Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health tip introduces her newest addition to Dr Jocelin’s Practitioner Grade Essential Oils – Headache Soother Roll On. Plus she gives the hint that more Roll Ons are in the works.
Tag: Dr Jocelin
7 Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender has been used for medicinal purposes for over 2,500 years. Ancient Persians, Greeks, and Romans added lavender flowers to their bathwater. The name itself comes from the Latin “lavare” meaning to wash. The Egyptians used lavender as a perfume, as well as for mummification.
Today lavender is the most popular essential oil in the world. Compounds contained in the oil have antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibiotic effects.
Scientific studies back up the wisdom of the ancients. Here are just 7 evidence-based uses for lavender essential oil:
1. Relieve Anxiety
A German study confirmed that lavender oil is more effective than placebo in relieving anxiety in elderly patients. The researchers concluded that it would be an effective and well-tolerated alternative to synthetic drugs.
In another study of 90 anxious patients awaiting open-heart surgery, researchers had the patients inhale either lavender oil or distilled water for 20 minutes. Inhaling lavender reduced anxiety as well as cortisol levels. Questionnaires answered by the patients showed the lavender decreased anxiety by 10.8 percent. Blood testing revealed that cortisol levels dropped by a whopping 69.6 percent.
And in a study of 60 heart patients in a coronary intensive care unit (ICU) patients were given 2% lavender essential oil via inhalation every day. After 15 days, the patients inhaling lavender reported significantly less anxiety. Researchers concluded that lavender is a non-invasive, cheap, easily applied, and cost effective intervention for cardiac patients in the ICU.
2. Improve Sleep
Several studies show the effectiveness of lavender aromatherapy in sleep-related disorders. In one study of 158 new mothers, women were assigned to two random groups. One group dropped lavender oil on a cotton ball and inhaled 10 deep breaths before going to sleep. They also kept the lavender ball near their pillow until morning. They did this four times a week. A control group did the same thing with a placebo oil rather than lavender. After eight weeks, women inhaling lavender had a significant improvement in their sleep quality compared to the control group.
3. Ease Premenstrual Symptoms
It is estimated that 45 percent of women suffer from moderate to severe dysmenorrhea. This condition develops at the time of menstruation and can cause cramps, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and headaches.
A lavender oil massage can help relieve dysmenorrhea. In one study from Turkey, 44 midwifery or nursing students administered a self-massage with either lavender oil or petroleum oil as a placebo. The lavender oil was found to reduce menstrual pain at a statistically significant rate.
In an Iranian study of 80 midwifery and nursing students, volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either a lavender oil massage or placebo massage during two consecutive menstrual cycles. Their level of pain was measured before and 30 minutes after the massage. The lavender oil massage caused a significant decrease in dysmenorrhea symptoms compared to the placebo.
The researchers noted that topical application of lavender oil relaxes the muscles, improves blood supply to the tissues, and increases elasticity. And the active compounds in lavender oil remain on the skin for about 90 minutes after the massage. In addition, the oil – after topical use or inhalation – is absorbed into the blood stream.
In addition to pain many women suffer with emotional stress during their menstrual periods. A Japanese study found that inhaling lavender can help. Researchers studied 17 women in their early 20s with mild to moderate premenstrual symptoms. The women inhaled either lavender or water. They found that inhaling lavender for just 10 minutes significantly increased the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system compared to the water. In addition, psychological tests showed that lavender significantly decreased feelings of depression/dejection and confusion as long as 35 minutes after inhalation.
4. Reduce Pain
Lavender is proven to relieve pain. In one study 106 patients undergoing peripheral venous cannulation (PVC) were divided into two groups. PVC is a procedure in which a tube is placed inside a vein to draw blood or administer fluids, medications, nutrition, chemotherapy, or blood products. One group of patients received lavender aromatherapy and the other received sham aromatherapy. After the PVC procedure, the pain scores of the lavender group were significantly lower than the placebo group. In addition, patient satisfaction was significantly higher in the lavender group.
Kidney dialysis is another painful procedure that can cause patient anxiety during the insertion of dialysis needles. In a study from Iran, 34 hemodialysis patients were divided into three groups. The first group received topical lavender essential oil during the insertion of their arterial needles for dialysis. The second group received no intervention and the third group received a water placebo. Pain intensity dropped 37 percent for the lavender group compared to the no intervention group, and dropped 31 percent compared to the placebo group.
