MIX
BOBS RED MILL GLUTEN FREE PANCAKE MIX
BOBS RED MILL ROLLED OATS 16 OZ
CAMPBELL SOUP
CAMPBELL SOUP LARGE
CAPRI JUICE 10 CT
CASCADIAN FARMS ORGANIC RASIN BRAN
CHEX MIX 15 OZ
CHEERIOS
CHEETOS 11 OZ
CHUNKY BLUE CHEESE DRESSING
CLIFF KIDS ORGANIC Z BARS 7.62 OZ
CRANBERRY SAUCE
DICED TOMATOES
EGGO SYRUP 23 OZ
EMERALD ALMONDS 11 OZ
FLORIDA NATURAL AWESUM FRUIT NUGGETS 14.4 OZ 14 POUCHES
GENERAL MILLS FIBER 1 PANCAKE MIX
HANSENS ORGANIC JR JUICE
HUNTS CATSUP 36 OZ
INSTANT RICE 28 OZ
ITALIAN DRESSING
JELLO INSTANT PUDDING
JIFFY CORN MUFFIN MIX
JOLLY TIME POPCORN 20 OZ
KEEBLER ICE CREAM CUPS 24 CT
KEEBLER TOAST & PBUTTER CRACKERS
KIKOMAN SOY SAUCE 20 OZ
KRAFT BARBQ SAUCE
KRAFT EZ MAC
MAC & CHEESE
MICROWAVE POPCORN
MUSTARD 14 OZ
ODWALLA BAR
OLIVE OIL 16 OZ
ORGANIC DICED TOMATOES
ORVILLE REDENBACHER POPPING OIL 16 OZ
ORVILLE REDENBACHER POPCORN 45 OZ
PAM 5 OZ SPRAY ORGANIC CANOLA
PAM 5 OZ SPRAY ORGANIC OLIVE OIL
PETITE DICED TOMATOES
PLANTERS TRAIL MIX
PRIVATE SELECT CORN TORTILLA CHIPS
PROGRESSO SOUP
QUAKER OATS YELLOW CORNMEAL
RANCH DRESSING
RITZ 1#
ROLD GOLD PRETZELS
SESAME OIL 5 OZ
SOUTHBEACH BARS
SPAGHETTI SAUCE
STACY SIMPLY NAKED BAKED PITA CHIPS 14 OZ
STOVE TOP TURKEY STUFFING
SUCCESS BOIL IN BAG RICE 14 OZ
TOWNHOUSE TOPPER CRACKERS 13.5 OZ
VILLA PASTA HAND CUT FETTUCINI 12 OZ
WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE 15 OZ

As I look as this list, I clearly see our dependence on processed foods. Because of our health crisis, I was attempting to make some better choices with the addition of "natural" and "organic" products—but the food was still in a box or a can, with a long list of unpronounceable ingredients.

Re-learning to feed myself and my family has not been easy. I have stumbled along the way. But the subtle health improvements are undeniable, and the benefits of our unexpected journey unmistakable.

Below is a tour of our kitchen now. The contrast reminds me that change doesn't happen overnight. It happens one box of Stove Top Stuffing at a time.

Ten Reasons NOT to Eat "Outside the Box"

2012-01-04T07:12:00.001-07:00

With the New Year upon us, many of us are considering a dietary change, one with fewer processed, "boxed" foods. Perhaps chronic illness is a motivating factor. Or a child with behavioral issues. Or simply a general desire to eat healthier.

All sorts of doubts creep in when we make a decision to change. Doubts that keep us from taking action. Below are ten such doubts, along with ten truths to counter them.

People will think I'm crazy.
True.
People also thought physician Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis was crazy when he suggested that hand disinfection played a role in the health of birth mothers. The connection between the food we eat and our health seems equally obvious, but anytime we go against the tide we are likely to experience ridicule and skepticism. This is simply part of the journey.
It's expensive.
True.
The immediate costs may be higher, but the long-term costs are likely to be significantly lower as we save on doctor appointments, emergency room visits, and prescriptions.

Colleen Huber, a naturopath, contends that eating organically is not necessarily more expensive. She did a comparison several years ago and found the two types of diet economically comparable. Her study can be found here.
It might not "work."
True.
Dietary change seldom yields immediate results. Completely restored health is not a guarantee. But there is no guarantee with any change we make. Isn't it better to try rather than not try? Why not take the risk of eating healthier? If life gets better, and it likely will, healing may simply be honey on the flax cracker (so to speak).
There are so many diets out there. They can't all be right.
True.
Some diets say juicing is good. Others say not. Some are vegan. Others are meat-based. Some are raw. Some are cooked. Some include sweeteners. Others do not.

What do they have in common? No approach invites people to eat unlimited fast food, refined sugar, soda, and boxed food.

But the confusion factor is one of the biggest hindrances toward altering our diet. This is where our intuition is a necessity. There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to diet. We're each unique, with our own specific needs.

Don't be afraid to research, study, and ask questions. Be willing to make changes as you go along.
It will be hard on my kids.
True.
It's also true that it is hard on our kids to continue to eat sugar and processed foods. The evidence for this is mounting. We can't protect our kids from pain; we can only do the best we can with the best explanation we can offer. If a child understands the reasons for the unusual foods, he/she may be more willing to try. Offer a trial period such as 30 days. It's often difficult for a child to think of giving up these refined/processed foods "forever."

Try to find fun, creative alternatives for special occasions like holidays and birthdays.

The movie Breaking and Entering is not kid-friendly, but it does have one scene where Jude Law sits down to a dinner of chicken and vegetables. His wife explains the gut/brain connection and the role diet can play in restoring health to their ill child. The daughter throws a temper tantrum because of the missing ice cream. This scene could help some kids feel less "alone" with their feelings of resentment.
I might get sick.
True.
Sometimes the body is so worn down it doesn't let us know the food we're eating is doing us harm. If sugar is perpetuating some of the bad "bugs," we often don't know it. When our body "wakes up" and we start feeding it healthier foods, toxins can die and create die-off symptoms, which are often worse than the general feeling of malaise we may have started with. There are numerous ways to get through the die-off, such as Epsom salt baths, activated charcoal, vitamin C, and many others.

If we're willing to get worse before we get better, we may eventually enjoy a whole new level of health.
My food might not taste good.
True.
Diets high in processed foods "trick" the body into thinking it likes something, when in fact our taste buds are "dumbed down" rather than enhanced. Give new foods a try. Study the taste system and you'll find that we are designed for nutritional intricacy.

Fresh dill pickles on a grassfed beef burger is a flavorful powerhouse because, according to Dr. Catherine Shanahan, author of Deep Nutrition:

Though taste buds may taste one kind of flavor predominately, one bud can in fact detect different flavor ligands simultaneously. It turns out, the more, different kinds of flavors there are, the more we taste each one. When peptides and salt ions bind at the same taste bud, the result is not a doubling of flavor, but a powerful thousand-fold magnification in the signal going to your brain. . . . (This is why hot dogs, for instance—or better yet, actual sausage—taste better with sauerkraut and bittersweet mustard.)

You may be shocked at the foods you will love! And how quickly the processed foods lose their appeal.
Extreme dietary restriction isn't necessarily a good thing.
True.
Eating good, healthy, REAL food does not need to involve restriction. If you look at the ingredients in a fast food meal, you'll find that corn and soy are behind most of it. In his book The Omnivore's Dilemma, Michael Pollan breaks down the corn content of a fast food meal this way: soda 100% (since it consists primarily of high fructose corn syrup), milk shake 78%, salad dressing 65%, chicken nuggets 56%, cheeseburger 52%,and french fries 23%.

In contrast, there are more than 70 types of vegetables, numerous varieties of animals, and lots of parts to these animals. There are an abundance of herbs and spices to flavor these foods.

For some people, extreme may not be necessary. Eating less fast food and cooking more from scratch may be enough.

But for those with severe illness, this quote from Hippocrates may apply: "Extreme remedies are very appropriate for extreme diseases."

Sometimes a strong message to the body can lead to a big change.
I don't think I can get my spouse or older children on board.
True.
We can't control others, in any area of life. We can, however, do our best to educate and explain. We can lead by example. We can try. A slow transition is often better than an abrupt, unwelcome change. Introduce one food at a time and try to find satisfying substitutes for their favorite foods. Ask for a family experiment. Initiate challenges. Make the change as exciting as possible.
It will be difficult.
True.
There's simply no way around this one. It is hard to change patterns, food patterns especially. Good things don't come easily. There's no magic pill when it comes to health and diet. Convenience foods are just that: convenient. But there is something gratifying and empowering about this kind of hard work.

In summary, there are plenty of reasons to stick with the "old way." Plenty of reasons not to step out and try something new. This quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes offers some powerful inspiration:

I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it—but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.

It's a New Year with new possibilities. The perfect time to set sail.

Joan's Reflection

2012-01-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful follow-up to Joan's story (see previous post).

God's Grace

The silence was deafening. I lay in my bed, consumed with so many questions. "God, have I not been faithful, have I not loved you with all my heart? Why would you take my son, my golden child, Manny? His hair would shine gold when the sun kissed him. Lord, I never saw his first steps, heard his first words, saw his first day of school. I will never see him as a teenager, his prom, or his wedding day..."

Praying, I began to drift off, questioning if God really existed. Did Jesus and the Day of Calvary really occur? My heart then skipped a beat. Was Manny really okay and at peace? I continued to pour my heart out to the Lord as I fell asleep.

I found myself wandering some unknown streets. As I tried to understand what was happening, I saw a teenager walking toward me. I did not know him. He was wearing a white tee covered by a flannel jacket and loose-fit jeans. His brown hair was cut short on the sides with the top strip long and pulled back in a ponytail. And then I noticed his eyes. My breath stopped. They were the deepest blue, that sparkled and pierced into your spirit. Manny's eyes!

"What are you doing here?! Are you okay?"

Although his lips did not speak, Manny answered me with a chip on his shoulder. "Mom, you know better." He looked up to the sky and saw something that I could not. Then he looked at me and smiled with so much love and awe. "Heaven is beautiful, Mom. Don't worry about me. I love you. Heaven is beautiful."

He looked up as if he had to go. As he left he kept reassuring me over and over that heaven is beautiful... heaven is so beautiful...

I woke up trying to wrap my mind around what had just really happened. Some may say it was just a wishful dream of a grieving mom, but it was more than that. The detail. My senses were filled. It was as if you were standing in front of me sharing a normal conversation!

I put my hands together in prayer and wept. This precious moment was bittersweet. The grief from this tragedy was overwhelming. Yet God was willing to move Heaven and Earth to give me this very amazing gift. I saw Manny as a teen. I was given the undeniable peace that he was more than fine, and one day we will be reunited in the presence of our Almighty Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in a Heaven that is "so beautiful!"

It has not been an easy road, not one I would have chosen. I have been condemned and mocked. My body has been devastated by this mysterious biotoxin illness. But God has graciously spared me and my surviving children. We all have struggles, but there is no denying the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. I thank Him for my husband, Bobby; all my children, Jordan, Angel, Manny, Nevaeh, and Ixchell; and the living angels He has sent to comfort me. One day I will kneel before Him and thank Him for carrying me when I could go no further, lifting me when I had no more fight, wrapping His arms around me in reassurance, and continuing to bless me on my journey with comfort, peace, and favor that only His children can understand.

So today, this New Year's Day, this fifth anniversary of Manny's passing, even as my heart aches from missing him, I will rejoice that eternity with God is everlasting! Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." I look to the future, to greater days and hold fast to God's promises. Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

In loving memory of Robert Manuel James Frederick

"Shining for I am with God"

11/17/06 - 01/01/07

May this also encourage those who have walked this path. We are not alone in our journeys! Praise Jesus!

Many blessings~
Joan Frederick

One Military Family's Heartache

2012-01-01T07:00:00.027-07:00

Joan, her husband, and their two children were stationed in Hawaii in the spring of 2006. Upon seeing their prospective military home, Joan noticed mold in the cabinets. She mentioned the mold, was dismissed, and thought nothing of it.

Joan was five months pregnant when they moved in, and within six days found herself in the emergency room with severe vision issues. She felt like she was going blind. "It felt like someone put Saran Wrap over my eyes," she says. "Everything was blurry, and there were lights in my vision." Doctors found nothing wrong and sent her home. The vision disturbances continued with no explanation.

After two months in the home, the downstairs bathroom toilet overflowed. Raw sewage covered the carpeting. The housing maintenance workers steam-cleaned the carpets and left. Now seven months pregnant, with her husband deployed to Iraq, Joan requested that the carpets be replaced. "There were things growing underneath," she recalls. She asked to be moved, but her request was denied. The manager insisted this was not his responsibility. "He told me it was my job to clean it up," she says. Leaks from the upstairs bathroom into the downstairs were ignored or improperly fixed.

After a troubled pregnancy with repeated trips to the hospital due to early contractions, Joan's third child, Manny, was born. Joan hoped that the tough days were behind her. Her two older children, however, continued to show signs of ill health. Her five-year-old son would complain of severe abdominal pain and headaches. Her 15-month-old daughter would hold her legs and scream because of leg cramps. Joan stopped going to the emergency room for her vision because "they told me I was crazy."

Her husband returned from Iraq for Christmas, and on New Year's Eve Joan and her family attended a New Year's gathering. Manny, now six weeks old, was pale and needed constant burping. He was gassy and cried from the discomfort. His nose was stuffy, and Joan assumed he was coming down with a cold.

When she laid Manny beside her at 3:30 that morning after a long New Year's Eve, Joan assumed his cries would awaken her in a few hours. At 6:30 a.m., Joan awoke and discovered that Manny was unresponsive. Alerting her husband to call 911, she began CPR, continuing until the medical team arrived. Manny never responded. He died on New Year's Day 2007, cause of death undetermined.

Stricken with grief, Joan wanted to know why he died. The investigators suggested she rolled over onto him, but his symptoms didn't match. The medical examiner found blood in his lungs, in his brain, and in his heart, and massive congestion in his lungs. The cause of death remained undetermined.

In February, with her husband redeployed to Iraq, Joan awakened her daughter from a nap and noticed how white she looked. "Even the pupils in her eyes lost color," she recalls. They rushed her to the ER. By the time the staff got to them, her daughter's color had recovered. "Have you sought counseling?" the staff asked Joan.

Soon after this, Joan's girlfriend saw a news story on toxic mold. "It matches what you're going through," she said.

Joan hired a mold inspector.

"Your home is very toxic," he said. "Can you get out of there?" Joan told him of her attempts to leave. "Try to stay away from home as much as possible, and open all the windows," he urged.

She took her two remaining children to mold specialist Dr. Vincent Marinkovich in California. Based on blood samples taken from the kids, Dr. Marinkovich concluded that Joan and her family were being severely poisoned.

Joan demanded another home, and the military provided a temporary apartment. She left most of her family's possessions behind.

Joan is now on the other side of her tragedy. Recovering her health has not been easy. She still struggles with brain fog, fatigue, and abdominal pain. Her oldest son has auditory problems. Her daughter goes white whenever exposed to mold. All have food sensitivities.

Still, Joan is ready to share her story.

I don't want my son's memory to die with him. I want people to know that he died because they (the military) were negligent. I continued to ask them to move me, and they didn't. Now I'll never be able to hold my son on this earth again. Secondly, I would like them to start cleaning up these homes. Start giving mold victims the medical attention they need.

There are so many moms out there who have gone through this. They feel lost. Doctors are telling them they're crazy. I want them to know the truth. For the people who are in the beginning stages of this, I hope they're educated enough to get out before they lose a loved one. I want people to know the truth and in doing so, spare them a lot of heartache.

To listen to my audio interview with Joan about her family's tragic story, visit the Personal Stories section of the momsAWARE website.

A Trip to the Vet

2011-12-26T08:30:00.003-07:00

We added a new family member over Christmas break: a Maltese/Yorkie mix named Tebow Baggins (our very own hobbit!). My first trip to the vet was eye-opening. I was amazed at the amount of good, basic health information I received from someone not promoting himself as a holistic practitioner. I marveled that this kind of knowledge is so readily available for our pets and not for our children. Here are some highlights:

A corn-free diet is optimal. The vet offered a premium puppy food that is "corn-free." One of the handouts explained that corn often contains aflatoxins, described as "a naturally occurring toxic chemical by-product from the growth of the fungus Aspergillus flavus on corn and other crops."

This is common knowledge in the pet world. According to Entirely Pets, aflatoxins "can cause severe liver damage in pets, which can lead to fatality." Aflatoxins are no better for humans. See this previous post about aflatoxins in food.
Soy is an endocrine disrupter. I asked if the food contained soy, knowing that a soy-free/corn-free diet is a must for our newest addition. "I'm not sure," he said. "Check the website." And then he added, "I don’t like what soy does to the endocrine system." Instead of feeling belittled, I felt validated.

Research suggests soy is no easier on human endocrine systems. According to the research done by the Weston A. Price Foundation, "Soy isoflavones are phyto-endocrine disrupters. At dietary levels, they can prevent ovulation and stimulate the growth of cancer cells. Eating as little as 30 grams (about 4 tablespoons) of soy per day can result in hypothyroidism with symptoms." This concern with the hormonal disruption doesn't even address the GMO issue. More than 90% of all soy is now genetically modified. See this startling graph from the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.
Good teeth reflect good health. The vet spent quite a bit of time looking at Tebow's bite and teeth. He explained how critical his bite is to future health and suggested ways to keep the back teeth clean. It was clear that Tebow's health and the condition of his teeth were related. We are often missing this fact when it comes to our yearly physical. Our daughter's experience with having her front tooth extracted taught me the reality of this connection. Dr. Hal Huggins has written an excellent article explaining the implications of dentistry as it relates to overall health.
Environment affects health. The vet asked about our environment and the breeder's environment, suggesting we be aware of any changes that might affect our puppy's health. Environmental change can bring on all sorts of health symptoms, such as diarrhea, lethargy, and mood changes. We didn’t spend much time on this subject, but the implication was clear: environment and health are connected.
Vaccinations must be given carefully. The vet made it very clear. "I don't do more than one vaccination at a time," he said, explaining that too many shots at one time can overload the dog's immune system. I shudder when I think of the way we vaccinated our nine children. Their immune systems are no less fragile.
Be aware of plastics. The vet expressed a concern about chewing toys and plastics. "I'm okay with rawhide," he said, but expressed his wariness of plastic chew toys. I didn't pursue the subject further, but his caution was refreshing in light of the current concern over BPA in plastics.
Cleanliness is critical. The vet encouraged us to bathe Tebow, keep his eyes free of discharge, and trim his facial hair regularly. We didn't discuss the shampoo we would use; I already knew that petroleum-based, fragranced products were not an option. Here's the recipe we used for Tebow's first bath:
- 10 oz distilled water
- 1 tbsp. liquid Castile soap
- 1 tsp. glycerin
- 1 drop tea tree oil (essential oils must be used cautiously with pets.)
- 2 drops rose geranium essential oil
I chose tea tree oil for the cleaning benefit and rose geranium for its tick/flea-fighting capabilities. See this article for more information on this benefit of rose geranium oil.

Tebow already has brought renewed hope and joy to our home. Now let the potty training begin!

Christmas Prayer

2011-12-23T07:00:00.002-07:00

For those who find themselves in a season of sorrow, or conflict, or uncertainty... may you experience a special moment of peace this Christmas.

PEACE IS . . .

~ gazing at the stars with the knowledge
that you know their Creator.

~ closing your eyes in sleep without fear
of tomorrow.

~ the stillness in your heart when trouble swirls
around you.

~ a quiet mind in a raging world.

—author unknown

Healthy Holiday Beverages

2011-12-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

Festive beverages such as hot chocolate and eggnog are commonly offered at this time of year. Would you like some healthier alternatives? Consider these gluten-free, sugar-free options, demonstrated by my lovely daughter Erin.

Hot Cacao Drink

1 tbsp. cacao powder
Spices of choice (ex. nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, cayenne pepper)
10 oz. boiling water
Stevia or sweetener of choice

Blend cacao powder with spices and mix with boiling water (you can mix in a cup, or steep in a coffee press for a less grainy result). Add sweetener to taste and enjoy!

Coconut Milk "Eggnog"

Coconut milk (canned, homemade, or in a carton)
Spices of choice (ex. cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves)
Vanilla liquid stevia or sweetener of choice

Mix coconut milk with spices, to taste. (A Vitamix works best for blending, but simple stirring will work too.) Add sweetener to taste, serve and enjoy!

Bath Bonanza Gift Set Recipes

2011-12-12T07:11:00.000-07:00

A simple gift of bath salts can be expanded to include an appealing array of luxurious, natural products. Here are a few ideas to help lend inspiration to your gift-giving plans!

Bath Salts:

2 c. baking soda
1 c. sea salt. Dead Sea salt is optimal, available from vendors such as SoapGoods.
1 c. Epsom salts
1/4 tsp. vitamin C powder. Helps neutralize chlorine and makes a nice addition to the salts. Options include Perque Potent C Guard from Natural Healthy Concepts.
5-10 drops essential oil of choice

Dendritic salt, a very fine-grain salt that helps hold the fragrance of the essential oil, may be used to replace either of the other salts—just keep the ratio of salts to baking soda at 1 part salts to 1 part baking soda.

Combine all ingredients and stir to blend. Pour into mason jar or decorative container. (For decorative bottles and jars, try SKS Bottle and Packaging.)

You may also want to include a small bottle of glycerin for your recipient, with directions to add 10-12 drops to the bath to avoid dry skin. To enhance the glycerin, add several drops of lavender or other essential oil to the bottle. Glycerin can be purchased at health food stores or online. Options include Heritage Products Vegetable Glycerin from Vitacost.

Floral Bath Bag:

1 9x9 square of muslin or cheesecloth
8 tbsp. dried floral blossoms (chamomile, lavender, and rose petals all work well)
1 tbsp. ground oatmeal or sunflower seed meal
10 drops essential oil of choice (options include lavender, chamomile, and rose)

Place dry ingredients in the center of cloth. Add essential oils and mix. Gather material into a loose pouch and tie with string or yarn. (Make the string long enough to hang from the water tap in the tub so that running water will flow through the bag.)

Include directions to untie the bag and allow to float in the water during the bath. Can be used to rub on the body as well.

Bath Oil:

2 tbsp. castor oil, jojoba oil, or avocado oil
5 drops essential oil of choice

Combine ingredients in a decorative bottle. Include directions to add 2-4 drops per bath.

Accessories:

Wooden scoops make a great addition to the package. These are reasonably priced and available at suppliers such as San Francisco Salt Company.
Include a skin brush for dry brushing before the bath. Include directions for dry brushing as an added bonus.

Combine all of the above and package in a reusable shopping bag with tissue paper or recyclable filler. The Original Soap Dish has some innovative ideas for packaging!

These recipes are designed to spark your creativity. Have fun experimenting. Who knows, you may end up keeping a jar or two for yourself!

The Good Old Days

2011-12-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

It’s been a rough few weeks. Filled with grim reminders that our bodies are still in the process of recovering from a massive mold assault. I would much prefer to think of our experience as “behind us.” Even more, I would love to tell friends and family what they want to hear. “Please tell me you guys are all better.” Or, “Tell me everything is back to normal.”

The truth is, we’re not all better. And life is not back to normal.

One of my daughters accepted a job recently at a nearby fitness center. Unfortunately the front desk is within feet of an indoor chlorinated pool. Two days after she accepted the job, the doors were removed for a remodeling project. Within minutes my daughter felt dizzy and lightheaded. Hearing about a previous mold remediation only added to her trauma. She left the job disheartened. It’s been three years. Does she still have to worry about this?

Another daughter met recently with a mold-traumatized family at a nearby coffee shop. Still in their home and preparing to vacate, they carried spores with them. Within hours my daughter’s fungal symptoms flared. One of the most aggravating is a rash around the mouth. Angular cheilitis. The symptoms led to a setback that lasted nearly two weeks.

One of my sons added a significant amount of kefir to his diet, sparking a major healing crisis that left him unable to attend school. Our diabetic son Colin’s blood sugars escalated for several days. Another daughter experienced a sore throat, and the familiar questions surfaced: Was she exposed to something? Is this detox? Is it unrelated and just a “normal” sore throat?

“Just think, it used to be like this every day,” my husband said as I sat on the floor, overcome with discouragement.

He’s right. Three years ago we were in the emergency room weekly. Nosebleeds were a daily occurrence. Children were unable to attend school. My memory was shot. I would walk into a room and have no idea why I was there. Honestly, we were too sick to see how sick we were.

We’ve come a long way. I don’t mind the reminders. They keep me grounded. Grounded in reality. We were “hit” by our house, and some issues may stay with us the rest of our lives. Life may never be back to normal.

We have a choice to embrace our new normal or continually wish for life as we knew it before. Now that we’ve made it this far, I’m not sure I would go back. Would I trade all of this knowledge for the good old days?

Letting go of what is behind is the only way to embrace today. I have to choose to be thankful for the reminders that life is a journey no matter what our trials may be. It’s been a rough few weeks, but we're going in a good direction. Maybe, just maybe... these are the good old days.

Toxic Talk Tuesday Today!

2011-11-29T07:59:00.001-07:00

Join my husband, Chris, and me for another Toxic Talk Tuesday on the November 29 edition of Chris Fabry Live! This time we'll help get you ready for Christmas with some fun, toxic-free gift ideas for that Toxic Trainee in your life. Tune in live at 2:00 p.m. Central time or visit the Chris Fabry Live! website to listen later via podcast or archived stream.

Holiday Awareness Tips

2011-11-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

Awareness plus creativity can go a long way toward a healthier holiday! Here are a few tips and suggestions for making your home both beautifully festive and safely toxic-free this holiday season.

Poinsettias:

Poinsettias are officially a non-toxic plant, contrary to popular myth. They are, however, commonly sprayed with chemicals as part of the growers’ height control program. Organically grown poinsettias are the best option and worth a call to your local greenhouse. (New York City, for example, boasts this greenhouse offering poinsettias and many other indoor plants that are organically grown.)

In addition, poinsettia plants contain a latex protein. People with a latex allergy can quickly become ill, and often don’t know exactly what they are reacting to when walking into a room containing poinsettias.

Christmas Trees:

Pesticides are used extensively in the growing of the traditional Christmas tree. While many of the chemicals will have been removed by exposure to rain and/or ultraviolet light, some will remain. Beyond Pesticides provides this list of pesticides commonly sprayed on Christmas trees.

When possible, purchase an organic tree. Green Promise has made available this list of organic growers, which spans 22 states and includes suppliers of organic trees, wreaths, mistletoe, and other greenery. Local Harvest offers organic mail order wreaths.

According to this December 2005 article in Natural Health Magazine by Janelle Brown:

"Don't feel guilty about buying a tree," says Deborah Gangloff, executive director of American Forests, a nonprofit conservation organization. Holiday trees are grown as a sustainable crop; in fact, 1 acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support 18 people, and provides habitats for birds and wildlife. Buying an artificial tree isn't a better choice, since most faux foliage is made from earth-toxic PVC.

"The very best thing you can do is buy a live tree--not a cut tree, but a live tree, with a root ball," Gangloff advises.

Why not consider an alternative Christmas tree that's neither fake nor fir? Here are a few options:

Driftwood. Make your own display out of driftwood or custom order from All Driftwood Furniture.
Tumbleweed. This is an excellent possibility for those in the southwest. See this article for tips.
Tree branches. Find your own branches or buy from Manzanita Burlworks. Secure the branch in a large ceramic pot. Add smaller branches to fill out. Add lights and ornaments, and enjoy!

Fireplace Logs:

Consider using eco-friendly alternatives for indoor fire burning. Options include:

Candles:

Most candles contain paraffin, a petroleum by-product. Consider using 100% pure beeswax candles, available from sources such as:

Or try using other methods to create your own festive fragrance:

Make your own evergreen scent by diffusing or simmering pine essential oil.
Create your own Christmas fragrance using this recipe:
3 cinnamon sticks
3 bay leaves
1/4 c. cloves
1/2 sliced lemon
1/2 sliced orange
1 quart water
Simmer on the back burner of your stove and replenish as needed!

What's in Your Makeup Bag?

2011-11-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

How much do you know about the ingredients in your personal care products? According to a newly released study featured on Oregon Live, most people know very little about the products they use every day. From shampoos to deodorants to toothpaste to perfumes, most consumers remain in the dark. The study, commissioned through Portland State University and titled "What's in My Makeup Bag?," concludes that most people think there are health risks associated with using personal care products, yet generally trust the products they use. According to the study:

. . . nearly half of the respondents do not believe that the government adequately regulates personal care products (45.4%) and over half do not feel that they know all they need to know about the ingredients in the personal care products they use (62.5%).

momsAWARE has created an opportunity to test your knowledge and learn more about the hidden ingredients in your personal care and other household products. This 15-question Chemical Awareness Quiz covers subjects ranging from antibacterial soaps to pesticides to mouthwash. Below are a few samples of the kinds of questions included on the quiz.

