Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

Toxins in our environment take their toll on our health, especially if you have a chronic illness. Sufferers of chronic illnesses are already in a weakened condition and our bodies are exerting additional energies and functions to fight the illness. Having the added burden of processing toxins is adding stress to an already overstressed system.

According to Natural News from NEEDS:

In the last 50 years, our environment has become increasingly more polluted. This has resulted in a greater human toxic burden than ever before. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of toxic chemicals have been introduced into our environment. So, no matter how careful we are or where we live, we all have some level of exposure.

This problem affects every element of our lives: the air we breath, the water we drink, and the food we eat.

Our livers are the organ that has the major responsibility of filtering toxins from our body. The liver metabolizes and converts toxins into water-soluble molecules. It then eliminates the harmful toxins through stool and urine.

With the bombardment of toxins from all fronts, our livers and other organs that have part in protecting our bodies from toxins are in overdrive. And, as with any system, it can become overloaded.

So, what’s a body to do?

Well, the first course of action is to eliminate as many toxins from your diet as you possibly can. This entails buying organic foods and avoiding processed foods. It may be more expensive and means reading labels, but if you’re suffering from chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, or other, if you can afford it it’s worth the money and effort.

You can also get indoor plants for your home. There are specific plants that help clean indoor airborne pollutants: Lucky Bamboo, African Violet, Cactus, Orchids, Ivy, Kentia Palm, Tillansia, Draceana and Rubber Plants are some that you can put around your house. According to NASA for the best effect, you should use 15 plants throughout your home.

This brings me to a commercial on tv that is currently running on the East Coast of the United States. The scene is a young teenager and his older brother. The older brother is making fun of the the younger boy because he’s eating a cereal that has high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in it. The younger boy questions the older boy as to why he thinks HFCS is so bad. The older boy can’t answer the question, so the younger boy explains that this highly questionable ingredient is the same as eating sugar – it’s fine in moderation.

It’s a shame that companies will blatantly provide misleading and harmful information to the public just to make the almighty dollar.

Our body does not process HFCS the same as it does sugar.

Sorry, I just had to rant a bit.

Until next time,

Karen

I know it’s been a while. I was hoping to post to this site at least 2 times a week, but as life will do at times, it had other plans for me.

I had a little episode that warranted me having to get an ekg, 24-hour heart monitor, blood work, and a sonogram of my abdomen. I’m happy to report all seems to be well.

Hey, you know what, I change that statement: ALL IS WELL! I’ve been reading three different books on well being and listening to Think Write Now, I Am Healed Now! every night. Sooner or later this positive thinking and empowerment will take root!

I would give you the link to I Am Healed Now!, but they don’t sell it any longer – I bought it several years ago. I’m not sure why they discontinued it, in fact I’m going to contact the company and ask.

I’ve been creating another website, my third Blue Host site. I also have 3 blogsites, two of which are active. And, I try to write for ezines such as Suite101 and EzineArticles as well as work on writing children’s books. So, I keep pretty busy.

Okay, down to business:

For those of you in the NY area and are able to or know friends, family, acquaintances who are:

The New York City – Southern New York Chapter will host Walk MS 2010 at 7 locations on April 17th and 18th in Manhattan and Staten Island, and Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange and Sullivan counties.

Each location will feature a Walk MS festival including a fun zone for kids, food, and entertainment. It’s a great cause, raising critical funds in support of annual programs and services, and the Society’s research initiatives.

For more info visit: www.walkMSnyc.org

This information comes from the NMSS Connection Winter 2010 magazine (for NYC – Southern New York Chapter).

These Walks and Bike Rides actually do raise money for MS. The NYC Bike MS in October 2009, raised more than $3 million!

The NMSS provides a number of great support and help systems for sufferers of MS. If you aren’t a member, you should join your local chapter.

I hope to post more regularly.

Until next time,

Karen

I just bought a very interesting book, Excuses Begone! by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.

I saw him on public television two weeks ago and felt motivated to change my thought process. So, I went on Amazon and got his book. Not, that he was my first encounter with the power of the mind, I’ve watched the Secret and read a number of mind empowering books. And, I enjoy Joel Olsteen – I find him motivating also. But, Dyer’s talk clicked with me.

One of the first pages states:
“Don’t believe everything you think!”

I love this quote!

I’m a firm believer in the power of the mind and truly believe if we can redirect or change our subconscious negative thought process it can affect our overall well being.

Having a number of health issues I most certainly want all the help I can get.

I will post updates on what I learn from this book.

If you’d like your own copy – check out the right sidebar. Just scroll down and click on the link to his book.

I’m also going to start incorporating mediation into my life – my acupuncturist strongly advises it.

Another tip, my acupuncturist (Henry Zhen-Hong Lee) told me to take Grape Seed Extract for my allergies and sinus problems. He said it might help with the MCS also. He recommended a particular brand, which I bought, and said to take 2 pills per day (one in the morning and one in the evening on an empty stomach).

Since I can’t afford 2 per day of the brand he recommends, I’ll take one of those and one of a less expensive brand. I’ll also keep you informed on this. Supposedly, it should take around 3 months to see a difference.

Hmmm…new year, new me!

Please note, I am not recommending any type of medical advice or supplement. It is your responsibility to talk to your doctor about your health options.

Until next time,
Karen

Should you get the H1N1 Vaccine if you have multiple sclerosis?

This weekend, my local Duane Reed drug store had the H1N1 shot available and CBS FM was covering the event.