And in a recent study in the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine 100 patients aged 19-64 years with kidney stones were divided into two groups. One group received the standard treatment of 75 mg of diclofenac sodium, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The second group received lavender aromatherapy in addition to the diclofenac. Pain measured 30 minutes after the treatments was significantly lower in the group using lavender aromatherapy.
5. Lessen Stress
In addition to relieving anxiety and pain, lavender oil can help reduce physiological signs of stress. In a study of 20 healthy volunteers Thai researchers compared lavender to sweet almond oil. They measured the subjects’ blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and skin temperature to determine the level of stress in the autonomic nervous system. In addition, subjects were asked to estimate their mood responses such as feeling pleasant or unpleasant, uncomfortable, sensual, relaxed, or refreshed.
The results revealed that inhaling lavender oil caused significant decreases in blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature. In addition, the lavender group said they felt more active, fresher, and more relaxed than the almond oil group.
6. Clear Vaginal Yeast Infections
About 75 percent of women experience a vaginal candidiasis infection at least once in their lifetime. The culprit in 85 to 90 percent of these cases is the Candida albicans fungus. Conventional medicine uses the drug clotrimazole to treat vaginal infections. It has side effects like increased liver enzymes, painful urination, and depression.
In a recent study researchers compared lavender essential oil with clotrimazole on the C. albicans fungus in the lab. After 48 hours the fungal cell count was lower for lavender than for clotrimazole.
7. Heal Mouth Ulcers
Lavender oil has been shown to help heal mouth ulcers. In a study of 115 patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers, subjects were treated with lavender oil or placebo. The lavender group had a significant reduction in inflammation and ulcer size. In addition, the healing time was faster by two to four days in the lavender group. And pain relief was noted from the first dose of lavender.
When buying lavender essential oil look for a practitioner grade product. Use it topically on the skin, full-strength or mixed with a carrier oil such as almond or coconut oil.
You can also rub two or three drops of lavender essential oil in your palms and then inhale the oil. Or add a couple of drops to your washing machine. You can also add four to six drops to a spray bottle with about a cup of water. Mist your skin or room. Also makes a great gift!
Pick up your bottle of Dr Jocelin’s Practitioner Grade Lavender Essential Oil on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Portions of this health tip are from GreenMedInfo.
Weekly Health Tip – Homeopathic Solutions for Pain
Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip is on Homeopathic Solutions for Pain.
Ways to Naturally Eliminate Migraines
Migraine headaches are the second most common type of primary headache after tension headaches. And, just to be clear, a “primary” headache is a headache that is not caused by another disease or condition.
Along with debilitating pain, migraines can generate blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. Often without much warning, migraines can happen once a year, monthly, or several times a week. And, unfortunately, migraines can either occur with an aura – which is known as the classic migraine – or without an aura, which is called a common migraine.
What can trigger a migraine?
The possible migraine triggers not only vary from one individual to another, but encompass a whole range of common substances. This can include hormonal imbalances, synthetic fragrances, processed cereals (or other junk foods), and skipping meals. A simple drop in blood sugar can cause all kinds of health issues including head pain.
The list of possible triggers is so long – it often appears impossible to eliminate the so-called causes. In the food category alone the list is extensive and includes ripened and aged cheese, poor-quality chocolate, citrus fruits, conventionally-raised (processed) meat with nitrites such as hot dogs, MSG, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol.
Food additive such as nitrites, sulfites, and aspartame can be the culprit behind a migraine. In fact, studies show a large percentage of migraine sufferers point to specific foods as the trigger.
Non-food triggers include changes in the atmosphere such as drops in barometric pressure, high temperatures, and bright, fluorescent lights. Many women get migraines monthly due to hormone fluctuations or the use of birth control pills.
However, one of the most common migraine triggers seems to be chronic stress. It is a known fact that anxiety, worry, depression, and mood changes can all release specific brain chemicals – which can trigger a migraine.
Sadly, Western medicine promotes the use of analgesic migraine medications – including both prescription pain relievers and over-the-counter drugs – which produce “rebound” headaches. The point here is simple: no pill will ever solve the (underlying) problem associated with chronic head pain.
