Friday, September 30, 2011

October is Agent Orange Awareness Month




October is Agent Orange Awareness Month

Here are some of the things you can do to create awareness:

  1. Get a badge on facebook to post to your profile and to your page.
  2. Add a widget to your blog or website [Look for the widget on the lower left side of the page.]
  3. Add a button to your blog or website. [Look for the button on the lower left side of the page.]
  4. Visit our FB page and choose any of the pics we have available in our AO Awareness photo album as your profile pic on any social network site, your blog or website.
  5. Spread awareness about Agent Orange by adding this profile pic badge to your FB profile.
  6. We also provide an additional badge which you can post to your FB profile.
    Significant numbers of Vietnam veterans have children and grandchildren with birth defects related to exposure to Agent Orange. To alert legislators and the media to this ongoing legacy of the war, we are seeking real stories about real people. If you wish to share your family’s health struggles that you believe are due to Agent Orange/dioxin, send an email to mporter@vva.org or call 301-585-4000, Ext. 146
  7. Follow Agent Orange Legacy's Blog.
  8. Check out Agent Orange Legacy's new website.
  9. AO Legacy's AO Awareness Education Campaign Parts I & II - If you are the child of a Viet vet you are at RISK!!
  10. Join Agent Orange Legacy's support community - Viet vets are welcome!!
  11. Urge your Senator to vote NO - NO on Senator Coburn's Amendment
  12. Like Faces of Agent Orange, contact Mokie Porter & tell your story.
  13. What Do You Know About Agent Orange Video - Share this please
  14. Check out the history behind why the month of August is also designated as Agent Orange Awareness Month by visiting Senator Susan Collins website.
  15. Pass on our Tribute Balloon and help us spread AO Awareness worldwide.
  16. Learn more about agent orange and birth defects visit BDRC.


Monsanto Lawsuits: New date set for Monsanto trial


Trial date for a class-action lawsuit against chemical company Monsanto has been reset for January.

The plaintiffs in the case are thousands of current and former Nitro residents who claim that Monsanto polluted their town during the days when it made the Vietnam-era defoliant Agent Orange at a nearby facility.
The lawsuit seeks medical monitoring for at least 5,000 -- and perhaps as many as 80,000 -- current and former Nitro residents.

Charleston lawyer Stuart Calwell alleges in the class-action case, filed in 2004, that Monsanto unsafely burned dioxin wastes and spread contaminated soot and dust across the town, polluting homes with unsafe levels of the chemical.

For more than 50 years, the former Monsanto plant in Nitro churned out herbicides, rubber products and other chemicals. The plant's production of Agent Orange created dioxin as a toxic chemical byproduct.
Dioxin has been linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities endometriosis, infertility and suppressed immune functions. The chemical builds up in tissue over time, meaning that even a small exposure can accumulate to dangerous levels.
The Source

Veterans Health Care - Research: ANN ARBOR: Non-verbal communication can affect medical care, U of M study finds


"Our findings show that both doctors and patients identified tacit clues involving the behavior or appearance of the other, but they were not always able to articulate precisely how these clues informed their judgments and assessments," said lead author Dr. Stephen G. Henry in a news release.

Tacit clues might include non-verbal behaviors such as body language, eye contact, physical appearance and tone of voice. Other factors, such as how frequently the patient was seen in the clinic, might also inform judgments.

One important study finding was that some doctors appeared to be far more conscious than others of the non-verbal messages they send to patients, said Henry.

One doctor was particularly attuned to how non-verbal communication spoke to patients, the authors note.

"In the future, we hope this method of recording and reviewing these types of interactions can inform interventions designed to improve medical decision making and doctor-patient interaction by providing a more complete understanding of the kind of signals upon which doctors and patients rely."

The Source

Veterans Health Care: DoD and VA pursue PCMH model


The concept of a “medical home” puts the new approach in perspective. Proponents believe that by giving the patient a portal to access his or her medical records and the ability to see tests results in real-time, schedule visits and ask questions of the medical team electronically, the PCMH will go a long way toward making the patient an active participant in his or her healthcare, rather than a passive observer.

But the idea has another side, too: It’s where the medical providers live. It becomes a central location, whether physical or digital, with the primary care physician as captain of the ship and a crew that can include physician specialists, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists and social workers coordinated to deliver not just better medical care but to change the course of healthcare from sick care to preventative care.

A team approach to healthcare has been proven to significantly reduce emergency room visits and hospital readmissions, which usually occur when there are gaps in care or a breakdown of communications, Grundy said.

The DoD and VA mission is to eliminate those holes.

