| Post-Terrorist Attack Health Updates: Concerns and Alerts for New Yorkers | |
by Mary J. Shomon
PRESS RELEASE: 9/15/01 -- New Yorkers with Lung Disease Use Caution in Lower Manhattan, Allergists Urge
As New Yorkers return to lower
Manhattan Monday to their jobs or homes, allergists are urging those with
asthma or other chronic lung diseases to wear good quality masks and consult
with their physicians quickly if they experience new or worsening respiratory
symptoms.
The heavy dust hanging over Manhattan, and possibly other parts of the
city, from Tuesday's collapse of the World Trade Center towers contains a
variety of substances: pulverized concrete and glass, and the chemical
products of combustion, including materials such as rubber, paper and plastic.
These can irritate the lungs, trigger asthma attacks and otherwise aggravate
lung conditions, as well as irritate the eyes, nasal passages and throat.
Allergists do not believe asbestos is a significant health hazard beyond the
very immediate center of the recovery effort.
The irritants in the dust can combine with other allergens in the air to
make patients with lung conditions and allergies especially sick, allergists
warned.
"This is a volatile time and things are exacerbated by the fact that this
is peak ragweed season," said Daniel Mayer, MD, president of the New York
Allergy Society and a member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma &
Immunology (ACAAI). "I recommend that people with chronic lung conditions and
allergies don't go near the site."
Patients also should make sure they continue taking prescribed medication
and call their doctors at the first sign of new or worsening symptoms.
"This may be a time, in consultation with your doctor, to beef up your
medication," said Ira Finegold, MD, chief of allergy at St. Luke's Roosevelt
Hospital, and a past-president of the ACAAI. Dr. Finegold also recommends
buying a mask called a respirator, which looks like the thinner paper masks
that many people are wearing, but are thicker and filter out more of the
matter in the dust.
The ACAAI also offers these recommendations to New Yorkers with lung
conditions:
The ACAAI is a professional medical organization comprising 4,200
allergists-immunologists and related health professionals dedicated to the
clinical practice of allergy, asthma and immunology through education and
research to promote the highest quality patient care.
(SOURCE American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology)
A Health Alert to All New Yorkers, from Sherrill Sellman
As I emerge from the shock of this week's events, I have become
acutely aware of some serious consequences to the health of all New
Yorkers from the heavy contamination in the air due to dioxins,
asbestos, PCB's, and other chemicals creating the most toxic air
pollution all over the New York City area. These ingredients have
the potential to be not only carcinogenic but also to profoundly
compromise lung health and immune integrity in the short term and
long term. Children and older people are at a greater risk but, in
truth, everyone in NYC metropolitan area is seriously affected.
Unfortunately, the media is downplaying the seriousness of this
problem to the health of all New Yorkers.
I have family and friends that work and/or reside in the NYC area and
upon realizing that this severe health hazard IS REAL, I felt
compelled to research this serious problem. After spending all day
researching and on the phone talking to many health experts and
getting a deeper understanding of this issue I decided to put
together this SPECIAL HEALTH ALERT. I trust that each of you will
forward it on to your friends and family. Remember, even if you do
not reside in NYC, someone on your list may know someone who does
have loved ones in New York City.
If you have doubts about the danger from the air pollutants, I invite
you to read from this site for further information about the real
extent of the dangerous health risk from just the asbestos fallout:
http://asbnyc.cjb.net/
It is, therefore, imperative to protect and bolster the lungs, the
immune system and the detoxification system (the Liver) with
effective and potent nutritional support. Again I stress, if you
have family or friends in NYC or know of someone who does, please
share this information with them immediately. Also, please send this
email to any email list that you may be a part of. This is a
profound and personal way that each of us can contribute to the
support and health of New Yorkers. We all can have a huge influence
on the physical, emotional and spiritual healing of our beloved
country as well as our global family.
Blessings and Health to All,
Sherrill Sellman
golight@earthlink.net
http://www.ssellman.com
Here are some important practical steps to support your body which
can be implemented immediately. They are inexpensive and easy to do.
And they do make a big difference.
I have asked guidance and support from a variety of health experts to
offer the most effective nutrients and herbs to support the body at
this time. You can either purchase these products or similar ones
from any reliable health food store or you can purchase direct from
the companies and individuals listed below. They have agreed to
substantially discount their products to offer assistance to as many
people as possible. I encourage you to either send these nutrients
as a gift or urge your friends and relatives in NYC to purchase them
or similar ones and begin using them immediately. Following these
suggestions will alleviate many serious health problems in the days
to come.
