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EVENTS & NEWSLETTER |
ATLANTA HEAL NEWSLETTER
May 2013
Published by the Atlanta Chapter of the Human Ecology Action League (HEAL), Inc.
P.O. Box 28116, Atlanta, GA 30358-0116, www.atlantaheal.org
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
MAY MEETING
Our May 18th meeting will be in honor of MCS awareness month and the Jennifer Parker Foundation. The Dunwoody Nature Center seemed perfect for our meeting, but the grounds are covered with a lot of fresh aromatic mulch, so we have decided to meet instead at the Liane Levitan Park at Brook Run. Directions from I-285 East: Take exit 30. At the top of the ramp go straight on the access road. The first light (after Chamblee Dunwoody) is N. Shallowford. The second light is N. Peachtree. Turn left, go under 285 and follow N. Peachtree .8 of a mile (you’ll pass two schools and go through two lights) and turn left into the park. Directions from I-285 West: Take exit 30. Go to the bottom of the ramp and turn right on N. Peachtree. Go .8 of a mile (you’ll pass two schools and go through two lights) and turn left into the park. Turn at the fifth street on the left. Straight ahead up a walkway is a brown gazebo with benches for seating. If the pavilion is clear at 1 pm we will have the option of moving there. Restrooms are located in the playground area. We’ll meet at our usual time of 1 pm. Bring whatever you want to eat and drink. It is not necessary to have a t-shirt, but there is still time to order if you do want one. Let’s hope for some beautiful spring weather!
REPORT OF APRIL MEETING
The main focus of our April meeting was to discuss the results of our member survey. The meeting (we ended up outside) emphasized the need to find a carpet-free room with good air circulation. Other desirable features are an unscented bathroom, privacy, and low mold. Places to consider are churches, professional offices, health food stores and markets, recreation centers, and members’ homes. Do you know of any possible meeting places? Outdoor options can be just as challenging to find. Important considerations are an accessible unscented bathroom, some privacy, a covered pavilion or structure in case of rain, limited or no herbicide and pesticide use, limited use of mulch, and a combination of sun and shade. Seating is optional as members can bring a chair or towel. Can you recommend a park?
In the survey it was suggested that we rotate meeting locations. This is a great idea, but to make this a reality, members need to find meeting places in their area or step up and host meetings. Let’s work together to make this possible.
Continuing on the subject of meetings, it was suggested that we rotate speakers, sharing sessions, and social events and that we allow a little time at the end of speaker meetings for visiting. In the past we have had two social events, a picnic in the summer and a potluck in December. Rotation would mean about two more per year. Each member is invited and encouraged to make suggestions and participate in creating social events, but we need a volunteer to be our social event coordinator.
To increase participation and connection, we will implement two new ways to keep in touch. It was suggested in the survey that we try one or two conference calls per month. This would be especially valuable for those not able to come to meetings. We will try this over the summer as a pilot. The second project is an e-list for members to use for getting out information on events or EI concerns. If you have an email on file, Leah Spitzer will send you an invitation to join in the next few days. The e-list can be used for sharing information, questions on resources, or to include HEAL members in your outside interests and activities between meetings.
Another thing that came up in the survey is the need for a list of resources. To do this, we need your input, so included in a newsletter this later year will be a questionnaire on resources in preparation for a sharing session on the subject. Perhaps in this process we could make a list of people to call with particular skills or knowledge. The November 2010 newsletter included doctors recommended by members. The doctors’ names were not given, but the idea was for members to call the person making the recommendation to discuss if the doctor might be right for them. As we all know, no doctor is right for everyone. Eventually, we will repeat the doctor survey.
Another request that came up in the survey was the desire for emotional support and sharing on the emotional level. While this takes place on a one-to-one basis, we have not dealt with this in a meeting except for a sharing session on emotional survival in May 2010. Please contact me with your ideas.
More sharing in the newsletter was also suggested. I am happy to include your input in the newsletter, but I need to hear from you. The same thing goes for member news.