What lies ahead? According to Grundy, the goal will be the use of even more sophisticated technologies like predictive analytics, which analyze and interpret patient data to catch negative health outcomes before they occur. IBM’s Watson, the Big Blue computer that beat human competitors in Jeopardy, is targeting healthcare in its ultimate deployment as just such a predictive analytics tool, Grundy said.

The Source

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Gulf War and Health: Treatment of Chronic Multisymptom Illness - Institute of Medicine

Gulf War and Health: Treatment of Chronic Multisymptom Illness - Institute of Medicine

Agent Orange Vietnam: Airport to be cleared of dioxin by 2015

Dioxin contamination at Da Nang Airport would be remediated by 2015, co-chair of the Joint Advisory Committee on Agent Orange Le Ke Son said at yesterday's press conference as the committee concluded its sixth meeting.

Teichman said the committee also discussed environmental efforts to remediate the Bien Hoa Airport in Dong Nai Province and Phu Cat Airport in Binh Dinh Province.

However, Dr. Son said the decontamination work at Phu Cat Airport would likely be done next year while comprehensive technical assessment of the decontamination work at Bien Hoa Airport had not been completed.

Son noted that the US government had continued increasing its financial commitments to deal with dioxin/AO consequences

The Source

Agent Orange Vietnam Veterans: Injured Vet Walking For Awareness

Cordova became disabled as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam, but he doesn’t let it slow him down.

“I don’t want the younger generation to go through some of the stuff that we’ve gone through as far as when I came back from Vietnam.
There was no program in place, no help available,” Cordova said. “Now, the V.A. has made a lot of progress, but they’re still behind.”
Cordova says he wants to make all veterans, young and old, aware of the programs and assistance available to them through the V.A. He also wants to encourage them not to give up on that help, even if the V.A. processes become lengthy or confusing.

Information on Cordova's work is available on his website, http://thebencordovafoundation.org/
The Source

Raising Awareness in Memory of Dad

Raising Awareness in Memory of Dad

Other Toxic Substances - TCE: EPA finalizes long-delayed TCE assessment - big step to protecting public health




Today EPA took an important step towards protecting the public and wildlife from trichloroethylene (TCE), a very hazardous mutagenic cancer-causing chemical that pollutes the nation’s water and air.

This much-delayed action is a triumph of science over special interest politics.

TCE is a chlorinated solvent used primarily for metal degreasing—most notably for jet parts—and is a widespread drinking water contaminant that is leaching from military bases and industrial sites throughout the country. In addition to cancer, TCE causes harmful effects to the central nervous system, kidney, liver, immune system, male reproductive system, and the developing fetus.

The 2001 EPA draft for TCE calculated that the chemical was 5 to 65 times more toxic than previously estimated, and classified it as "highly likely" to cause human cancer. It identified children as a susceptible population, and noted that co-exposure to some other chemicals may augment the toxicity of TCE.

The 2001 draft also triggered a decade-long firestorm of criticism from the chemical industry, the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy (DOE), which together are responsible for about 750 TCE-contaminated dump sites in the nation.

In the spring of 2007 the Bush Administration side-stepped the science by issuing a rule exempting the military and certain industries from laws that would put a limit on air emissions of TCE and other halogenated solvents. The exemption was challenged in court by NRDC and other environmental groups. The outcome of that process is still pending.

In 2009, the EPA staff again updated its still-draft TCE assessment, classifying TCE as carcinogenic to humans by all routes of exposure, based mainly on its high risk of causing kidney cancers, but also on Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and liver cancer.
It is the 2009 draft with minor changes that was finalized today and issued to the public as the new 2011 health assessment, to be used to set more protective clean-up standards and exposure limits across the country.

EPA (IRIS) - Trichloroethylene (CASRN 79-01-6)

ASTDR - Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry
Toxic Substances Portal Trichloroethylene (TCE)


The Source

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Turmeric, the Spice of Life for Agent Orange Victims: By Chris Crawford Herbalist 4 Vets

I know that there has been many things on the web and even a few articles posted here on Agent Orange Legacy about Turmeric. This is an amazing spice / herb that has a long history as a healing herb.

Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory herb used to treat diseases of the liver and to relieve inflammation. Laboratory tests have found that turmeric can potentially helps prevent new cancers that are caused by chemotherapy or radiation used to treat existing cancers.

Turmeric in the diet may help prevent the pain of arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis. The oil in the spice is as effective in relieving pain, under laboratory conditions, as equal amounts of steroids. The antioxidants in turmeric fight atherosclerosis by deactivating platelet-activating factor (PAF). This protein seals leaks in blood vessels by stimulating the growth of a protein "net" on which a cholesterol plaque can form.