How many personal care products does the average woman use each day?

a. 7
b. 9
c. 12
d. 17
According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers' 2008 annual report, this was the top cause of poisoning in children under age 5:

a. Household cleaners
b. Pain medications
c. Cosmetics/personal care products
d. Foreign bodies/toys
The manufacturer of this consumer product warns against using it near birds because it can "damage a bird's lungs with alarming speed."

a. Non-stick cookware
b. Ant spray
c. Weed killer
d. Furniture polish
Triclosan, one of the primary ingredients in antibacterial soaps, is classified by the U.S. government as a:

a. Drug
b. Dioxide
c. Waste product
d. Pesticide
Dr. Harvey Wiley, the "Father of the Pure Food and Drugs Act," advised against using aluminum in food products, saying it is "universally acknowledged as a poison in all countries." Aluminum is commonly found in all of these products EXCEPT:

a. Toothpaste
b. Antacids
c. Food additives
d. Buffered aspirin

How did you do? To find out, see the comments section of this post. To further test your knowledge and learn more about the chemicals around us, take the momsAWARE Chemical Awareness Quiz.

In Remembrance

2011-11-17T06:30:00.001-07:00

Manny was born on November 17, 2006. His father was serving in Iraq. His mother, Joan, hoped his birth marked a new beginning for their family. Since moving into their military housing six months earlier, Joan had been plagued with vision problems, and her older children complained of leg cramps, headaches, and abdominal pain. Joan requested permission to relocate after the home showed signs of water damage. Leaky faucets, sewage backup, stained carpet, and other issues plagued the home. Joan's requests were repeatedly denied.

Manny died suddenly on New Year's Day, 2007. Cause of death undetermined. Today Joan knows that internal bleeding in his lungs, brain, and heart, along with congested lungs, were signs of mold toxicity. Joan is coming forward with Manny's story, which we will publish on January 1, 2012, the fifth anniversary of Manny's death. On this 17th day of November, Joan has requested that candles be lit in remembrance of Manny and countless others who have lost their lives to toxic mold.

Starve the Fungus!

2011-11-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

Dr. Joseph Mercola is trained in both natural and traditional medicine and is at the helm of one of the world's leading natural health websites, Mercola.com. He has recently devoted several articles to the issue of toxic mold. In last week's article titled Forget Antibiotics, Steroids and Medication - Starve This Toxin Out of Your Body, Dr. Mercola summarizes treatment options for what is becoming known as Mixed Mold Toxicosis. Excerpts from this excellent article appear below.

Illnesses caused by mold exposure are a growing problem that few people are aware of, including most primary care physicians.

Environmental health experts are seeing increasing numbers of individuals with a complex myriad of symptoms directly related to mold exposure.

This has resulted in the proposal of a new term to describe this multi-faceted syndrome: Mixed Mold Toxicosis. . . .

Accurate Information Can Shorten Your Road to Recovery

Unfortunately, there is no precise formula for rebuilding perfect health if you have been damaged by mold or its toxins. No one set of interventions will work for everyone. Treatment depends on many factors—the type of mold you were exposed to, length of exposure, your overall health, medications, allergies, genetics, and a host of other factors.

Your best approach is to find a well-informed physician who has expertise in environmental medicine. Together you can devise an appropriate treatment plan, based on your own unique physiology and situation. . . .

Dr. Mercola then suggests the book Mold: The War Within by Kurt and Lee Ann Billings, who suffered serious health issues while living in a home in the outer impact zone of Hurricane Katrina.

Physicians All Too Quick with the Prescription Pen

In the early stages of their road to recovery, the Billings went through many physicians who either didn't believe mold was behind their suffering, or whose treatments were little more than shots in the dark. When they did eventually find physicians who agreed their problems were related to mold poisoning, they offered little help other than prescribing dangerous antifungals and other drugs that contributed nothing to their recovery.

It took years to find the help they needed. I suspect this experience is probably not unique to the Billings family, as the treatment of mold-induced illnesses is an area for which most physicians are simply ill equipped. All too often, drugs are prescribed that don't address the underlying problem and have side effects that further compromise immune response, further impairing your body's natural ability to heal itself

As an example, consider four of the common drug approaches to treating fungal infections (of which mold is just one type): Nasal corticosteroids, antibiotics, antidepressants, and antifungal medications.

Nasal Steroid Inhalers and Cortisone

Nasal steroid inhalers have become very commonly prescribed for chronic sinusitis. Because people often experience short-lived relief from symptoms, they sometimes believe this treatment is working—at least, initially.

But is it really?

The steroid may temporarily decrease inflammation, which may make you feel a bit better for a short period of time. However, steroids suppress your immune response. If your immune response is compromised, then the infection is actually encouraged, which perpetuates the underlying problem.

It's like pouring gasoline on a fire. . .

Asthma, like sinusitis, often has a fungal origin that is missed in children and adults, so is often inappropriately treated by medical practitioners. Physicians usually prescribe cortisone and steroid inhalers if you or your child has asthma. In fact, cortisone has been one of the "preferred" methods of treating asthma in the U.S. since 1976. And since that time, the mortality from asthma has TRIPLED in the U.S.

The last thing you want to do if you have a fungal infection is suppress your body's ability to fight it! Yet, that's precisely what these steroid medications are doing.

Gross Misuse of Antibiotics

You learned in the first article that research suggests more than 90 percent of sinus infections are fungal in origin. Yet more than 90 percent of physicians continue to believe that the vast majority of sinus infections are bacterial—so they prescribe antibiotics that target bacteria, not fungi. Antibiotics create a fungus-friendly intestinal environment. Along with killing the bad bacteria, they kill off your good bacteria and yeast that would naturally keep the pathological fungi at bay. Without these good bacteria, fungi like mold are allowed to spread, unchecked.

Antibiotics (the kind that target bacteria) will not kill mold in sinus cavities. So, if more than 90 percent of upper respiratory infections are fungal, and physicians are throwing antibiotics at them, this points to an enormous number of infections that are being grossly mistreated.

Add to that a steroid nasal inhaler that suppresses your immune response, and you have a recipe for rampant fungal infection that can spread to the rest of your body and possibly progress into Mixed Mold Toxicosis, making you VERY ill.

When the first round of antibiotics doesn't work, physicians will often try a different type of antibiotic, which of course won't work either because they are still not treating the right problem. It is understandable, then, how a person suffering this vicious cycle not only becomes more ill, but also frustrated, depressed and hopeless about their situation. And these mood changes may lead to the next drugs to be prescribed: antidepressants.

Antidepressants: "It's All In Your Head"

Fungal toxins can affect your brain, and if so, alter your emotional state. Neurological symptoms are commonly seen with mold toxicity. This phenomenon, combined with the fact that mold exposure is often associated with psychologically traumatic environmental disasters such as hurricanes and floods, makes for a complex clinical picture that can superficially appear to the uneducated clinician as depression, anxiety, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Therefore, it's not uncommon for people suffering from chronic mold-related health problems to be prescribed antidepressant drugs, as if to say the problem is all "in their heads" and lacks any physiological cause. If your psychological symptoms are caused by fungal or chemical exposure, an antidepressant will DO NOTHING to neutralize the toxins causing your psychological symptoms, much less your physical symptoms!

Antidepressants can do more damage than good and come with a slew of potentially serious side effects, to say nothing of failing to address the underlying cause.

Antifungal Drugs… Bye Bye Liver

As a group, antifungal drugs are quite toxic, especially to your liver. For example, the drug Lamisil (terbinafine), used to treat toenail fungus, is so toxic that its manufacturer Novartis warns you in their product insert that Lamisil has resulted in liver failure, the need for liver transplants, and death. Lamisil can also cause loss of taste or smell, depression, suppressed blood cell counts, skin reactions and development of lupus erythematosus (an autoimmune disease). Yet, it is commonly prescribed for toenail fungus because it concentrates in nail tissue.

Nystatin is another antifungal that is used both orally and topically for Candida overgrowth. However, nystatin is poorly absorbed by your gastrointestinal tract and is not intended to treat mold infections or systemic fungal disease.

There are several other oral antifungals, in addition to a number of intravenous antifungals with even scarier side effect profiles.

The reason most antifungal drugs are so toxic has to do with the similarity between your body's cell membranes and fungal cell membranes. Fungal antibiotics attack the cell membranes of the fungus, and when they do, they also damage human cell membranes. These are some of the most dangerous drugs on the market and are best avoided. Clearly, drugs are not the answer if you've been poisoned by mold.

So, what IS the answer?

Cutting Off the Fungal Food Supply

It comes as no surprise to me that Kurt and Lee Ann Billings found the most beneficial intervention in their recovery was a radical change in diet. What they did was cut out every food that fuels fungal growth—namely, sugars, grains and grain-based foods, and simple carbohydrates. By eliminating milk, bread, crackers, pasta, cereal, nearly all fruit, and anything made from refined white flour, they literally STARVED the mold out of their bodies.

Fungi, including yeast and molds, need sugar in order to survive. So what you eat really matters, since any organism living in your body depends on your diet to sustain it. Fungi will thrive on a diet high in fructose, sucrose (table sugar), lactose (milk sugar) and other sugars.

This is not new information. Low sugar diets have been popularized in the battle against Candida overgrowth (Anti-yeast diet, Candida Diet, etc.), and mold thrives in similar conditions as yeast. It makes perfect sense that people with fungal infections begin to regain their health when they begin taking away the fungus' food supply.

Sugar also suppresses your immune system and commonly contains mold contamination itself, which are two good reasons to avoid it. But cutting out sugar and grains may not go far enough.

Top 10 Foods to Avoid if You have Mold Sensitivity

People who have been exposed to toxic mold can become "sensitized" in such a way that they react to a variety of different agents in their food and environment, as if they are allergic to them. It may take only a very minute exposure to trigger a major recurrence of symptoms. So you must take steps to make your environment as mold-free as humanly possible—so that you're not breathing fungi or eating fungi.

There are several types of food that should be avoided if you are mold-sensitive because they are subject to mold contamination. In their book, the Billings include a list of the top-ten mycotoxic foods, compiled by David A. Holland, MD and Doug Kaufmann, which I'm including for you below. As you can see, many of those top-ten foods are grains.

Alcoholic beverages: Alcohol is the mycotoxin of Saccharomyces yeast (brewer's yeast), and often contains other mycotoxins from mold-containing fruits and grains
Wheat and all wheat products
Rye
Peanuts: Often contaminated with dozens of mold types, one of which is cancer-causing aflatoxin
Cottonseed and cottonseed oil
Corn: Universally contaminated with a variety of fungal toxins
Barley
Sorghum: Used in a variety of grain products and alcoholic beverages
Sugar from sugar cane and sugar beets
Hard cheeses

Regarding peanuts, a 1993 study reportedly identified 24 different types of fungi just on the outside of the peanuts in their sample—and these peanuts had already been sterilized. One of the mycotoxins frequently found on peanuts is aflatoxin, which is a known human carcinogen. In terms of hard cheeses, cheeses like Gouda are made with yogurt-type cultures such as lactobacillus, rather than fungi, so these are a better alternative.

There are often fungal components used in food manufacturing that are not necessarily listed on the label. Take soy sauce, for example. Authentic soy sauce is fermented by a fungus, which is what gives soy sauce its distinctive flavor. If your immune system is overly reactive and sensitized, something like this can trigger a recurrence of illness as your body interprets it as a foreign invader, and you jump back into the symptom-producing antigen-antibody cycle.

The Billings wrote that they also reacted adversely to vinegar, beans and canned tomato products.

Basically, the closer you stick to a basic diet of fresh organic vegetables, lean organic meats, and fresh, pure water while recovering, the less risk you'll have of additional mold exposure and reactions. It's wise to avoid eating out because you just can't control what is put into your food unless you prepare it yourself. You have to go beyond being a good label reader and become a "food detective."

You may want to do some vegetable juicing to accelerate your healing. Juicing helps alkalize your body, and for the most part, fungi can't grow in an alkaline environment. Juices assimilate very quickly into your system with very little effort or energy by your digestive tract—like an intravenous infusion of whole food nutrition! Juices should be consumed immediately after being juiced (within 15 minutes is best) as the enzymes degrade rapidly thereafter.

Probiotics: Mold's Worst Nightmare

Probably the most important supplement for recovering from mold-induced illness is a good probiotic. Your gastrointestinal tract is your first line of defense against mold and its toxins, and having a GI tract populated with beneficial flora is crucial for optimal immune function. Probiotics help repopulate your GI tract with these beneficial bacteria.

The "good" bacteria help keep the "bad" bacteria (and other organisms like mold and yeast) in check. This is why, as discussed earlier, antibiotics are so counterproductive if you have a fungal infection.

Without the proper microflora, fungi and their toxins can break through the walls of your intestinal tract and enter your bloodstream. When your bowel is toxic, the rest of your body soon follows. Sensing this toxicity, your immune system reacts with a vengeance, trying desperately to overcome this perceived assault, which results in systemic inflammation. And when your blood is full of toxins, your organs responsible for cleansing it (liver, kidneys, skin, lymph) become overloaded and multi-system health problems can occur—which is what many people experience after mold poisoning.

Your immune system produces antibodies to the mold (the antigen). If your overload is severe enough, you can experience "serum sickness," which can appear as a severe, unrelenting flu-like syndrome. The worst cases can take years to resolve unless aggressive action is taken.

It is important to remember that the catalyst for the entire illness is disruption of healthy intestinal flora. This is why paying careful attention to your GI health is SO vitally important, and a high quality probiotic is helpful beyond measure. I just can't emphasize this enough.

Dr. Mercola goes on to describe the four following healing aids:

Garlic
Ginger
Cayenne
Goldenseal

Final Recommendations

There are undoubtedly many other helpful natural agents, and you will have to rely on the expertise of your healthcare providers to find which ones are best for you. It will require some degree of trial and error. The take-away is, there ARE options if you suspect you've been poisoned by mold. And as usual, the natural approaches are much safer and more effective for restoring your health than antifungal drugs, antibiotics or steroids, which are the worst options by far.

Visit the Mercola.com website to read the entire article, which concludes with Dr. Mercola's top recommended strategies for mold recovery.

Avocado Ice Cream and Fermented Fruit Leather

2011-11-02T06:24:00.001-07:00

With the holidays upon us, it can be fun to come up with healthy treat alternatives. The following two recipes worked well for our Halloween.

Avocado Ice Cream

3 avocados
3 tbsp. cacao powder (or enough to get a nice chocolate color)
2 tsp. cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt
Stevia to taste (we used chocolate flavored stevia)

Blend in high-powered blender until creamy. Chill in freezer and store until needed. (It takes some time to thaw, unlike regular ice cream.) Garnish with coconut shavings and/or cacao nibs. Serve and enjoy!

Fermented Fruit Leather

This is a great alternative to the popular Fruit Roll-Ups. General Mills is currently facing a class action lawsuit regarding its fruit snacks. According to this recent article published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest:

Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups are made from pears from concentrate, corn syrup, dried corn syrup, sugar, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, citric acid, acetylated monoglycerides, fruit pectin, dextrose, malic acid, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), unspecified “natural flavor,” and Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, and Blue1. . . .

According to the complaint, filed in United States District Court in the Northern District of California, the presence of partially hydrogenated oil in “fruit” snacks marketed as healthy and wholesome is deceptive. The artificial trans fat in partially hydrogenated oil lowers HDL, or “good” cholesterol, raises LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. CSPI states that the amounts of trans fat are small, but that they have no place in a product marketed as if it were healthful and a source of fruit.

“Defendant is conveying an overall message of a healthful snack product to parents when, in fact, the Products contain dangerous, non-nutritious, unhealthy partially hydrogenated oil, large amounts of sugar, and potentially harmful artificial dyes,” the complaint states.

Directions for Fermented Fruit Leather:
(adapted from this recipe by Cultures for Health)

Place fresh fruit chunks in food processor (S blade). I used 5 Granny Smith apples. Process until a smooth consistency.

Add:

2 tbsp. whey or half a packet of starter culture
1 tsp. sea salt
Spices to taste (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger)

Blend or stir. Place in mason jar and place a lid on the jar. Allow jar to sit in a dark place at room temperature. I used whey and fermented for 5 days. Even then the mixture tasted sweet. If using a culture starter instead of whey, ferment for up to 10 days.

Spread the fruit mixture on sheets of unbleached parchment paper or ParaFlexx sheets, which are then placed on dehydrator trays. (Mixture can be strained through cheesecloth if it is too watery.)

An oven can work as a dehydrator provided there is airflow and consistent, lower temperature. Set the oven as low as possible and open the door slightly. Place a fan directed into the oven to create circulation. Drying can also be done outside on a hot, sunny day.

Allow the fruit leather to dry for 8-24 hours until smooth and no longer sticky.

My kids took these to school and their friends asked if they were store-bought! I can't wait to try them using strawberries and/or cranberries and package them in parchment paper for Christmas!

The Naturally Healthy Bathroom

2011-10-28T13:53:00.004-07:00

It makes sense to pay careful attention to rooms where potential plumbing problems and pathogens abound. How do I clean without harsh chemicals? How do I keep the environment free of mold and mildew? Here are a few suggestions for keeping your bathroom clean, fresh-smelling, and healthy.

Mold Prevention

Check the baseboards. Are they soft to the touch? If so, you may have a mold problem.

Check the distance between the tub and the drywall. Drywall is always a potential host for mold because of the combination of darkness, moisture, and cellulose, which offers food for mold growth. If the drywall comes close to the side of the tub, consider installing splash guards to prevent drips and splashes. (AFM Safecoat offers a non-toxic caulking compound that's useful for applying the splash guards.)

If you think you have a mold problem, consider testing your bathroom. See the Where Do I Begin? entry to learn more.

See these Mold Prevention Tips for additional suggestions on preventing bathroom mold.

Shower Curtains

Choose shower curtains and curtain liners carefully. Vinyl shower curtains emit hazardous chemicals such as DEHP, a phthalate that is a suspected carcinogen and has been linked to hormonal disruption in humans. See this study by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice for more information.

EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) curtains offer an excellent alternative to vinyl. EVA is chlorine- and phthalate-free. Washable fabric curtains are chemical-free and can be laundered weekly to prevent mold growth. Glass doors are another excellent option.

Cleansers

Any non-toxic cleaners you use in other parts of the home can also be used in the bathroom. White vinegar (diluted or full strength) is the best all-around cleaner and can be used to clean tubs, toilets, floors, and even mirrors.

For added protection against mold and mildew, add several drops of tea tree oil and grapefruit seed extract (GSE) to the white vinegar.

For those who find the smell of tea tree oil or white vinegar offensive, consider adding cinnamon essential oil or pine essential oil to the diluted vinegar. Lime also helps soften the odor.

An odorless option is 25 drops of GSE blended with 1 c. water. Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and use as you would white vinegar. No rinsing required.

Scrubbers

Powdered sugar shaker jars make great containers for scrubbers.

Baking soda makes a simple scrubber. Place in jar and sprinkle onto surface.

For a heavy-duty scouring powder, combine 1/2 c. baking soda with 1/2 c. washing soda. This mixture will require extra rinsing.

For a fragrant scouring powder, combine 1 c. baking soda with 1/4 c. crushed and dried rose petals. Add 2 drops rosemary essential oil.

Toilet Bowls

If needed, wear plastic gloves and remove toilet bowl stains with a pumice stone.
Cleaning the toilet bowl involves two steps, which can be done in either order:

Pour 1 c. borax into the toilet. Let sit overnight. Clean with toilet brush in the morning.
Pour 1/2 c. white vinegar into bowl. Add 1/2 c. baking soda. As the vinegar neutralizes the soda, a fizz is created, which aids in the cleaning process.

After the bowl is cleaned, add three drops tea tree oil (or essential oil of choice) and allow to sit in the water until the next use.

Disinfectant

Hydrogen peroxide. For added protection, follow the white vinegar cleanser/toilet bowl cleaner with 3% hydrogen peroxide. A study done at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University concluded that this combination kills almost all Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. See this article for more information.
Vinegar of the Four Thieves. This recipe has been passed down since the time of the Black Plague, when robbers rubbed a mixture of herbs and vinegar on their bodies to protect themselves from certain death. The antibacterial herbs vary from recipe to recipe. This is adapted from the book Better Basics for the Home:

Place a handful each of dried lavender, rosemary, sage, wormwood, rue, and mint in a 1/2 gallon glass jar. Pack them in tightly. Pour raw organic apple cider vinegar over the herbs, covering them to within 4 inches of the top. Cover jar tightly and set in a cool, dark place for 3-6 weeks. Shake jar daily or several times a week.

After the allotted time, strain. Pour strained vinegar into spray bottles. Dilute if desired.

This can also be spritzed into the air of a sickroom. Be sure to avoid eyes and mouth.

Antibacterial Hand Soap

Conventional antibacterial soaps contain triclosan, a synthetic antimicrobial agent used in a wide variety of household and personal care products. (See this article to learn more about the hazards of triclosan.)

A simple alternative begins with a hand soap pump bottle. This can be reused or purchased new. Fill with a mixture of 1 c. filtered water and 3 tbsp. liquid Castile soap. If refilling a foaming soap dispenser, use less Castile soap. To extend the shelf life, add 3 drops grapefruit seed extract. You can also add several drops of lemon or lavender essential oil.

Drain Cleaners

Plungers or plumber's snakes are often needed for clogged drains. For minor backups, pour 1 c. washing soda into water around drain. Water should go down. If not, try adding 1 c. white vinegar. Use washing soda weekly to keep drains flowing freely.

Feel free to transition into these products slowly, taking it one step at a time. Once you try them, you may never buy expensive hand soaps, cleansers, or scrubbers again!

Toxic Talk Alert

2011-10-24T12:44:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday, October 25, I'll be joining my husband Chris on Moody Radio's Chris Fabry Live! broadcast for another Toxic Talk Tuesday. Our topic this time will be "The Naturally Healthy Bathroom." We'll also be testing your chemical awareness with a few quiz questions about some of the household products we encounter every day. I hope you'll join us! Tune in live at 2:00 p.m. Central time or visit the Chris Fabry Live! website to listen via stream or podcast.

How To Do an ERMI Mold Test

2011-10-17T05:23:00.003-07:00

Dust sampling can be a good way to assess the health of your environment. The ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index) test is recommended as a place to begin. Several labs offer this analysis, including EMLab P&K, EMSL Analytical, and Mycometrics.

Below is an interview regarding dust sampling with toxicologist Dr. Jack Thrasher, a leader in the field of indoor air quality.

Why is a dust sample preferable to an air sample when testing your home for mold?

Air sampling is unreliable because the results are too variable. Air sampling only identifies mold spores to the genus level. It is important to know the species of mold. Mold spores are present in the dust and the dust can be examined for species of mold using PCR (ERMI) testing. For example, we did a building in Bermuda. Initial air samples indicated low concentrations of mold spores. We then disturbed the indoor air with an aerosol of sterile fluoroethane. The spore counts went up as high as 250,000 spores per cubic meter. Thus the spores entrained in dust were redistributed into the indoor air.

Do you recommend the ERMI test as a place to begin when testing for toxic mold?

I always recommend the ERMI tests. The moldiness index is not too meaningful, particularly for sensitive and high-risk people. The portion of the ERMI test that is important is the identification of mold species. Often dangerous molds, such as Aspergillus versicolor, fumigatus, and flavus along with certain species of Penicillium are present. These species cannot be determined by spore counts because Aspergillus and Penicillium species have almost identical spore structures. Also, Stachybotrys does not readily shed spores, but can be found in dust and bulk samples by PCR analysis.

When vacuuming for an ERMI test, is it best to vacuum in one spot, or take from a variety of places around the home?

I personally recommend doing dust samples from various areas of the house. Excellent samples areas are refrigerator coils and other hidden dust accumulation areas (e.g. under washing machines), giving the history of the home since installation of the appliances. Dust from the top of drop-down kitchen cabinets is another source. One can also use carpet dust, although this may not tell the whole story. In conclusion, collect dust from areas in the house that do not readily get cleaned. Keep all dust samples separate from each other. If the dust samples are mixed, one does not know which areas are most contaminated. However, if there is no concern for the areas involved, one can mix the dust samples. I also recommend taking bulk samples of mold growth and subjecting them to an ERMI test.

Is it best to keep the house closed up for a day or two before taking an ERMI sample?

This is not a necessary requirement. The reason is that certain molds are associated with different substrates. For example, Stachybotrys requires a cellulose source, such as drywall, while others species of mold will be associated with flooring and carpeting.

Do I need to vacuum areas that I don't suspect have been affected by the mold?

If mold is indoors and in wall cavities, all areas of the home are probably affected. Therefore do the dust sampling as discussed above. Some areas may have fewer spores than others; however, the mold spores will drift throughout the house.

What about bacteria?

Both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria are also found indoors. The Gram-negative are producers of endotoxins. The Gram-positive release toxins. The Gram-positive bacteria are Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and various species of Bacillus that can be pathogenic. In addition, the Gram-positive bacteria includes the Actinobacteria, including species of Streptomyces, nontuberculin Mycobacterium, and Nocardia, to name a few. The Actinobacteria are potential pathogens and release toxins into the indoor environment that are more toxic than the mycotoxins produced by molds.

What is involved with taking bulk samples?

Bulk samples are just what the word means. One cuts out a piece of the contaminated materials, e.g. drywall, carpeting, etc. Put it in a Ziploc bag, date and label the bag, and send it to the testing lab. If litigation is involved, then a chain of custody is needed and a witness to the sampling.

How does one test for bacteria in the home?

Bacteria are tested in buildings and homes the same way. One can use bulk samples (see above) or sterile Q-tips. Take samples of suspected contamination. Culture using sheep blood agar (SBA) and TSA (Trypticase soy agar) at both 35 and 50 degrees centigrade. Have the laboratory identify the bacteria to genus and species. Also, ask them to culture for Actinobacteria. The Actinobacteria bacteria are slow growing and require several days to identify.

If I see visible mold but have no ill health effects, should I still test my home in this way?

Yes. How does one know that they do not have ill health effects? The health effects can range from just sneezing through systemic conditions of not feeling well.

What is important to emphasize about testing for toxic mold?

Too much emphasis is being put on molds. The indoor environment is a complex mixture of biocontaminants (mold, bacteria and their by-products).

For more information on Dr. Thrasher's work, visit his website.

Looking Back, Moving Forward

2011-10-10T08:52:00.000-07:00

I wrote the following article last week answering the questions, “How do I cope with the losses associated with a toxic mold exposure? How do I move past the emotional devastation of losing my home, possessions, health, and often friends and family?” I wrote the article for the Global Indoor Health Network, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of the health effects of mold and other indoor contaminants. Here is the article as it appeared in their October 7, 2011 newsletter.

It’s been three years since we walked away from our home and life as we knew it. We left twenty-six years of baby boxes, heirlooms, treasured books, and precious memories behind and walked into an unknown future.

As with any catastrophe it’s hard to grasp the magnitude of such a loss until it’s broken into heart-sized pieces. We grasp the magnitude of an earthquake by looking into the eyes of an orphan aching for his mother. I feel the loss most keenly when I picture Ryan’s beloved Barney lunchbox or our firstborn’s baby book complete with locks of hair. Why is it that losing “everything” is easier to bear than the thought of Shannon’s indelible etching of “Merry Christmas” in the wood mounting of our bathroom door?

We’ve been in crisis for three years so I’ve had little time to dwell on specifics, but the gaping heartache rarely leaves. I would give anything to know what I know now and go back to the comfort of friends and “normalcy.”

I wonder how we would survive a different tragedy. There’s something unique about losing a home to toxic mold because of the loneliness that stems from the lack of understanding. If your house burns in a fire, you lose everything but insurance generally covers the cost of rebuilding. With most companies, mold is written out of the policy. The financial repercussions pale in comparison to the life-long health implications. Would a tsunami be easier?

I’ve found comfort in the biblical account of Job who lost everything, including his children. My children survived...but my dreams for them died. There have been no boils covering my body—I’ve just had debilitating memory loss. We didn’t lose fields and livestock; we lost 3/4 of an acre. Still, I relate to Job. His friends, after all, blamed him for his disaster. They accused and questioned, just like mine.

Perhaps my greatest comfort has been the epic character of Frodo in Lord of the Rings. Frodo is given a task. Little does he know the magnitude of what has been asked of him. His first step is to leave the comfort of the Shire. The further he gets, the more difficult life becomes:

“In that lonely place Frodo for the first time fully realized his homelessness and danger. He wished bitterly that his fortune had left him in the quiet and beloved Shire.”

Many days I wish I were back in my Shire. Perhaps one day I’ll stop looking back. For now I echo these thoughts of Frodo:

“How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin to understand...there is no going back? There are some things that time cannot mend. Some hurts that go too deep, that have taken hold.”

