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EVENTS & NEWSLETTER |
ATLANTA
April 2012
Published by the
President: …., First Vice President, Program Chairman: Sydna
Fisher, Second Vice President,
Membership: Joyce Taylor, Secretary: Joyce Taylor,
Treasurer: Andrew B, Webmaster: Ian Greenberg, Newsletter: Sydna Fisher
The speaker for our April 21 meeting will be Lupa Irie,
a native of Atlanta and a graduate from the University of Georgia. After
raising five children she continued her education and received a degree as a
Doctor of Naturopathy from the Clayton College of Natural Health. Lupa and her husband Ilan,
a colon therapist, created Healing Waters Jamaica, a health spa in the
Jamaican West Indies which offers a wide range of services, with a primary
focus on internal cleansing through colonics, and a variety of custom designed detox programs unique to each patient.
“Let Your Food Be Your Medicine” was Lupa's
mantra from 2005 to 2010 as she prepared and taught natural, organic cooking to
the patients of Progressive Medical Center, the largest Integrative Medical
center in the Southeast. In 2011 she opened Lupa's
Kitchen, LLC, a commercial kitchen where she produces and markets two organic
sprouted buckwheat cereals and an organic sprouted trail mix.
“Therapy through Food” is the motto at Lupa's
Kitchen and the title of her talk. She will discuss traditional food
preparation based on the teaching of Weston A. Price. Some of the topics will
be healing broths, drinks of life, and foods of life which help rebuild
digestion, reduce inflammation, and work with the body to create health.
The meeting will be at
1 pm in room 301 of the Student Activity and Academic Center of Emory
University, 1946 Starvine way, Decatur 30033, located
just off Clairmont Road. If you are coming from North
Druid Hills, go .2 of a mile past the VA hospital property on Clairmont, and turn right at the light on Starvine Way. On the left is the sign Emory University Clairmont Campus. Go up the hill and you'll find the
student center on the right and the second entrance to the parking garage on
the left. If you are coming from North Decatur Road, follow Clairmont,
go under a railway bridge and turn left at the light on Starvine
Way. Make sure that you and anyone you bring are fragrance free and please turn
off all cellphones.
REPORT OF MARCH MEETING
The first part of the
meeting we shared memories of Jim Boswell. Following are remembrances by Andrew
B and Ian Greenberg, the HEAL members who knew Jim the best.
Jim Boswell, the President of our
Atlanta HEAL group for the past two years and good friend to many of us, passed
away on Thursday March 8, 2012 after his fight with liver failure over the
previous three months. Jim was a member of the Atlanta HEAL group for
the past four years and will be remembered as a person who helped people, who
enjoyed life, and who embraced simplicity.
Jim, with his gentle manner, had a
great ability to talk and listen to people both comforting them and making them
at peace with any issue whether it was family related, MCS issues, or general
life problems. He consoled many HEAL members and anybody he came in contact
with and he had a way of connecting with people as if he had known them for
years. You could see these interpersonal skills at the HEAL meetings in the wonderful
way that Jim quickly got to know our guest speakers, how he made them feel
relaxed and at home, and how he tended to them after the meetings, usually
helping them to their car with items.
Like most people with MCS, Jim had a
lot of restrictions and there were not many days that he did not feel ill at
least part of the day. But he always got out and never complained about his
ills and pains. This was and is a great inspiration for us all!
Jim’s son Nathan was a special part of
his life and Jim enjoyed parenting and teaching him while exploring and
traveling the north Georgia mountains where they lived. Several HEAL members
also enjoyed spending time with Jim, whether it was hanging out at a park,
going on a short hike, listening to music at a Dahlonega restaurant, listening
to his karaoke (which he thought was good!), playing bridge or scrabble,
talking sports, swimming/boating at lake Lanier, or just having dinner. Jim was
a joy to be around, and I enjoyed his wry sense of humor.
Finally, Jim was unique in this day
and age. He lived outside worldly ways, and had the ability to just relax and
take in the moment. Jim was not tied down with technology, was never rushed,
did not get stressed over having to do ten other things, and was capable of
just hanging out and enjoying people. When one was with Jim, they knew they
would be safe MCS-wise and would be guaranteed of enjoying the day.
Jim is survived in Georgia by his wife
Marie and his nine year old son Nathan. Jim is also survived by his father William and his brother William III who
both live in Canandaigua, NY. Please
keep Jim’s family and Jim in your thoughts and prayers. Collectively as a HEAL
group and individually, we were all blessed to have Jim in our lives over the
last four years and his leadership, grace and presence will be missed dearly.
- submitted by Andrew B
There was a time, not so long ago, before we all got so cynical
and jaded when we trusted one another, went out of our way to help people, and
had a real sense of community. It was a time of innocence, when children roamed
around the neighborhood and parents never worried about them. It was a simpler
time – before technology took over our lives and before we had to know
everything. Jim came from that place and he made me nostalgic. Jim was old
school, my only friend without an email address and he made me want to go home
and play my records just so that I could hear the crackle and hiss!