Curcumin in turmeric helps prevent hardening of the arteries in people who have diabetes, and also helps stop the loss of protein through the kidneys. In the laboratory, the antioxidants in turmeric kill cultures of cancer cells from the skin, bloodstream, and ovaries. Curcumin may stop the action of a liver enzyme that activates environmental toxins into carcinogenic forms, and may be especially useful in deactivating the carcinogens in cigarette smoke and chewing tobacco (though the best thing for your health is to quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco). Turmeric in the diet increases your bodies ability to produce enzymes that digest fats and sugars, and stop cholesterol from forming
gallstones.

Turmeric prevents the release of histamine in the stomach and helps in counteracting food allergies and also fights gum inflammation by halting the action of a gene that creates irritant chemicals. As is the case with so many herbs, turmeric should be used in moderation. Too much turmeric used for extended periods of time may cause stomach distress. Women trying to become pregnant should limit their consumption of the herb, and it should be avoided entirely while pregnant.

Excessive use of turmeric should also be avoided in people with congestive heart failure. The curcumin in turmeric activates genes that deactivates cancer cells, but it also deactivates damaged cells in the heart.

As Agent Orange victims Turmeric should be in your daily diet and can be bought at practically every store that sells spices.

The things in this post are to inform and should not be used to diagnose or replace the care from your doctor. If you chose to use these herbs do so only after discussing it with your doctor. Abruptly stopping some medications can cause serious problems not excluding death.

Chris Crawford
Veteran / Herbalist

Agent Orange Parkinsons - Lohmann: Movers and Shakers live up to their name

howing their humor and humility, members called themselves "Movers and Shakers." They are, after all, afflicted with a movement disorder known mostly for its tremors.
But they have become true movers and shakers in the influential sense by their work on behalf of the new VCU Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Evaluation Center, which celebrated its grand opening last week.

Physicians who specialize in Parkinson's have come to believe a multidisciplinary approach is the best way to treat the disease, said Dr. James P. Bennett Jr., who serves as director of VCU's new center.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has pioneered such an approach at several of its medical facilities, including the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, but that care is available only to military veterans. (Here's something worth nothing: As veterans, Bryan and Reynolds can — and do — receive treatment from the VA program, yet they led the charge to establish the VCU center, which will serve a much broader population.)
The VCU center is open to all and offers access to a team of medical professionals including neurologists specializing in various aspects of Parkinson's treatment, a clinical neuropsychologist, a physical therapist and a speech-language therapist. Clinical research also will be conducted at the center.

The Source

Agent Orange Korea & Okinawa: Confronting Agent Orange – Analysis

Forty years after the Vietnam War, South Korea and Japan have been rocked by allegations about the use of the chemical on U.S. bases. A series of recent confessions by U.S. veterans has lent credibility to the allegation that a considerable amount of Agent Orange was illegitimately used and buried in both South Korean and Japanese soil.

South Korea and Japan are thousands of kilometers away from Vietnam, and neither country has any jungle within its territory. This makes it hard to fathom why the chemical might have been used.

The Source

Agent Orange Quilt of Tears - October 2011 - St. Cloud Florida


Agent Orange Quilt of Tears & Bringing Home the Wall

both on display 2011 October 1st & 2nd
Home Depot
St. Cloud, Florida
4560 13th Street

Visit Agent Orange Quilt of Tears website

Agent Orange Vietnam: The Aspen Institute, USAID and Public and Private Partners Commit to Help Disabled in Vietnam at the Clinton Global Initiative


At the 2011 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Aspen Institute, the Rockefeller Foundation, IBM, Hyatt Hotels and many other private sector donors, committed to provide assistance to address the challenges of the disabled in Vietnam, without regard to cause.

he US-Vietnam Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin, has created a comprehensive ten-year strategic Plan of Action that includes practical steps to expand humanitarian services to people with disabilities and their families, without regard to cause.

The Source

Veterans Health Care - Nellis Air Force Base Hospital: Nellis hospital pushes safety in wake of errors


A recent series of surgery miscues, including the death of a patient after a gall bladder procedure, at Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital prompted a stand-down safety day this week at the Nellis Air Force Base hospital.

"There's something going on at Nellis that is causing these type of events to occur," Hafter said Thursday.

"This is far above the national average for what's acceptable at a VA hospital. It is yet another example of inadequate care that residents of our community are being exposed to."

■ A wrong site blocked by an anesthesiologist in April.

■ An incision made on the wrong side of a bone in June that hospital officials said was corrected during surgery.

■ A lacerated vein during a June 19 procedure in which the patient died.

■ Two incidents of wrong sites marked but caught before surgeries in August.

■ A hearing device that was implanted this month in the ear a patient had requested but not the ear that a doctor had recommended.

Bright said with the new VA medical center expected to open next year in North Las Vegas, he is preparing for routine safety stand-downs, starting with weekly or monthly sessions with the new staff, to prevent wrong-site incidents.