Despite his misgivings, Frodo moves forward. He has no choice. And neither do I. This is what it means to cope: to take the next step, however small or unknown.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

Introducing momsAWARE

2011-10-03T06:33:00.000-07:00

I spoke with a mom last week who called from a hotel, one day after her family had vacated their toxic home. Since moving into the home in 2005, her health has declined. In her words: “I made a steady slide into poor health, including interstitial cystitis, fibromyalgia, tremors, metallic taste, electronic shock pain in body, swollen joints, tingling in scalp, severe and chronic costochondritis, autoimmune problems, thyroid problems.” She tried everything to regain her health, including nutritional strategies such as juicing and avoidance of all sugar and processed foods.

Nothing helped. Her children became ill. Her husband became ill. Her dog died. Six months ago her parents moved in and they too became ill.

“I never once suspected mold,” she says.

Extensive research led her to the discovery that toxic mold can cause these various symptoms. Last week when she discovered six jackets covered in yellow, green, purple, and black furry mold, she and her family vacated their home.

“I’m worried about finances. I’m worried about whether we will recover. I’m worried about the legal implications of walking away from our home. How on earth we are going to pay for all that is coming our way, I just do not know.”

This mother’s story is all too common. It's our family's story, and so many others. This week marks three years since we found ourselves in a hotel, asking these same questions. Over the course of these last three years, I have spoken with dozens of families who have experienced this devastation.

For this reason I have a passion to raise awareness not only about toxic mold, but also about the hazards of pesticides, chemicals, EMFs, personal care products, and more. It is my dream to provide financial assistance to families just like this one.

So it is with great excitement that I introduce momsAWARE, an organization dedicated to seeing this dream become a reality. We are currently completing the incorporation process and will then apply for 501(c)(3) non-profit status with the IRS, which will allow us to accept tax-deductible donations as a qualified charitable organization.

We have an active website which includes articles, podcasts, videos, recipes, and helpful links. We’d love to have you join our Forum and visit us on Facebook for our daily educational tips and links to helpful resources.

Our website can be viewed here: momsAWARE.org

I am also very excited to let you know about our very own All-Natural Lip Balm! My daughter Megan and I have developed this recipe, which includes nourishing Jojoba Oil, luxurious Apricot Kernel Oil, sweet Lemon Oil, and the rare Melissa Oil. This lip balm has done wonders for our family! We plan to add seasonal versions with ingredients such as white fir for winter, lavender for spring, citrus for summer, and cinnamon for fall. I invite you to try our momsAWARE All-Natural Lip Balm by visiting our Online Store.

The world is slowly awakening to the connection between toxicity and health. Join us as we seek to encourage and empower, one searching family at a time.

All-Natural Personal Care

2011-09-26T06:13:00.008-07:00

More than 10,000 ingredients are used in personal care products. The United States cosmetic industry is valued at more than $50 billion and remains virtually unregulated. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and its partnering organization, the Environmental Working Group:

One in five personal care products contain chemicals linked to cancer, 80 percent contain ingredients that commonly contain hazardous impurities, and 56 percent contain penetration enhancers that help deliver ingredients deeper into the skin.

To find out what's in the products you use, take a tour of EWG's Skin Deep Database.

Even the products sold in health food stores aren't necessarily pure and natural. Examples of brands with strict integrity include Aubrey Organics, Waleda, Autumn Harp, and Organic Essence.

But the good news is that with a few supplies and a little creativity, you can make your own personal care products. The possibilities are endless!

Supplies include:

Glass or plastic spray bottles (available online or previously used, emptied, and cleaned well)
Mason jars in all sizes (if using plastic tops, have a grease pencil on hand to label)
Liquid Castile soap
Glycerin
Raw apple cider vinegar
Herbs such as nettles, birch, comfrey, lavender
Essential oils such as lavender, plumeria, tea tree, lemongrass
Rhassoul clay

Recipes

Shampoo:

Rhassoul clay is known historically to cleanse the hair and body. The clay binds with toxins, oils, and dirt and washes them away. Rhassoul clay is best used as a paste. Apply paste to wet hair, comb through, and rinse. Comb through again. Follow with a vinegar rinse. Rhassoul clay can be purchased at Mountain Rose Herbs. For other specific ideas on incorporating rhassoul clay into your hair and skin routine, see this website.
Soap nuts may be purchased and decocted to form a liquid soap suitable for shampoo. NaturOli is one source for purchasing soap nuts. To decoct, place a heaping handful of soap nuts in 4 c. water. Bring to boil and simmer for one hour. Place in mason jar or plastic bottle. Shake well before using. Store in refrigerator. Replace once a week.
Basic shampoo:
- 10 oz. water or herbal water *
- 1-2 oz. liquid Castile soap
- 1 tsp. glycerin
- 20-35 drops essential oil (tea tree oil can be effective for itchy scalp)
If using plain water, place all ingredients in a mason jar and shake to blend. Shampoo as usual.

* To make herbal water:

Choose an herb such as birch, nettles, comfrey, or lavender. Place a handful of herbs in a mason jar. Cover with 2-4 cups boiling water. Cover and let steep for a minimum of 4 hours. Strain.

Add 3-6 drops grapefruit seed extract to preserve for several weeks, or store in refrigerator.

The key to soft, clean hair is to restore the hair to its normal pH of 5.5 after washing. This can be done by exfoliating with coffee grounds, using Queen of Hungary water (see below) or plain raw apple cider vinegar as a rinse. Lemon juice can also be used. If using rhassoul clay, nothing else may be needed.

Skin Care:

The key to healthy, vibrant skin is a healthy diet full of nutritious whole foods and essential fatty acids. (EFAs are of particular importance when eczema and hair loss are involved.)

To treat the skin externally, three steps are required: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. As with our hair, it is important to restore our skin to its natural pH of 5.5 after cleansing.

Cleansers:

Decocted soap nuts (see above). Best stored in refrigerator. Replace weekly.
Cleansing water. Mix 1/2 tsp. liquid Castile soap with 1 c. water in a mason jar. Shake before using. Stores indefinitely.
Gentled soap:
- 1 oz. grated Castile soap
- 3/4 c. distilled water
- 1/4 tsp. honey
- 1/2 tsp. glycerin
- 5-10 drops essential oil such as rosemary or lavender
For dry skin, add 2 tsp. avocado oil.

Place Castile soap in water overnight to dissolve. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Dab with washcloth and wash as usual. Rinse with warm water.

Toners:

Witch hazel extract. This can be made by infusing witch hazel leaves (see above directions for herbal water).
Raw apple cider vinegar is an excellent toner.
Herbal astringent formula. Combine 1 c. herbal water (see above) with 2 tbsp. glycerin (or less) and 1/3 tsp. grapefruit seed extract. Shake and apply. Can be stored safely for several weeks or refrigerated longer.
Queen of Hungary water. This is a more elaborate toner, easy to make and full of medicinal qualities. This recipe is adapted from the book Better Basics for the Home:
- 6 small handfuls lemon balm
- 5 small handfuls calendula flowers
- 4 small handfuls rose petals
- 3 small handfuls comfrey
- 1 small handful rosemary, lemon peel, and sage
(Don’t worry if you don’t have all of these herbs; feel free to use what you have.)

Place herbs in a gallon glass jar. (You can halve this recipe for a 1/2 gallon jar.) Cover the herbs completely in raw organic apple cider vinegar. Screw on lid tightly. Let sit for 4-6 weeks. Shake the jar several times a week.

Strain the mixture. Combine remaining liquid with equal parts witch hazel extract. Rose water may also be used.

Dab on face and massage into skin. Queen of Hungary water also makes an excellent rinse for hair. Can be stored indefinitely.

Moisturizers:

Homemade cream kefir mixed with lavender makes an excellent moisturizer. Kefir, as with any soured milk product, is loaded with lactic acid, which is one of the alpha hydroxy acids. AHAs stimulate collagen production, which makes the skin more elastic and appear more youthful.

Cream kefir can be made by blending 1/4 c. homemade kefir and 2 c. raw or store-bought cream (avoid ultra-pasteurized). Allow to ferment for 24-48 hours, stirring several times. To learn more about kefir, see these previous posts on the Health Benefits of Kefir and How to Make Dairy Kefir.
Basic moisturizer. Combine 1/2 c. aloe vera gel with 1/8 c. glycerin. Stir to blend. Dampen face and massage onto skin. Stores for several months.
Flora De Mayo Cream (from the book Better Basics for the Home):
- 1/2 c. aloe vera gel
- 1/8 c. glycerin
- 1/2-1 tsp. royal jelly
- 1 tsp. plumeria flower essence (can use lavender essential oil)
Combine in bowl, stir vigorously to blend. Dab on fingers and massage into face. Keeps for 6 months refrigerated.

Deodorant:

Baking soda is an excellent odor neutralizer. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda onto a damp washcloth and pat on the body. Make a baking soda spray by blending 3 tsp. baking soda with 1 c. water in a spray bottle. Add tea tree oil for added protection.
Queen of Hungary water (see above) can be applied with a cotton ball or spray bottle.

For recipes including a liquid deodorant spray using zinc oxide and an herbal stick deodorant, see this website.

Tooth Care:

There are a myriad of ways to clean our teeth. Baking soda, coconut oil, bentonite clay, and peelu are a few of the ingredients used in natural toothpaste.

Author Stephanie Tourles offers this simple recipe in her book Organic Body Care Recipes:

1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. sea salt, finely ground
1 drop peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, clove, or cinnamon bark essential oil
A few drops tap water

Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix them thoroughly with a toothbrush, your finger, or a small spoon until a smooth, thick paste forms. The paste shouldn't be too runny; it has to stay on your toothbrush. Dip your toothbrush into the paste and use as you would regular commercial toothpaste.

Lip Balm:

Lip balm is simple to make with a double boiler or fondue maker. A standard recipe uses carrier oil and beeswax. A few examples can be found at this website.

momsAWARE offers a specially formulated lip balm with natural, healing ingredients. Visit our Online Store to find out more.

Transitioning to all-natural personal care products is a process. Allow yourself to make changes slowly. As you try one recipe, or choose a healthier product, you’ll enjoy a new sense of empowerment. You may just find a new glow on your skin and shine in your hair!

Below: A look at some of the ingredients and recipes outlined above, including a demonstration on making Queen of Hungary water.

School Lunches

2011-09-19T07:01:00.005-07:00

What will my kids pack for lunch? This was my most daunting question as we approached the start of the new school year. With our specific GAPS diet, a daily hot lunch seemed overwhelming. (See this previous post for more information on the GAPS diet.)

To my surprise, our system has worked! The kids look forward to their lunch and their friends say it smells delicious.

Each lunch is hot and consists of beef, chicken, or salmon, along with vegetables. I purchased stainless steel thermoses from Life Without Plastic. I fill each thermos with boiling water and let heat for a minimum of 15 minutes before filling.

Favorite meals include chicken and pepper stir-fry, salmon stir-fry, and beef "burritos," substituting lettuce for the tortilla.

Snacks consist of kale chips, beef jerky, or dried apple slices, all made in our dehydrator. I pack them in Ziploc bags lined with parchment paper. Here is the kale chip recipe:

Blend in food processor or high-powered blender:

1 red pepper
2 cloves garlic
1/2 onion
Beet greens, carrot greens, or any greens of choice (a couple of handfuls)
1 tsp. cayenne pepper

Add a small amount of water if needed to make a nice "paste" or "sauce."

Rinse approximately 8 cups of fresh kale. Gently tear off kale from stems and place in large bowl. Pour oil of choice (see below) into bowl and toss until kale leaves are coated. Add salt to taste (I use approx. 1 tablespoon). Mix. Add "paste" and mix with hands. If using a dehydrator, place kale on trays and dehydrate at 110 degrees for 4-12 hours. This can also be done in an oven at 200 degrees for 2 hours.

Suggested oils:

Olive oil (olive oil must be heated at less than 250 degrees to avoid toxicity)
Expeller-pressed coconut oil (no coconut flavor)
Avocado oil

Store kale chips in glass jars until ready to pack.

I also keep several treats (ginger flaxseed crackers, energy bars, dehydrated strawberries) at school for the kids to have as an alternative when birthday treats are passed.

Toxic Talk Alert! On Tuesday, September 20, I will be talking about all-natural personal care on the Chris Fabry Live! broadcast on Moody Radio. Tune in live at 2:00 p.m. Central time or listen via stream or podcast by clicking here.

9/11's Toxic Dust and Health

2011-09-12T06:00:00.001-07:00

The emotional ceremonies marking the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 offered a poignant portrayal of the countless ways this tragedy continues to impact lives. The following article addresses the health issues many children are facing who inhaled toxic dust from the aftermath of the attacks on New York City. One of the mothers featured in this story relied solely on her intuition to connect her children's health to the plume.

Mariama James was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time. "My children were completely covered in dust, they couldn't escape it," she says of her son and daughter, then 9 and 6 years old. "I swept, I vacuumed, but you couldn't get rid of it, it was everywhere. It's like if you took pounds and pounds of chalk and chopped it up and rolled around in it for four days. ... You know that feeling when you hit two erasers together and breathe it in? This was like sticking the entire eraser down your throat."

Two years after the attacks her eldest daughter Armani, now 15, started experiencing chronic sinus infections, ear infections, throat infections, and a persistent cough. Soon after that all three of her children, including her newborn daughter, had a host of health conditions including asthma, chronic bronchitis, and acid reflux. They were seeing a pediatric pulmonologist once a month without fail and were missing school more than any child probably should. At one point, each child was on at least seven different medications.

"I initially came to the conclusion that my kids were sick from 9/11 on my own, but my pediatrician just didn't buy it at all," says James, adding that both of her older children were more or less healthy prior to the attacks. "I still love my pediatrician, but I only go to him for regular annual visits."

All of James' children are now being treated in the pediatric program at the World Trade Center Environmental Health Center, which operates out of Bellevue Hospital in New York City. A study based on the Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene's WTC Health Registry cites that 25,000 children were either living or attending school in Lower Manhattan the day of the attacks, and projects that tens of thousands more "were in the path of the plume of building debris and smoke, close enough to inhale particulates and toxic substances."

Dr. Elizabeth Fiorino, a pediatric pulmonologist who joined the WTCEHC's pediatric program in 2009, says that the most common ailments she encounters in patients are upper and lower respiratory conditions, mostly asthma and allergic rhinitis. "We also see acid reflux disease and a variety of behavioral, learning and mental health issues," she says.

Kimberly Flynn, executive and co-founder of 9/11 Environmental Action, an activist organization that fought for proper cleanup of affected communities following the attacks, says that denial comes easily when it comes to health issues and 9/11. According to Flynn, "People don't want to admit they are sick, or admit that their children are sick. They have a hard time tolerating the idea that 9/11 is still with them."

When terrorists fly planes into buildings, we see the cause and effect. People die instantly or are caught in the collapse. It's more difficult to see the slow, gradual sickness that comes in the aftermath. Perhaps the tragic events that now mark a decade will help us awaken to the connection between environmental toxicity and health.

Mycotoxins and Human Health

2011-09-06T06:56:00.002-07:00

In the following video, Dr. Andrew Campbell provides a thorough explanation of the ways toxicogenic molds do harm to the human body. The full lecture is an hour and a half in length. Below is a summary of Dr. Campbell's main points and their respective locations in the video.

0:00:23 Dr. Campbell is an MD specializing in clinical immunotoxicology, which is the study of how toxins affect the immune system. His patients include those affected by chemicals, vaccines, and contaminated indoor environments.

0:01:57 Government figures show that in the 1950s, 75 percent of the air we breathed was outdoor air. Today, 94 percent of the air we breathe is indoor air.

0:05:37 We started making energy-efficient buildings in the 1970s. What happens when there is water intrusion in these buildings? Mold spores revive and multiply, releasing spores which carry mycotoxins, and these mycotoxins affect us. Bacteria also start growing (gram negative and gram positive) that release endotoxins. This mixture grows through drywall and hits paint or wallpaper glue, which results in a chemical reaction releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These organic compounds are, in and of themselves, toxic.

0:07:41 Mold is nothing new: Leviticus chapter 14.

0:12:40 There are 100,000 types of mold. Two dozen of them cause health problems in humans.

0:13:39 Mycotoxins have historically been used in biological warfare: yellow rain, Saddam Hussein, etc.

0:14:48 Mold spores will cause some trouble, but mycotoxins are like a bullet with molds as the gun. Mycotoxins are much worse.

0:15:47 Names of mycotoxins: trichothecenes, beta glucans, T-2 toxin, aflatoxins. One mold will produce a series of mycotoxins. The most toxic substance known to humankind—ahead of nerve gas—is aflatoxin B2.

0:17:54 An example of how severe mycotoxins are: A bank building is closed because of mold contamination. Three years later, when it's time to clean up the building, the building is opened. One would expect to see "critters": ants, spiders, flies, etc. Nothing is found. Except dead animals. This is the reality of mycotoxins.

0:18:55 What does this mean to humans? Humans have an immune system that protects us from "foreigners," which provides a barrier for us. What is the first thing mycotoxins do? Damage the immune system. If they can knock down the walls, they can get in and create havoc in the body. Mycotoxins are potent protein synthesis inhibitors.

0:20:50 What happens when our immune system is suppressed? We get sicker and take longer to heal. We catch viruses easily. Cuts take a long time to heal. We become overreactive to things like perfumes and fragrances. Our immune system starts fighting everything, including ourselves (autoimmune reactions).

0:23:06 What happens when we go to the doctor and autoimmune reactions show up? They put you on steroids—an immunosuppressant, so your suppressed immune system gets really suppressed. When you get off the steroids, the symptoms are still there. Steroids can cause a whole host of diseases. We must find out what caused the original problem.

0:30:16 What else happens to the human body after repeated exposure to mold/mycotoxins/VOCs? Fatigue. Not tiredness. Not laziness. Overwhelming fatigue.

0:32:42 The nervous system is also affected, which can result in depression. Doctors are telling you it's in your head. You're not able to enjoy pleasures in life. Demyelinating symptoms appear: muscle weakness, numbness, strange headaches, memory loss, confusion, getting lost in words, stopping in the middle of a sentence (aphasia).

0:39:48 Story of scientist Alexander Fleming, who left two petri dishes side by side one weekend—one containing penicillium mold, the other bacteria. When he returned, he found that the bacteria was dead. Thus the invention of penicillin, a derivative of mold. Immunosuppressants are derivatives of mycotoxins.

0:40:55 When you find moldy bread in your refrigerator, those are molds and bacteria feeding on that slice of bread. Molds release mycotoxins to kill off the bacteria, an example of the "survival of the fittest" principle.

0:41:46 A closer look at stachybotrys and trichothecenes. As shown by Dr. Strauss, mycotoxins are produced immediately. How bad are they? They're known to cause kidney cancer, esophageal cancer, leukemia, cancer of the liver, and testicular cancer.

0:43:27 Note that the medical literature from the 1980s shows a relationship between mycotoxins, molds, and health. Go to a doctor today and he doesn't know anything about it. Doctors today say mycotoxins can't cause these health issues.

0:47:40 The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website lists minimal health problems related to molds. However, for the mycotoxin trichothecene—a direct mycotoxin from mold only—they list the following: May be weaponized, dermal exposure leads to burning pain, oral exposure leads to vomiting and diahrrea, ocular exposure leads to blurred vision, inhalation leads to nasal irritation and cough, and systemic symptoms can develop with all routes of exposure. This can result in weakness, ataxia, low blood pressure, bleeding, and death.

0:52:10 Journal of the American Medical Association, August 2006: Fusarium—A New Culprit in the Contact Lens Case. People were treated for eye infections with antibiotic drops. The cause turned out to be a mold, so the antibiotics didn't help.

0:53:50 Other medical and scientific facts about mold/mycotoxins. From Atmospheric Environment, 1992: Over 500 VOCs have been described from fungi. The dominant VOC of molds is ethanol, which itself is a potent synergizer of many toxins.

0:59:17 Numerous studies cited, including one titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. The study came out in 2000 by the United States Evironmental Protection Agency (EPA). The study gives the following safety guidelines for assessing mold: "Do not touch it with your bare hands. Do not get mold or mold spores in your eyes. Do not breathe these things. Consult Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Containment guidelines. Consider using PPE when disturbing mold. The minimum is an N-95 respirator, gloves and eye protection."

1:07:30 When you inhale these things for several months in a building or home and you move away, it makes you maybe 10-20 percent better, but you must repair what has been damaged. A latency period of 10-15 years is not unusual. Unless it is treated, it doesn't go away.

1:08:58 Comments about nutrition: All commercial chicken feed in the U.S. contains arsenic. Eggs that aren't natural are very different from those that are. Beef is injected five days before slaughter with DES, a female hormone. Jersey cows are injected with a female hormone to increase milk production. Children who have a cheeseburger Happy Meal and a milk shake are getting estrogenic disrupters, which may explain why we're now seeing girls age 8-10 developing prematurely. We have a prevalence of infertility. Men are eating estrogen in dairy products and beef, and we have an increasing rate of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Grains: In 1996 the Department of Agriculture announced to Congress that 98 percent of U.S. agricultural land was devoid of nutrients, due to overuse of fertilizers after World War II. We take all types of chemicals and spray them, then it rains, and they are sucked up by the roots and end up in fruits and vegetables—an average of 12 chemicals per produce item, of which 20 percent are known carcinogens.

1:16:20 A book written in 1986 by Bob Crook called The Yeast Connection. It was ahead of its time then, but is behind the times now. Yeast is mold. There are many species of candida, and candida can cause meningitis and pneumonia, and is potentially fatal.

1:17:52 In previous generations we ate fruits and vegetables only in season, and meat only on special occasions. Bread was a staple, as were dairy products and yogurt. In the last two generations we've begun taking antibiotics, which kill all bacteria, good and bad. The benefits of probiotics need to become better understood.

1:20:44 In 1999, the head of the Mayo Clinic's Ear, Nose and Throat department published an article reporting that the common cause of sinus infections—chronic runny, stuffy nose—was fungus. Of the 213 patients studied, 203 tested positive for fungus—a total of 96.8 percent. But if we go to a family doctor today, we're given an antibiotic, and the infection comes back. Why are doctors not aware of this study?

1:23:39 In 2006, the Canadian government made the recommendation to re-train every health care provider in Canada—doctors, nurses, dentists, physical therapists—to become aware of what a contaminated indoor environment can do. Why can't our government do the same thing? The Canadians are willing to re-train, and we bury our head in the sand.

Thanks to Lori Tondini, author of Are You Moldy?, for providing this video.

Secondhand Scent

2011-09-02T12:10:00.000-07:00

The number of individuals sensitive to fragrances is growing, according to this article titled Dangerous Fragrances. As many as 30 percent of people show some type of physical reaction to scented products—and for some, the reaction can be severe.

About five percent of individuals have such sensitivity to chemicals that it greatly diminishes their quality of life, says Claudia Miller, an environmental health and allergy expert at the University of Texas.

Professor Anne Steinemann at the University of Washington recently analyzed 25 of the most popular fragranced products, including air fresheners, fabric softeners, soaps, lotions and shampoo. She found that they emitted 133 different Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs are gases that can affect both the environment and health.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, VOCs are 10 times more concentrated indoors than outdoors. In addition to personal care and cleaning products, they are released from paint, lacquers and glue. Steinemann found that one fourth of them were considered toxic or hazardous by federal law.

“When I started doing this research, I got hundreds of people wanting to tell me their story; it really resonated with people,” she says. “I knew it was a problem; I had no idea of how big of a problem it was.”

Steinemann has heard from fragrance sufferers worldwide. People have described seizures and asthma attacks from being around the products, she says. One woman was unable to be with her dying mother because her sister used scented hair products.

. . .

Steinemann calls the health effects of someone being exposed to scents not belonging to them or the products they own, “secondhand scent.”

“It is almost like cigarette smoke,” she says. “While people stopped going into places with cigarette smoke, people are now going to stop shopping in particular stores.”

That’s already happening.

In October 2010, Teens Turning Green, a student education and advocacy group, protested outside Abercrombie & Fitch’s New York store on 5th Avenue; they objected to the store’s excessive overuse of their fragrance, Fierce. The group stated that the fragrance is reportedly sprayed on all the merchandise and even pumped through the vents of the store.

The corporation responded on its Facebook page that its cosmetics are formulated, tested, labeled and monitored to assure regulatory compliance and safety.

In May 2010, the Environmental Working Group found that 17 popular fragrances, including Fierce, contained a variety of synthetic chemicals. The non-profit public health and environmental organization says that the fragrances included petrochemicals derived from petroleum and chemicals that can alter human hormones.

“It’s no surprise why people often feel ill around fragrances,” says Stacy Malkans, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, another organization authoring the report. “They spray the stores down both inside the stores and outside the stores, without any notification or consent from people.”

The report, Not So Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrances, revealed that 38 chemicals were included in the 17 fragrances but undisclosed on the label. An average of 14 secret chemicals were included in each of the products.

The American Eagle fragrance Seventy Seven contained 24 chemicals unlisted on the label, the highest number of any of the fragrances tested. Chanel’s Coco had 17 and Abercrombie & Fitch’s Fierce for men had 11.

Concealing the chemicals that make up a fragrance is common.

The Federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1973 requires companies to list cosmetic ingredients but exempts fragrances. Many of them are protected as “trade secrets.”

“If companies were proud of their formulations and knew them to be safe, they wouldn’t hide their identities,” says Leann Brown, press associate with the Environmental Working Group. “We are not surprised that so much was missing from the label.”

Approximately 66 percent of the products not listed on the fragrances tested by the Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics were never assessed for safety, according to the organizations.

An average of 10 “sensitizing” chemicals or allergens were found in the 17 fragrances tested in the report. These chemicals can cause severe allergic reactions including asthma, wheezing and headaches, and are found in more than just perfumes or colognes.

. . .

“Sensitizing chemicals are those that can trigger allergic reactions,” says Malkan. “We have had many reports of people in stores who use these products who have had watery eyes, headaches and just can’t stand being in there.”

In 1999, the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products released a list of well-known and frequently used allergenic substances. Europe requires that those substances be listed on all the labels of products when they exceed 10 parts per million. The United States has no such requirement.

Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio contained 19 sensitizing chemicals, the most of any fragrance tested for the Not So Sexy report.

These chemicals are prevalent throughout the fragrance industry and included as ingredients in products such as laundry detergent, air fresheners and more, Steinemann says.

Twelve hormone disrupters, an average of four in each product, were also found in the fragrances tested in the Not So Sexy report. Halle by Halle Berry, Quicksilver and Jennifer Lopez’s J.Lo Glow all contained seven hormone-disrupting chemicals. The chemicals have been known to disrupt estrogen levels in women and androgen levels in men. Some are also linked to thyroid problems, breast and prostate cancer and obesity.

One of the most prevalent hormone disrupters discovered in the study was diethyl phthalate or DEP, a chemical known to cause abnormal genitalia in baby boys and sperm damage in adult men. It’s used to make the fragrance stick to the subject longer. The Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found DEP in 12 of the 17 fragrances tested for the report.

Recent research has also linked DEP to Attention Deficit Disorder in children, according to the Not So Sexy report.

To make fragrances last, manufacturers often add UV-absorbing chemicals found in sunscreens. When fragrances are exposed to sunlight and air, they can break down. UV-absorbing chemicals are used to prevent them from weakening.

But these chemicals are also particularly potent hormone disrupters. And approximately 76 percent of the fragrances tested in the Not So Sexy report contained at least one of them.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

For more on Professor Steinemann's study, click here.

A Candid Colon-Cleansing Conversation

2011-08-29T05:46:00.002-07:00

Colon cleansing via enema has been around for thousands of years. Cleansing the colon is mentioned in ancient writings of the Chinese, the Romans, and the Greeks. European kings benefitted from regular enemas. King Louis XIV had almost 2,000 enemas in his lifetime and stayed healthy throughout.

In the 1900s, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (of Kellogg's Corn Flakes fame) ran a holistic medical facility utilizing enemas as well as diet and exercise regimens. In the 1917 Journal of American Medicine, Kellogg reported that in over 40,000 cases of gastrointestinal disease, all but 20 were treated successfully with no surgery. Kellogg maintained that 90 percent of the diseases of civilization are due to an improperly functioning colon.

In World War I, when pain medications for wounded soldiers were in short supply, doctors and nurses discovered that coffee retention enemas helped relieve pain.

Why did enemas fall out of favor in recent years? More than likely because we went from preventative medicine to symptomatic. We started seeking a quick fix rather than searching for the cause of the problem. Prescription laxatives and surgical procedures quickly became the preferred means of treatment.

Coffee enemas in particular can be of benefit to the chronically ill, who are often deficient in glutathione, a small protein composed of three amino acids. Glutathione plays a key role in detoxification. The Gerson Institute, an organization dedicated to healing cancer and other degenerative diseases naturally, offers this explanation:

Enzyme systems in the liver and small bowel are responsible for the conversion and neutralization of the most common tissue toxins, polyamines, ammonia, toxin-bound nitrogen and electrophiles, all of which can cause cell and membrane damage.