When you got together with Jim, it was
never about what you did or where you went, it was about being together. Jim loved Wendy’s and we would go
get our food and drive down to Yahoola Creek, where
we would walk down the embankment to the creek, sit on a log and watch the
water rush by. I would tell Jim my troubles and he would patiently listen,
without judgment and try to help. He was always good company and I could tell
him anything.
On the last such occasion, he
challenged me to a game of frisbee
golf. Of course Jim beat the pants off me, since he was great at most games. I
just told him that he had lousy frisbees
and challenged him to a rematch. Sure enough, he called me a few weeks later,
told me he had bought some really good frisbees
and was ready for our rematch. It never happened, but Jim I have no doubt you
would have beaten me anyway!
Jim was a gentle soul, but he could be
firm when he needed to. He always stuck up for himself, his friends and his
support group. The last time I saw Jim was in the hospital. I had just arrived
when a nurse and technician, armed with a whole array of equipment, wanted to
take his blood. Jim had already given blood about five times that day and was
fed up. I watched in amazement as he gave them a piece of his mind and send
them packing. After they left, Jim and I had a really nice visit. I drove home
with my radio tuned to the oldies station, since Jim made me nostalgic, and I
had to laugh as one of the next songs they played was “You don’t mess around
with Jim”.
Jim, you were an inspiration to me.
You never complained when you were sick and always had a smile on your face.
You had a real zest for life, always willing to try new things and push your
limits in your quest for new experiences.
Jim, you were a great friend and a wonderful person. I love you and I’m
sure gonna miss you.
- submitted by Ian
Greenberg
During the second part of the meeting several members shared
information and products which are of general interest.
[] Leah Spitzer brought information on smart meters and Senate
Bill 459 which allowed an opt-out option. It has since been tabled in the House
Energy Utilities and Telecommunications Sub-committee and will not be revisited
until next year. More recently she has discovered that research shows there is
one possibility for those of us suffering from electrical sensitivity or even
MCS. If you feel the smart meters are affecting your health, you can file a
Title III complaint. You need to give your background, your disability, how it
affects you physically, your power company and its address. According to the
Americans for Disabilities Act, these disabilities are recognized on a case by
case basis. The email is ada.complaint@usdoj.gov.
If you have any questions, contact Leah.
[] Andrew B showed us two carbon
filters. Following is his explanation of their use. Carbon filters can be used
at home to filter out VOCs, cooking/pet odors, fragrances, formaldehyde, and
other gases. Several members purchase 20” x 20” carbon filters from D-Mark Inc.
and use them on the back of a 20” x 20” box fan as a carbon filtration system.
These filters and a box fan both run about $20 - $25 each, so for less than $50
one can have an effective carbon filtration system in their home. This is a
great value when compared to most commercial carbon filter machines which cost
in the hundreds of dollars (i.e. Aireox, AllerAir, etc.) not to mention replacement filters that run
from $80 to $300.
The web site, www.dmarkinc.com,
has great information on carbon and potassium permanganate filters. See the
Learning Center tab. The web site is not good for ordering, so I recommend that
you call them (800 343-3610) to place an order. The company seems to be pretty
small, so ask to talk to the owner, Ron Richard.
Filters can be customized to any requirements, but Ron
recommends either a 2” pleated filter or a 1” pad filter in nylon mesh. The
pleated filters have better airflow, but have cardboard and glue in their
construction that can take several weeks to outgas. The 1” pad filters have no
cardboard or glue, only thin, hard, nylon mesh encapsulating the pad.
The 1” pad filters also have more carbon (300g vs. 200g). In
general the 2” pleated filters (with 200g of carbon) should last 2-3 months
while the 1” pad filters (with 300g of carbon) should
last 3-4 months. Exact duration depends on the environmental load being
filtered. Both filters cost $20 - $25, so for around $125 (4 filters and 1 box
fan), a person can have an effective carbon filtration system for a year.
The D Mark filters, like most carbon filters, can be bought as
100% carbon or 50% carbon/50% potassium permanganate. Carbon does a better job
at removing VOCs, fragrances, organic smells, etc. while potassium permanganate
does a better job of removing formaldehyde.
I use a 20” x 20”, 1” pad filter (100% carbon) with a box fan in
my living space and the same filter (with 50%/50%) in an unfinished basement
where exposed pink insulation and wood (i.e. formaldehyde) are the main
materials.
It is not necessary to strap or tape
the filter to the back of the fan as carbon works without airflow; you can just
lean the filter against the fan to prevent excessive air flow restriction.
