Science and Inquiry discussion

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Posted by David, 6/12/2010

Alice, could you educate us a little about environmental illness? Does anybody get it, who is exposed to certain toxins, or are some people genetically more sensitive than others? Are there foods one can eat (or avoid) to diminish the sensitivity?

A quick Google on the term found some essays that purport that the symptoms are real, but psychosomatic. I don't believe that. I have a hard time believing that respiratory diseases due to asbestos, pollution, pollen, etc. are psychosomatic.

Posted by Alice:

Hi David, There are many books on this subject and 50 Dr's in the US who specialize in it. One of them saved my life, she has written 3 books and her name is Dr. Jacqueline Krohn. Another book that is very helpful to many is by Dr. Sherry Rogers in New York state. Both of these doctors have had environmental illness themselves and somewhat overcome it. Dr. Rogers has written Tired or Toxic? which Dr. Krohn required me to read when I first went to her. Dr. Rogers has also written The EI Syndrome which explains much of it. There is a genetic predisposition but anyone can be poisoned by pesticides. A little about this is explained in Survival of the Sickest page 74. I hope I got the right page, its about detoxification. Our livers do most of the work but some lack certain enzymes and cannot detox everything thrown at them today. It is the opinion of mnay yahoo groups on this subject that the big chemical companies prefer that it is called psychosomatic. I have been to a few doctors who told me that and I never go back. They could not help me. I had to change my whole life. I cannot use most products found in the average grocery store. I had to wash my clothes in baking soda to get the synthetic fragrances out. I cannot even stand next to someone who has fabric softener on their clothing. At church I have to sit in the back and take my oxygen bottle just in case. For a few years I couldn't go anywhere but I have improved to the point that now I can drive some again. I had what is called spatial disorientation. The shocking thing is that there are thousands of people like me! We are usually hiding to protect ourselves. I could probably write a book if I had the energy. Well, hope this was helpful. Its a vast subject.

Posted by Alice 6/12/2010

A few book links about it that I like.



The E.I. Syndrome: An Rx for Environmental Illness

Survival of the Sickest: A Medical Maverick Discovers Why We Need Disease

Tired or Toxic: A Blueprint for Health


Also the company NEEDS caters to canaries. We are sometimes called Canaries in the Coal mine.
www.NEEDS.com

Posted by Ann, 6/13/10

HI, I just joined this group at the request of a Goodreads friend. I don't know if I have Environmental Illness as it hasn't yet been diagnosed. I do have Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) which of course no cause can be found, thus the Idiopathic part of the disease. There are over 200 known forms of this disease, most of which are environmental in nature. As a life-long gardener who used all of the traditional methods (mulch, sprays, etc), even to contact with the soil, asbestos, airborne pollutants, and a myriad of other substances, those with this disease find upon diagnosis that there is no cure and is more fatal than lung cancer, with more people dying from IPF than breast cancer on a yearly basis.
There have been many, many drug trials and all have thus far failed in the cure of IPF.
Pulmonary physicians know very little about this disease as do other doctors. The only known help is lung transplant. Even with a lung biopsy the cause is only found less than 20% of the time and even then does not change the treatment. Most patients take an over the counter supplement NAC which helps to some extent.
The average life expectancy is 3-5 years after diagnosis.
IPF is only one of the most recent discoveries for as we continue to live in this ever increasing toxic world, many, many more will be discovered.

Posted by Alice, 6/12/10

Oh, Ann, I am so sorry to read this. I didn't realize. Thanks for joining us. I meant to get that magazine about the transplant but didn't. Did you manage to get a copy? I still hope to find one.

Alice

Posted by Ann, 6/13/10

Alice wrote: "Oh, Ann, I am so sorry to read this. I didn't realize. Thanks for joining us. I meant to get that magazine about the transplant but didn't. Did you manage to get a copy? I still hope to find o..."

Alice, the young gal featured in that magazine had a total rejection of her transplant and finally was accepted for a new transplant. For a 22 year old she had been through so much.
Transplants are only performed for those under 70 years of age, with some hospitals having a cut-off of 65 years of age. No matter, the prognosis with a new lung is 5-10 years. Much, much to go through for such a slender extension of life in my opinion. I will stick with quality versus quantity.

Posted by Alice - 6/13/10

Oh, I had no idea. I hardly know what to say. I think our toxic air today is a big part of the problem. I have to live at 8,000 feet as you know where the oxygen is thin but the air is cleaner. A woman in Wimberly, TX said "there is no clean air anymore".

I'm reading this all so much later (getting acquainted with this group) but very interested in this topic. I've read a few books in particular on the subject of contaminants and pesticides (a few favourites Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic, The Secret History of the War on Cancer) - and of course there are extreme cases of pesticide exposure (Blindsided: The True Story of One Man's Crusade Against Chemical Giant DuPont for a Boy with No Eyes). It does seem there can be some controversy over what is new age and what is not. I do have a dear friend/neighbour who ran a plant nursery with his wife for many years, who attributes his chronic lung condition to mixing soil and too much exposure to too much particulate matter (most if not all of their cultivation was organic).