A better way to achieve freedom from chronic headache pain
Even with many drugs, lifestyle techniques, and surgical options available to treat and prevent the onset of a migraine – finding the right combination of therapies to manage migraines can be difficult. Fortunately, there is growing scientific evidence to suggest that natural means are just as effective as prescription medication and, many times, even more effective.
#1 – Massage: Keeping the muscles more relaxed, less inflamed, and helping maintain structural alignment can help reduce the triggers that often cause migraines.
#2 – Melatonin: Two-thirds of study participants who took melatonin before going to bed every night for 3 months said the number of migraines they experienced dropped by 50%.
#3 – Magnesium: Studies have shown that migraine sufferers have low brain magnesium during migraine attacks and may also suffer from a magnesium deficiency. It is thought magnesium deficiency may play a particularly important role in menstrual migraine.
#4 – Diet: It pays to avoid headache-inducing substances, including nitrites in processed meats, sugar, processed foods, chocolate, nuts ,aged cheese, aspartame, and monosodium glutamate (MSG) used in foods as a flavor enhancer. It’s also worth mentioning that dehydration is a major cause of headaches. Even though food may not be the underlying cause of a migraine, a poor diet does contribute to the problem by depleting vitamins and minerals – which are meant to help ward off an attack.
#5 – Upper cervical chiropractic treatment: The most recent research is showing that the most plausible cause of migraine headaches resides in the autonomic nervous system. The swelling of the blood vessels in the brain and the drop in neurotransmitters are secondary and mainly occur in response to the changes in the autonomic nervous system.
#6 – Reduce Emotional stress which is a well-known trigger for migraine. Japanese researchers have found that people living in fast-paced business centers in Tokyo tend to have an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system – specifically, an inhibition of the parasympathetic system that is active during relaxation, and an excitation of the sympathetic nervous system, which governs our response to stress.
#7 – Balance Your Hormones Naturally: If hormones are the base trigger, working with a Naturopathic Doctor to balance your hormones naturally can help reduce or eliminate the hormone based triggers.
Pick up your magnesium and melatonin supplements on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market along with scheduling your appointment with Dr Jocelin to get to the root trigger causes!
Portions of this health tip are from NaturalHealth365.
Sleep and Stress
With everyone being so highly stressed, sleep can be hard to calm down and enjoy. Sleep is crucial to being health, having a productive day, and having a good mental outlook.
A recent study showed the danger of traditional sleeping pills to help you sleep. Half the participants in a study investigating the main class of prescription sleeping pills, which includes Ambien and Halcion, slept through a fire alarm.
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., said that poor sleep is a huge problem, causing “fatigue, pain, and immune suppression, as well as contributing to 16% of fatal car crashes.”
Instead of drugs, Dr. Teitelbaum recommended natural alternatives. “Natural oils—such as lavender and ravensara, mandarin, and lemon balm—found in combination in Terrific ZZZ by Terry Naturally—and herbals/natural mixes such as valerian, passion flower, lemon balm, 5HTP, theanine, and hops are safe, low-cost, and outstanding for insomnia.”
Pick up your sleep supporting supplements including Terrific ZZZ, Rest-ZZZ, and Calms Forte on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market!
The Toll of Stress on Your Immune System
Stress Weakens Your Immunity
We all know that stress can affect us, causing headaches, anxiety, insomnia, and other health problems. And now, new research provides further evidence that stress can be extraordinarily harmful, resulting in serious damage to the immune system.
Stress Research On Autoimmune Disorders
The study, which was conducted at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, found that people who experience considerable stress may have a greater likelihood of developing an autoimmune disorder. These results were based on an extensive assessment of the medical records of men and women residing in Sweden between 1981 and 2013. The subjects were 106,464 adults who had sought treatment for a stress-related psychiatric problem, and the control groups were 126,652 of their siblings and more than one million unrelated individuals, none of whom were experiencing a stress-induced disorder.
Among the participants with stress-related issues, who had an average age of psychiatric disorder diagnosis of 41, the likelihood of 41 kinds of autoimmune diseases occurring was much greater than that of their peers or siblings with no psychiatric history. Certain psychiatric diagnoses were associated with a significantly higher risk of autoimmune dysfunction than others, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) sufferers facing an increased chance of developing more than one autoimmune disorder, including celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition, some types of autoimmune diseases were more closely correlated to high stress levels in the subjects than others. For instance, the risk for celiac disease was greater than that of rheumatoid arthritis.