Choose one of the following approaches or a combination but
definitely do something NOW. The longer you wait the greater and
more serious the risk will be.
Stan Meyerson, a Pharmacist and President of Needs, a natural
pharmacy providing high quality nutritional support has put together
the following key nutrients in an effective protocol
PROTOCOL TO HELP PROTECT AND REPAIR LUNG TISSUE
Chemicals, toxins, smoke, and airborne particulates damage and
inflame the linings of the lungs. To help reduce inflammation and
repair the linings, and to help support and repair the lung
QUERCETIN/BROMELAIN: exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic,
and antihistaminic properties.
Dose is 1-2 capsules 3 times a day before meals.
MSM: the body uses MSM, as a natural barrier to allergens, is
anti-inflammatory. MSM has the ability to strengthen the tissue
linings of the nasal passages, lungs, skin and digestive tract,
thereby protecting the body from toxins.
Dose is 1 capsule (1000 mg) 3-5 times a day
DETOXIFY AND SUPPORT LIVER FUNCTION
The liver is the major organ for the detoxification of toxins and
toxin overload from the body.
To help support the liver
SILYMARIN: Helps protect the liver from damage caused from exposure
to toxins, including environmental pollution, heavy metals, smoke,
and chemicals.
Dose: 1 capsules 1-3 times a day
REBUILD IMMUNE SYSTEM
A healthy immune system is vital for defending the body against the
onslaught of exposure to bacterial, viral infections, toxins, and
environmental pollution. The exposure to the chemicals, toxins, along
with excess stress, reduces the effectiveness, and leads to a
compromised immune system.
To rebuild the immune system the following may help.
Colostrum: Nature's first food contains biologically active immune
factors, essential for a proper functioning immune system. Colostrum
allows the immune system to remain at its peak condition giving it
the ability to combat these toxins.
COLOSTRUM SUPREME
Antioxidants: Are essential to fight the free radicals which bombard,
damage and destroy every living cell. The exposure to these free
radicals is a major health concern at all times, but this extreme
exposure to free radicals requires immediate use of anti-oxidants
Dose: 2-4 capsules daily on an empty stomach with a full glass of water
ANTIOXIDANT CAPS: Contain all the major anti-oxidants, along
L-glutathione, and N-Acetyl-Cysteine, the major nutrient in the
detoxification pathways.
Dose: 1-2 capsules daily
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS TO HELP REPAIR, BUILD AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY
IMMUNE SYSTEM.
CELL FOOD
Cellfood contains: 72 ionic trace minerals, 34 enzymes, 17 amino
acids, Electrolytes ,and dissolved oxygen. But its ability to unleash
abundant oxygen and hydrogen throughout the body at the cellular
level is what makes it such a powerful health aid. Cellfood is
designed to raise the frequencies of all organs, making them more
resistant to the lower frequencies of viruses, bacteria, and
parasites. This fortification of the immune system helps the body
become more capable of combating micro-organisms that could be
detrimental to your general health.
Dose: 8 drops 3 times a day in filtered or spring water or as directed
To order any products at reduced prices, with no shipping charges from Stan Meyerson, please call N.E.E.D.S. at 1-800-634-1380.
The following is a reply to my request for guidance and healing
support from Dr. Viana Muller, President of Whole World Botanicals.
She herself lives in NYC and is personally suffering swollen glands,
sore throat and other effects of an overwhelmed immune system from
all the toxicity in the air. I have decided to include her entire
email reply to me.
Dear friends,
We have all undergone a most horrifying experience emotionally, and
we are focusing our energies on sending loving thoughts everywhere as
we strive to recover and help others to recover. People in the U.S.
are reaching out to help others affected by this tragedy in
extraordinary ways and one way we can all help is to raise awareness
about the toxicity to which everyone in New York City has been
exposed to. To chelate out the carcinogens in the dust from the Twin
Towers, you can do the following: eat lots of watermelon, lemon
juice and passion fruit. You would have to be doing a lot of this
every day, basically sipping the juice all day long. But Vitamin C
plus associated bioflavonoids--which you only get in a natural form
of Vitamin C--is the most powerful chelating agent known to rid your
body of heavy metals such as lead, the PCBs, and perhaps the
asbestos. The most potent source of such natural Vitamin
C-bioflavonoid complex is the camu-camu fruit, followed by the amla
fruit. Acerola would be the third on the list. Whole World
Botanicals makes available Royal Camu, a spray dried form of
camu-camu guaranteed to contain 8% Vitamin C plus the associated of
the fruit. The camu-camu is a wild food--it is harvested from the
Amazon rainforest in Peru and Brazil. Royal Camu is the only
camu-camu guaranteed to contain this high level of NATURAL Vitamin C.