... the introduction of 32 fluid oz of coffee solution into the colon will dilute portal blood and, subsequently, the bile. Theophylline and theobromine, major constituents of coffee, dilate blood vessels and counter inflammation of the gut. The palmitates of coffee enhance glutathione S-transferase, which is responsible for the removal of many toxic radicals from serum. Finally, the fluid of the enema itself stimulates the visceral nervous system, promoting peristalsis and the transit of diluted toxin bile from the duodenum out of the rectum. Because the stimulating enema is retained for 15 minutes, and because the blood in the body passes through the liver nearly every three minutes, these enemas represent a form of dialysis of the blood across the gut wall.

I recently spoke with a family friend about his health journey. Given three years to live because of a failing liver, he embarked upon the Gerson regimen. Fifteen years later he is strong, working full-time, and enjoying life. Coffee enemas are still a part of his day. He says,

I use only organic coffee and do it twice a day, once when I get up in the morning, and once late afternoon. The enemas cause the liver to open up the bile ducts and release toxins that have been stored there, sometimes for years. Be sure to balance with minerals. I make two juice glasses in the morning, one green—that is, romaine lettuce, 1/2 green pepper, red chard, and Granny Smith apple (to make it taste bearable)—and one carrot and apple juice (about 2-3 carrots and 1/2 Granny Smith apple), and I also take a mineral supplement. I have absolutely no problems with hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, or regularity. It has also helped keep me alive by relieving my liver of toxins on a daily basis. I've been doing it for 15 years. I swear by them.

When the doctors did a colonoscopy last year they said, "Wow, you sure have lots of pockets, but they are all pink and healthy. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it."

The following list encompasses some of the things I've learned since incorporating colon cleansing into my regimen.

1. Good supplies are crucial. I like the stainless steel buckets found here. When using additives such as coffee, the silicone hose is optimal. A colon tube is helpful when hemorrhoids are an issue.

2. It takes time to work up to 15 minutes of retention. Initially it will be difficult to hold the water for any length of time because of the high levels of toxicity. A clear-water enema before a retention enema is often a good idea.

3. Lying on the right side is recommended by the Gerson Institute. There is lots of conflicting information about this. The right side makes sense when you consider the descending colon is on the left side.

4. Enemas are an opportunity to connect with the inner workings of your body. The digestive tract comprises the bulk of the immune system. It’s a logical place to focus when detoxing. At one point I passed a strand of fungus that was 15 inches long. That was the point when I realized that microbial warfare is real.

5. Water temperature is crucial. The Gerson Institute recommends a range of 99-103 degrees. Never use water greater than 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Use a foot stool for elimination. Studies have shown that squatting offers a more thorough elimination. The Welles Step is designed specifically for this function.

7. The lighter the roast of coffee, the higher the levels of palmitates. Organic is essential. Fair trade is optimal. The company s.a. Wilsons offers a uniquely roasted organic coffee specifically for enemas. To find out more see their website.

Donna Gates, founder of the Body Ecology Diet, is a strong proponent of enemas. For an excellent article on the subject, click here.

Other possible additives for colon cleansing include:

Castile soap
Chamomile tea
Baking soda/salt
Frankincense
Probiotics

The website Enema-Information provides helpful suggestions for incorporating some of these additives into colon cleansing.

The Gerson Institute offers an excellent handbook titled The Little Enema Book for $5.00. To learn more, click here.

Healing as a Lifestyle

2011-08-19T16:58:00.001-07:00

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.
– Hippocrates

Once I began to understand that detoxification is a lifelong process, I slowly integrated detoxifying regimens into my daily life. Here is my typical morning routine.

1. Air Mattress

My day begins by finding the floor at the foot of our air mattress. We still sleep on an air mattress—partly because an air mattress is so simple and cheap, and partly because it works so well. My sleep has been much deeper since sleeping on the floor. There is a theory that sleeping closer to the ground helps the body recover its natural electrical balance. Click here to read more about the principle of grounding. I also recommend this article on the subject.

2. Bentonite Clay

Upon awakening, I drink a teaspoon of bentonite clay mixed with water. Bentonite clay has a pH of 9.7 and, according to an article titled How Healing Clay Works, is a powerful detoxifier:

Bentonite clay molecules carry a negative electrical charge while toxins, bacteria, viruses, parasites and other impurities carry a positive charge. When the clay is taken into the human body, the positively charged toxins are attracted to the negatively charged surfaces of the clay molecule. The clay molecule acts like a magnet, attracting and holding the toxins and impurities to its surface, and removing them when the clay is removed or expelled.

For sources of clay, click here.

3. Oil Pulling

Then, I oil pull. This is a simple detoxification tool requiring an organic oil such as sesame or coconut. For instructions, click here. Since I began oil pulling, my teeth and gums feel stronger and healthier.

4. Neti Pot

I don't do this every day, but when I do, I'm glad. Nasal irrigation is another age-old remedy for general health, not just sinus health. The most efficient and hygienic option, in my opinion, is this stainless steel neti pot. A nasal irrigator is another option and can be found here.

My favorite recipe:

8 c. distilled water (purified water is essential!)
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tbsp. sea salt
10 drops grapefruit seed extract

Shake before each use.

For a list of the many health benefits of nasal irrigation, click here.

5. Coffee Enema

I never thought I'd see the day when I'd look forward to such a thing, but this is by far the highlight of my morning.

I first began to consider enemas when I read Hippocrates' quote, "An enema is better than herbs or laxatives." Upon reading that simple sentence, something clicked. Relieving the digestive tract of toxins and waste made sense. Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, founder of the GAPS diet, encourages enemas as a means of detoxifying.

The more I researched enemas, the more I kept being drawn to coffee enemas in particular. The fact that the coffee stimulates the activity of glutathione S-transferase solidified my decision to try it.

According to the Gerson Institute:

The coffee enema has a very specific purpose: lowering serum toxins. Coffee enemas have a definite effect on the colon which can be observed with an endoscope. The palmitic acid found in coffee promotes the activity of glutathione S-transferase and other ligands many times above the norm. It is this enzyme group that is responsible primarily for the conjugation of free electrophile radicals which the gall bladder will then release.

Next to mold avoidance and diet, coffee enemas have changed my life. Watch for my next post: A Candid Colon-Cleansing Conversation!

6. Skin Brushing

Skin brushing comes next. This is a very simple and straightforward addition to any health routine. The skin is responsible for 1/4 of our detoxification each day and is often deemed "the third kidney." This is a simple way to stimulate the lymphatic system, which in turn boosts the immune system. For simple directions, click here.

7. Natural Hair and Body Care

Shower time. I stopped using shampoo more than a year ago. Rhassoul clay makes a wonderful, completely natural hair-cleansing product. (See this previous post.)

I’ve been using rhassoul clay for more than a year now and have noticed an improvement with the issue of hair loss. Two of my daughters have reported similar results. I follow my clay treatment with a rinse with coffee grounds. My hair is slightly darker because of this treatment—an unexpected benefit!

Charcoal soap works well as a body cleanser. The website Buy Activated Charcoal offers these charcoal soaps.

As for deodorant, I prefer not to impede the sweating process, but if needed I will use a formula I made myself based on this recipe, adding several drops of lavender essential oil.

I spend at least 10 minutes on my teeth. After three crowns and nearly 10 mercury filling removals this last year, I am determined not to find myself back in a dentist's chair if I can help it. I make my own toothpaste using this recipe.

8. Lotion

After my shower, I apply kefir lotion. I make this myself. I make extra strong kefir with raw cream, allowing for a 48-hour fermentation. I combine 2 tbsp. of kefir with several drops of essential oil for an excellent moisturizer. Kefir contains alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA), which reduces signs of aging. It is also a form of lactic acid which dissolves lipids, helping to remove dead skin cells. My skin has never felt softer since introducing kefir.

9. Breakfast

Breakfast was once a bowl of cereal and a cup of coffee. Now I eat as many nutrient-dense foods as I can and abstain from the coffee. (This article listing coffee as a cross-reactive food with gluten validates this decision.)

Kefir grains
The first thing I consume is 1-2 teaspoons of kefir grains. The grains re-populate the digestive tract with the good bacteria needed to heal the gut and therefore the body. It's a strong healing food and must be added slowly. Consuming kefir grains on an empty stomach is an effective means of ingesting probiotics.

Garlic
Next, I go for the garlic. I peel and crush three cloves, then take with water. When time allows, I ferment a jar of garlic cloves, which allows me to simply pop a clove like a pill from the jar, instead of having to peel and crush them. A study conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found that eating a teaspoon of fresh garlic and a half cup of onions per day increases the levels of a key enzyme for removing toxins in the blood cells of healthy women. Men require a larger dose, according to the authors. For more on this study, click here.

Raw liver
Following the garlic, I take a cube of "liver ice" out of the freezer, cut it into little pieces, and swallow each like a pill. Grass-fed beef is critical for this. I choose meat that is raised locally with no added hormones or drugs of any kind. I thaw the raw liver, process in a food processor, pour into ice cube trays, and re-freeze. I take my liver pills just as I would any other supplement. Gram for gram, liver contains more nutrients than any other food: vitamin A, all of the B vitamins, particularly B12 (if consumed raw), folic acid, copper, CoQ10 (if consumed raw), and much more. For detailed information on the health benefits of eating liver, see this article. If I miss the raw liver, I feel it!

Raw egg yolks
I cook three eggs sunny-side up. If I miss this, I become ravenous within an hour. Free-range, organic pasteurized eggs are crucial for this. I lightly cook three eggs in animal fat, leaving the yolks raw. Raw eggs contain an abundance of vital substances including protein and essential fatty acids, along with niacin, riboflavin, biotin, choline, vitamins A, D, and E, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, iron, iodine, copper, zinc, and sulfur. Egg yolks are one of the few foods that contain vitamin D. For an interesting article on the health benefits of raw egg yolks, click here.

Green juice
Finally, I wash the morning down with a glass of raw green juice—refreshing and energizing. Romaine lettuce makes up the bulk of our green juices. I try to rotate greens, adding in chard, kale, or wheatgrass when available. I generally avoid spinach because of the high oxalate level, although moderation and variety seem to be the key. Here is an interesting article addressing the issue of oxalates.

The entire routine takes approximately 90 minutes, all done in the comfort of my own home. Just as Hippocrates said, healing is an opportunity. For me, an opportunity to take charge of my health.

Homemade Laundry Soap

2011-08-15T10:06:00.001-07:00

When making the switch to natural products, laundry detergent and fabric softeners play a key role. From the clothes we wear to our pillows and sheets, chemicals used in laundering come in contact with our skin 24 hours a day.

To get an idea of the types of chemicals found in products like detergents, see this article listing the most common chemicals found in 31 fragrance products.

Thankfully, there are many non-toxic options.

Soap nuts grow on the Chinese Soapberry Tree and are sometimes call Soap Berries. Soap nuts contain naturally occurring saponins which foam when combined with water. Click here to find out more.

Another alternative is to make your own laundry soap. Note that laundry soap will be more natural than detergent, as detergent is made from synthetics while soap is derived from natural elements. Here is a simple homemade powdered laundry soap.

1 bar Castile soap (Castile soap is a vegetable-based soap originating in Spain. Kirk's Castile offers a version with minimal added fragrance.)
1 c. Borax
1 c. washing soda

Finely grate the soap bar and mix with Borax and washing soda. To do this quickly and efficiently, purchase an inexpensive food processor for the sole purpose of making laundry soap. Process soap, add remaining ingredients, and mix. Store in an airtight container.

Use 2 tablespoons per full washer load.

For added potency, add 1/2 c. baking soda to each load and 1/2 c. white vinegar during the rinse cycle.

Surprised by GAPS

2011-08-08T17:57:00.010-07:00

Our family hit a milestone recently. August 1 marked one year on the GAPS diet. What began as a month-long experiment has now become a lifestyle. You can read about our family experiment in this previous post.

What is GAPS? Gut and Psychology Syndrome is a nutritional protocol to heal the gut lining and thus heal the brain and body. The Nourished Kitchen website offers more information in its article titled Why Everyone is Talking about the GAPS Diet, Plus 5 Resources to Get Started.

Leading natural physician Dr. Joseph Mercola recently featured an hour-long interview with GAPS founder Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, whose son's autism diagnosis led her to seek nutritional healing. Her son's successful recovery then led to her specialized practice in the areas of autism, learning disabilities, neurological disorders, psychiatric disorders, immune disorders, and digestive problems. Click here to hear this interview and read the accompanying article.

As I have reflected on this last year, I’ve come up with a list of ways that GAPS has surprised me. Two things, however, have been no surprise:

1. GAPS is hard work. I remember clicking on the GAPS home page 18 months ago and clicking right off of it. “Impossible,” I thought. “No way,” I assured myself, and moved on. I came back to GAPS several months later because our daughter with the severe digestive disorder wasn’t progressing like we hoped. I showed her the GAPS page. She responded positively, saying the diet was worth trying. We’ve been making bone broth ever since. Three hot meals a day, made from scratch, is just as much work as I thought it would be.

2. We’re not cured. If I were in an accident and broke every bone in my body, I would not expect to heal overnight. Why would I expect my body to recover quickly from a major microbial assault? The adult intestinal tract is 30 feet long. Why wouldn't it take years to build back a healthy gut flora? Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride makes it clear that GAPS is a long-term treatment plan. I know of one GAPS mom who didn’t see her Autism Spectrum Disorder son turn the corner until the fourth year.

While I knew to expect these two things, I did not expect the following:

1. We have progressed by leaps and bounds. Behavior has improved. Moods have improved. Rashes have improved. My three youngest are in school full time. My energy has returned. My executive brain function has improved. I am shocked by our collective progress.

2. What was once foreign is now familiar. I knew nothing about fermented foods. I didn’t know how to pronounce kefir. I had to look up ghee in the dictionary. I felt like I was living in a foreign land. I was terrified and uncertain. I felt unsure of myself. One year later, I make my own sauerkraut, share kefir grains, and know how to spell enterocyte.

3. My kids didn’t wither away. This was one of my biggest fears. If we cut out most of the popular, commonly accepted foods, what would my kids eat? Some of my kids were already underweight. I already was at my lowest weight of my adult life. Surprisingly, all of us have either maintained or gained weight. I’ve gained 10 pounds. Last week Reagan went for a fitness evaluation. His most notable change? He’s 25 pounds heavier, mostly muscle. “I know football players who would love to gain this kind of weight,” his trainer remarked.

4. Colin’s diabetes has improved. Colin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes four years ago. We struggled to keep his A1C (average blood sugar) under 9. For the first time since diagnosis, Colin has an A1C of 7 or below (his most recent result is 6.2). He uses 70% less insulin. His behavior has improved. The change in Colin has been dramatic.

5. We are less hungry. The first month on GAPS was not this way. We were starving. All the time. I knew enough from reading the popular GAPS basics book, GAPS Guide, to expect this. I did not expect the turnaround, however. The demand for snacks decreased and the bedtime snacking improved. Slowly we were becoming fat burners instead of carb burners, a concept explained in this article.

6. Anxiety has improved. Anxiety is still an issue, but nothing like it was. My kids are able to experience new people and places without the tormenting nervousness. My insecurities and general paranoia have markedly decreased. The general mood of the household is much calmer than a year ago. The brain-gut connection is real.

7. I like to cook. I’ve never been a fan of cooking. In the old days we relied heavily on fast food and take-out food. I was daunted by the idea of cooking from scratch. Slowly, ever so slowly, I have discovered the joy of cooking. I get excited when I see a fresh head of cabbage. I love making spicy kale chips. I can’t wait to put a new batch of beef jerky in the dehydrator. I love preparing nourishing foods for my family.

8. Animal fat is our friend. With my vegetarian background, animal fat was a hard sell for me. The more I learned, however, the more daring I became. According to noted author and speaker Sally Fallon:

Fats from animal and vegetable sources provide a concentrated source of energy in the diet; they also provide the building blocks for cell membranes and a variety of hormones and hormone-like substances. Fats as part of a meal slow down absorption so that we can go longer without feeling hungry. In addition, they act as carriers for important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Dietary fats are needed for the conversion of carotene to vitamin A, for mineral absorption and for a host of other processes.

(To read the rest of this article, click here.)

I’ve learned to make ghee and to render pork fat. Now I keep a small fondue pot next to the stove, full of animal fat to use in stir-fries, soups, and other dishes. The addition of animal fat to our diet has proven very stabilizing to our minds and our bodies.

9. Grain-free breakfasts are awesome. What would the kids eat for breakfast? How could we survive without our oatmeal, congee, or granola? Would my kids really wake up and actually look forward to meat and vegetables? Breakfast is now like any other meal of the day. Stir-fry for breakfast is as natural as a bowl of Cheerios.

10. Tastes do change. I felt like I was torturing my children by removing so many of their favorite foods. Starches and sugars were a big part of our lives! Our sugar cravings increased once we took away these foods. This is why I'm glad we made the changes gradually in the year preceding GAPS. As the year has progressed, these sugar cravings have lessened. At the very least we have ways to cope, including higher doses of animal fat, as well as fermented foods. I feel far more satisfied than expected.

Last week 10-year-old Brandon prepared his vegetable stir-fry, spicing it just the way he likes it. He sat down, heaved a heavy, happy sigh, looked up at me, and said, “I love our diet, Mom.”

With encouragement like that, I think we're ready for another year.

Dr. Mercola Speaks Out on Mold

2011-08-05T14:37:00.001-07:00

Dr. Joseph Mercola is an osteopathic physician whose mission is to help individuals take ownership of their health. His website is the leader in the field of natural medicine, offering an array of natural solutions for chronic health issues. Last weekend, Dr. Mercola dedicated an entire article to the issue of toxic mold. In it, he states:

I recently had a leak in my basement that was improperly remediated for $10K. The cause was not addressed so the problem worsened, which more than tripled the price to properly clean it up. That is part of the reason that prompted me to contact some of the leading experts in this area and learn how to do this properly.

In his July 30 article titled The "New" Hidden Pandemic Sweeping Across America, Dr. Mercola presents a 90-minute interview with leading toxicologist Dr. Jack Thrasher. The two discuss the various options for remediation, as well as the high toxicity levels involved with mold as compared with pesticides or heavy metals. According to Dr. Thrasher:

Mold is far greater than anything I've ever looked at before, particularly in the indoor environment. Some of these mycotoxins that molds produce are far more toxic than any of the heavy metals I've looked at, concentration-wise. They also tend to affect more biological systems in the body than a pesticide would or a heavy metal would. For example, stachybotrys produces mycotoxins referred to as tricothescenes, and they inhibit protein synthesis and it affects every organ in your body from your toes to the top of your head. I really think molds are much more dangerous from that point of view. For example they extract chemotherapeutic agents out of mold and bacteria to fight cancer. What else can I say from that point of view?

As the article continues, Dr. Mercola explains why Dr. Thrasher believes we have a mold pandemic:

As many as 40 percent of all American schools and at least 25 percent or more of all homes are believed to be affected by mold and microbial growth due to water intrusion. A large portion of the problem stems from shoddy construction.

According to Dr. Thrasher:

One thing that I have seen and observed by working with individuals in the field who understand construction, is that construction is extremely poor in the homes we have today. Plus, they're using building materials that are tremendously good food material for the microbes.

When I was a child... all the homes were built with genuine lath and plaster on the inside. [Now] you walk in and knock on any wall and you have what we call wallboard. That wallboard loves and is a good growth medium for all forms of mold. Everyone that I can think of, almost everyone now has carpets. The backside of carpets is also a great growth medium for mold and bacteria.

... The other type of home that I'm seeing that is of tremendous potential problems to the homeowner is homes that are built with a basement... [T]hey put the concrete down, and there is no water barrier between the earth and the concrete wall of the basement.

The same thing with the foundation; there is no water barrier. So when you water your yard, when there are heavy rains and things like this, the moisture... goes right to the foundation and into the basement or underneath the house, and then the moisture wicks up through the home, increasing humidity.

All of that increasing humidity, anything above 60 percent, is going to lead to growth of mold and bacteria... People have to be very careful about this situation. That's the reason why I call it a pandemic.

Dr. Mercola notes that gutters can also cause problems.

You need to be mindful of the drainage from your roof. I didn't realize this myself, and suffered the consequences when one of the gutters on my home drained onto the ground directly beside the wall, and the water seeped straight through to my basement. So you want to make sure the downspout is far enough away from the building. Ideally, it should empty at least 5 to 10 feet from the wall. You also want to take care that the soil next to the walls of your home slopes away from the walls, to prevent water from collecting around the foundation. And make sure your lawn sprinklers do not spray the walls. Other common construction issues that can contribute to water intrusion and subsequent mold proliferation include:

Using polyethylene PVC piping instead of copper or galvanized piping, which can be easily punctured by nails or staples
Bath tubs installed with improper sealing around the drain
Improperly sealed sinks and garbage disposal
Installing particleboard (waferboard) after it has been rained on during construction

The Mercola article is full of practical, helpful information. To read it in its entirety, click here.

When Remediation Fails

2011-08-01T06:15:00.000-07:00

The book of Leviticus makes it clear that if mold is still present after remediation, the home is unsafe. This is a radical approach to mold, one shared by leading toxicologist Dr. Jack Thrasher. Dr. Thrasher, author of the article The Biocontaminants and Complexity of Damp Indoor Spaces: More Than What Meets the Eyes, says it is best to flee a home rather than remediate when serious health issues exist and when a serious infestation is involved. According to Dr. Thrasher:

I have always been skeptical regarding the successful remediation of homes and buildings contaminated with fungi and bacteria from water intrusion. Buildings and homes are complicated structures. The spores of both bacteria and fungi, as well as their by-products (fine particles less than one micron to those equal or greater than the mold spores), are present in dust. The dust can be found in all nooks and crannies of a building, e.g. refrigerator insulation and coils, areas not normally dusted, even in carpeting that has been vacuumed, under carpeting, and in wall cavities. Finally, little attention is paid to the contaminants in buildings that result from Gram negative and positive bacteria.

I will give some examples below:

Two buildings in Bermuda. These buildings had been remediated prior to our testing. Also, just before we arrived to do testing, the buildings had been cleaned and painted. Aggressive air sampling revealed the presence of hidden fungal spores up to 150,000 spores per cubic meter. Q-PCR revealed the presence of Stachybotrys and several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium, along with other fungi. Culturing for presence of bacteria revealed pathogenic Gram negative and positive bacteria. Interestingly, the occupants of one building had recurrent episodes of food-like poisoning (diarrhea and lower abdominal cramping and pain). In this building we detected high levels of Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that causes food poisoning. Also, we found high concentrations of endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides) released by Gram negative bacteria. Moisture measurements revealed moisture content of walls from 58% to 98% in both buildings. Finally, disturbing the air around a work station that had computers produced spores of Stachybotrys at 7,000 per cubic meter. Thus, workers pounding on keyboards most likely were inhaling these spores along with finer particulates. Samples of dust were positive for endotoxins and 2-3-beta-D-glucans.

House that had been remediated twice. The occupants were still ill. Moisture measurements showed moisture was coming up through the cement slab, which had numerous cracks. This was in all rooms of a 4-bedroom home. Q-PCR revealed Stachybotrys, several species of Aspergillus and Penicillium in three different dust samples (carpeting, living area, kitchen cabinet dust). Results for endotoxins were elevated. Mycotoxins were detected in the dust. Two windows had evidence of elevated moisture content below the window. Tests revealed wall cavity fungi that were active and grew when cultured. Gram negative and positive bacteria were cultured from dust. The fireplace area with a TV alcove had high moisture content with Stachybotrys present (this had been previously remediated). The master bath still had high moisture content with Stachybotrys isolated (this had been remediated). The moral of this story is to check cement slabs as well as check below every window in the home.

I have done other homes with similar results. I always culture for bacteria and endotoxins, test for mycotoxins, and do Q-PCR on several different dust samples. We have to remember that air spore counts alone do not tell the story. The fine particulates (less than one micron) have been shown to be up to 500 times more concentrated than the airborne spores. The fine particulates contain the antigens and toxins. Finally, recent peer-reviewed literature has shown that the bacteria in water-damaged structures also release toxins into the indoor environment. Therefore, both bacterial and fungal toxins are present and should be considered in risk assessments with respect to animal and human health.

As for the implications of this for those who are genetically challenged, Thrasher says:

People who are genetically challenged would be those who are genetically susceptible to such exposures. This would involve not only HLA genes but also genetic polymorphism of detoxification pathways such as Glutathione transferases and Cytochrome P450. Thus these people should receive full disclosure when renting or buying.

Military Family's Encounter with Mold and Authority

2011-07-28T06:50:00.002-07:00

A young military family's move into military housing last fall resulted in serious illness, a court-martial hearing, and a job transfer. According to this story published by WRDW-TV in Augusta, Georgia:

Kourtney Shelton and her family just want to raise their children in a safe place. They came to Augusta last October, excited about where life's journey was taking them—but they never expected it would take a dark turn.

Kourtney Shelton has been living in Augusta for about seven months, and as she'll be the first to tell you, some of it hasn't been pleasant. "The last few months have just been horrible," Kourtney says.

Kourtney, her army husband, and their two children moved into military housing on Fort Gordon. For the first few weeks, she says, her family stayed sick.

"When we were out of the home we all felt better, so we started to think that maybe there was something going on inside our home," describes Kourtney.

It wasn't until they spotted spots on their walls and air conditioning vents that they started to get worried. "We had no idea at the time how big the problem was or anything," says Kourtney.

The family snapped pictures of the home. In them, you can see the A/C vent from the outside, and then from the inside. You can also see the air duct. In other places in the home you see paint peeling off the walls and water stains dripping from the breaker box. The family believes some of the pictures show mold. Kourtney says, "The pictures we took from our home are just disgusting."

Several months after moving in, 6-month-old Evelyn stopped breathing. "That was by far the most scary and most traumatizing moment of my life," says Kourtney.

Multiple doctors treated Evelyn, but they did not agree on exactly what caused her to stop breathing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says mold exposure can cause respiratory problems in kids and adults.

"I went and met with the housing manager and I said, 'We have a big problem here,'" describes Kourtney.

Like many military bases, Fort Gordon's on-post housing is contracted out to Balfour Beatty, a British construction company that builds and maintains homes like the Sheltons' for the U.S. Government.

"Perhaps it's ignorance, I don't know at that time I truly believed that the housing company would have been like...'Oh I'm so sorry, let's make this right, let's make the situation better. Like wow, we really failed your family, let's look into this and move on, let's help make things better.' That was not at all what happened," explains Kourtney.

Balfour Beatty says they did do a visual inspection and took moisture readings. In a statement Balfour Beatty says: "Our readings did not indicate any problems typically associated with excessive moisture or mold growth."

Balfour Beatty agreed to have the air ducts cleaned, the bathroom fans replaced, and some drywall repaired, but the source of moisture was never located. Kourtney and her family eventually moved off-post.

Because of an encounter with Balfour Beatty housing managers, Kourtney's husband was offered an Article 15 punishment. Instead he requested a court-martial hearing.

Last week SPC Shelton was found guilty and demoted by two ranks. However, the judge deemed the unit to have retaliated illegally against SPC Shelton and issued a sentencing credit. SPC Shelton is in the process of transferring to a new base, where the story will continue to unfold. In regard to his sentence, SPC Shelton says:

Guilty... guilty of choosing the safety and well-being of my family over the importance of being quiet when someone else is talking. I am accepting my punishment with my head held high, knowing that I was forced to take the moral right vs. the legal wrong. It is now time to get back to focusing on what is most important to me, to being a soldier, to being the best Papa I can be to my little ones, and the best husband I can be to the woman who inspires me and stands by me through it all.

Part 1 of WRDW-TV's special investigative report can be found here.

Covert Chicken Feet

2011-07-25T05:47:00.004-07:00

I used to do one-stop grocery shopping. Stock up on macaroni and cheese, head down the meat aisle, and end with a few fruits or vegetables.

Times have changed. Embracing Hippocrates’ admonishment to make food our medicine, I joined an organic buying club and discovered farmers markets. Because I buy in bulk, I now "shop" for food in rather unconventional ways. At times I feel like I'm performing a CIA covert operation. The mission is not an easy one. Sometimes a shot of wheatgrass juice is all that keeps me going.

Special thanks to producer/director Reagan Fabry
and concept creator Sherry Parmelee.

My suppliers, in order of appearance:

Marcia's soy-free eggs
Walking J Farm (best chicken feet in the world)
White Cane Sockeye Salmon
Fiore di Capra goat dairy

Back to School

2011-07-21T14:23:00.001-07:00

We did our best to keep our kids in school during the 2007-2008 school year, but their health was failing and their symptoms increasing. One by one we took them out of school as our health grew worse. Within a month of vacating our home in October 2008, we knew our kids needed medical help. We put their education on the back burner.

