Pyrethroid Pesticides May Increase Risk for ADHD
The natural insecticidal properties of pyrethrum, a chemical group found in the Chrysanthemum Cinerariifollum (a flower from the same genus as the common daisy) have been recognized at least since around 1800, when it appears in Chinese history. By 1845, bales of the dried flowers were being imported into the U.S., primarily for use against body lice and crawling…
India Still Reporting Cases of Polio-like Acute Flaccid Paralysis
India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has reported that it has investigated approximately 18,000 cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) in the country since January 2014 as part of its national polio surveillance program, established in 1997, and that all of the cases have tested negative for poliovirus. Some 50,000 cases of AFP are being detected annually in…
Should We Fear Getting Sick? A Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) originated in ancient China and is one of the oldest healing systems practiced for thousands of years. The discipline relies on the following four guiding principles: The body is an integrated whole—All parts of your body are interconnected and each part plays an integral role to its harmonious functioning as a whole; this includes your…
The Many Faces of Autoimmunity
Normally, the body’s natural immune system protects it against harmful outside substances called antigens, which could be a bacteria, virus, toxin, or a chemical or environmental irritant. An allergic reaction occurs when that protective action extends to a substance that is not ordinarily harmful, and an autoimmune reaction occurs when that same overprotective behavior…
Bees Getting Buzzed on Deadly Neonicotinoids
The buzzword has been that neonicotinoids, the most widely used pesticide on earth, may be a significant contributor to the growing problem of the disappearing honeybee. Discussing two studies from the journal Nature, NPR correspondent Allison Aubrey recently reported that part of the reason the neonics are so widely used is that they are easy to…
Modern Life Depletes Your Gut Microbes
Your intestinal microflora—aka your microbiome—is an integral part of your immune system, and over the past several years, research has revealed that microbes of all kinds—bacteria, fungi, and even viruses—play instrumental roles in the functioning of your body. For example, beneficial bacteria, also known as probiotics, have been shown to: Counteract inflammation…
