Alternative to Anthrax

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Saw this - Not of my own doing. Interesting though. Enjoy. _____________________________________________________________________

With the number of reported anthrax cases increasing every day, fears of infection are prompting some Americans to take prevention into their own hands by stocking up on gas masks and the antibiotic Cipro. But Dana Ullman has a different idea for preventing widespread infection of the life-threatening disease.

Founder and president of the Foundation for Homeopathic Education and Research in Berkeley and the author of several books on homeopathic medicine, Ullman says people should consider homeopathy as an alternative to antibiotics for preventing anthrax infection.

Though antibiotics have long proven to be an effective treatment for infectious diseases, and Cipro has helped dozens of people recover after contracting anthrax in recent weeks, Ullman cautions that over-prescribing these antibiotics can change the nature of the disease, rendering the treatment less effective and making diseases more difficult to treat in the future.

Still, Ullman recommends that only those working in a high-risk environment --like a post office or a newsroom -- take a homeopathic dose of anthrax, and then only once a month as a preventive.

Mainstream doctors and researchers have long dismissed the benefits of homeopathic treatments, but Ullman says those benefits will be tangible if people give the remedy a chance. Homeopathy helped contain epidemics of infectious diseases like typhoid, yellow fever, and influenza in the 19th century, and Ullman believes it is still a viable option today for preventing anthrax infections.

Homeopathic medicine works like a vaccine, using a disease product to sensitize the immune system to a virus. In the case of an anthrax treatment, an alcoholic extract of the disease, called Anthracinum, is gathered from infected animals. Although these homeopathic remedies -- or nosodes -- come from disease products, they are not an infection. That is because they are distilled to the point where no molecules of the disease product remain.

The result, says Ullman, is a completely safe, preventive treatment that will not harm the body or produce unwanted side effects. "The worst case scenario is that you'll be out a little money," he says.

Most homeopathic anthrax treatments range from $5 to $20. One site, www.bestearth.com, sells an anthrax survival kit priced at $60 for six remedies. Ullman’s site (www.homeopathic.com) also sells the remedy, though he says he’s concerned about taking advantage of people wrapped up in the fear of the situation. "I have mixed feelings about selling it."

But the current anthrax scare demands that treatment options be made available, he says. "The average consumer is trying to be prepared for the future. It would be irresponsible for us not to provide something that might be helpful."

-- bill (bill@bill.com), October 30, 2001

Answers

Smallpox hasn't occurred in the United States since 1949; the world's last naturally occurring case was in Africa in 1977. During the 20th century 300 million people died of smallpox. At least three times more than died either directly or indirectly as a result of armed conflict (that is, war). Medical studies suggest that an outbreak of smallpox in the US would kill around a MILLION people in three months. Smallpox is easily passed from person to person, has a very high mortality rate. Historically, 1 out of 3 people who contracted the disease died. Death can take from 48 hours to two weeks. Scientists say there is no treatment. And few people have been vaccinated. Of course – best solution – vaccination, yet this procedure may be complicated and dangerous itself. Smallpox is a live vaccine and thus is very risky to anyone with a weak immune system But what else can we do in addition to vaccination program? FIRSTLY – try to increase your natural immunity. Only 30% of those contacted ill people had contracted smallpox. Historically, 2 out of 3 people who contracted the disease survived may be because they were lucky, but I think because their immune system was stinger. That is why I recommend intake herbal immune booster: RHODIOLA ROSEA: http://www.anti-aging guide.com/RhodiolaRosea.html SECONDLY – in case someone has taken ill with smallpox the treatments should concentrate on reducing multiple secondary infections (antibiotic therapy is needed), preventing malnutrition, and increasing patient comfort, applying cold to reduce fever, and analgesics for pain. Taking antibiotics to avoid the secondary bacterial infections is what we all do when we have severe influenza to avoid complications, like pneumonia. In smallpox bacterial infections occurring when disease is progressing are usually course death within several days. But you may be lucky to save your life taking antibiotics, such as DOXYCYCLINE and PENICILINE. DOXYCYCLINE proved to be very effective in Anthrax treatment though. So, it might be a good idea stockpiling antibiotics for emergency use.

My best wishes for your health and stay alert,

-- Marie Smith (info@antiaging-europe.com), October 30, 2001.


I have my little blue tube of Anthracinum, $5.39 retail, might help, can't hurt. My book says "To prevent infection if exposure is likely, Anthracinum 30C every 12 hours for up to 3 doses". Now, I'm not counting on this stuff, but who knows if we'll all be able to get antibiotics?? The postal workers in this area are wearing gloves and masks, and buying this homeopathic remedy from the healthfood store (where I work). It must be really scary for them, because a piece of mail can come from ANYWHERE, and they are holding it. Lots of it.

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), October 30, 2001.

I received my 60 tabs of Bronmycin today. I figure that it's really just a safeguard and it also has many other applications.

I agree that the best thing to do is to keep your immune system up and to try to have some knowledge in your arsenal. It's just not the easiest thing to keep the immmune system perfect during the flu season.

The postal workers are in my prayers....lots of them.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), October 30, 2001.


Since when is 2 dead and 12 with antrhrax a widespread infection? With all the media hype you would think it was the plague. Granted there is concern, but so far there have been isolated cases, most traced to back to the same general point of orgin.

-- gary (gws@redbird.net), October 31, 2001.

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