PTSD & Autoimmune Disorders
While the study was not designed to prove that mental stress directly results in the development of autoimmune diseases, it did show a strong association between the two. Similar links have been found in earlier research, such as a 2015 study at the University of California, San Francisco that determined a connection in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who had been diagnosed with PTSD and greater rates of autoimmune diseases.
Long-term Damage of Stress
Although we do not know everything about how stress affects the body, we do understand enough to be certain that it takes a damaging toll over time. Prolonged stress raises the body’s cortisol levels. This hormone is associated with a number of problems, such as weight gain, elevated blood pressure, memory difficulties, and impaired immune function. Cortisol helps regulate inflammation throughout the body, so when it is not functioning correctly, systemic inflammation can occur. Inflammation can contribute to or speed the progression of many conditions, ranging from the common cold to cancer.
On top of all that, chronic stress often translates to unhealthy behavioral changes. When you’re facing the serious illness or death of a loved one, potential job loss, or another major life stressor, it is likely that you are losing sleep, you might slack on your exercise routine, and you may not be as conscientious about what you eat. All of these factors can also make a difference over time, and possibly help set the stage for an autoimmune disease as well.
Ways To Reduce Stress
So, what can you do to protect yourself? Since there is no way to avoid having stress in your life, especially these days, your best protection is to learn ways to cope with it and insulate yourself as much as possible from its effects. That means living the kind of lifestyle that helps you optimize your health both mentally and physically all the time so that, when a stressor arises, your immune system doesn’t start to go haywire. There are also lots of natural methods of stress reduction that are effective. First, you may need to take a break from the news for a bit and read a relaxing book, stretch, get some fresh air, or take time out to enjoy a hobby or creative project at home. Eating blueberries, using a supplement that contains herbs such as Valerian root, Kava Kava, and ashwagandha, as well as nutraceuticals such as L-theanine, not to mention having down time daily and getting regular physical activity are all great ways to ease stress and lessen the damage it can do to you.
Pick up your stress reducing supplements on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Portions of this Health Tip are from Baseline of Health.
Weekly Health Tip – Breakfast And It’s Importance
Dr Jocelin’s Weekly Health Tip is on the importance of eating breakfast and some healthy breakfast ideas.
Coronavirus Disinfectants May Be Extremely Hazardous to Health
Health officials’ ‘List N’ includes disinfectants approved for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that reportedly causes COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been approved as safe for humans. Now experts are worried we’ll be facing a new epidemic of health problems linked to these toxic chemical exposures
The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic may turn out to be worse than the reported disease itself. Experts have predicted a coming mental health crisis in the U.S., as Americans struggle with financial insecurity, job losses, social isolation, and fears about returning to public life. Privacy concerns also continue to emerge, as contact tracing apps and other methods of surveillance morph into the new “normal.
Unchecked disinfection procedures, including those recommended by public health agencies, are another major concern. Prior to the pandemic, chemical disinfectants had been linked to health problems, but the accelerated pace at which these toxic chemicals are now being used is causing unprecedented levels of exposure — with unknown consequences to human health.
‘List N’ Disinfectants May Not Be Proven Safe for Humans
In response to COVID-19, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released “List N,” which is a list of about 400 disinfectants that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2. To meet the criteria, the disinfectants must demonstrate effectiveness against a harder-to-kill virus or demonstrate efficacy against a human coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-2.
“[T]his doesn’t mean that they have been approved because they’re considered safe with regard to human health,” exposure scientist Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Bloomberg. While studies on many of the chemicals are limited, some have been linked to asthma and other respiratory conditions, reproductive effects, and neurological and dermatological problems.
Exposure to disinfectants and cleaning products has long been linked to health risks. Among nurses, for instance, exposure to cleaning chemicals at work was associated with a 25% to 38% increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This included disinfectants with the active ingredients glutaraldehyde and quaternary ammonium compounds, variants of which are included on the EPA’s List N.
Research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine also found that women responsible for cleaning at home, or who worked as house cleaners, had accelerated declines in lung function, and long-term respiratory health was impaired 10 to 20 years after cleaning activities.
“[E]xposures related to cleaning activities may constitute a risk to long-term respiratory health,” the study concluded, with researchers stating that the damage to respiratory function for women cleaners was similar to smoking a pack of cigarettes every day for 10 to 20 years.