The only ones I know who actually got the shot so far are my grandsons (one and three-years-old), but that was before the controversy about its potential ineffectiveness.

I get the annual regular flu shot since I have a number of health problems and ALL my doctors, even my acupuncturist, recommends it, but I haven’t gotten the H1N1.

I asked my neurologist about the H1N1 vaccine and he said the determining factor was on an individual basis. He went on to discuss that those in the health field and others that deal with the public such as teachers would probably benefit from getting it. But, all in all, I got the impression he wasn’t recommending it for me. He did mention that they weren’t sure of the neurological benefits or drawbacks.

Next, I asked my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome specialist. She was to the point and just said, NO. I didn’t bother asking why since there has been so much controversy over this shot that I just assumed this was a factor in her advising her patients not to get the shot.

Then, I asked my acupuncturist, Henry Zhen-Hong Lee. I value his opinion because he is not only an amazing NYS Licensed Acupuncturist and NCCA DPL. Herbalogist, but he was also a medical doctor in China. He advised I should get the shot  because of my health problems.

Finally, I asked my allergist. She is a very knowledgeable doctor and I trust her advise. She advised that as long as my grandsons got the shot, I shouldn’t need to.

I am fortunate to have a great group of doctors who I respect and  feel confident with.

So…I don’t think I’ll be getting the shot this year. I’ll reevaluate next year.

To find out what the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has to say about the H1N1 vaccine and MS, read this article at:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/research/research-news/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=2115

Please note, this is in no way intended as advise to anyone – it’s your responsibility to discuss your health plans or questions with your doctor.

Until next time,

Karen

Here is an interesting study on caffeine and Multiple Sclerosis.

Caffeine Could Help Prevent Multiple Sclerosis
January 6th, 2010

http://opposedmoney.bfora.com/caffeine-could-help-prevent-multiple-sclerosis/

A mod study is suggesting that having specific cups of coffee a day could halt the development of multiple sclerosis (MS).

The researchers made this discovery in a study with mice bred to develop an MS-like condition, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, or EAE.

Those who were fed the equivalent of six to eight cups of coffee a day did not develop EAE.

The scientists from the U.S. and Finland believe the caffeine affects a molecule called adenosine, which plays a role in sleep and energy production and when the mice were dosed with caffeine, adenosine could not link to a particular receptor on the surface of cells.

This appeared to have an indirect effect on the ability of immune cells to enter the nervous system at a part of the brain called the choroid plexus, and the mice did not develop EAE.

They hope that the finding may prove to be relevant for other autoimmune diseases, in which the body uses the weapons of the immune system against itself, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Professor Linda Thompson of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, says this is an exciting and unexpected finding which could be important for the study of MS and other diseases.

The study was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Jeffrey Mills and Dr. Margaret Bynoe of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, along with colleagues in Finland’s University of Turku.

According to Professor Thompson there is much more work to be done for the prevention of multiple sclerosis in humans and she says a retrospective study of people with MS to track their caffeine intake and the effects on the disease could be an important next step in the research process.

Professor Thompson says if a correlation between caffeine intake and reduced MS symptoms is then found, that would point to further studies in humans.

MS is a disorder of the central nervous system which causes weakness, numbness, a loss of muscle coordination, and problems with vision, speech and bladder control and it affects 2.5 million people worldwide.

Current treatments are limited only to slowing the progress of the disease once it is established.

Experts recommend no more than five cups of coffee a day.

The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Wow, wouldn’t that be a wonderful treatment! I wonder if tea has the same effect?

Although, MS has more physiological disorders than just sleep and energy. What about the pins and needles, vision disturbances, bladder problems, balance and mobility issues…

Well, I know I haven’t posted in a while…I’ve been fighting a sinus and ear infection.

Yeah…that might be a simple thing for most people, but when you have MCS, it can become dangerous.

One of the last antibiotic families I could use was Eyrthamycin (probably spelled that wrong, but I’m really not concern about spelling right now).

I became allergic to Penicillin and Tetracycline years ago. Then within the last couple of years Levaquin and Avelox affect the Multiple Sclerosis so I was told not to use them any longer.

Now, Biaxin, which always worked on my sinus infections, isn’t safe for me. I’ve developed a skin allergy to it. So, I was put on Zithromax. Unfortunately, it isn’t working on the infection.

So, what’s left? Sulfur?

I also have reactions to prednisone and cortisone…

People don’t realize just how disabling and dangerous MCS is. It is life altering like any other chronic illness, and it can limit your life much more than other illnesses. I had to stop using my gas oven years ago, because it affected my asthma. I can’t be in rooms or offices that use cleaners such as Fabreze. Perfumes, fabric softners, scented anythings, are out. Photocopiers, chlorine, and other chemical smells can send me into a stupor (severy brain fog) and asthma attack as well as sick to my stomach.

Traveling is another problem. If I plan on sleeping in a hotel, I have to make sure they understand what scent free means. Traveling on any mass trans is not worth the potential problems.

But, those are just annoyances…being allergic to antibiotics is life threatening. And, having to worry if I end up in a hospital that they don’t accidentally kill me by giving me a medication/drug I am allergic to or have a severe sensitivity to, is another problem.

With the many illnesses I have, including two aneurysms, it seems the MCS is the most dangerous.

Sorry, I vented, but I did want to explain why I haven’t been posting regularly.

I’m praying my doctors can figure something out tomorrow.

When I’m feeling better I will start posting about MCS in addition to the other topics on this site.

I wish you all a healthy, peaceful, and successful new year!

Karen