We relocated to Arizona to get that help, and as the reality of the detoxification process took hold, I let go of any attempt to homeschool my children. I couldn’t prepare a meal, let alone teach math.

I contacted our school district and requested help. We tested the children and tried some online classes. When we realized we'd be staying in the district, I requested a tutor. I based my request on a letter from our treating physician at the time, Dr. Michael Gray. (See this previous post.)

The school district was more than accommodating. We drew up 504 plans for each of our five school-age children. The district provided two homebound tutors over the course of the next two years. Our 15-year-old attended one class at the local high school, in addition to the tutoring. Our 17-year-old completed her GED last spring.

What about the younger kids? Were they ready to try school? Our 7th-grade daughter tried an after-school club at our local middle school in April and loved it. But within a few hours her nose began to bleed and continued for 24 hours.

The school was an old building and routinely sprayed with pesticides. Our kids weren’t ready.

I called the local charter school. They were voted “Greenest Grade School in America” in 2008. Most schools use pesticides. Would they be different? To my surprise, the school had not been sprayed. Even more surprising, the buildings were newer construction. I couldn’t believe it when I learned that the middle school had openings and the 5th grade had room for one child: a boy. Brandon, who had missed most of 1st and 2nd grade, was entering 5th grade.

I hung up the phone and burst into tears.

Could our lives be turning a corner? Had this aimless wandering not been aimless after all? Were we placed in the “middle of nowhere” only to discover that just down the road was a school that would breathe new life into our family?

Air quality would be the key to our children’s success. The school allowed us to have the buildings inspected for mold. There was no apparent water intrusion and no hint of mold. Thermal imagining showed no hidden moisture. The district agreed to purchase one air purifier for each of the three classrooms. (Based on our mold specialist’s recommendation, we chose the Austin Health Mate.)

The school administrator even added this request to parents in the back-to-school newsletter:

We have a new family at the school and they are HIGHLY sensitive to chemicals and smells. They have asked us to help their kids succeed in this environment by being very aware of hair products, lotions, and perfumes. If everyone can refrain from wearing products that are highly chemical and with a fragrance, it would be a huge benefit to these kids.

School started this last Monday. On Sunday night, I drew apples on our front porch, the resurrection of an old tradition. Every year on the first day of school, I would use red and green chalk to commemorate the kids’ passage into a new year. Their grade number would appear prominently in the middle. The resulting picture of each child standing in their apple told the story of new backpacks, favorite outfits, and ever-changing faces.

This year’s “apple pictures” marked more than a passage into a new school year. They marked the beginning of a new season. And while our journey is far from over, we're not where we once were. As the poem by Joseph Morris reminds us:

...we always think the load
May be greater than we've power to endure.
... For the climbing of a mountain takes but one step at a time...

Oh, the rewards of taking it one step at a time.

How to Create a Healthy, Non-Toxic Lawn

2011-07-18T17:11:00.003-07:00

With the controversy surrounding the use of Roundup and other weed killers, getting back to nature may be the best bet for keeping our lawns healthy.

Beyond Pesticides offers an excellent factsheet titled Read Your Weeds – A Simple Guide to Creating a Healthy Lawn, which states the following:

Weeds can tell you a lot about the condition of your lawn and indicate what you need to do to grow healthy grass that is naturally resistant to weeds and pest problems. Learn to read your “weeds” for what they indicate about your lawn care practices and soil conditions, and you’ll be on your way to creating a healthy lawn that will be less work in the long run.

Remember, many plants that are considered weeds have beneficial qualities. Try to develop a tolerance for some weeds. For instance, clover - considered a typical turf weed - thrives in soil with low nitrogen levels, compaction issues, and drought stress. However, clover takes free nitrogen from the atmosphere and distributes it to the grass, which helps it grow. Clover roots are extensive and extremely drought-resistant, providing significant resources to soil organisms, and clover will stay green long after turf goes naturally dormant. Crabgrass provides erosion control, dandelions’ deep roots return nutrients to the surface, and plantains are edible!

The factsheet offers the following suggestions for getting to the "root" of the weed problem.

ELIMINATE THE CONDITIONS THAT PROMOTE WEEDS

Compaction – Compaction is an invitation for weeds. If your lawn is hard, compacted, and full of weeds, aerate to help air, water and fertilizer to enter. If you can’t stick a screwdriver easily into your soil, it is too compacted. Get together with your neighbors and rent an aerator. Once you have an established, healthy lawn, worms and birds pecking at your soil will aerate it for free!

Mowing Height – Bad mowing practices cause many lawn problems. Mowing lower than 1 ½ to 1 ¾ inches can kill the root system by preventing photosynthesis, and mowing with a dull blade makes the turf susceptible to disease. A low mowing height also invites sunlight in for weeds to sprout.

While grass species vary across the country, most lawns are a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue. Generally, you should keep a lawn at 3- 3 ½ inches. Mowing high allows the grass to develop deeper, drought-resistant root systems. For the first and last cut of the season, mow to 2 inches. Do not mow more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time. Keep your mower blades sharp to prevent the development and spread of fungal disease, or ask your service provider to sharpen their blades frequently.

Soil pH and Soil Testing – Low pH means acidic conditions and high pH indicates alkaline conditions. If the pH is too high, your grass cannot properly absorb nutrients. Ideal pH should be between 6.5-7.0, slightly acidic.

Generally, lime is added to raise the pH and sulfur is added to lower the pH, and adding compost can naturally correct your pH. A soil test is highly recommended to determine the soil pH and specific nutrient needs. Contact your extension service to find out how to take a soil sample. In addition to nutrients and pH analysis, ask for organic content analysis, and request organic care recommendations. Organic content should be 5% or higher.

Fertility - Soil testing is the best way to determine your soil’s specific nutrient needs. Fertilizing in early fall ensures good growth and root development for your grass. Nitrogen, the most abundant nutrient in lawn fertilizers, promotes color and growth. Adding too much nitrogen, or quick-release synthetic fertilizers, can weaken the grass, alter the pH, and promote disease, insect, and thatch build-up.

Your grass clippings contain 58% of the nitrogen added from fertilizers, improve soil conditions, suppress disease, and reduce thatch and crabgrass. So, leave the clippings on your lawn. You can use a mulching mower and leave the leaves too.

Compost is an ideal soil conditioner, adding the much-needed organic content to your soil, and suppressing many turf pathogens. In the fall and spring, preferably after aerating, spread ¼ inch layer of organic or naturally-based compost over your lawn. Compost tea and worm castings are also great additions.

Look for compost or organic slow-release fertilizers at your local nursery or order online. Some fertilizers, such as Ringer® Lawn Restore®, are certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute. Other makers include North Country Organics, Harmony Farm, Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, and Down To Earth's Bio-Turf.

Thatch is a dense layer of grass stems and roots on the surface of the soil. Thatch is a symptom of shallow watering and chemical fertilizer usage. When thatch layers become ½” or more, the roots will grow up within the thatch instead of in the soil, making grass susceptible to insects, disease, and weather stress. If your lawn feels spongy, you may have thatch buildup.

Thatch is reduced by aeration, topdressing with organic matter, or power raking. In healthy lawns, earthworms and soil microorganisms break down the thatch.

Watering and Poor Drainage – Drought conditions, excessive watering or poor drainage due to soil type are all invitations for weeds. Watering needs are very site-specific, but generally speaking, a deep watering of about one inch once a week in the early morning is best.

Your type of soil affects your drainage and is also site-specific. Once you establish a deep root system from mowing high, you will need less water. Check with your local nursery for more specific recommendations and your soil type.

Grass Seed and Seeding – Grass varieties differ enormously in their quality, resistance to certain pests, tolerance to climatic conditions, growth habit and appearance. Some weeds are the result of using poor quality grass seed.

Overseed with the proper grass seed for your region to promote a dense turf that out-competes weeds. Consult your extension service website to learn the best grass variety for your region and site conditions (sun or shade).

The factsheet also offers a chart to help identify the weeds in your lawn and correct the conditions that are promoting them. To view the factsheet, click here.

The Hidden Costs of a Weed-Free Lawn

2011-07-16T08:15:00.002-07:00

Evidence continues to mount that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the popular weed killer Roundup, is potentially toxic. A recent report by Earth Open Source suggests that glyphosate causes birth defects in the embryos of laboratory animals.

Pesticide Action Network's paper on glyphosate suggests toxicity, as well.

Glyphosate is sprayed on numerous crops and plantations, including nearly 80% of genetically modified (GM) crops (canola, corn, cotton, soybean, sugar beet), with relatively high levels permitted as residues in food and animal feed. It is used as a pre-harvest desiccant, and because it is a systemic herbicide, it cannot be completely removed from food by washing, peeling, or processing. It is widely used in home gardens and public places including roadsides. Human exposure is widespread and constantly recurring.

. . .

Glyphosate is assumed by regulators to have no neurological effects—the US EPA did not require neurotoxicity studies to be carried out for the registration of Roundup. However, there is emerging evidence that glyphosate can affect the nervous system, and in particular, areas of the brain associated with Parkinson’s disease. In one case study glyphosate exposure was linked to "symmetrical parkinsonian syndrome." An epidemiological study of children identified a link with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup, denies that any adverse health issues are associated with the use of glyphosate. In their blog post dated June 9, 2011, Monsanto says:

Regulatory agencies around the world have concluded that glyphosate is not a reproductive toxin or teratogen (cause of birth defects) based on in-depth review of the comprehensive data sets available. Additionally, we have anecdotal results from first-hand experience of millions of farmers and home gardeners who have used this product for decades. Roundup agricultural herbicide provides environmental and economic benefits of conservation tillage which are sustainable and provide effective weed management.

Information is often conflicting when it comes to chemicals and health. For those who choose to be cautious and eliminate the use of Roundup, alternatives do exist. In our next post we'll explore some safe, natural ways to create a healthy lawn without the use of chemical pesticides.

Toxicity and Health

2011-07-12T14:08:00.002-07:00

The longer I remain on this health journey, the more I realize that our story isn't just our story—it's everyone's. Toxicity is an issue that affects each one of us.

Dr. Thomas Levy is a board-certified cardiologist who now devotes himself to research and writing centering on the restoration or maintenance of good health in the face of the varying forms of toxicity. His dramatic improvement in health following a dental revision led him to write a book with leading mercury removal advocate, Dr. Hal Huggins. The book, Uninformed Consent: The Hidden Dangers in Dental Care, empowers individuals to take an active role in their health. In it, Dr. Levy writes:

I quickly realized after my dental revision was completed that low-grade symptomatology tends to be ignored. Unless you are frankly ill, you consider yourself to be well, especially when your chronically compromised state of "normalcy" is shared with you by most of the population.... High blood pressure, migraines, diabetes, and arthritis are commonly accepted by most people as the penalty to be paid for reaching their forties. If they can take a handful of drugs and feel well, then that will satisfy their notion of being in good health.

Nothing could be further from the truth. If you are on prescription medicines you are not well, even if you are holding most symptoms at bay. Dying in your seventies after spending the last twenty to thirty years of your life with one or more chronic diseases may be the pattern shared by the majority of the population, but it is not good health, and you do not have to settle for it.

Dr. Levy has written books about Vitamin C, nutrition, maintaining antioxidant balance, and much more. Click here to view his website.

Mold in Baseball Gloves

2011-07-09T07:00:00.001-07:00

Baseball and softball gloves manufactured in Vietnam were recalled this week due to mold. According to this press release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Mizuno Supreme Series and Ballpark Pro baseball and softball gloves

Units: About 131,000

Importer: Mizuno USA Inc., of Norcross, Ga.

Hazard: Some gloves were found to contain a variety of molds that could cause respiratory or other infections in individuals with chronic health problems, or in individuals who have impaired immune systems.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled items are leather Mizuno baseball and softball gloves. The gloves have a sewn-in white label on the heel of the glove with the words “Made in Vietnam” and the model number. Supreme Series gloves affected are further identified by the date code imprinted on the heel of the glove near the thumb opening.

Sold at: Walmart and Target stores nationwide from April 2010 through May 2011 for between $24 and $60.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the gloves and contact Mizuno USA to receive a full refund.

Cell Phones Pose Risk, According to WHO

2011-07-05T08:24:00.002-07:00

The World Health Organization acknowledged recently that radiation from cell phones can possibly cause cancer. The agency now lists mobile phones in the same "carcinogenic hazard" category as lead, engine exhaust, and chloroform.

According to this CNN news story appearing on May 31, 2011:

A team of 31 scientists from 14 countries, including the United States, made the decision after reviewing peer-reviewed studies on cell phone safety. The team found enough evidence to categorize personal exposure as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."

What that means is they found some evidence of increase in glioma and acoustic neuroma brain cancer for mobile phone users, but have not been able to draw conclusions for other types of cancers.

"The biggest problem we have is that we know most environmental factors take several decades of exposure before we really see the consequences," said Dr. Keith Black, chairman of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

The type of radiation coming out of a cell phone is called non-ionizing. It is not like an X-ray, but more like a very low-powered microwave oven.

"What microwave radiation does in most simplistic terms is similar to what happens to food in microwaves, essentially cooking the brain," Black said. "So in addition to leading to a development of cancer and tumors, there could be a whole host of other effects like cognitive memory function, since the memory temporal lobes are where we hold our cell phones."

The European Environmental Agency has pushed for more studies, saying cell phones could be as big a public health risk as smoking, asbestos and leaded gasoline. The head of a prominent cancer-research institute at the University of Pittsburgh sent a memo to all employees urging them to limit cell phone use because of a possible risk of cancer.

"When you look at cancer development -- particularly brain cancer -- it takes a long time to develop. I think it is a good idea to give the public some sort of warning that long-term exposure to radiation from your cell phone could possibly cause cancer," said Dr. Henry Lai, research professor in bioengineering at University of Washington, who has studied radiation for more than 30 years.

Results from the largest international study on cell phones and cancer was released in 2010. It showed participants in the study who used a cell phone for 10 years or more had doubled the rate of brain glioma, a type of tumor. To date, there have been no long-term studies on the effects of cell phone usage among children.

"Children's skulls and scalps are thinner. So the radiation can penetrate deeper into the brain of children and young adults. Their cells are dividing at a faster rate, so the impact of radiation can be much larger," said Black of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

In February, a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health revealed radiation emitted after just 50 minutes on a mobile phone increases the activity in brain cells. The effects of brain activity being artificially stimulated are still unknown.

Neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta says Tuesday's announcement, "dealt a blow to those who have long said, 'There is no possible mechanism for cell phones to cause cancer.' By classifying cell phones as a possible carcinogen, they also seem to be tacitly admitting a mechanism could exist."

Manufacturers of many popular cell phones already warn consumers to keep their device away from their body, and medical experts say there are other ways to minimize cell phone radiation.

The Apple iPhone 4 safety manual says users' radiation exposure should not exceed FCC guidelines: "When using iPhone near your body for voice calls or for wireless data transmission over a cellular network, keep iPhone at least 15 millimeters (5/8 inch) away from the body."

BlackBerry Bold advises users to "keep the BlackBerry device at least 0.98 inch (25 millimeters) from your body when the BlackBerry device is transmitting."

The logic behind such recommendations is that the further the phone is from the body, the less radiation is absorbed. Users can also use the speakerphone function or a wired earpiece to gain some distance.

Users can text instead of talk if they want to keep the phone away from their faces.

Finally, cell phones emit the most radiation when they are attempting to connect to cellular towers. A moving phone, or a phone in an area with a weak signal, has to work harder, giving off more radiation. So users can avoid using their cell phones in elevators, buildings and rural areas if they want to reduce their exposure, experts say.

Educator Harrison Barritt writes an interesting commentary on this WHO study here.

The organization Environmental Working Group has ranked the radiation levels of top-selling cell phones. To see where your cell phone ranks, click here.

Environmental Awareness in Canada

2011-06-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

It took three years to diagnose her mysterious symptoms, and ten years to reduce her toxic load, but Rohini Peris used her experience to form the Environmental Health Association of Quebec. According to this recent article in the Montreal Gazette:

When inflammation, bruises and pain began appearing in her body in 1993, Rohini Peris had no idea what might have been the cause.

She saw several doctors and they too were stumped, Peris recalled.

Three years later, the Dollard des Ormeaux resident finally got a diagnosis: Tests at a U.S. laboratory revealed high levels of the chemical Lindane (a chlorinated pesticide used to exterminate spiders) and pesticides DDT and DDE in her blood.

Her husband, son and daughter exhibited similar symptoms, and what followed were 10 years of intense detoxification to eliminate these chemicals from their bodies.

They suffered from what is known as environmental/multiple chemical sensitivities, a chronic condition with multi-organ symptoms recognized in Ontario and Nova Scotia and by the World Health Organization – but not yet in Quebec.

According to the Environmental Health Association of Quebec, which seeks to promote awareness of this condition, it can develop in response to relatively low levels of exposure to multiple and unrelated chemicals.

Peris, who is the association president, says it took her 10 years of “intense detoxification” and elimination of many products from her household – from cleaning products to perfumes – to get her toxification down by 40 percent.

The Environmental Health Association website offers information on EMF sensitivities, an article by MCS researcher Dr. Martin Pall, and an excellent press release stating the specific needs of people suffering from environmental sensitivities.

Asthma and Allergies Linked to Mold

2011-06-27T07:00:00.002-07:00

A study released this month says children who live in homes with visible mold are more likely to suffer from asthma and allergies. According to the following article posted on FoxNews.com:

Researchers found that across 61 international studies since the 1990s, children living in water-damaged, moldy homes were more likely to have asthma, wheezing problems or nasal allergies than their peers.

The findings do not prove that mold is the culprit, according to the study's lead researcher.

However, lab research has suggested that exposure to mold and airborne mold spores can create inflammation in the airways, added Dr. Christina Tischer, of the German Research Center for Environmental Health in Neuherberg.

These latest findings underscore the importance of not only getting rid of visible mold, but also preventing it in the first place, Tischer told Reuters Health in an email.

People often believe that mold is bad news for their lung health, and many studies have supported that idea. But some recent studies have linked certain proteins in mold "components" in the home to a lower risk of asthma and allergies in children. Those components are particular fungus cells that can mix in with house dust.

So for their review, Tischer and her colleagues separated studies that examined visible mold -- the most obvious sign of a mold problem -- from the smaller number in which researchers measured mold components in household dust samples.

They found that overall, children in homes with visible mold were 49 percent more likely to have asthma than kids not exposed to the problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 10 percent of all American kids have asthma.

Meanwhile, the children's risk of nasal allergies was 39 percent higher.

Exposure to mold components in house dust was linked to a lower risk of those respiratory ills, the researchers report in the European Respiratory Journal.

In theory, that finding could be due to differences between visible mold and the mold components that are part of the normal mix of bacteria, fungus and other microbes in indoor air.

"Visible mold patches at the walls, or a moldy odor, is indicating that the normal microbial composition is out of kilter, which is most often due to dampness, excessive moisture or building damages," Tischer explained.

According to one theory -- the "hygiene hypothesis" -- living with the normal mix of microbes helps young children's immune systems develop in a way that makes allergic reactions less likely.

Tischer said that getting rid of visible mold "might be a first important step in order to create a healthy environment at home."

But, she added, the reasons for the mold problem have to be addressed too. That means steps like repairing leaky plumbing or other sources of water damage, and lowering humidity in the home with better ventilation.

My Clean Pantry

2011-06-23T07:29:00.001-07:00

I organized our kitchen pantry last week. A small feat for some. A major milestone for me.

Organization was one of my fortes in my previous life. I even did some public speaking on the subject.

As our toxic mold exposure grew over the years, my ability to organize diminished. I became easily overwhelmed. I would see piles of papers or heaps of laundry and become paralyzed. I couldn’t make decisions about the contents of the piles. Decisions, even the smallest of them, brought high levels of anxiety.

Moving out of the house didn’t help my decline in brain function. If anything, it worsened. I would find myself in a room unsure of why I was there. Simple tasks like doing the dishes became daunting. I forgot appointments and asked family members to put their needs in writing so I wouldn’t forget. Multi-tasking became impossible.

After our move to Arizona, I struggled to find my way around. (This was quite a switch from the old days when I used to easily conquer destinations with my impeccable sense of direction.) One Saturday morning I headed to a hair appointment in a different part of town. Somehow I got turned around. I found myself headed toward home and had no idea how to find my destination. The salon receptionist listened as I sobbed uncontrollably and graciously walked me through the streets and turns.

This 3-minute video shows what happens to bullet ants when their bodies are infiltrated by a parasitic fungus. According to the narrator, the ants become disoriented and confused.

It's been two years since that fateful drive to the hair salon. I continue to feel disoriented at times and still struggle with my memory. But I find myself with a renewed ability to organize and perform daily tasks. My desk is less cluttered. My clothes are stored in neat piles. And my pantry is finally organized.

Now that I've succeeded with the pantry, I'm ready to attack the bathroom drawers, the laundry room cabinets, and the spice cabinet. I’ve become an organizing maniac. Which shows I'm still struggling with my obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Something I'll have to work on... if I remember.

The Story of Tooth #8

2011-06-20T08:11:00.003-07:00

Four years ago our then 7th-grade daughter tripped and fell during indoor track practice, cracking her front tooth.

Accidents like this were not uncommon in our family. Our struggles with coordination and balance would only become clear in hindsight.

An attempt was made to save her tooth, but it soon became apparent that the tooth was dying. The dentist advised a root canal. We didn't think twice.

Kristen had been our "seizure child," developing complex partial seizure disorder soon after our move to Colorado. A root canal seemed like a minor issue in comparison.

One year after her root canal we vacated our home. Her seizures abated, and for the first time in seven years she was off all seizure medications. She was struggling with knee pain, however, and wore a knee brace most of the time. She was fatigued and struggled with mood. The mold exposure had taken its toll on Kristen, just as it had on the rest of us.

As I searched intensively for dietary options to recover our health, I came across an article titled "The Effect of Root Canals on Health" by Paul Pitchford in his book Healing with Whole Foods. According to Pitchford:

. . . root canals may cause dangerous weakening of the internal organs; people with seriously imbalanced health who have had root canals performed or recommended should consider how to treat this dental problem as a priority in their healing process.

The idea that Kristen's tooth #8 was holding back her recovery was a new thought. New and overwhelming. I made an appointment with a holistic dentist. "It looks fine to me," he reassured me. "I think you're fine to leave it." It was exactly what I wanted to hear, but I still felt unsettled.

We began an aggressive "attack" on Kristen's knees through acupuncture. We also launched an all-out offensive with a strong anti-fungal diet, eliminating all grains, fruits, nuts, and sugars.

Kristen began to turn the corner. Her knees improved, her fatigue improved slightly, and she began to show signs of new life.

But there was something missing. Something holding her back. She showed very few signs of detox. No rashes like the rest of us. I thought again about her root canal and made an appointment with a different holistic dentist. He advised against extraction, suggesting a crown because of her age and the obvious cosmetic issue with front tooth #8.

I couldn't get past the nagging feeling that something was wrong with the root canal. And if I've learned anything in these last four years, it's to listen to that feeling.

I continued to research and came across the website Huggins Applied Healing. (Dr. Huggins is one of the world's most controversial dentists because of his stand on mercury fillings.) I read an article that shed some light on the issue of root canals, stating:

Extremely toxic anaerobic bacteria have been found and identified in and around root canals.

I called the Huggins office and requested a referral for a dentist in Arizona. I found one in Phoenix. Upon checking this dentist's website, I found a meridian tooth chart which shows the relationship between specific teeth and the rest of the body. According to the chart, tooth #8 has a direct relationship with the knee. In addition, tooth #8 is linked to conceptual connections and a whole host of emotional issues which have plagued Kristen for the last several years.

I felt sure the tooth needed to go. But what about Kristen? I presented her with the options.

1. Keep the root canal and get a crown, which will successfully deal with the tooth discoloration.

2. Extract the tooth and have a removable fake tooth.

She thought for a moment. "I think I would feel better without the tooth." She said it with strong conviction. I knew she was on board.

Kristen's tooth was extracted on May 31. It should have been a traumatic experience. Perhaps because a missing tooth pales in comparison to losing a home, health, and a community of friends, Kristen took the surgery in stride. In fact, later in the day she looked at me, smiled with a big toothless grin, and said, "I feel better."

A cloud had lifted from Kristen. The change was dramatic. Even one of the dental assistants commented the next day, "Kristen, you look better!"

Three days after the extraction Kristen began to show signs of die-off—the evidence of detox we had been waiting to see. She grew feverish and broke out in numerous rashes.

The symptoms slowly passed and Kristen continued to show signs of new strength and health. With tooth #8 now sitting in a Ziploc bag, Kristen has a new lease on life and an empowering story to tell.

Formaldehyde and Styrene

2011-06-17T07:00:00.008-07:00

I used to avoid reading about dangerous substances. I didn't like hearing about things that might do me harm.

Now I gravitate to these articles. I love reading about toxicity. Our mold exposure turned me around. Truth is not easy to hear. But it's freeing.

Avoiding chemicals is impossible. Making wise choices is not. Last week the government added formaldehyde to their growing list of cancer-causing substances. According to the following Reuters article:

The government on Friday added formaldehyde, a substance found in plastics and other commonly used products, to a list of known carcinogens and warned that the chemical styrene might cause cancer.

In a report prepared for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), scientists warned that people with higher exposure to formaldehyde were more at risk for nasopharyngeal cancer, myeloid leukemia and other cancers.

"There is now sufficient evidence from studies in humans to show that individuals with higher measures of exposure to formaldehyde are at increased risk for certain types of rare cancers ...," the Report on Carcinogens said.

Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical widely used to make resins for household items, such as composite wood products, paper product coatings, plastics, synthetic fibers, and textile finishes.

It is also commonly used as a preservative in medical laboratories, mortuaries, and some consumer products, including hair straightening products.

The report, produced by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), also added styrene to the list of substances that were reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.

Styrene is a synthetic chemical used in the manufacture of products such as rubber, plastic, insulation, fiberglass, pipes, automobile parts, food containers, and carpet backing.

The greatest exposure to styrene in the general population is through cigarette smoking, the report said.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC), an industry group, lashed out at the report, saying it was concerned that politics may have hijacked the scientific process.

"Today's report by HHS made unfounded classifications of both formaldehyde and styrene and will unnecessarily alarm consumers," Cal Dooley, president and CEO of the ACC, said in a statement.

Jennifer Sass of the National Resources Defense Council, a U.S. environmental group, praised the government for publishing the report in the face of what she described as pressure by chemical companies to prevent its release.

"The chemical industry fought the truth, the science, and the public -- but, in the end our government experts came through for us, giving the public accurate information about the health risks from chemicals that are commonly found in our homes, schools, and workplaces," Sass wrote in a blog.

The report also listed aristolochic acids, found in some plants, as a known carcinogen and added the fungicide captafol, some inhalable glass wool fibers, cobalt-tungsten carbide, riddelliine and o-Nitrotoluene to the list of substances reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens.

It, however, said listing the substances did not in itself mean they would cause cancer. Amount and duration of exposure, and susceptibility to a substance were among the many factors that affected whether a person developed cancer, it said.

The government report may be viewed here.

What can we do to offset our exposure to these chemicals? Here are a couple of options:

1. Invest in an air purifier for your home, office, or school. Austin Air Systems offers high quality. The HealthMate+ is specifically designed to deal with chemical vapors. Click here to find out more.

2. An immediate and more affordable option is zeolite. Zeolite actually attracts odors and gases and traps them in its crystalline structure. Click here to view one provider of zeolite granules.

Fungal Illness Often Missed

2011-06-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Fungal infections such as Valley Fever are readily identifiable by physicians. However, systemic fungal infections caused by toxic mold, overuse of antibiotics, or other factors are often missed. In his article Is Hidden Fungus Making You Ill?, functional medicine pioneer Dr. Mark Hyman addresses this issue.

Yeast overgrowth is quite common, but many people don't know they have it and conventional doctors tend to ignore it. In medical school, we are taught that you either have a disease or you don't. It's black and white. However, our bodies weren't designed with an "on" or "off" switch for disease. All diseases occur in shades of gray along a continuum of imbalance along spectrum of disease.

Medical students learn about fungal and yeast problems, but only in a limited way. They know that AIDS patients have severe yeast and fungal infections and need long-term antifungal treatment. People with diabetes tend to grow yeast because yeast likes sugar. Babies get thrush and need antifungal treatment. Women get vaginal Candida yeast infections. All of these are well-accepted and treatable problems. Unfortunately more subtle problems related to yeast are usually ignored and not linked to patients' complaints. If a subject is not taught in medical school, it is assumed not to be real. Medical history proves this is a dangerous assumption.

. . .

We know that yeast overgrowth can be triggered by a number of things. These include a high-sugar, high-fat, low-fiber diet, impaired immunity, use of drugs like antibiotics, birth control pills, estrogen, steroids like prednisone, and psychological stress.

