We've come a long way baby

[Guest guest]

I was checking out an asthma medicine's web site, (below), and I was pleasantly

surprised to notice that the word " MOLD " appeared in 6 out of 12 asthma

" triggers " .

Fifty four years ago, when I was eleven years old, I was sent to a

" convalescent home " for asthmatic children, for 6 months, because the medically

accepted belief, at that time, was that the ONLY cause of asthma was " mental

illness " , and, if the child could be removed from their family environment which

was " causing " the mental illness, then his/her asthma would disappear.

Today, we should not despair when the doctors consider us " mentally ill " for

speaking the truth about our toxic mold illness. They are beginning to use our

vocabulary when describing asthma. Now that they have learned the " words " , it

will be only a short time before they start using the words to make sentences.

Then, they will use those sentences to comprehend new ideas. And then, like all

children, the medical profession will claim that they " knew it all the time " .

.................................................................................\

..................................................

Since several things in and around your home can set off asthma attacks, try

these trigger-reducing suggestions to lessen the effects:

Trigger Source Taming Tip

(1) Kitchen —

Mold/dust from the refrigerator Clean the drip pan, cooling fan, grill 3-4

times a year

(2) Bathroom —

Mold on damp, dark surfaces Clean bathrooms 3 times weekly with unscented

products; use exhaust fan

(3) Living room —

Dust in carpets Remove carpets; use only low-pile carpets; vacuum twice weekly

with a double-bag and HEPA system

(4) Smoke: cigarettes and wood-burning fireplaces Ban inside smoking; check

fireplace vents; switch to gas-burning fireplace

(5) Mold from houseplants Move/grow plants outside; use ceramic/clay

containers, not wicker

(6) Basement —

Mold & humidity Clean heating system annually; clean/change furnace air

filters monthly; install electronic air filter or whole-house HEPA filter; keep

home humidity under 50%

(7) Bedrooms —

Dust: carpets, closets, surfaces Remove carpets; wet-mop floors weekly; use

washable throw rugs, wash weekly in hot water; use only low-pile carpets; vacuum

twice weekly with double-bag and HEPA system. Remove trophies/knickknacks, or

display in closed case; clean out closet; store clothing elsewhere

Dust mites in bedding Encase pillows/mattresses in mite-proof coverings; wash

bedding weekly in hot water; avoid down comforters and feather pillows

(8) Pets - Keep animals out of bedrooms, outside if possible. Bathe pets (even

cats) regularly. Keep fish tanks small to reduce humidity

(9) Windows- Keep windows closed; use air conditioner (avoid contact when air

conditioner first turned on due to accumulated dust/pollen). Use a HEPA room air

cleaner. Use shades, not blinds; use light, washable curtains, wash in hot water

weekly

(10) Concrete slab room Use hardwood or linoleum floors-not wood; use a

dehumidifier

(11) Home heating system —

Dust, mold Avoid forced hot-air systems; seal vents, replace with electronic

heating system; install hot-water radiant-heat system

(12) Mold from landscaping Keep grass trimmed to less than 1 inch; trim shrubs

and trees to reduce mold-promoting shade.

[Guest guest]

Hi Joe,

I found this on an addison's disease website.

http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/addison/addison.htm

Other Causes

Less common causes of primary adrenal insufficiency are

• chronic infection, mainly fungal infections

• cancer cells spreading from other parts of the body to the

adrenal glands

• amyloidosis

• surgical removal of the adrenal glands

>

> I was checking out an asthma medicine's web site, (below), and I

was pleasantly surprised to notice that the word " MOLD " appeared in 6

out of 12 asthma " triggers " .

>

> Fifty four years ago, when I was eleven years old, I was sent to

a " convalescent home " for asthmatic children, for 6 months, because

the medically accepted belief, at that time, was that the ONLY cause

of asthma was " mental illness " , and, if the child could be removed

from their family environment which was " causing " the mental illness,

then his/her asthma would disappear.

>

> Today, we should not despair when the doctors consider

us " mentally ill " for speaking the truth about our toxic mold

illness. They are beginning to use our vocabulary when describing

asthma. Now that they have learned the " words " , it will be only a

short time before they start using the words to make sentences. Then,

they will use those sentences to comprehend new ideas. And then, like

all children, the medical profession will claim that they " knew it

all the time " .