“The effect size was comparable to the effect size related to 10-20 pack-years of tobacco smoking,” they wrote — one “pack-year” is equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes (one pack) per day for one year. Other common symptoms that can occur from exposure to chemical disinfectants include nausea, eye irritation, and headaches.
Ramped Up Disinfecting a ‘Hazardous Proposition’
Health risks likely increase with increased levels of disinfectant exposure, making coronavirus disinfectants particularly risky due to the high frequency of application.
The EPA, in their guidance for cleaning and disinfecting public spaces and homes against COVID-19, recommends surfaces frequently touched by multiple people, such as door handles, desks, faucets, and light switches, be disinfected at least daily, with certain surfaces, such as shopping carts and sale keypads, being disinfected more often, including before each use.
“This is a hazardous proposition,” immunologist and allergist Dr. Claudia Miller told the news outlet. “Cleaners tend to go in with hugely toxic chemicals. We’re creating another problem for a whole group of people, and I’m not sure we’re actually controlling infections.”
Spraying Disinfectants May Be Especially Dangerous
Adding to the problem is the way some of the disinfectants are being applied. Using sprayers that aerosolized disinfectants is becoming increasingly popular during the pandemic, as it allows cleaners to cover far more space in a shorter period of time. Electrostatic sprayers also add a positive charge so the chemicals stick to surfaces.
Not only have the risks of aerosolized disinfectants not been explored, but most of the disinfectants on List N have not been approved for aerosolizing, misting, or fogging. Further, it’s likely that spraying the chemicals poses increased inhalation risks, as it generates micro-particles and possibly even smaller nanoparticles, which are absorbed into the body faster and in greater quantities than larger particles.
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) issued a health alert bulletin that fogging ambulances with toxic disinfectants may cause illness after four emergency medical technicians were diagnosed with work-related asthma.
“Fogging is not recommended in ambulances,” NJDOH warned, adding, “Often, the active ingredients are respiratory irritants and sensitizers and include chemicals such as, chlorine, phenol, quaternary ammonium compounds (“quats”), alcohols, or hydrogen peroxide compounds (listed in decreasing order of toxicity).”
The World Health Organization (WHO) similarly warned, “In indoor spaces, routine application of disinfectants to surfaces via spraying is not recommended for COVID-19. If disinfectants are to be applied, these should be via a cloth or wipe which is soaked in the disinfectant.” Despite this, industrial cleaning companies are moving to use spraying technologies once reserved for hospitals in school busses.
“If we can spray it in a Hershey’s food plant or at a hospital, we can certainly spray it on a school bus,” Bob Gorski, president of cleaning company Merrick Group, told Bloomberg. Around the world, clouds of disinfectant are even being dispersed into the sky via drones, even though experts have warned the practice likely is not effective and could be toxic to humans.
When it comes to chemical disinfectants, reducing your exposure is wise, especially if they’re being used in an enclosed space like a vehicle, elevator, or high-rise building with poor circulation. For times when cleaning is necessary, there are many natural methods available for cleaning purposes, as well as safer disinfectants like ultraviolet light. As it stands, however, the aggressive disinfection procedures being implemented in the name of COVID-19 could end up causing far more harm than good.
Avoid toxin cleaners and shop for all natural cleaners using essential oil bases including ones approved for COVID19 usage on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Portions of this Health Tip are from GreenMedInfo.
Celiac Disease Being Tied to High Toxin Levels
One new study that was led by researchers from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine discovered that elevated blood levels of the toxins found in fire retardants, pesticides, and nonstick cookware all were linked to a higher risk of celiac disease in young adults and children. Published in the Environmental Research journal, the study sheds light on the serious dangers toxic chemicals pose to us and our children.
DDEs significantly increase the risk of celiac disease in young people
Researchers discovered that it was dichlorodiphenyldichlorethylenes (DDEs) – which are pesticide-related chemicals – that were linked to a higher risk of celiac disease. Young adults and children with higher levels of DDEs in their blood had double the risk of being diagnosed with celiac disease compared to those with lower levels.
Additionally, the study found that there was a gender difference in the relationship between toxic exposures and celiac disease. Among females, who are more likely to have celiac disease than men, having a higher-than-normal exposure to pesticides result in them being eight times more likely to develop gluten intolerance.