Although symptoms of yeast overgrowth are similar to those of many other conditions, you may have a yeast problem if you have these problems:

General Symptoms
• Chronic fatigue
• Loss of energy
• General malaise
• Decreased libido

Gastrointestinal Symptoms
• Thrush
• Bloating and gas
• Intestinal cramps
• Rectal itching
• Altered bowel function such as diarrhea or constipation

Genitourinary Symptoms
• Yeast infections
• Frequent bladder infections
• Interstitial cystitis (irritable bladder)

Hormonal Complaints
• Menstrual irregularities like pain, bleeding, etc.
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Thyroid dysfunction

Nervous System Complaints
• Depression
• Irritability
• Inability to concentrate

Immune System Complaints
• Allergies
• Chemical sensitivities
• Low immune function

Past History
• Chronic yeast infections
• Chronic antibiotic use for infections or acne
• Oral birth control pill usage
• Oral steroid hormone usage

Associated Conditions
• Sensitivity to foods, chemicals, or other allergens
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Craving for foods rich in carbohydrates or yeast
• Toenail fungus

Many tests we use for diagnosis of yeast problems are not definitive or foolproof. It is often a diagnosis that must be made from a patient's story, symptoms, and physical findings on examination. Blood antibody levels for yeasts, stool tests, and organic acid urine tests for yeast metabolites can be helpful if they come out positive but don't rule yeast out if they're negative.

The best method for diagnosis is a good history for risk factors like antibiotic use and symptoms of chronic yeast problems. The symptoms of yeast overgrowth vary from person to person and the response to treatments will vary. Some people may need aggressive treatment, while others need only simple changes to make a significant difference in their health.

I recommend a systematic approach to yeast overgrowth. Taking the following steps can help overcome this common but under-diagnosed ailment.

Overcoming Yeast Overgrowth

1. Address predisposing factors. Don't take antibiotics, steroids, or hormones unless absolutely medically necessary.

2. Eat a diet that doesn't feed yeast in the gut (low sugar and refined carbohydrates, and low mold and yeast in food—see below).

3. Use probiotics to repopulate the gut with healthy bacteria.

4. Take antifungal herbs and medications when indicated.

5. Identify potential environmental toxic fungi and molds in your home or workplace.

6. Reduce stress.

In his article, Dr. Hyman also lists the following natural antifungals:

• Oregano -- Oil of oregano has many antibacterial and antifungal properties.

• Garlic -- Fresh, crushed garlic is a potent antimicrobial and immune booster.

• Citrus seed extract -- The phytochemicals in citrus seeds have been found to have potent antimicrobial properties.

• Berberine -- This potent yellow plant extract comes from goldenseal and barberry.

• Tannins -- These are the astringent compounds found in tea and the bark of trees.

• Undecylenate -- This chemical compound is a potent antifungal.

• Isatis tinctoria -- This Chinese herb can be a useful adjunct to treating intestinal imbalances.

• Caprylic acid -- This is another useful compound for treating yeast.

Joplin Fungal Infections

2011-06-13T06:44:00.000-07:00

Valley Fever is a fungal infection caused by coccidioides, organisms that reside in the soil here in the Southwest. It's one of the reasons I stay away from construction sites and swirling dust now that we live in Arizona. According to Wikipedia, "Coccidioides immitis is dormant during long dry spells, then develops as a mold with long filaments that break off into airborne spores when the rains come. The spores, known as arthroconidia, are swept into the air by disruption of the soil, such as during construction, farming, or an earthquake."

Residents of Joplin, Missouri were exposed to a similar fungal organism, and the resulting systemic infection proved fatal to at least three of the tornado victims. Dr. Uwe Schmidt, an infectious disease specialist at Freeman Health System, said his hospital treated five Joplin tornado victims for the infection, known as zygomycosis (zy'-goh-my-KOH'-sihs). According to this June 10 Associated Press article:

Zygomycosis, also known as mucormycosis, is a sometimes-fatal infection that spreads rapidly and can be caused by soil or vegetative material getting under the skin. It's more prevalent in people with weakened immune systems or untreated diabetes but can affect healthy people who get badly hurt.

. . .

The Springfield News-Leader reported that the department sent a memo Monday to area health providers warning them to be on the lookout for the infections.

In the aftermath of the tornado, Freeman Health System treated more than 1,700 patients. Doctors from St. John's Hospital, which was badly damaged by the twister, treated patients at makeshift facilities.

"These were very extensive wounds," Schmidt said. "They were treated in the emergency room as quickly as possible."

A week after the tornado, patients began arriving with fungal infections.

"We could visibly see mold in the wounds," Schmidt said. "It rapidly spread. The tissue dies off and becomes black. It doesn't have any circulation. It has to be removed."

Schmidt said the infection is sometimes seen in survivors of mass trauma such as the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia.

"This fungus invades the underlying tissue and actually invades the underlying blood vessels and cuts off the circulation to the skin," he said. "It's very invasive."

How to Make Dairy Kefir

2011-06-10T08:09:00.001-07:00

Dairy kefir is simple to make provided you have healthy grains. Kefir grains (described in this earlier post) may be obtained through friends or fellow co-op members, or through the Internet. Here are several options:

Kefir Lady
Yemoos Nourishing Cultures
Cultures For Health (these are dehydrated—a little tricky, but a viable option)

Steps for making kefir:

1. Place 1-2 tablespoons of kefir grains in clean glass jar. I use a 1/2-gallon mason jar.

2. Add 2 cups fresh milk. Any type of milk will work, including cow, goat, and coconut. Raw milk is ideal, particularly goat milk. Pasteurized milk will work. Try to avoid ultra-pasteurized, as the UHT (ultra-high temperature) is so high that the grains may not thrive. For sources of raw milk, click here.

The milk may be room-temperature or chilled. I always allow an extra hour for fermentation if I use cold milk.

(Kefir is often fine for those who are lactose-intolerant, because the yeasts and bacteria eat up most if not all of the lactose in the milk. My daughter can't tolerate store-bought yogurt due to the shortened fermenting time, but does great with homemade kefir.)

3. Gently stir contents and move the jar (covered with a cloth or a lid which is left ajar) to a location away from direct sunlight. This might be a cupboard, pantry, or darker side of the kitchen.

4. Allow the mixture to ferment for a minimum of 24 hours. It is not advisable to go beyond 48 hours.

5. Pour contents of the jar into a strainer. Some websites suggest avoiding metal strainers and utensils. Others say it doesn't matter. I use wooden utensils and a plastic strainer.

6. Take the strained grains, place them in a clean glass jar, and begin the process again. (You can "rest" the grains in the refrigerator covered in milk or yogurt, which must be changed every 7 days.)

7. You can take your liquid kefir and refrigerate it for a day or more to "ripen" it and increase the nutritional value. You can also leave it at room temperature for 24 hours to ripen the kefir. Either way, the kefir is fine to drink after 24 hours.

In the picture above I am fermenting raw goat milk, pasteurized whipping cream, and also "ripening" freshly-made coconut kefir.

Drinking plain kefir is often an acquired taste. I have grown to love the flavor of plain goat kefir. I love the texture of the cream kefir and flavor it with a little bit of vanilla.

My kids enjoy making strawberry smoothies with the cream kefir. We even made "cookie dough" ice cream last week with cream kefir, cacao nibs, and cookie dough made of coconut flour, cacao nibs, stevia, and eggs.

Water kefir uses different grains and is something I have not tried.
Coconut water kefir is simple to make using the packaged starter culture offered by Body Ecology. Click here for more information.

Kefir is a probiotic food and therefore has strong healing properties which can cause severe die-off reactions. It's best to start small (a teaspoon) and build from there.

Kefir can also be used topically for rashes and for general skin care. Mix cream kefir with essential oil and use it as a moisturizer. (I can't believe the difference in my skin!) Run a cupful of kefir through your dishwasher cycle. I'm even experimenting with a kefir toothpaste recipe!

I love making kefir. Perhaps it's that I can watch the good guys overtake the bad guys and know that this is what happens when I drink it. Or perhaps it's the resilience of the grains themselves. I have seen sluggish grains come back to life when I thought they were doomed. No doubt, kefir has made a great addition to our family's diet.

Health Benefits of Kefir

2011-06-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

Hippocrates said that our food is our medicine and our medicine is our food. Nothing illustrates this more than the probiotic food kefir. I feel like I'm running a compounding pharmacy every time I make it. Kefir is made using "grains" to ferment any kind of milk (goat, cow, coconut, etc.), incorporating their beneficial organisms to create the cultured product. The grains look like clumps of cauliflower but are actually clusters of healthy yeasts and bacteria.

Kefir is pronounced Ke-Feer', according to the dictionary. It is more commonly pronounced Kee' fir. At our house we call it Keff ' ir. When it comes to pronunciation, anything goes.

Kefir means "feel good" in Turkish. It is a complete protein and is high in minerals and vitamins, especially the B vitamins. Homemade kefir contains up to 35 strains of good bacteria and yeast (as opposed to yogurt, which contains a handful). Bottled kefir purchased at the store may contain up to 10 strains but often includes unwanted additives. Kefir, therefore, is best when it's homemade.

According to Gabriel Cousens in his book Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine,

Because of kefir's ability to establish healthy bowel flora, it is beneficial in preventing many gastrointestinal disorders. Some researchers have found that kefir also exudes bacterial inhibitory factors, which prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. In this sense, it actually acts as a natural antibiotic. Some studies show that kefir whey neutralizes most pathogenic bacteria within 24 hours.

A peer-reviewed study conducted in Japan found that kefir has the ability to protect against harmful levels of radiation. According to the abstract's conclusion,

This study indicated that kefir protects colonic crypt cells against radiation-induced apoptosis, which was most pronounced in the stem cell region of the crypt The antiapoptotic effect of fermented milk kefir was due to the inhibition of caspase-3 activation.

Dairy kefir also contains tryptophan, one of the essential amino acids known for its calming effect on the nervous system. The tryptophan in kefir, in combination with its calcium and magnesium, makes for a soothing and relaxing drink.

What about fungal infections like candida? Dr. Orla-Jenson, a noted Danish bacteriologist specializing in dairy research, states that "Kefir digests yeast cells and has a beneficial effect on the intestinal flora."

Dominic Anfiteatro, an Australian native, has been studying kefir and its health benefits for years. He considers kefir to be a "probiotic gem" cultured with a "probiotic jewel" (kefir grains). His kefir expertise is unparalleled. His website can be viewed here.

Once the grains have been procured, kefir is easy to make. We'll look at the process step by step in the next post.

Insect Repellent

2011-06-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

What's the safest way to protect our skin from mosquitoes and other insects? According to this article published by the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia, DEET is not a safe choice.

DEET is a registered pesticide. DEET is short for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide). It is a member of the toluene chemical family. Toluene is an organic solvent used in rubber and plastic cements and paint removers. DEET is absorbed through the skin and passes into the blood. The Medical Sciences Bulletin, published by Pharmaceutical Information Associates Ltd. reports, "Up to 56% of DEET applied topically penetrates intact human skin and 17% is absorbed into the bloodstream." Blood concentrations of about 3 mg per litre have been reported several hours after DEET repellent was applied to skin in the prescribed fashion. DEET is also absorbed by the gut.

Natural alternatives must be applied more frequently but offer no harmful effects.

You can make your own by mixing 10-25 drops of essential oil with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. Carrier oils include jojoba, almond, and coconut. Castor oil has repellent capabilities and can be used as well.

Suggested essential oils include:

• Lemon Eucalyptus
• Citronella
• Lemongrass
• Tea Tree
• Cinnamon

The Centers for Disease Control recommends DEET and Picaridin (which is determined to be among the least toxic chemicals, as documented by the organization Beyond Pesticides), but also validates the effectiveness of natural options. According to the CDC's website:

Oil of lemon eucalyptus [active ingredient: p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant-based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.

The best way to treat an insect bite? Two options include:

• Baking soda
• Bentonite clay

Make a paste with filtered water and allow to dry.

One Family's Devastation

2011-06-02T10:25:00.000-07:00

The following is yet another heartbreaking story of a young family's encounter with toxic mold. The story is told from the mother's perspective.

We moved into our brand new home in 2005. It was new construction. Our move-in was delayed almost four months due to a worker on the jobsite urinating on our new carpet before we moved in. We found the urine the day we began bringing in boxes. It took a few months before the builder could have all of our brand new carpet replaced and we could begin moving again.

Once we did move, we noticed that our son's window leaked. We had the builder come out. They cleared the weep holes and said in high winds and heavy rains the tracks would overflow. So every time it rained we would put towels in the window. We never saw much more than a little water on the towels. Within six months our son, who didn't have so much as a sniffle in his first year of life, was hospitalized after a two-month mystery fever. He had a rare abscess in his throat. After surgery and tons of antibiotics, he was okay. None of the doctors could tell us why it had happened or what we could do to prevent it from happening in the future.

Over the next two years our son developed a terrible mystery cough, which was worse at night, and he had horrible allergies. He was tested for everything from Valley Fever to Cystic Fibrosis. Nothing came back positive. His swollen glands, dry hacking cough, stomach aches and headaches remained a mystery. Countless medical tests most of his life... no answers.

In Fall 2008, I was pregnant with twins. Our son was hospitalized again with yet another mystery illness. This time he was there for close to a week. His right eye swelled shut within half a day. His lacrimal gland was swollen. He had a biopsy, endless tests and CT scans—nothing. No answers.

Once the twins were born, it was only weeks before we noticed visibly swollen neck glands on one of our newborns. They looked just like the ones we had been looking at on our son's neck for the past few years. Upon closer inspection, we found the same on our other twin. The pediatrician had no answers.

A few months later, we noticed one of the twin's feet turning purple/black. It happened several times; sometimes it was both feet. A few months more and we noticed she had a terrible problem snoring and ceasing to breath while she was sleeping. She also continuously battled what we thought was eczema on her face and torso. Still no answers. Eventually, gigantic, almost sore-like patches of circular, scaly red skin appeared on her forehead, stomach, back, arms, and legs.

The other twin had the swollen glands and a few whole-body rashes, but they seemed to clear within a few days.

In Spring 2010, I ended up spending the night in my son's room while he was away at camp, and I had a terrible reaction. My eyes and ears were itchy and burning, and my throat hurt. I wondered if this was the way my son had felt for the past five years. That's when it hit me... maybe there was mold in his room from the leaky window. I called to have the room tested the following morning. They found, among other things, Aspergillus/Penicillium.

After that, we decided to rip out all of the carpet. We figured there was a good chance that the mold from my son's room had been tracked to other parts of the house. Perhaps getting rid of the carpet would be a good first step in minimizing his allergy symptoms. In doing so, we uncovered the rest of the story.

ALL of the windows on our upper floor were leaking. We just didn't know it because the carpet was soaking it up. In many cases, the water was seeping out directly from under the baseboards. There would have been no visible presence of water—it just seeped out under the baseboards and was absorbed by the carpet and padding. We tested the rest of the upstairs and found mold everywhere... including Stachybotrys ("Black Mold") in our master bedroom.

After we found the mold, our builder's "restoration crew" came to fix the windows and remediate. We asked them to contain the rooms before cutting into the walls. They refused. We asked them to wait until we got the test results back, and they refused. They cut into the walls, "didn't see any mold," and decided we didn't have a problem. That night we got the test results showing we had black mold. We called them and told them we didn't want them in our house again until further notice. We knew we had a huge problem on our hands, and we needed time to figure out what to do.

July 13, 2010, we moved out of our home. We have since sent our test results to a notable toxicologist in the field. He explained that the presence of Stachybotrys in the air indicates a much greater problem in the home, which must be addressed or it will get worse. Stachybotrys is a heavy, sticky mold, and it does not go airborne easily.

We had an appointment with mold specialist Dr. Michael Gray in Benson, Arizona. He found polyps in our oldest son's nasal passage and expressed concern about a lump we found recently on his head. He looked at two of the kids under a UV lamp and both had areas of their bodies that GLOWED. Your children should not glow. We were ordered to throw out all our remaining clothing. There was a possibility that we had contaminated the home we were staying in by bringing in the very few belongings we brought with us.

So now we are homeless. We cannot bring our family back to our home. Dr. Gray told us, "Treat it like a fire. Don't take anything with you and don't go back." Most, if not all, of our old belongings—including pictures, mementoes, and family heirlooms—have been contaminated. On the bright side, our children are seeing one of the best possible doctors for this type of illness. We are in a safe environment where we can begin to heal. Our family, friends, and complete strangers have come out in droves to help us, and for that we are TRULY thankful.

We feel tremendously grateful that our twins made it into this world despite the toxic environment we were living in during the pregnancy. Never mind being brought home to nurseries infected with some of the most harmful molds known to man. Mold has been identified as the cause of several SIDS deaths. We are very lucky.

All we can ask now is if you or a loved one have had any mystery illnesses that a doctor cannot explain, HAVE YOUR HOUSE TESTED FOR MOLD. Knowing the cause of your illness and removing yourself and your loved ones from the environment could be the first step in saving your lives.

The Origin of Our Food

2011-05-30T06:56:00.001-07:00

My introduction to this country’s problematic food supply came through the movie Food, Inc. My interest in the subject stemmed from my desperation to turn our family's health around.

The startling information conveyed in Food, Inc. was enough for me to search for grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish and soy-/corn-free chicken. The more I learned, the more determined I became to feed our family with fresh, organic food, free of additives, hormones, and antibiotics. Farmers markets have now become our primary source of food.

Several years ago, author Barbara Kingsolver (The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees) went a step further. She moved her family to a Virginia farm to learn to grow their own food. She chronicles her experience in the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life.

It is an easy, fun read. She eloquently makes the case for a return to our agricultural roots, citing the ominous transition to commodity subsidies, which focus on the production of cheap corn and soybeans.

. . . this new industry made piles of corn and soybeans into high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and thousands of other starch- or oil-based chemicals. Cattle and chickens were brought in off the pasture into intensely crowded and mechanized CAFO’s (concentrated animal feeding operations) where corn – which is no part of a cow’s natural diet, by the way – could be turned cheaply and quickly into animal flesh. All these different products, in turn, rolled on down the new industrial food pipeline to be processed into the soft drinks, burgers, and other cheap foods on which our nation largely runs – or sits on its bottom, as the case may be.

This is how 70% of our Midwestern agricultural land shifted gradually into single-crop corn or soybean farms, each of them now, on average, the size of Manhattan. Owing to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetic modification, and a conversion of farming from a naturally based to a highly mechanized production system, U.S. farmers now produce 3,900 calories per U.S. citizen, per day. That is twice what we need, and 700 more calories a day more than they grew in 1980.

. . .

Most of those calories enter our mouths in forms hardly recognizable as corn and soybeans, or even vegetable in origin: high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) owns up to its parentage, but lecithin, citric acid, maltodextrin, sorbitol, and xanthan gum, for example, are also manufactured from corn. So are beef, eggs, and poultry, in a different but no less artificial process. Soybeans also become animal flesh, or else a category of ingredient known as “added fats.” If every product containing corn or soybeans were removed from your grocery store, it would look more like a hardware store. Alarmingly, the lightbulbs might be naked, since many packaging materials also now contain cornstarch.

Kingsolver goes on to talk about the bigger packages and supersizing, citing our weakness for junk food. Food marketers, she says, exploit the weakness without mercy.

Obesity is generally viewed as a failure of personal resolve, with no acknowledgement of the genuine conspiracy in this historical scheme. People actually did sit in strategy meetings discussing ways to get all those surplus calories into people who neither needed nor wished to consume them. Children have been targeted especially; food companies spend over $10 billion a year selling food brands to kids, and it isn’t broccoli they’re pushing. Overweight children are a demographic in many ways similar to minors addicted to cigarettes, with one notable exception: their parents are usually their suppliers. We all subsidize the cheap calories with our tax dollars, the strategists make fortunes, and the overweight consumers get blamed for the violation. It’s the perfect crime.

The good news in all of this is that the tide is turning. Ever so slowly. As people make the connection between health and food, the demand for organic, nutrionally dense food grows.

As Kingsolver says,

From the rural routes to the inner cities, we are staring at our plates and wondering where that’s been. For the first time since our nation’s food was ubiquitously local, the point of origin now matters again to some consumers.

It sure matters to me and, thankfully, to many others.

Mycotoxins in Food (Part Two)

2011-05-27T09:56:00.001-07:00

Mycotoxins are common occurrences in our food supply. If there is any type of health liability, the ingestion of mycotoxins only adds to the toxic load. There can be great benefit, therefore, in mycotoxin avoidance.

The veterinary world is well aware of this truth. The Center for Veterinary Medicine, part of the Food and Drug Administration, gave a startling presentation in 2006 listing specific mycotoxins and some of the health effects for animals and humans.

The following excerpts highlight some of the key findings of Dr. Michael Henry, as presented to the Risk Management Agency:

Aflatoxins

• Produced by Aspergillus sp. (A. flavus and A. parasiticus)

• Common feed substrates such as corn, cottonseed, peanuts, and sorghum.

• Occur most commonly in warm, humid regions of the south and central regions of the U.S.

• High levels of aflatoxins are associated with above-average temperature and below-average rainfall (micro-climate)

Vomitoxin

• Produced by members of genus Fusarium (especially F. graminearum)

• Commonly found on wheat, barley, rye and oats

• Reported most frequently in cool, temperate regions (northern U.S. and Canada)

• Member of the trichothecene family of mycotoxins

• Inhibitor of protein synthesis, affecting GI tract and immune system

• Swine most susceptible -- causing vomiting and feed refusal

Fumonisins

• Produced by Fusarium sp. (F. verticillioides)

• Found worldwide, mainly in corn and particularly corn screenings

• High levels associated with hot and dry weather, followed by periods of high humidity

• Three major fumonisins in feed are B1, B2 & B3 (B1 + B2 + B3 = total fumonisins)

• Most susceptible species are horses (equine leukoencephalomalacia) and rabbits

• Suspected carcinogens

Ochratoxin A

• Produced by Aspergillus sp. (A. ochraceus) and Penicillium sp. (P. viridicatum)

• Highest levels usually found in cereal grains (corn, barley, wheat and rye)

• At least nine ochratoxins identified, but ochratoxin A is the most common and has the greatest toxicological significance

• Nephrotoxic and a suspected carcinogen

• No FDA action, advisory or guidance levels established for ochratoxin A in U.S. feed

Zearalenone

• Produced by Fusarium sp. (primarily F. graminearum)

• Common substrates are corn, wheat, barley, occasionally oats

• Production favored by high humidity and low temperatures

• Estrogenic mycotoxin, swine most susceptible – vulvar swelling in gilts

• Toxicity related to reproductive system

• No FDA action, advisory or guidance levels established for zearalenone in U.S. feed.

The full report can be viewed here.

The website Know Mycotoxins offers valuable information on mycotoxin management for animal feed. Here, too, we see a striking understanding of the dangers of crop contamination:

Any growing crop, including forage and cereals, is susceptible to mould, with Fusarium types being the main concern. Fusarium moulds can produce mycotoxins on the growing plant. Whilst the moulds themselves may not survive the transition from field to feeding trough, the mycotoxins will remain intact, though invisible to the naked eye. Feeds may therefore appear and analyse as high quality, but may harbour a mycotoxin(s) challenge.

From my perspective, what's healthy for animals is also healthy for me. Animals are at risk when they eat contaminated food. Are we any different?

Mycotoxins in Food (Part One)

2011-05-26T06:49:00.003-07:00

One of the biggest reasons our family continues to embrace a grain-free diet is the compelling scientific evidence that mycotoxins frequently find their way into our grain supply. As we attempt to rid our bodies of unwanted pathogens, it's critical to choose healthy, fresh foods which are both easily digested and uncontaminated. The following peer-reviewed study, published in 2003 by Tulane University, looks at the implications of mycotoxins in foods.

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by microfungi that are capable of causing disease and death in humans and other animals. Because of their pharmacological activity, some mycotoxins or mycotoxin derivatives have found use as antibiotics, growth promotants, and other kinds of drugs; still others have been implicated as chemical warfare agents. This review focuses on the most important ones associated with human and veterinary diseases, including aflatoxin, citrinin, ergot alkaloids, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, patulin, trichothecenes, and zearalenone.

The study, which is lengthy and scholarly, looks at each mycotoxin and its threat to human and animal health. It gives the following information about ochratoxin, the mycotoxin which is emitted from some species of aspergillus and penicillium:

With other mycotoxins, the substrate on which the molds grow as well as the moisture level, temperature, and presence of competitive microflora interact to influence the level of toxin produced. Ochratoxin A has been found in barley, oats, rye, wheat, coffee beans, and other plant products, with barley having a particularly high likelihood of contamination. There is also concern that ochratoxin may be present in certain wines, especially those from grapes contaminated with Aspergillus carbonarius.

Of the Aspergillus toxins, only ochratoxin is potentially as important as the aflatoxins. The kidney is the primary target organ. Ochratoxin A is a nephrotoxin to all animal species studied to date and is most likely toxic to humans, who have the longest half-life for its elimination of any of the species examined. In addition to being a nephrotoxin, animal studies indicate that ochratoxin A is a liver toxin, an immune suppressant, a potent teratogen, and a carcinogen. Ochratoxin A disturbs cellular physiology in multiple ways, but it seems that the primary effects are associated with the enzymes involved in phenylalanine metabolism, mostly by inhibiting the enzyme involved in the synthesis of the phenylalanine-tRNA complex. In addition, it inhibits mitochondrial ATP production and stimulates lipid peroxidation.

To read the study in its entirety, click here.

An Untimely Backward 4

2011-05-23T16:47:00.000-07:00

I find board games frustrating. Often I get a comfortable lead, gloat to my opponent, and with one unfortunate card I'm back in last place. Candyland is a perfect example. You pick the Queen Frostine card, and you're within striking distance of home. Plumpy shows up and you're back at the beginning.

The newer edition allows a player to ignore a card he doesn't like. In fact, Plumpy doesn't exist! I might be interested in that version, but somehow it feels like cheating.

My kids are into Sorry.

I played last week with my two youngest boys and experienced unprecedented good fortune. I found myself with a myriad of 1's and 11's and a perfectly timed backward 4. Two more cards and I found myself with all four pawns in the safety zone. I could taste victory.

All I needed was a 5 followed by a 3. Instead I drew a backward 4. What?! How could this be? If I moved four squares back I'd be vulnerable. I begged and pleaded. "Please let me go two backward. Please!" They were too savvy to bend the rules.

The next player, Colin, drew a Sorry card. I begged and pleaded again. "Pick Brandon! Please!" There was no denying the truth, however. I was Colin's biggest threat. He mercilessly chose me.

I found myself back at the beginning, and within five minutes the game was over. I finished in last place.

I didn't care, of course. Not really. Those 15 minutes were fun. Exciting. Frustrating. And funny. Most of all, they were shared. One day the three of us will laugh about our shared experience, because Sorry is just like life.

We work hard to get into the safety zone and do our best to protect ourselves from pain and sorrow. We hang on to our possessions and our loved ones.

Until some unfortunate card pulls us out of safety and forces us to see the truth about life.

The truth that all the retirement plans and insurance policies in the world can't keep us from pain and loss. Tornadoes hit, illness strikes, wealth disappears, and dreams are crushed. Sorry cards are part of living.

The good news is that there is an eternal home where safety becomes reality. A place described in the book of Revelation:

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain.

Until that day comes we share, we bond, we laugh, we love, and we play with all our heart. Confident that, ultimately, the card we draw doesn't matter. Only that we keep moving forward. Even with an untimely backward 4.

Toxic Dust and Heavy Metals

2011-05-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

The previous post referred to research which suggests that toxic dust found in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait may be contributing to adverse health effects for many U.S. military personnel. The following article appearing in the Army Times lists some of the researchers' specific findings pertaining to heavy metals.

Microbiologists Dale Griffin of the U.S. Geologic Survey and Capt. Mark Lyles of the Naval War College analyzed dust samples taken in Iraq and Kuwait in 2004 and found a wide range of heavy metals at rates in excess of World Health Organization maximum safe exposure guidelines. Some don’t even have maximum exposure guidelines because they are not expected to be present in airborne dust. The elements of “greatest concern” and the proportions found in dust samples:

• Arsenic at 10 parts per million: poisonous and can cause long-term health effects or death.

• Chromium at 52 parts per million: linked to lung cancer and respiratory ailments.

• Lead at 138 parts per million: can lead to headaches, nausea, muscle weakness and fatigue.

• Nickel at 562 parts per million: can lead to lung cancer, respiratory issues, birth defects and heart disorders.

• Cobalt at 10 parts per million: can lead to asthma and pneumonia.

• Strontium at 2,700 parts per million: linked to cancer.

• Tin at 8 parts per million: can cause depression, liver damage, immune system and chromosomal disorders, a shortage of red blood cells, and brain damage that can lead to anger, sleeping disorders, forgetfulness and headaches.

• Vanadium at 49 parts per million: can cause lung and eye irritation, damage to the nervous system, behavioral changes and nervousness.