> ..................................................................

................................................................

>

> Since several things in and around your home can set off asthma

attacks, try these trigger-reducing suggestions to lessen the effects:

>

> Trigger Source Taming Tip

>

> (1) Kitchen —

> Mold/dust from the refrigerator Clean the drip pan, cooling fan,

grill 3-4 times a year

>

> (2) Bathroom —

> Mold on damp, dark surfaces Clean bathrooms 3 times weekly with

unscented products; use exhaust fan

>

> (3) Living room —

> Dust in carpets Remove carpets; use only low-pile carpets; vacuum

twice weekly with a double-bag and HEPA system

>

> (4) Smoke: cigarettes and wood-burning fireplaces Ban inside

smoking; check fireplace vents; switch to gas-burning fireplace

>

> (5) Mold from houseplants Move/grow plants outside; use

ceramic/clay containers, not wicker

>

> (6) Basement —

> Mold & humidity Clean heating system annually; clean/change

furnace air filters monthly; install electronic air filter or whole-

house HEPA filter; keep home humidity under 50%

>

> (7) Bedrooms —

> Dust: carpets, closets, surfaces Remove carpets; wet-mop floors

weekly; use washable throw rugs, wash weekly in hot water; use only

low-pile carpets; vacuum twice weekly with double-bag and HEPA

system. Remove trophies/knickknacks, or display in closed case; clean

out closet; store clothing elsewhere

>

> Dust mites in bedding Encase pillows/mattresses in mite-proof

coverings; wash bedding weekly in hot water; avoid down comforters

and feather pillows

>

> (8) Pets - Keep animals out of bedrooms, outside if possible.

Bathe pets (even cats) regularly. Keep fish tanks small to reduce

humidity

>

> (9) Windows- Keep windows closed; use air conditioner (avoid

contact when air conditioner first turned on due to accumulated

dust/pollen). Use a HEPA room air cleaner. Use shades, not blinds;

use light, washable curtains, wash in hot water weekly

>

> (10) Concrete slab room Use hardwood or linoleum floors-not wood;

use a dehumidifier

>

> (11) Home heating system —

> Dust, mold Avoid forced hot-air systems; seal vents, replace with

electronic heating system; install hot-water radiant-heat system

>

> (12) Mold from landscaping Keep grass trimmed to less than 1

inch; trim shrubs and trees to reduce mold-promoting shade.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Its nice to see a plug for hydronic heating.

That is what I grew up with and I have always thought it VASTLY

preferable to hot air heat w. ducting.

Now it seems to be making a comeback as people realize how much of a

pain it is to keep heater ducts clean.

If " electronic heating " means electric heat, people should know that

BTU for BTU its quite expensive compared to natural gas if you live in

a cold climate, not unlike heating with oil in that respect. But it

has the advantage of being easy to direct to where you want it. (All

electric heaters have the same 'efficiency', BTW, no need to spend

more on the pricey ones)

I freak out when I hear how much some people are spending on heat

these days. How can they possibly afford it? What were they thinking,

esp. when they bought those houses with those huge cathedral ceilings

and huge windows?

The best way to save money on heat is to have a small simple home with

minimal exterior surface area. The ideal shape for heating efficiency

is

a sphere, but as that is no longer in fashion (Laugh at me, I don't

care, but I have always loved dome homes,

some of which can be really nice) simple basic box-like home shapes

are the easiest to heat.

With good (triple paned are best) low-e windows and even fairly basic

insulation they can be very cheap to heat, even in cold climates. And

good windows don't support condensation!

With a little attention to passive solar design (like addition of

south facing windows with shading on the outside that block direct sun

in midsummer) small, energy efficient homes can even be made to use

very little heating energy except at night and on very cold cloudy

days.

Even with continuous passive ventilation (at low volume)

At least, this is what I am reading..

> > (11) Home heating system —

> > Dust, mold Avoid forced hot-air systems; seal vents, replace with

> electronic heating system; install hot-water radiant-heat system

> >

>