If you want to help get the word out on Atlanta HEAL please give our HEAL brochure to anyone who might encounter EIs. Leah has plenty of them in stock and you can download them from our website: www.atlantaheal.org. Linda K will create a flier to put on store bulletin boards, etc. Other suggestions given in the survey were advertising in free health food store publications, neighborhood newspapers, and Facebook. This was easier to do when we had a HEAL telephone number, but perhaps we can find a different way to do this.
It was also suggested that we state our purpose/mission. So far this is what we have: To facilitate fellowship and support among members and to encourage information exchange relevant to environmental illness. Each individual must take personal responsibility and decide what is best for him/her self.
If I left anything out,
I hope the calling committee and you will let me
know. Thank you to Andrew B for coordinating the
survey and to Linda K, Leah Spitzer, and Joyce
Taylor for their participation.
THE ORTHOMOLECULAR APPROACH TO ANXIETY
In his book Anxiety: Orthomolecular Diagnosis and Treatment, Jonathan Prousky says that orthomolecular medicine, after ruling out pathological causes of anxiety, seeks to identify causes due to nutrient deficiencies, nutrient dependencies, cerebral allergies, or hypoglycemia. Each of these factors alone, or in combination, can cause dysfunction in the brain.
With nutrient deficiency, the minimal necessary amount is not obtained due to inadequate diet. A nutrient dependency indicates an increased metabolic need for a particular nutrient, probably stemming from environmental/genetic stresses that impair biochemical processes dependent upon a constant supply of the nutrient. Cerebral allergy is a sensitivity to a substance or chemical in food or beverages which targets vulnerable brain tissue and alters brain function. Hypoglycemia should be considered when anxiety or other psychological symptoms occur after fasting, late at night, first thing in the morning, or when it is somehow related to a meal or the content of a meal (reactive hypoglycemia).
Many causes of anxiety are probably the result of nutrient dependencies, especially B3 (niacin or niacinimide), B12, other B vitamins such as inositol, specific amino acids, minerals such as calcium and magnesium, or omega-3 essential fatty acids.
The most common use of B3 is for the treatment of pellagra. The earliest symptoms of sub-clinical pellagra manifest as modern mood disorders like anxiety, depression, and fatigue. Adult symptoms of niacin deficiency include feeling tense, not being able to relax, feeling impatient and irritable, feeling of impending trouble, and not being able to shake worries. There may be normal concentrations in blood and lymph, but a low level of B3 in the cerebrospinal fluid causes a localized deficiency disease. Niacin works in two ways, making up for enzymatic defects and producing therapeutic effects which can be comparable to the benzodiazepines. Both niacin and niacinimide have some sedative and muscle relaxing activity. An optimal dose can increase production of serotonin by increasing the conversion of dietary L-tryptophan to serotonin. B3 can also reduce levels of lactate which has been linked to anxiety.
Borderline deficiency of B12 will cause anxiety in individuals who are not ordinarily anxious. As with B3, it is possible to have normal serum levels of B12 but deficient levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. B12 is involved in the synthesis of serotonin. B12 deficiency is common, especially among those with atrophic gastritis, bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine, or pernicious anemia.
Chronic borderline thiamine deficiency (B1) may be associated with a heightened experience of anxiety, possibly the result of increased production of lactate, which can be reduced with the vitamin. B6 has three functions that probably help people who suffer from anxiety. It plays a role in converting tryptophan to serotonin, as a coenzyme that facilitates the conversion of glutamic acid to GABA which plays a role in the modulation of anxiety, and it is involved in reducing the amount of lactate produced. Inositol has been shown to have an anti-anxiety effect comparable to Librium.
D. O. Rudin has proposed that an omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency may lead to “substrate pellagra” even when the diet contains adequate amounts of tryptophan, B3, and other vitamins.
An adequate intake of selenium has been correlated with a general elevation of mood and less anxiety. A combination of calcium, magnesium, and potassium has been promoted as an effective alternative to benzodiazepine medications. These three minerals have a regulating effect on the electrophysical processes of the nervous system through the neuronal cell membranes and myelin sheaths.