• Zinc at 206 parts per million: can cause anemia and nervous system disorders.

• Manganese at 352 parts per million: linked to metabolic issues, Parkinson’s disease and bronchitis.

• Barium at 463 parts per million: can cause breathing problems, heart palpitations, muscle weakness and heart and liver damage.

• Aluminum at 7,521 parts per million. Aluminum was of particular concern to Lyles and Griffin because the metal has recently been linked to “multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases.”

Toxic Dust and the Military

2011-05-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Research suggests that U.S. combat troops, typically a healthy group of individuals, are suffering ill health effects from toxic dust. According to this article appearing last week in USA TODAY:

U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait have inhaled microscopic dust particles laden with toxic metals, bacteria and fungi — a toxic stew that may explain everything from the undiagnosed Gulf War Syndrome symptoms lingering from the 1991 war against Iraq to high rates of respiratory, neurological and heart ailments encountered in the current wars.

"From my research and that of others, I really think this may be the smoking gun," says Navy Capt. Mark Lyles, chair of medical sciences and biotechnology at the Center for Naval Warfare Studies at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. "It fits everything — symptoms, timing, everything."

Lyles and other researchers found that dust particles — up to 1,000 of which can sit on the head of a pin — gathered in Iraq and Kuwait contain 37 metals, including aluminum, lead, manganese, strontium and tin. The metals have been linked to neurological disorders, cancer, respiratory ailments, depression and heart disease, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Researchers believe the metals occur both naturally and as a byproduct of pollution.

. . .

The dust contains 147 different kinds of bacteria, as well as fungi that could spread disease, Lyles found. Since the wars began in Iraq in 2003 and in Afghanistan in 2001, the military has seen a 251% increase in the rate of neurological disorders per 10,000 active-duty servicemembers, a 47% rise in the rate of respiratory issues and a 34% increase in the rate of cardiovascular disease, according to a USA TODAY analysis of military morbidity records from 2001 to 2010. Those increases have researchers seeking possible causes.

How does the Defense Department respond to this research?

Despite the research by Lyles and others, and the documented spikes in respiratory illnesses, Defense Department officials contend there are no health issues associated with the dust.

. . .

Capt. J.A. "Cappy" Surrette, spokesman for the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, said Navy researchers investigated to see whether the dust in Iraq and Afghanistan is toxic. The Navy has no record of troops complaining of cognitive difficulties unrelated to traumatic brain injuries, he says.

However, he says the Naval Health Research laboratory found that trace metals in the dust showed levels of toxicity.

"There is no definitive basis to say the sand is harmful to people or animals," he says.

However, one Navy study is examining the toxicity of sand from Afghanistan to see how it affects cell death, he says. A second is looking at whether Afghanistan dust contributes to brain trauma pathology in animals.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Rob Erckenbrack, 40, of West Fargo, N.D., deployed at Taqaddum, Iraq, in 2006, and guarded the perimeter at Taji, Iraq, in 2008. He began losing weight, and having respiratory problems and migraines. He also dealt with short-term memory loss but says he was not in an incident that would have caused a traumatic brain injury. In June 2010, he had a stroke.

"My doctors were surprised because I'm a healthy, active, adult," he says. "Then another guy from my unit went through the same thing."

The parallels with exposure to toxic mold are evident. Especially in light of the fact that 20 million 5-micron mold spores fit on a single postage stamp.

Despite the controversy, it's clear that the air we breathe matters. Both at home and at war.

Apartment Inspection

2011-05-14T06:38:00.005-07:00

Two of our older children moved to their own apartment recently—yet another sign that we are progressing, albeit ever so slowly.

Transitioning to a new environment brings with it a level of stress and anxiety. How can we be sure it's mold-free? What about the chemical aspect?

The apartment was worth pursuing since it was all electric and only a year old, with no history of water damage. During the walk-through we detected only a faint chemical smell. No plug-ins, no heavy fragrances, and no musty smell. A good, safe home environment should smell like nothing.

The good news about our condition is that our bodies let us know immediately if there is a serious mold issue, something I've encountered three times since leaving our Colorado home. All three times I felt a painful tightening in my chest, which took several days to resolve.

Our next step was to inquire about pesticide sprays. Aside from the initial termite spray used during construction, the apartment had not been sprayed indoors.

Although there was no sign of water damage, we decided to have the apartment inspected using thermal imaging. Infrared thermal imaging will detect hidden areas of moisture. It can also spot structural defects and any potential electrical hazards.

According to this website dedicated to thermal imaging:

Thermal imaging inspections provides us with a picture of a specific condition of a home or building. Infrared cameras allow us the ability to see and locate what the naked eye is unable to detect. Infrared images can capture thermal anomalies from moisture or water damage, roof leaks, stucco, EIFS, chimney staining and window leakage. Infrared Scans are able to locate water and moisture intrusion in buildings by thermal patterns.

Our inspector invited our 11-year-old son to put his hands and feet on the wall to demonstrate the heat-detecting capabilities of the machine.

A thermal imaging inspection can range in cost from $100 to $400, depending on the size of the dwelling and whether or not a full inspection is performed.

Here are some things we did to help remedy the chemical smell:

Placed activated charcoal in open cups throughout the apartment. Zeolite can also be used.
Cleaned thoroughly with white vinegar.
Diffused essential oils like lemon and tea tree oil. (Click here to view one source of diffusers.)
Ran our air purifier. (We like the Austin.)

The kids are doing well in their new environment. The only question remaining: Who gets the empty room at our house?

Signs of the Times

2011-05-11T15:28:00.007-07:00

As we celebrated Kristen's 17th birthday last weekend, I was reminded how much our life has changed in a few years. It came to light as we gave her gifts. Not only did I see how well the kids know each other, I saw the humor in the type of gifts we're giving. Here are some examples:

1. Personal Wellness Journal Health Diary and Symptoms Log. Not only was Kristen excited about this... several of us were jealous! We've learned from Colin's diabetes just how helpful it is to keep track of foods and activity related to symptoms. (Click here to find out more about the journal.)

2. Yoga Mat. Not just any yoga mat. An off-gassed yoga mat! Her older brother purchased the mat, wiped it down with white vinegar and left it outside for several days. No more "new" smell that might impede Kristen's performance.

3. Lulu's Chocolate. With sugar and grains out of our diet, it's hard to find treats that fit our criteria. Lulu's chocolate bars range in carb content from 8-13 carbs total! Kristen enjoyed the coconut version, which contains Cacao, Coconut Palm Sugar, Coconut, Cinnamon, Mesquite, Vanilla Bean, and Sea Salt. (Find out more about Lulu's here.)

4. Birthday Boutique. Clothes shopping is not as much fun as it once was, due to the heavy fragrances. Kristen enjoyed a clothing rack full of specially selected dresses, jeans, and tops. She chose the things that fit well and I returned the rest. Shopping at home was much more fun!

The best gift was a book filled with expressions of appreciation for Kristen. Colin said it best when he wrote his answer to this: “The thing I admire most about you is...”

“You never give up, even when you think it's impossible.”

Maybe the gifts have changed over the years, but not Kristen's fortuitous heart. Happy Birthday, Kristen.

Good Advice from the Government

2011-05-09T06:26:00.000-07:00

Federal guidelines for mold prevention have been given to an elementary school in Greensboro, North Carolina. Guidelines which include monitoring the health of its employees. Oak Ridge Elementary School was closed from June 2009 through February 2010 due to mold and dampness issues. According to this news article:

Employees and students had complained of illnesses since the building opened in 2005 after undergoing major renovations and additions. The complaints led the district to bring in groups to inspect the school, including a private firm and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in summer 2009.

Some of the recommendations (offered in the final federal report):

- Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedules for maintaining the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.

- Routinely monitor the school in a standardized way for possible re-occurrence of dampness.

- Walk through the entire school and check for water incursion during and after heavy rains.

- Correct the cause of any identified dampness problems and clean or remove water-damaged materials.

- Avoid routine use of biocides (which are used to clean mold).

- Monitor for possible reoccurrence of building-related symptoms, if needed, with occupant health questionnaires.

A television news report on this story can be viewed here.

A Mother's Words

2011-05-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

It's hard to put words to our experience. Words that come to mind are:

Despair
Confusion
Desperation
Loneliness

Then there are the words and phrases of others. Words of medical professionals, friends, family, and strangers.

"You're enabling him."

"Don't make his illness about you."

"You're reading too much."

"Your kids want attention."

"Mold is everywhere."

"Are you sure?"

"Why don't you...?"

Or this recent email:

When I heard your troubles about the mold and leaving your house and all of that, I thought to myself, "What a bunch of high-maintenance hypochondriacs."

As I reflect on these words and so many others, I think of my own insensitive comments over the years and relate to Pip's gracious response to Miss Havisham's plea for forgiveness in the book Great Expectations.

O Miss Havisham... There have been sore mistakes... and I want forgiveness and direction far too much to be bitter with you.

I also think of my mom. I think about our phone conversations as I was driving to and from doctor appointments... as I was waiting for surgeries to end... as we were fleeing our home... as we were searching desperately for a safe place to live.

The only words I can remember are these:

"You're doing great."

"You couldn't be doing any better."

"I admire you."

"I'm proud of you."

My mother died suddenly two years ago. I talked with her for the last time on Mother's Day, 2009.

I miss her voice. And oh, how I miss her words.

A Mother's Load

2011-05-02T13:53:00.001-07:00

Children should grow up carefree and happy. Period. But that's not reality. Children suffer pain. They feel great loss. I hate that.

I struggle daily with my children's pain. Their uncertain future, combined with our difficult present circumstances and traumatic past, weighs so heavily on me that I often collapse in tears.

Recently I started reading books on subjects other than mold or health. These is my Words is the fictional diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, a woman who endured multiple tragedies in the West during the 1800s. Author Nancy Turner paints a compelling picture.

I was struck deeply when I came across this entry:

October 10, 1887

Children are a burden to a mother, but not the way a heavy box is to a mule. Our children weigh so hard on my heart, and thinking about them growing up honest and healthy, or just living to grow up at all, makes a load in my chest that is bigger than the safe at the bank, and more valuable to me than all the gold inside it.

Oh, how true! The load is so unbearably heavy and oh, so precious.

I take heart in the Biblical account of Mary and her isolating journey into motherhood. Amy Grant poignantly conveys Mary's heart in the song Breath of Heaven,

I am waiting
in a silent prayer,
I am frightened
by the load I bear.
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now,
Be with me now.

Do you wonder
As you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan.
Help me be strong...hold me together,

Breath of Heaven.

Sometimes prayer is the best way to carry a load.
Sometimes prayer is the only way to carry a load.

Ancient Wisdom

2011-04-28T07:00:00.003-07:00

A tiny village survived the tsunami of March 11 simply because it listened to the wisdom of its ancestors. According to this Associated Press article,

Modern sea walls failed to protect coastal towns from Japan's destructive tsunami last month. But in the hamlet of Aneyoshi, a single centuries-old tablet saved the day.

"High dwellings are the peace and harmony of our descendants," the stone slab reads. "Remember the calamity of the great tsunamis. Do not build any homes below this point."

It was advice the dozen or so households of Aneyoshi heeded, and their homes emerged unscathed from a disaster that flattened low-lying communities elsewhere and killed thousands along Japan's northeastern shore.

Hundreds of such markers dot the coastline, some more than 600 years old. Collectively they form a crude warning system for Japan, whose long coasts along major fault lines have made it a repeated target of earthquakes and tsunamis over the centuries.

. . .

One stone marker warned of the danger in the coastal city of Kesennuma: "Always be prepared for unexpected tsunamis. Choose life over your possessions and valuables."

What a striking parallel to the connection between toxic mold and health. I shudder as I recall the horrifying footage of March 11. I remember feeling an odd sense of kinship with the survivors. Losing a home to toxic mold feels much like a silent tsunami. The added potential radiation sickness reminds me of our lifelong health issues stemming from the exposure to deadly mycotoxins.

How grateful I am that we were advised to choose life over our possessions and valuables.

There's one more "tablet" that makes me think of toxic mold and health: Proverbs 22:3.

"A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it."

How desperately we need to understand the dangers of toxic indoor environments and take action.

Gut Bacteria and MS

2011-04-25T13:25:00.001-07:00

This is the third in a series of posts linking gut flora to health.

A study released last summer from the California Institute of Technology backs up this connection between gut lining and health, adding environmental factors to the picture. The study demonstrates a connection between MS (multiple sclerosis) and microbes, specifically microbes in the digestive tract.

According to this article appearing on the ScienceDaily website:

Although the cause of MS is unknown, microorganisms seem to play some sort of role. "In the literature from clinical studies, there are papers showing that microbes affect MS," Mazmanian says. "For example, the disease gets worse after viral infections, and bacterial infections cause an increase in MS symptoms."

On the other hand, he concedes, "It seems counterintuitive that a microbe would be involved in a disease of the central nervous system, because these are sterile tissues."

And yet, as Mazmanian found when he began examining the multiple sclerosis literature, the suggestion of a link between bacteria and the disease is more than anecdotal. Notably, back in 1993, Caltech biochemist Leroy Hood—who was then at the University of Washington—published a paper describing a genetically engineered strain of mouse that developed a lab-induced form of multiple sclerosis known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, or EAE.

When Hood's animals were housed at Caltech, they developed the disease. But, oddly, when the mice were shipped to a cleaner biotech facility—where their resident gut bacterial populations were reduced—they didn't get sick. The question was, why? At the time, Mazmanian says, "the authors speculated that some environmental component was modulating MS in these animals." Just what that environmental component was, however, remained a mystery for almost two decades.

But Mazmanian—whose laboratory examines the relationships between gut microbes, both harmful and helpful, and the immune systems of their mammalian hosts—had a hunch that intestinal bacteria were the key. "As we gained an appreciation for how profoundly the gut microbiota can affect the immune system, we decided to ask if symbiotic bacteria are the missing variable in these mice with MS," he says.

To find out, Mazmanian and his colleagues tried to induce MS in animals that were completely devoid of the microbes that normally inhabit the digestive system. "Lo and behold, these sterile animals did not get sick," he says.

Then the researchers decided to see what would happen if bacteria were reintroduced to the germ-free mice. But not just any bacteria. They inoculated mice with one specific organism, an unculturable bug from a group known as segmented filamentous bacteria. In prior studies, these bacteria had been shown to lead to intestinal inflammation and, more intriguingly, to induce in the gut the appearance of a particular immune-system cell known as Th17. Th17 cells are a type of T helper cell—cells that help activate and direct other immune system cells. Furthermore, Th17 cells induce the inflammatory cascade that leads to multiple sclerosis in animals.

"The question was, if this organism is inducing Th17 cells in the gut, will it be able to do so in the brain and central nervous system?" Mazmanian says. "Furthermore, with that one organism, can we restore to sterile animals the entire inflammatory response normally seen in animals with hundreds of species of gut bacteria?"

The answer? Yes on all counts. Giving the formerly germ-free mice a dose of one species of segmented filamentous bacteria induced Th17 not only in the gut but in the central nervous system and brain—and caused the formerly healthy mice to become ill with MS-like symptoms.

"It definitely shows that gut microbes have a strong role in MS, because the genetics of the animals were the same. In fact, everything was the same except for the presence of those otherwise benign bacteria, which are clearly playing a role in shaping the immune system," Mazmanian says. "This study shows for the first time that specific intestinal bacteria have a significant role in affecting the nervous system during MS—and they do so from the gut, an anatomical location very, very far from the brain."

Mazmanian and his colleagues don't, however, suggest that gut bacteria are the direct cause of multiple sclerosis, which is known to be genetically linked. Rather, the bacteria may be helping to shape the immune system's inflammatory response, thus creating conditions that could allow the disease to develop. Indeed, multiple sclerosis also has a strong environmental component; identical twins, who possess the same genome and share all of their genes, only have a 25 percent chance of sharing the disease. "We would like to suggest that gut bacteria may be the missing environmental component," he says.

For their part, Th17 cells are needed for the immune system to properly combat infection. Problems only arise when the cells are activated in the absence of infection—just as disease can arise, Mazmanian and others suspect, when the species composition of gut bacteria become imbalanced, say, by changes in diet, because of improved hygiene (which kills off the beneficial bacteria as well as the dangerous ones), or because of stress or antibiotic use. One impact of the dysregulation of normal gut bacterial populations—a phenomenon dubbed "dysbiosis"—may be the rising rate of multiple sclerosis seen in recent years in more hygienic societies.

"As we live cleaner, we're not just changing our exposure to infectious agents, but we're changing our relationship with the entire microbial world, both around and inside us, and we may be altering the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory bacteria," leading to diseases like MS, Mazmanian says. "Perhaps treatments for diseases such as multiple sclerosis may someday include probiotic bacteria that can restore normal immune function in the gut... and the brain."

Eco Easter Eggs

2011-04-22T07:23:00.002-07:00

There are healthy, natural alternatives for just about anything! Including this fun option for dying Easter eggs:

According to The Herb Companion,

Dip the hard-boiled eggs into white vinegar before beginning, and set aside. Then bring each dye ingredient (listed below) to a boil with 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar; strain the dyes into small dipping bowls and allow to cool.

To dye eggs, dip them into the bowls for about five minutes, or longer for deeper colors. And be creative! Use two different dyes on one egg to create unique colors, or dye eggs half in one color and half in another. Below are the ingredients you need to get the best colors.

• Gold: Use 4 tablespoons of turmeric.

• Brown: Experiment with about 2 cups of strongly brewed coffee or tea for different shades of tan and brown.

• Purple: Use 4 cups of frozen blueberries.

• Light pink: Use a 12-oz. package of cranberries.

• Dark pink: Use 6 cups of chopped beets.

• Blue: Use 16 cups of chopped red cabbage (use 2 more quarts of water and 6 tablespoons more vinegar for this dye).

A similar article suggests using spinach to obtain the color green.

The Brain-Gut Connection

2011-04-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

"The primary seat of insanity generally is in the region of the stomach and intestines."

Philippe Pinel
1745-1826
Father of Modern Psychiatry

While the previous post listed some practical ways to help cope with our higher levels of anxiety, the following article by Dr. Joseph Mercola explains why digestive health is critical to recovery.

Most people fail to realize that your gut is quite literally your second brain, and actually has the ability to significantly influence your:

• Mind
• Mood
• Behavior

So while modern psychiatry still falsely claims that psychological problems such as depression are caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain, researchers keep finding that depression and a variety of behavioral problems actually appear to be linked to an imbalance of bacteria in your gut!

Germ-Free Mice Engage in High-Risk Behavior

In the featured study published last month in Neurogastroenterology & Motility, mice that lack gut bacteria were found to behave differently from normal mice, engaging in what would be referred to as "high-risk behavior." This altered behavior was accompanied by neurochemical changes in the mouse brain.

According to the authors, microbiota (your gut flora) may play a role in the communication between your gut and your brain, and:

"Acquisition of intestinal microbiota in the immediate postnatal period has a defining impact on the development and function of the gastrointestinal, immune, neuroendocrine and metabolic systems. For example, the presence of gut microbiota regulates the set point for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity."

The neurotransmitter serotonin activates your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis by stimulating certain serotonin receptors in your brain. Additionally, neurotransmitters like serotonin can also be found in your gut. In fact, the greatest concentration of serotonin, which is involved in mood control, depression and aggression, is found in your intestines, not your brain!

So it actually makes perfect sense to nourish your gut flora for optimal serotonin function as it can have a profound impact on your mood, psychological health, and behavior.

. . .

The Gut-Brain Connection

When you consider the fact that the gut-brain connection is recognized as a basic tenet of physiology and medicine, and that there's no shortage of evidence of gastrointestinal involvement in a variety of neurological diseases, it's easy to see how the balance of gut bacteria can play a significant role in your psychology and behavior as well.

With this in mind, it should also be crystal clear that nourishing your gut flora is extremely important, from cradle to grave, because in a very real sense you have two brains, one inside your skull and one in your gut, and each needs its own vital nourishment.

Interestingly, these two organs are actually created out of the same type of tissue. During fetal development, one part turns into your central nervous system while the other develops into your enteric nervous system. These two systems are connected via the vagus nerve, the tenth cranial nerve that runs from your brain stem down to your abdomen. This is what connects your two brains together, and explains such phenomena as getting butterflies in your stomach when you're nervous, for example. (For an interesting and well-written layman's explanation of this connection, read through Sandra Blakeslee's 1996 New York Times article Complex and Hidden Brain in Gut Makes Stomachaches and Butterflies.)

Your gut and brain work in tandem, each influencing the other. This is why your intestinal health can have such a profound influence on your mental health, and vice versa.

As a result, it should be obvious that your diet is closely linked to your mental health. Furthermore, it requires almost no stretch of the imagination to see how lack of nutrition can have an adverse effect on your mood and subsequently your behavior.

The article can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Anxiety Toolbox

2011-04-14T11:15:00.002-07:00

Anxiety and toxicity often go hand in hand. It was one of my first clues that something was wrong. Several of my children became quite anxious while living in our toxic home. Children who were once calm and balanced suddenly fretted about homework or tests. They became afraid of the dark and worried about "little" things. We left our home, and the anxiety came with us.

Psychologist Dr. Robert Crago has seen hundreds of chemical/mold-exposed patients over the years. According to Dr. Crago,

The results of my research on mold toxicity, and the results of others' research on toxicity in general, isolates consistent findings that toxicity affects multiple areas of the brain, but the frontal temporal areas are affected quite consistently.

The frontal temporal areas, and especially the orbitofrontal and the anterior cingulate gyrus, are primarily involved with executive functioning. Executive functioning includes the control and modulation of attention and mood as well as cognitive issues like working memory and planning.

The frontal cortical areas, including the anterior cingulate gyrus, are responsible for inhibiting distracting thoughts and/or filtering emotions while allowing us to be flexible in our thinking. The research suggests that patients who have had toxic exposure with effects to the brain had decreased levels of executive functioning.

My research also shows that only 2 to 3 percent of our patient population had premorbid psychological problems. However, almost all who had been exposed and suffered ill health could now be diagnosed with problems of anxiety and depression. Their problems with anxiety and depression were considered to be caused by organic deficits in brain functioning as well as difficulties in coping with the many significant adjustments they had to make in their lives.

For the first year and a half out of our home I felt a constant ball of anxiety in my chest. A large part of this I'm sure was due to the constant stress and uncertainty. This anxiety has greatly improved. I still experience waves of anxiety, particularly after shopping for any length of time—which I surmise is a reaction to the chemicals and fragrances I encounter.

My kids will be fine one minute and terribly anxious the next. I've also noticed a direct correlation between detoxification and anxiety. The more detox, the more anxiety, at least in our house.

Thus we have learned to cope with the waves of anxiety. Here are some of our favorite and most helpful tools.

1. GABA. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. It tends to make cells less excitable. GABA is the brain's very own source of anti-anxiety medication. Supplementation with GABA can be helpful. One of our favorites is GABA Calm. NutraBio offers an additive-free powder version which can be found here.

2. Bach Rescue Remedy. This is a homeopathic remedy based on the work of Dr. Edward Bach, who left his lucrative medical practice in 1930 to focus on remedies made from plants. An interesting article on Rescue Remedy can be found here.

3. Magnesium. Dr. Mark Hyman is a family physician and founder of the Institute for Functional Medicine. In his article titled Magnesium: Meet the Most Powerful Relaxation Mineral Available, he writes: Anything that is tight, irritable, crampy, and stiff — whether it is a body part or even a mood — is a sign of magnesium deficiency. This critical mineral is actually responsible for over 300 enzyme reactions and is found in all of your tissues — but mainly in your bones, muscles, and brain. You must have it for your cells to make energy, for many different chemical pumps to work, to stabilize membranes, and to help muscles relax.

Magnesium citrate is one of the more absorbable forms of this mineral. We like the Natural Calm brand.

4. Deep breathing. This is tough to do in a heightened state of anxiety but can quickly calm the nervous system if done properly. There's more than meets the eye when it comes to proper breathing. An excellent tutorial is offered by the Institute of HeartMath and is available by clicking here.

5. Hook-ups. This is a simple exercise that helps relax the central nervous system by connecting the electrical circuitry of the body. It crosses the center mid-line to activate both the left and right hemispheres of the brain. A simple explanation can be found here.

6. Epsom salt baths. These utilize the calming effect of magnesium. Epsom salts consist of magnesium and sulphates. When anxiety levels are high, we always see some measure of relief with an Epsom salt bath. Add a few drops of frankincense, lavender, or other essential oil for added benefit.

Hindsight and the Little Things

2011-04-11T08:00:00.008-07:00

Saturday is cleaning day at our house. Out come the spray bottles filled with white vinegar. It's amazing how clean a home can feel with white vinegar and a little baking soda. This past weekend I did some extra cleaning. I filled our master bathtub with water and some food grade hydrogen peroxide and turned on the jets. Not that I use the jets. Any added potential plumbing problem is outside my comfort zone.

11-year-old Colin said something interesting as he walked by the spewing jets. "Remember when Brandon and I took a bath in our Colorado house and we turned on the jets and all this black stuff came out?"

I sighed. Just as I do anytime one of the kids has a memory like this. He's 11 years old and he understands there were clues to the mold we discovered.

Just recently we used a vaporizer for one of my daughters. Immediately my mind turned to the chunks of black stuff I'd find in the bottom of the vaporizer anytime I'd use one. For years I would empty it and shake my head in wonder. I just assumed our water was “dirty.” I kept buying new vaporizers. We needed them constantly for breathing and congestion issues.

Sigh.

It's so obvious in hindsight.

Recently I heard this from a friend:
The entire time we lived in our (mold-infested) house the kitchen sponge would get musty smelling within 3-4 days. It was so strange. I had to buy a pack of sponges nearly every week. Even now I still always smell the sponge before using it.

She also made this connection:
In my moldy home if I left the wet clothes in the washer they would get musty very quickly and I'd have to re-wash. I was constantly re-washing loads of clothes. Sometimes I'd run a load, go to work, and they'd be musty when I returned that evening. That is very fast and we were always scratching our heads about that one.

Funny, Chris and I would argue over the laundry. He was convinced that I was combining clothing with towels. It wasn't an argument, really. He was simply trying to figure out why our clothes smelled musty most of the time.

During our second remediation I tried to salvage a pair of jeans. I was willing to toss all of my clothes. Just not my favorite jeans. Oblivious to the reality of our exposure, I took them to a local dry cleaner. I'll never forget the sight of the owner's face as I handed her the jeans. She crinkled her nose and said, "I can't accept these. They smell way too musty. Don't you smell this?"

"No," I said.

Honestly, I smelled nothing!

It's been three years since that conversation. Much has changed. Including my sense of smell.

I'm also no longer oblivious. Just eager to help others avoid the same pitfalls and connect the dots when it comes to environment and health.

EPA and Clothianidin

2011-04-07T17:54:00.001-07:00

The 29th National Pesticide Forum convenes this week in Colorado. The forum will address numerous health and environmental concerns, including the pesticide clothianidin. Clothianidin has been banned in Europe, but is used extensively in the United States. As of 2007, 80 percent of corn seed sold by market leader Pioneer Hi-Bred (DuPont) contained either 0.25 or 1.25 mg per seed of clothianidin.

Tom Theobald is one of the Pesticide Forum's keynote speakers. As a beekeeper and researcher, Theobald is concerned about the hazards of clothianidin. Theobald wrote the following essay shortly after last summer's oil spill.

As I’ve listened to the news and read the articles describing events leading up to the explosion I’m struck by the parallel to what has been occurring in the beekeeping world over the past several years.

In May of 2008 there were massive bee kills in the Baden-Wurttemberg region of Germany, with two thirds of the colonies there killed. The damage was quickly traced to one of the pesticides in the controversial family of neonicotinoids produced by the German corporation Bayer. Planting of corn seed coated with clothianidin, by way of pneumatic planters, supposedly resulted in fugitive clothianidin dust which caused the disaster. Within two weeks Germany banned clothianidin on corn and several other crops, but the damage was done.

Clothianidin is just one of a number of pesticides in the family of neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids are systemic pesticides, which means that they become incorporated into the system of the plant when the seed germinates. In the United States clothianidin was given a conditional registration by the EPA in 2003. Originally approved for use as a seed coating on corn and canola, it is now being approved for a growing list of other crops as well.

It appears that two years later we have now had a repeat of this "rare event," this time here in the United States. This bee kill occured in Indiana in April (2010), reported by two entomologists at Purdue University in an article written for the Indiana Beekeepers Association newsletter and circulated widely. Titled "Pesticide Kill at the Purdue Bee Lab?," it reports a significant bee kill across Indiana, again believed to have come from fugitive dust from pneumatic corn planters.

According to these two entomologists, "Every corn seed that goes into the ground in Indiana these days has a coating of clothianidin on it. It has been a dry spring. We have had very warm, windy weather this week. As I watched my neighbor planting, I could see huge clouds of dust being stirred up." As researchers at a major university, the authors had the resources to do some immediate analysis that would have been beyond the reach of most beekeepers, and they found high levels of clothianidin in the dead bees and the incoming pollen.