It is about 4 times more potent than Ester C.
To chelate your body, take 2 capsules (or 1/4 tsp) four times daily
between meals with a full glass of water or fruit. Do this for two
weeks. If you get diarrhea, cut back the dosage by one capsule or
1/8 tsp. per day until diarrhoea stops.
The Royal Camu which will detoxify the lungs and the blood will also
help to detoxify the liver. But it would be advisable to use a
specific liver-kidney detoxifying herb such as Royal Break-Stone Tea
or Extract Capsules. To do a detox, drink one glass of tea three
times daily between meals or take one capsule with a full glass of
water three times daily between meals for three weeks.
To find out more about these wild South American botanicals, you may
go to the herbal library on our website at www.wholeworldbotanicals.com to read about them and the research done
on them.
I am really quite concerned that if people who have been exposed to
the carcinogens in the dust from the Twin Towers do not follow a
detoxifying regimen for a number of weeks, that they may end up with
Gulf War Syndrome type of symptoms with a weakened immune system and
auto immune reactions or a higher incidence of cancer of the lungs
and liver. Of course, I am the most concerned for the relief workers
who had the highest level of exposures.
I myself have had a sore throat, swollen glands and scratchy eyes
since Wednesday, despite living and working in the north part of
Manhattan Island. So I have begun to follow the Camu-camu and
Break-Stone regimen myself.
Although I could not help directly with the relief efforts, Whole
World Botanicals would like to reach out to the people in New York
City to educate them (us) as to the dangers we have been exposed to
and to offer humanitarian aid in the form of making these two herbs
available at wholesale cost for the next three weeks for the people
of New York City. You can call us and order on the phone at 212-781-6026 or
888-757-6026. Do not order on-line because full price is charged on-line.
God's Blessings and Health
Viana Muller, Ph.D., President
WHOLE WORLD BOTANICALS
Also, Angelo Druda is a master Chinese Herbalist who formulates
excellent herbal tincture preparations. These are his thoughts and
suggestions.
I want to reiterate the importance of drinking lots of water, and of
getting out of the toxic air as soon as possible. Fresh fruits and
vegetables are loaded with Vit C, so eat these now. It is also
important that people do some kind of detoxification regime as soon
as possible. The body reacts to the toxins by creating an
inflammatory response. Over time this response can damage the mucous
membranes that protect the soft tissue of our vital organs. In most
cases the inflammatory response will stop when the toxins are no
longer present. So the immediate elimination of these toxins is
critical, before genetic cell damage creates more severe health
problems. I would use a Chinese medical formula to help clear the
toxins, reduce inflammation and boost immunity. This formula is
similar to those used to support patients who are under going
chemotherapy. They offset the toxic effect of the drugs, and are
extremely effective in detoxification, and immune support. They are
easy to use and safe. I can be reached at 707-928-4126 or druda@earthlink.net.
In my search for health care professionals to provide advice to the
people of New York City, I contacted Dr. Gloria Gilbere, a specialist
in chemically induced immune system disorders. Dr. Gilbere is a
naturopath and doctor of natural medicine and she has herself
survived and repaired the life-threatening affects of chemical
toxicity. She consults with clients and physicians around the world,
via telephone consultation. She is director of the Naturopath Health
& Research Center and General Partner in Global Integrated Health.
To My Fellow Americans in New York City:
What Does September 11th, 2001, The Gulf War and Multiple Chemical
Sensitivity Have In Common?
Everything!
In the dust left by the tragedy of September 11th, there is an enemy
of a different type lingering just around the next corner. The
survivors of this totally incomprehensible terror need to understand
the serious heath consequences of the chemicals and pollutants you
are now forced to breathe. It is not only the immediate symptoms of
the dust and debris that are of concern, rather the long term effects
of the assault on your immune system.
You have survived the tragedy, only to be tormented by symptoms from
the dust and pollution. The symptoms that are immediate must be
attended to but are only the first step in protecting your health.
Those persons who have been riddled by a group of disorders known as
multiple chemical sensitivities (including environmental illness,
Gulf War Syndrome), know only to well the long term effects of
over-loading the immune system with toxic substances - whether from
air pollution, water, prescription drugs, pesticides, asbestos,
insecticides, formaldehydes, those created by our body or synthetic
fragrances, they still constitute an accumulation of toxic substances
the body is not designed to automatically eliminate.