Box fans can be purchased at Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc.
in the warm weather months or ordered online at any time of year. Stay away
from the cheaper fans (< $20) as they tend to have less airflow, have more
plastic parts and do not last as long. Galaxy fans or Lasko
fans with Weather Shield motors (like Lasko model
3720) seem to work well. The Lasko Weather Shield
fans are also excellent for putting in windows where they might be exposed to
the weather. A new fan, especially the motor, will burn off at first and smell,
so it is recommended that you run it in an unoccupied space for a couple days
to first outgas it.
Notes:
1.
Carbon
works with or without air flow, so when not using the filters, make sure they
are stored in an air tight plastic bag so as not to deplete the carbon. Also do
not unwrap the new filters until ready to use!
2.
Carbon
filters gases, VOCs, and other odors but does not take out particulates like
smoke, pollen, dust, dander, etc. HEPA filters or the better 3M filtrete filters deal with these particulates. To make a
cheap HEPA particulate system, place a commercially bought HEPA filter (like 3M
Filtrete filter, rating 1500 or above) on the back of
a box fan.
[] Joyce Taylor was unable to sleep on a new mattress until she
taped several Mylar space blankets large enough to generously tuck in on all
sides. A quilt on top reduces the crinkly sound which doesn't bother her once
she's in bed. The Mylar blankets all are also great for travel and are
available at Walmart and REI.
[] Linda K has found a physical therapist in the Northlake
region whom she recommends for HEAL members.
[] Jean Leslie brought the book Wheat Belly by Dr.
William Davis. She said that the information has helped her with her diabetes
more than any other book. Since changing her diet, her blood sugar is at a
better level and she is experiencing less anaphylaxis. She said she was surprised
to learn how much wheat has changed from its original form, how addictive it is
(its polypeptides bind to opiate receptors), and all the unexpected and hidden
sources of wheat and gluten.
Since the meeting Jean was excited to discover an article in the
magazine First for Women on MCS. The article cites Anne Steineman.
PhD and Stan Caress, PhD, and mentions planetthrive.com, an environmental
illness support group.
PLANET THRIVE
“Planet Thrive” was created by Julie Genser - photographer, writer and certified holistic health
counselor–whose life was derailed by extensive food and chemical sensitivities
brought on by multiple exposures to environmental toxins. Aside from the
typical assaults we all experience in a lifetime, she was exposed to a broken
mercury thermometer in her late 20s, toxic fumes in a garbage dump fire during
a photography workshop in her early 30s, the harmful fumes (and emotional
trauma) from the World Trade Center fires of 9/11, mold resulting from a flood
in her apartment in 2003, and she recently tested positive for Lyme bacteria,
which she believes is a 35+ year infection underlying all of her other health challenges.
As she traveled the typical path of the heavy metal poisoned and
chemically injured, it took years of being misdiagnosed, mis-medicated,
and dismissed by doctors for her to recognize her set of symptoms as part of a
much larger problem. She attended The Institute of Integrative Nutrition in
2001-2002, which started her on her healing path. The growth of the Internet
around this time eventually allowed her to connect with others on a similar
journey to share personal experience and hard-earned knowledge.
This website emerged out of an undying hope to use her years of
research and personal experiments with diet, supplements, chelation
and other alternative practices to help others in their search for health. This
website is meant to fill in the gaps that she found during her online research,
and to complement existing sources of information and support.
A few important things Julie has learned above everything else:
·
One
must always remain at the helm of their own personal care
·
There
is no magic bullet–never put blind faith into one doctor or treatment
·
What
works for one does not always work for another due to variability of individual
biochemistry and many other factors
·
What
works for one may change over time, so it is good to re-evaluate your treatment
plan every now and again
·
Never
give up hope
Julie recently left the East Coast to explore chemical free living
in Arizona. She finds great joy in tribal bellydance
and arabic hand-drumming,
and in discovering new paths to wellness.
The site provides the following Environmental Illness headings:
Autism, CFS/ME, Digestive Disorders, Electrical Sensitivities, Fibromyalgia,
Gulf War Syndrome, Lyme Disease, Mold Illness, Mercury
Poisoning. The site also has a link to the Gupta Amygdala
Retraining, the Dynamic Neural Retraining System, the EMF Safety Superstore and
Cultures for Health. There is a
community tab with topics which include: Gupta Amygdala
Retraining v.s. the Dynamic Neural Retraining System,
special interest groups, photos, birthdays, articles, prayers for healing,
latest discussions.
-
submitted by Rebecca Stuckey
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MAY BIRTHDAYS
Jean Leslsie 9th, Lisa Ehler
13th, Andrew B 14th, Andrew Heyward 15th,
Teresa Smith 17th, Lean Spitzer 26th.
BUSINESS
If you have not paid
your dues, please do so ASAP.
This newsletter is meant for information only.
It is not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition and is not a
substitute for professional advice.
SOME OF OUR MEMBERS
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