Along with other beekeepers, I have been concerned about clothianidin for some time, in part because it is not the first neonicotinoid to cause problems. Imidacloprid, the first, was registered in the U.S. in 1994 and was soon implicated in widespread bee kills. Several commercial beekeepers in North Dakota filed suit because of damage from imidacloprid used on sunflowers, and similar damage in France from use on sunflowers led to a ban there in 1999. However it is still used without change in the U.S. France declined to even register clothianidin.

. . .

Further concerns are emerging as a consequence of the Indiana bee kill. High levels of atrazine were found in the dead bees and pollen along with clothianidin. This suggests that dust alone may be a vector, with the atrazine contamination coming from airborne soil. We now find evidence, again from the EPA’s own documents, that clothianidin can be persistent in the soil, remaining for years in some cases, and that it may accumulate from successive uses of treated seed, a common practice in the corn belt. Has the soil itself become a source of toxicity as a consequence of clothianidin use? Only further tests will give us answers to those questions.

Theobald concludes,

The bees are telling us something. We need to start listening before it’s too late.

To which I add, chronic illness is rising dramatically. The cancers, autism, diabetes, and other chronic conditions are telling us something. How long before we connect the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the food we eat to our health and the health of our children?

Spring Cleaning with Healthy Alternatives

2011-04-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

Spring is a perfect time to clear out some of the toxic chemicals in your home and replace them with natural, healthy alternatives.

According to an article titled Green Cleaning vs. Conventional Cleaning:

• Manufacturers of conventional household cleaners are not required by law to disclose the noxious ingredients in their products.

• Do not be fooled by the words "non-toxic" on labels. The government does not define it so it CAN be used on toxic products.

• Only a minute fraction of the 75,000+ chemicals registered have been tested for human health concerns. (EPA)

• The typical American household is the number one violator of chemical waste per capita. (EPA)

• The average American home has 3-10 gallons of hazardous materials. (Children's Health Environmental Coalition)

• Children are especially at risk to toxin exposure:
    - Pound for pound, they breathe more air, drink more water, eat
      more food.
    - At play, they crawl and put things in the mouth (which is true
      also of our pets).

The article includes a comprehensive list of natural cleaning alternatives:

• Baking Soda: All-purpose cleaner, effective on glass, coffee pots. Eliminates red-wine stains from carpet. When made into a paste with water shines stainless steel and silver, removes tea stains from cups. For cleaning sinks, counters, toilets and tubs, make a paste with castile and a drop of essential oil (tea tree or lavender). To clear clogged drains, pour 1 cup down the sink followed by 3 cups of boiling water.

• Boiling Water: Use weekly to flush drains and avoid clogs.

• Coarse Salt: Cleans copper pans and scours cookware. Sprinkle onto fresh spills in the oven then wipe off. To remove rust stains sprinkle on salt then squeeze lemon or lime over them and let sit for several hours and wipe off.

• Essential Oils: Mix lavender or tea tree essential oils with water and use as an antibacterial spray for kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

• Grapefruit Seed Extract: To kill mold and mildew, add a few drops to water and spray onto affected surfaces.

• Lemon Juice: Acts as a bleaching agent on clothing. Use to remove grease from stove and countertops. Add 2 Tbsp lemon juice to 10 drops of real lemon oil and a few drops jojoba oil to clean and polish wood furniture.

• Olive Oil: Lubricates and polishes wood furniture. Mix 3 parts olive oil to 1 part vinegar, or 2 parts olive oil with 1 part lemon juice.

• Tea Tree Oil: Antibacterial properties, kills mold and mildew. Add 50 drops to a bucket of water to clean countertops and tile floors.

• Toothpaste (plain white): Cleans silver, can remove water stains on wood furniture; dab on, allow to dry, then wipe off.

• White Vinegar: Cleans linoleum floors and glass when mixed with water and a small amount of castile. Cuts grease and removes stains, removes soap scum and cleans toilets (you can also add baking soda). Can be poured down drains weekly for antibacterial cleaning. Add to water in a spray bottle to kill mold and mildew.

To read this article in its entirety, click here.

The FDA and Food Dyes

2011-03-31T16:40:00.000-07:00

When a doctor from the Mayo Clinic informed me in February 2008 that Reagan's vertigo was more a migraine issue than an ear problem, he suggested that Reagan avoid foods with additives like artificial sweeteners, MSG, and dyes. While the unofficial diagnosis certainly didn't consider our environmental factor or ask why an 11-year-old would suddenly develop migrainous vertigo, it did help us make the connection between diet and symptoms.

When Reagan experienced a major vertigo attack with a simple piece of chewing gum, I became a believer in the toxicity of artificial sweeteners. When he experienced an even bigger episode after some store-bought birthday cake, I no longer questioned the risks of refined sugars and food dyes.

It soon became apparent that our son Brandon was not helped by these foods, either. That same birthday cake caused him to bounce off the walls and become uncontrollable.

The more I studied neurotoxins (nerve poisons) and their negative effects on health, the more convinced I became that our family needed a complete lifestyle change. Leaving our mold environment would not be enough. According to this article in Natural News:

Almost everything in every kind of grocery store has additives that can cause reactions including asthma attacks, obesity, tinnitus, and restless leg syndrome. While 1 out of every 4 people is sensitive to neurotoxic food additives, only 1 in 250 is aware that these additives are the source of the reactions they are having.

This week the FDA held a series of hearings with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in an effort to hear again the evidence linking food colorings to hyperactivity in children. According to this article published today in Money Times,

In an unforeseen reversal of stance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked a panel of experts to review evidence linking food color to behavioral problems.

This is good news for consumer groups like the CSPI.

CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson said, “The purpose of these chemicals is often to mask the absence of real food, to increase the appeal of a low-nutrition product to children, or both. The continued use of these unnecessary artificial dyes is the secret shame of the food industry and the regulators who watch over it.”

In its latest petition, the CSPI has asked the FDA to ban Yellow 5 and other food dyes, or at least post mandatory warning label on foods containing them.

Many believe it is the June 2010 report of CSPI, titled Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks, that has in fact triggered this federal rethink.

According to the report, most widely used dyes, such as Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 are contaminated with known carcinogens.

The report pointed out that Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 also have a long history of causing allergic reactions in some people.

NPR published a similar story this week highlighting some of the foods and their respective dyes.

Product	Dye	Common Name	Found In
Twizzlers	Red No. 40	Allura Red	The most widely used food dye in terms of pounds consumed, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Found in cereal, gelatin, candy, baked goods.
Mountain Dew	Yellow No. 5	Tartrazine	The second most widely used food dye, according to CSPI. Found in soft drinks, pudding, chips, pickles, honey, mustard, gum, baked goods, gelatin and other foods.
Reese's Pieces	Yellow No. 6	Sunset Yellow	The third most widely used food dye. Found in cereal, orange soda and other beverages, hot chocolate mix, baked goods and many other foods.
Maraschino cherries	Red No. 3	Erythrosine B	Candy, popsicles, cake decoration and other baked goods, maraschino cherries
Blue M&Ms	Blue No. 1	Brilliant Blue	Ice cream, canned peas, candy, drinks, dessert powders, mouthwash
M&Ms (darker blue ones)	Blue No. 2	Indigotine, Indigo Carmine	Widely used to color beverages, candy and other foods.
Cotton candy	Green No. 3	Fast Green FCF	One of the least used food dyes, according to CSPI. Found in canned peas, vegetables, fish, desserts, cotton candy and other candy.
Sausage casing	Orange B		Hot dog and sausage casings. According to CSPI, batches of Orange B haven't been certified for use in at least a decade.

Let's hope the FDA listens and takes action.

Family's Mold Nightmare

2011-03-28T12:30:00.023-07:00

One family's horrific mold experience may lead to legislation in the state of Illinois. The following article appeared today in The Telegraph, based in southwestern Illinois (St. Louis area).

Holly and Sean Farris' nightmare at 111 S. Kingdom St. started more than a year ago when they bought their first house, which turned out to be infested with what they say is toxic mold.

After a series of oversights, the Farrises now say they own a house that they cannot live in; have a First Time Home Buyers tax credit they probably have to pay back; and have a daughter still recovering from severe sinus infections suspected as a result of living in the house.

State Rep. Dan Beiser, D-Alton, said he plans to introduce legislation, inspired by the Farrises' situation, that would require real estate agents to disclose when toxic mold exists in saleable real estate structures.

"I don't want this to happen to anybody else," said Holly Farris, who is living with her family in another Bethalto house provided by the Madison County Urban League.

Although they didn't know it at the time, the house was being sold as part of an estate.

"I thought the people living (at Kingdom Street) owned it; it wasn't listed as an estate, which means the owner is dead, and it should have been listed as an estate, because the owner is dead."

Had the house been listed as an estate, which means "as is," the Farrises would not have looked at it at all, she said.

"Because it means no one could help you if there was a problem," she explained.

Beiser is sympathetic to the Farris' situation.

"She is in contact with me and my staff, and I'm glad she has been; it's a terrible situation," he said. "I'm introducing legislation that will, at this point, get something on the books, and knowing this would be a work in progress, so to speak, dealing with the issue. It will deal with proper disclosure at the time of sale of toxic mold being present in the structure."

. . . .

The Farrises bought the house on South Kingdom Street after their offer of $83,000 was accepted, knowing they would put a lot of money into the house to fix what they considered cosmetic flaws. When the Farrises originally went to look at the house, Holly Farris said it was full of people, dogs and smoke from cigarettes and had scented oil burners in every room. They did not notice the smell of mold.

"We went and looked at it, and they all lived there; it was dirty and outdated, but it all was cosmetic as far as I could see," she said. "I'm good with cosmetic; I can fix that."

She said she hired a home inspector after the agent and seller accepted the contract.

Brett Ahring inspected the home Jan. 26, 2010, she said.

"He came out, did the inspection and said the roof needed to be vented, and in his report said vague things about lead paint in a closet," Farris said. "But it wasn't paint, it was water damage."

The inspector told her the roof was sound and only about six or eight years old, she said.

"He put in his inspection that he walked the roof, but the roof is rotted through and leaking for upwards of a decade."

Farris said the water has been coming in on both sides of valleys in the roof.

"The water rotted out the entire common wall and the north wall," which includes a closet wall where the worst mold was found, she said. "The mold and water damage in the house came to $90,000 to fix it; you don't get that in a house unless water had been coming in for a real long time."

Ahring's report did note a breaker box needed to be exchanged, there needed to be a shut-off at the air conditioning unit, and there needed to be an exhaust fan in the bathroom, she said.

Holly said when the Farrises did their final walk-through, someone was standing in front of the closet where the most severe, visible mold was growing inside, and that person was vacuuming. Holly said she did not ask the person to move or stop, because she had paid an inspector to inspect the house.

The Farrises discovered the mold infestation only after they began to move into the house and rip out carpeting.

. . . .

She finally wrote to the Obama administration and showed a reply letter to the Urban League, which helped her family find a home, on which the Urban League pays the rent.

"We didn't have money for legal fees; if you don't have money, you can't recover," she said. "The only person willing to help us was the president (of the United States)."

This month, the Federal Housing Authority assigned an investigator to the situation with the South Kingdom Street house, Farris said.

. . . .

Her daughter, who was 12 years old at the time, slept in a room next to the closed-off bedroom with the moldy closet. She started having severe migraines, running fevers, and on the morning of April 11, 2010, woke up with her eye swollen shut, protruding from her face the size of a softball, Holly Farris said.

"We took her to the emergency room that day," she said. "They thought something was in her eye. They ran all these tests, a CAT scan, and found out her sinus cavity was completely impacted with infection," Holly said. "They put her on steroids and two different antibiotics."

The primary care physician put the Farrises' daughter on more antibiotics, but nothing worked, Holly said.

At the beginning of August 2010, her daughter had to have surgery to clean out the infection, and her physician told them to move out of the house.

"In Illinois, there still are no laws (about mold), because I've been told they say the science isn't in," said Holly, who contacted Beiser and began to work with him about legislation. Beiser and Farris have worked together the last six months on the subject.

The family moved out and stayed with either Holly's or Sean's mother. Holly wrote to President Barack Obama on Aug 17. In October, she received a reply from his office. By Nov. 20, the Urban League found the Farrises a house in which to live.

Now, the Farrises still own the Kingdom Street house, owe the mortgage, as well as the First Time Home Buyers tax credit, because they moved out of the house.

"When we moved out, we voided the homeowners insurance simply by not living there," Holly Farris said.

Allstate dropped them from their home insurance, she said. On Feb. 22, 2011, the arbitrator informed Holly he couldn't make the inspector be responsible for the mold damage, because he is not a mold inspector, she said. The Farrises owe $83,000 on the house to U.S. Bank.

"At the very end of the hearing, the arbitrator goes off and says the house never should have been sold," she said.

The article can be viewed in its entirety by clicking here.

Colin's Diagnosis: What I Wish I'd Heard

2011-03-24T07:31:00.001-07:00

It’s been 3 1/2 years since Colin was diagnosed with type 1 juvenile diabetes. I took him to the doctor for what I was certain was a bladder infection, due to his frequent urination. We ended up in the emergency room. Thus began our odyssey: a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week journey into the world of keeping our child alive.

I am grateful for the compassion of doctors. “You can do anything you want in life,” the first on-call physician told my son. “Anything except drive a truck, fly an airplane, or serve in the military.” I started crying when she said this. In truth, she was talking to me, not my 7-year-old son who only wondered when the IV could be removed.

The next doctor assured me we didn’t need to change anything drastically. No big dietary changes, no social changes. In retrospect, I’m grateful for the assurances. My brain could not have handled too much change. I was trying to learn how to give shots and calculate carbs.

“Before you know it, this will become a natural part of your lives,” the next doctor consoled us.

I can’t say enough about the care we received. Kind and compassionate. Reassuring and comforting.

But there are two things I wish I had heard. Pieces to the puzzle that might have changed the course of our lives.

1. Consider your environment.

Imagine if we had heard this: “We’re not sure what triggers the onset of this disease. Environmental factors may or may not play a part. But since there is no family history of diabetes and we know there are numerous toxins in the world that put stress on a young child’s body, let me ask you, have there been any changes in your environment recently? Any type of water damage in the home, mold issues, repairs?”

“Funny you would say that,” I might have responded. “We are in the middle of a major mold remediation. We discovered and exposed this mold 7 weeks ago.” Perhaps the doctor would have been interested in the fact that our dog had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes two years prior, which might have validated the environmental factor.

Had we connected the hazards of toxic mold to the diagnosis, perhaps we would have tested our home. Perhaps we would have left. Perhaps we would have been spared the next 12 months of suffering. Our other children became seriously ill within weeks of Colin’s diagnosis.

I can’t say for sure the mold caused my son’s diabetes. What I can say is it contributed to the onset. It seems plausible to me that an attacked immune system (assaulted by the same toxins found in yellow rain) can easily get confused and attack its own healthy cells.

2. Radical diet change will help.

I wish we had heard this: “No need to make any immediate dietary changes. I know this is a lot to assimilate. But when you are ready, there are numerous dietary changes that can help your son. These are difficult changes, but they will benefit him as well as every member of your family.”

If a friend had told me to cut out the sugars and refined foods, I would have inwardly rolled my eyes. If an endocrinologist had explained the stress fructose puts on the liver, I would have listened.

If a doctor had explained that gluten irritates a compromised digestive tract—something that Colin suffered severely from—I would have listened.

If a doctor had explained the incredible benefit of fresh vegetables, I would have listened.

We left our environment 15 months after Colin’s diagnosis. I wish we had left the day we came home from the hospital.

We have made the massive dietary changes. I can’t believe the difference this has made. Colin uses 75% less insulin than we used in that first year. He typically goes an entire day with less than 10 units of fast-acting insulin.

Since we left our home, and since the diet change, Colin’s migraines have disappeared. He rarely complains of abdominal pain and his rashes have improved.

He still has a life-threatening illness, but we’re managing it. And just as promised, Colin is thriving and enjoying life.

Somewhere there’s a family coping with the new diagnosis of their child. Perhaps our experience will help.

Pancake Recipe

2011-03-21T16:57:00.003-07:00

We enjoyed some "green pancakes" last week for St. Patrick's Day. The recipe is as follows:

4 eggs
1 c. milk (we use kefir--can substitute coconut milk or milk of choice)
2 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of stevia
1/2 c. coconut flour (an excellent article on the benefits of coconut flour can be found here)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
Coconut oil or ghee or butter for frying

Beat eggs in medium mixing bowl. Add milk or kefir along with vanilla, stevia, baking soda, sea salt, and cinnamon. Mix in coconut flour until all clumps are gone. (We added veggie/lime green juice for the holiday.) Fry in coconut oil/ghee/butter on griddle or skillet until browned on both sides. Keep pancakes small (3 inches diameter) and thick for best consistency. Total carb content of each pancake is less than 10 net carbs.

Go for the Greens!

2011-03-17T06:52:00.002-07:00

St. Patrick's Day is the perfect time to think about the health benefits of green foods.

Chlorophyll is what gives green foods their color and is considered to be the "blood" of plants. In fact, the molecular structure of chlorophyll is similar to that of the hemoglobin in our blood. The difference lies in the fact that hemoglobin revolves around iron and chlorophyll revolves around magnesium. "Therefore, when you eat plants in their living, unheated state, the chlorophyll actually feeds oxygen to your body. Cooked food does not contain this organic type of oxygen. This is why, when you eat lots of greens or drink wheatgrass juice, you immediately feel a surge of energy. Wheatgrass is an especially good source of oxygen." (Susan Schenk, The Live Food Factor.)

In its natural state, chlorophyll is fat-soluble and readily absorbed by the body. This is in contrast to some of the more water-soluble liquid chlorophylls on the market, which are better for skin rashes and body odor.

Chlorophyll has been shown to counteract the effects of radiation and bind to heavy metals and other toxins in the body. In addition, chlorophyll has strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

It makes sense that greens are a healthy addition to any diet.

Here are a few suggestions for incorporating greens:

1. Green Juice

A good beginning green juice is romaine lettuce, celery, and cucumber. Slowly incorporate greener foods like chard, parsley, kale, and any other leafy greens. Add lemon or lime to help with taste. If I have some particularly bitter greens in the juice, I offer it as a challenge to my younger kids and then praise them for their bravery.

2. Green Juice Pulp

I take the pulp and store it in the refrigerator. We use it in stir-fries and mix it into meatloaf, meatballs, or sausage. (This is why grass-fed beef is so critical. If the animals eat lots of chlorophyll, so do we!) Granted, some of the nutritional content is lost, but not all of it. The pulp can be food-processed with soaked flax seeds. Add salt and other spices and dehydrate them. Click here for a recipe example.

3. Spirulina

Micro-algae in general is an excellent source of chlorophyll. Spirulina in particular contains over 100 nutrients, including beta-carotene, iron, copper, manganese, selenium, zinc, trace minerals, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin K, and vitamin
B-12 and other B vitamins.

One interesting note in light of the current crisis in Japan: In 1994, a Russian patent was awarded for spirulina as a medical food to reduce allergic reactions from radiation sickness. Research showed that 5 grams of spirulina a day for 45 days lowered radionucleides by 50% and normalized allergic sensitivities.*

There are many sources of this nutrient. I like the Nutrex Hawaii brand available in powder or tablet form.

*More information here.

4. Chlorella

Chlorella is another algal food containing a little less protein than spirulina but twice the nucleic acid and chlorophyll. In order for the nutritional value of Chlorella to be realized, the cell wall must be broken down to make it digestible. There are questions concerning the final quality of its nutritional content when Chlorella is processed in any way. We like the Chlorenergy brand.

Who's the Best Pancreas?

2011-03-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

It's not easy being a pancreas. Frankly, I don't like the job. If my son's life didn't depend on it, I'd happily resign. Colin was seven years old when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. We did our best to explain that since his pancreas wasn't working, Dad and I were happy to fill in. The idea took hold. Whenever he'd test in range he'd give us a high five and say, "Who's the best pancreas?"

The problem is we're not the best pancreas. We fall short. We go an entire day with perfect blood sugars and hit 300 for seemingly no reason. It's a constant learning curve.

The other morning I woke up at 6:45 a.m. and did what I do most every morning. Checked his log book to see if he was up in the night. (Thankfully, Chris becomes lead pancreas between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.) Sure enough, Colin went low during the night. Sigh. I thought our dose of 7.1 Lantus was conservative. Guess not.

Chris wrote about the episode in a recent blog entry:

I hate the smell of insulin at 1:30 a.m. I hate the smell of just about anything that early, but especially insulin. It smells like something stored in an army footlocker. Maybe old combat boots. Perhaps a textbook on WWII tactical weaponry.

At 1:14 this morning Colin awakened me, his face close to mine. “I feel low.”

I hate those three words, too. Not because I have to get out of bed but because I know what it’s doing to his body. How ravenous he will be. I’ll need to act counterintuitive to that.

Okay, I won’t lie, I hate getting out of bed. It’s a long way up from the air mattress and my bones want to stay close to the ground.

So we do the pancreas dance. He trudges from the room and slumps in a chair, his jaw slack, panting. He gets out his insulin case, opens it, retrieves the poker, gets up, washes his hands, goes back, pokes, gets blood, inserts the strip into the meter, waits for it... waits for it...

I stumble into the kitchen without glasses and stare at the green numbers on the microwave.

1:14.

I hate diabetes.

“Beep.”

“58,” he says.

Normal people have a pancreas that works. Normal people take their pancreas for granted. You eat a bag of Doritos or a Snickers bar and never pray your pancreas will produce insulin. Your pancreas regulates your body’s blood glucose levels to remain steady somewhere between 80 and 120. Don’t hold me to that, it’s early. But that’s basically where you stay. Fall below 70 and you feel it. Fall below 60 and you shake. Keep going down and you’ll eventually pass out. Some people don’t feel it anymore, they can’t tell they’re getting low, but Colin can. Sometimes I think that’s God’s gift to us.

He has a spoonful of organic honey that organic bees have been spitting into organic buckets on organic bee farms somewhere in Organicville.* That will bring him up a notch and take the edge off. But we’ve only begun. He has 3 little mini-peeled carrots which aren’t approved by the organic bee society, but I don’t see anybody from that organization in the kitchen at 1:40 and their 800 number isn't staffed at this hour. So he eats the three mini-peeled carrots.

I’ve been known to make a stir fry at this point, chopping onions and cabbage and mixing with an egg or two. It’s protein and will help him hang on until morning. I grab two eggs from the refrigerator in the garage and Colin meets me there, pulling out a special drawer.

“I was thinking this,” he says, holding out a Granny Smith apple. The organic kind with the orange ring around it.

I roll my eyes like it’s fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We haven’t had fruit for a long time but apples are slowly being reintroduced to the diet. I have no idea what this is going to do to his levels. His body will react wildly to the fructose. You will say, “But it’s an apple, leave the kid alone.”

Exactly. It’s just an apple. That’s why I hate diabetes. I have to dose him for a stupid apple.

I hate dosing a shaking kid who gets up in the middle of the night. I hate drawing up the insulin and handing him a needle he shoves into his skin. But if I don’t, his number will rise above 120, above 200, above 300.

So I write all this down in his book I also hate that says when he went to bed he was 111. And I see how much insulin I gave him to keep him in range overnight. We obviously overdid it, but when I compare the number from the previous night that was exactly the same, I wonder. Did he have more exercise? Did he not have something right before bed to hold his levels steady? Am I supposed to click my heels three times and say some magic incantation to keep him above 80? How does a pancreas do it?

... I hand him the eggs and get out the insulin bottle. We have determined that there were 24 carbs in the apple. There were also a few in the honey and the mini-peeled carrots.

“How much would you have for just the apple?”

“Mom would give me 2 units.”

My wife would give this dose without thinking. She rattles carbs in her brain like a supercomputer. I am right-brained, more creative, which is wonderful if you’re writing a song or a book or an essay on civility, but if you want to keep a kid’s glucose meter from saying “HIGH” and playing Mozart’s Requiem at 1:55, you need the left hemisphere of your brain and I do not have as much as my wife does.

I can’t give him 2 units. I do not want him shaking in an hour or two. But I don’t want him to go high either. That is my conundrum at 2 a.m. Forty-five minutes ago I was under the covers. I'm beginning to think I won't be going back to bed.

I decide on 1.25 units. I feel good about that. It’s a safe dose. I hand him the needle and he puts it in his thigh. Was it enough? Probably not.

He looks in the refrigerator again, the light reflecting off his face and the robe that makes him look like Hugh Hefner’s son. He sighs, closes the door, and rubs his eyes on his way back to bed.

“Goodnight,” he says.

“Goodnight.”

“I love you,” he says.

It won’t be long before he’s doing all of this by himself. It won’t be long before he’s staring into his own refrigerator in his own house or apartment. I’ll be asleep somewhere, oblivious to all of this.

“Love you, too,” I say.

And I do.

No matter how much I hate diabetes and organic bees and sharp needles and writing down statistics of a little boy who didn't do anything to deserve this, I love him. And that’s what will keep me up until 4 when I’ll check him again.

*Addendum*
4:20 a.m. It took me five minutes to wake him, but we tested. His level is 148. Within the acceptable range. Sigh

(* Not sure about Organicville, but the honey is called Really Raw Honey and can be found here.)

Sigh. Chris is right. Colin will be his own pancreas one day. In the meantime, we'll keep "filling in." As for that 1.25 dose? All I can say is, "Who's the best pancreas?"

Erin Brockovich and Toxic Mold

2011-03-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

The following 48 Hours segment features consumer advocate Erin Brockovich and her battle against toxic mold. The segment (originally aired in 2008) is 13 minutes long and worth viewing. I found myself tearfully reliving our experience, grateful for the information contained in the piece.

Erin Brockovich continues her role as an activist in the areas of oil spills, product liability, environmental hazards, and toxic mold. The following statement appears on her website:

"Mold has certainly made its way into people's homes as well as the headlines recently. Many people still don't fully understand the health hazards of fungal exposure. The term toxic mold is somewhat misleading as it exudes an idea that certain molds are toxic, when actually certain types of molds produce secondary metabolites that produce toxins. The correct term is mycotoxins. Airborne mycotoxins from mold can definitely destroy one's health. Sometimes, people are unaware that they are breathing mold spores and mycotoxins until they are very sick. Certain people have minor allergic reactions to the non-toxic mold, but once they leave the affected area they most likely recover with few serious side effects. However, if they have been exposed to the dangerous molds such as Stachybotrys or Chaetomium, they could suffer from a myriad of serious symptoms and illnesses such as chronic bronchitis, learning disabilities, mental deficiencies, heart problems, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple chemical sensitivity, bleeding lungs and much more."

Erin has a webpage devoted to the issue and invites those with stories or information to contact her. Click here to find out more.

Healing Baths

2011-03-08T15:07:00.002-07:00

Baths have been used for centuries for healing and detoxifying the body. Epsom salts and baking soda are two of the most popular remedies and appropriate for those recovering from chronic and/or environmental illness.

• Epsom Salt Baths

Epsom salts consist of magnesium and sulfate (sulphate).

Magnesium is a vital mineral necessary for proper functioning of muscles, nerves, sleep, and more. Research by the National Academy of Sciences suggests that most Americans are deficient in magnesium.

Sulphates play a critical role in the formation of brain tissue. They disinfect the blood and flush toxins from cells. They stimulate the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes. Sulphates also contribute to the production of collagen, which contributes to healthy, young-looking skin.

Both nutrients are readily absorbed into the skin. According to this study by Dr. Rosemary Waring at the School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, UK,

"... all individuals had significant rises in plasma magnesium and sulfate at a level of 1% Epsom salts. This equates to 1g MgS04/100ml water; 600g Epsom salts/60 litres, the standard size UK bath taken in this project (~15 US gallons). However, most volunteers had significantly raised Mg/S04 levels on baths with 400g MgS04 added."

This translates to roughly two cups of Epsom salts per bath.

We find Epsom salt baths to be extremely calming. Often we add essential oils like lavender or frankincense. I order Epsom salts in bulk and find that we go through more than 60 pounds each month.

• Baking Soda Baths

Baking soda baths are also affordable and effective. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) helps alkalize the body. It is excellent for rashes and relieves itching.

Baking soda can be combined with Epsom salts in equal parts. 1/2 cup of each is commonly suggested. Adding essential oils can bring further benefit. Suggested oils include tea tree oil, lavender, and peppermint.

Healing baths can be rotated. Additional options include:

Ginger (grated or powdered)

Sea Salt (preferably Dead Sea salt)

Aalgo (seaweed)

Apple Cider Vinegar

Bentonite Clay

As with any healing protocol, it's best to start small and build. Tolerance should be monitored. Hot water is preferable in most cases. I add a Crystal Ball to improve water quality.

Most of all, relax and enjoy!