Glycine works in a similar way to the benzodiazepines. Receptors for glycine are found in the central nervous system, spinal cord, and brain stems with highest concentrations found in the thalamus, amygdala, substantia nigra, putamen, and globus pallidus. Sub-lingual glycine is best and is recommended for acute periods of anxiety, not for daily use. GABA may be used for acute anxiety or may be taken daily for chronic anxiety. L-tryptophan and 5 hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) appear to have favorable effects on anxiety when used with B6 but should be avoided if adrenal insufficiency or lupus are present. L-tryptophan and 5HTP are good add-on treatments but are not that effective when used by themselves for treatment of anxiety disorders.
Any substance can potentially disrupt brain function and cause any form of neurosis, psychosis, or behavioral disorder. Symptoms of cerebral allergies may be immediate with the main culprits being caffeine, alcohol, or sugar, or reactions to beverages or foods such as wheat, milk, eggs, or corn may be delayed for hours or days. Caffeine has been shown to cause both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Even one cup of coffee can be a problem for people with anxiety disorders and caffeine withdrawal can also cause symptoms that mimic anxiety. Alcohol use or discontinued use can also cause or aggravate anxiety. Sugar appears to increase lactate levels which causes anxiety in sensitive people. Some other common food allergies which can provoke symptoms are dairy, chocolate, tea, yeast, soy, citrus fruits, pork, rye, beef, tomato, peanuts, barley, nuts, and seafood.
To deal with hypoglycemia, the author gives two main diet options. The first option involves moderately high protein and fat and the second is a diet high in complex carbohydrates such as lentils, whole grains, winter squash, and potatoes with little or no dairy and fruit. Chromium supplements are helpful.
In conclusion, the purpose
of the orthomolecular approach is to correct underlying
imbalances and deficiencies, thus dampening the
autonomic nervous system for 6 to 12 months so that the
neural circuitry of the brain can undergo positive
changes and get out of the habitual pattern of anxiety.
Orthomolecular compounds are naturally found in the
body, are less toxic, and nourish the central nervous
system. That being said, when higher than normal levels
of these nutrients are used, there can be side effects.
Dr. Jonathan Prousky includes these in his book with
everything presented here and more.
UNNECESSARY TESTS IN HOSPITALS
In his long article “Why Medical Bills are Killing Us” Stephen Brill wrote that about 60% of tests ordered during a prolonged hospital stay are not necessary. He said that when doctors are trained, they are taught to order “morning labs” not because they are necessary, but because it gives them something to talk about when they go on rounds. Tests become a routine daily cash generator. Labs are increasingly being maintained by doctors and these labs account for a rapidly growing share of testing revenue. Not only do doctors have an incentive to order more tests because they’re the ones profiting, but these labs can charge more because they have a captive consumer base in the hospital or group practice. Adding to the problem is that hospitalists (physicians trained in inpatient medical care) are increasingly assuming care of people admitted to the hospital, so good luck finding the chance to complain to your doctor.
-Time Magazine, Your Medical Mind
SHARING
Our April meeting started out in our usual room at the Emory Student Center but we soon moved to the top floor of the parking deck across the street. To be ready for this type situation, it would be a good idea for all of us to purchase a portable chair or something to sit on. If you find suitable products, let’s put the recommendation in the newsletter.
BIRTHDAYS
[] June: Sunnye Martin 8th, Barbara Schwartz (no date)
[] July: no birthdays
[] August: Hilda Tatom 10th, Jerry Heltzer 12th, Shirley Kukla 26th, Jan Hensley 28th.
BUSINESS
[] We have not had a webmaster since Ian’s ES symptoms have limited his computer use to personal business. Mark Fisher is investigating the possibility of taking on the job.
[] The updated membership list will be sent out in June. If you want to be on the list and haven’t paid your 2013 dues, please get your check or money order in ASAP.
Thank you to Mark Fisher for his assistance in this newsletter.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.
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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