In young females who had higher levels of PFAs – nonstick chemicals found in nonstick cookware, they were five to nine times more likely to end up with celiac disease. For young men, the findings were a bit different. Boys and young males who had high levels of fire-retardant chemicals had twice the chance of being diagnosed with celiac disease.
Avoid Pesticides and shop for Organic Foods (free of chemical pesticides and herbicides including glyphosate as well as free from gmos) such as meats, dairy, fruits and veggies, and all your grocery needs on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Portions of this Health Tip are from NaturalHealth365.
Glyphosate Linked to Increased Risk of Asthma!
A new study from Argentina, which used the methodological criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), has identified a relationship between environmental and residential exposure to glyphosate and the high prevalence of asthma in the small city of Monte Maíz in Argentina.
This study has a very unusual story, as it was started at the request of a group of citizens, led by the Mayor of Monte Maíz, due to their concerns about previously rare diseases becoming more prevalent in the city. The citizen group requested an evaluation of the health status of their local population from a research team at the Division of Medical Sciences of the National University of Córdoba (UNC), in which the researchers evaluated the health of the entire population through a door to door survey covering every household, alongside detailed environmental analysis.
The study was carried out in order to determine if there had been an increase in the prevalence of cancers, reproductive, endocrine and immunological problems, and asthma linked to a greater exposure to pesticides. The objective was to analyze the environmental exposure to pesticides as a risk factor for the above-mentioned diseases and to correlate environmental factors in order to develop a causality hypothesis.
The same researchers that carried out the asthma study have already peer-review published their results showing that both reproductive disorders and cancer rates in Monte Maíz have increased, which was correlated with the high exposure to glyphosate and other pesticides of the city’s inhabitants.
Asthma, Monte Maíz and Glyphosate
Asthma is the most commonly occurring chronic childhood disease in the world. According to the Global Asthma Report 2014 (GAR 2014), 14% of the world’s children and 8.6% of young adults experience asthma. Childhood asthma is particularly prevalent in Latin America, and the International Study on Asthma and Allergic Diseases in Children (ISAAC) has identified environmental contamination as a key factor in the region’s elevated rates of the disease.
In Argentina, asthma is a serious health problem, causing more than 400 deaths and 15,000 hospitalizations annually. As elsewhere in South America, rates of pesticide application have increased dramatically in Argentina since the mid 1990s. Genetically-modified crops (GMOs) covered an area of 25 million hectares in 2013 and 318,000 tons of pesticides were applied within the country’s borders, including 250,000 tons of glyphosate, in a region where about 12 million people reside. Doctors in the region reported a shift in the morbidity and mortality profile of rural populations. Along with other conditions, wheezing and asthma are now frequently detected.
This new study revelealed that at least 975,000 kilos of pesticides per year are applied in fields surrounding Monte Maíz, and concentrations found inside the city were several times higher than in the cultivated fields. Glyphosate was detected in 100% of grain dust samples and its concentration was 20 times higher than other pesticides.
The researchers continued; “Contamination with glyphosate in particular and with pesticides in general is predominant in the town. The burden of residential exposure to glyphosate is 13.5 times greater than the average burden of the national population, and within the city this burden seems to be even greater in certain areas where the grain dust impregnated with glyphosate is carried by the wind.
Interestingly the researchers discovered particularly high levels of glyphosate in the soil and grain dust found in children’s playgrounds in Monte Maíz, 2792 parts per billion (ppb) and 505 ppb respectively.
The overall asthma prevalence, in GAR 2014, for people 18-45 years-old is recorded at 8.6%, with Argentina coming in slightly below average. However, in Monte Maíz the asthma prevalence in this age group was more than double the average. In the 13-14 year old age group the prevalence of asthma was 39.9%, compared to the 13.6% that ISAAC detected in this same age group in 3 other Argentinian cities.
Confounding variables such as smoking, premature birth and direct occupational pesticide exposure were not linked to this comparably high asthma rate in the city the researchers found, after analyzing the data using a range of accepted statistical methods.
The conclusion of the study’s authors was that “the findings suggest a link between environmental exposure to glyphosate, and to a lesser extent, other pesticides, with high asthma prevalence.
Avoid Glyphosate and shop for Organic (free of chemical pesticides and herbicides including glyphosate as well as free from gmos) Foods such as meats, dairy, fruits and veggies, and all your grocery needs on your next visit to Whitaker’s Natural Market!
Portions of this Health Tip are from SustainablePulse.