I suggest those of you who can possibly use the aforementioned
supplements, do so immediately. Do not wait until you're become the
next statistic added to the millions of victims of environmental
illness induced by chemical toxicity. The following are precautions
to assist your body in detoxification and maintain maximum immune
system function:
Take the highest tolerated dose of buffered Vitamin "C" powder.
Tolerated dose means until it produces loose elimination's. For many
adults during a time of added toxicity and stress, 4,000-8,000 mg. a
day are easily tolerated.
Whenever possible, use a top quality HEPA air filter like AllerAir,
available from NEEDS. Their staff will assist you as to model and
type for your specific living/working area. Run it 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. This will assist the lungs in repairing by providing
clean air after the inflammation from pollutants. They have models
available for every size room, home or office.
Only drink filtered water, and drink a minimum of water each day
equivalent to half of your body weight in ounces. Example: If you
weight 100 lbs. drink at least 50 oz. of water. A 200 lb. person
needs at least 100 oz. of water a day. Coffee takes water out of the
body, so eliminate or greatly reduce caffeine. Herbal teas count as
part of your water consumption.
Wear a mask until all air pollution has cleared, which could be quite
a while within the city of Manhattan. Synthetic/Cotton masks are
suitable but not as efficient as a mask with a disposable charcoal
filter. This type of mask is available in various styles from organic
cotton, for the highly sensitive, to a synthetic flesh colored lace.
They all come with disposable charcoal filters and are lightweight
and attractive - the mask is washable, the filter disposable. You
should use one filter per day until the particulate matter in the air
is minimized. You can order them by calling Healthy by Design at
1-877-862-5417. The masks range from $19.95 to 24.95. Note: I use
this mask every time I fly to protect against the re-circulated,
chemical laden air.
Keep your colon health at maximum. Make sure stress does not cause or
add to a sluggish elimination. Your colon must be clean and able to
eliminate toxic matter or it becomes a toxic waste collection
station. Use fiber products to help push things along. If possible,
contact a certified colon hydro-therapist and schedule a series of
colon irrigations, it's easy, effective and could literally save your
life - it did mine!
When in a "safe" area with clean, filtered air, practice deep
breathing. This exercise not only reduces stress, it provides the
much-needed oxygen - essential to rebuild the assaulted immune system.
The symptoms of environmental illness as a result of a toxic assault
to the immune system include, but are not limited to:
Imagine: You suddenly start reacting, to one degree or another, to
substances that are part of "normal" life. Home and office is not the
haven it once was. Everything there has the potential to turn into an
enemy, launching an attack on your immune system and sending you into
an allergic reaction, or at least, a headache and muscle aches and
pains. You cannot retire to a wooden shack away from civilization,
like many of my multiple chemical sensitivity/environmental
illness/Gulf War clients have had to do to survive. Your entire life
and career is staring you in the face.
Imagine: You have the opportunity to be forewarned, to avoid the
pitfalls of the unfortunate before you. You now have the opportunity
to turn this tragedy into an opportunity, an opportunity to not only
appreciate our freedom as Americans, but also to appreciate your
health.
If you acquire healthy eating habits, create safer "non-toxic"
environments, educate yourself and implement methods of regular
detoxification, you will be healthier as a result of surviving the
tragedy of New York City. You'll be able to go on, to a stronger
America and a stronger, healthier life, naturally.
For further information on multiple chemical sensitivities, toxic
substances in home, office and your environment, please see Dr.
Gilbere's website at www.drgloriagilbere.com.
Dr. Gilbere can be reached for consultation Mon. - Fri. 9-4 (PST) at
(208) 267-5417. Dr. Gilbere is offering a 50% discount to NY City residents.
In closing, I want to personally thank each of you for the caring and
prayers that have been sent out for all of our American family. I
trust that this information will be helpful to you and all of the
people in New York City.
Sherrill Sellman
Hear Recorded Thyroid Information from Mary Shomon, or Schedule a Live Call by Phone!
YOU CAN STAY INFORMED ON THE LATEST THYROID DISEASE INFORMATION
Whether it's a free email newsletter or report about thyroid disease, the latest books that help you live well with your thyroid condition, or support and information from fellow thyroid patients, you'll find a variety of resources here at the About Thyroid site.
Here are some of the latest discussions at the main Thyroid Disease Forum/Bulletin Board. Jump into the conversations now!