The Source

Legislation 2011 - Camp Lejeune: Time to speak up for veterans, active military

Attention military personnel, active, retired, Reserve and Guard. Congress is in session, and we are on the chopping block.
On June 7, the Senate Veterans Services Committee voted to transfer Defense Department support funds for military and commissaries to the Veterans Affairs Department, where they would be used for the medical care and consequences of cancer victims among some 600,000 U.S. Marine Corps personnel and their families at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The water supply on base was contaminated from 1957 to 1988, attributed to "lax oversight."

However, this misguided approach will probably shut down military commissaries and exchanges; this action punishes military personnel worldwide, most especially young families, by about $3,500 a year.

All military personnel, including combat forces, reserves, retired will be affected in this coming budget. Not just equipment, but our pay, health care, retirement systems, manpower, will bear the brunt in the oncoming budget.

Please send me messages to our Congressional delegation. Contact the Retired Enlisted Association at www.capwiz.com/trea/issues/bills and/or the Military Officers Association at www.moaa.com.

The Source

No harm to mice testes from BPA in utero - insciences

No harm to mice testes from BPA in utero - insciences

Other Toxic Substances - pharmaceutical compounds: In First, Study Links ‘Intersex’ Fish with Drug Plant Contamination



A group of European researchers (Sanchez et al) report finding that up to 80% of bottom-dwelling fish species– a group commonly called gudgeons *– living downstream of a pharmaceutical plant had mixed male and female characteristics in their sex organs.

“This evidence supports the hypothesis that pharmaceutical compounds discharged in stream are involved in recorded endocrine disruption effects and fish population disturbances and threaten disappearance of resident fish species.”

The results form the two year study were published in the June 30, 2001 edition of Environment International (vol. 37) under the title: Adverse effects in wild fish living downstream from pharmaceutical manufacture discharges.

The Source

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Cramp bark for pain, Valerian for sleep: By Chris Crawford Herbalist 4 Vets

I would like to take this time to introduce you to two very powerful herbs. One is used to battle chronic pain the other is to help you get a good night rest. Both of these herbs have been heavily studied and can be found commercially. I would, however personally rather get them from a herbalist or a Health food store that deals with natural, herbal, organic and holistic items. I would never buy anything from someone or some place that is not trusted and thoroughly researched.

Because so many deal with chronic pain the first herb I want to talk about is Cramp bark Also know as Guelder rose, Black Haw, High Bush Cranberry Tree, Dog Rowan Tree, Viburnum, May Elder, King's Crown, and May Rose. For many of you that live in a Northern climate you probably have seen this tree growing and didn't even realize it.
Cramp bark, as its name suggests, is used to treat cramps and muscle spasms of all types. The bark is antispasmodic, astringent, and sedative. As a muscle relaxant it relaxes the intestines, and skeletal muscles. Cramp bark has been traditionally used by Native American and pioneer women to relieve menstrual cramps and spasms after childbirth and to prevent miscarriage. The herb is also popularly used in combinations to treat asthma and nervous tension. Cramp bark is commonly used to treat chronic pain as well as Fibro. This herb can be a very effective pain reliever when properly used and though many of the things here are related to women does not mean it isn't for men also as this is one of the staple herbs in my personal apothecary.
Cramp bark is essentially nontoxic, although taking large quantities of the fruit or leaf can cause diarrhea. Some people with sensitivity to aspirin may also have a sensitivity to cramp bark, so caution should be exercised.
This is a very effective herb and has minimal interactions with prescription drugs though like with anything it is best to consult a doctor before replacing your pain meds for a herbal alternative as stopping some prescription drugs cold turkey can cause severe problems not excluding death. This is something you can find in most natural health store or from a local herbalist. Cramp bark is traditionally made into a tincture (tincture is made by placing a herb into grain alcohol or glycerin).

The second herb I am going to talk about here is Valarian a very powerful herb to help you rest and in many cases sleep better. Contrary to popular myth, the modern drug Valium is not derived from valerian, and there is no relationship at all between them. Valerian root has a long history of use as a sedative in Western Europe, dating back to the time of Hippocrates. Originally native to Europe it is now common throughout North America. Valerian root is widely used in sleep aids and sedatives in various forms including teas, tablets, and capsules. Often, valerian is combined with other herbs traditionally known to promote sleep including hops, passionflower, lemon balm, chamomile, and lavender.
Valerian is traditionally made into teas, tinctures and capsules. Valerian can be combined with St. John's wort to increase its ability to reduce anxiety, or with hops and/or lemon balm to strengthen its sleep-inducing properties. Many people find the taste unpleasant and prefer to take it as a capsule or extract.
Valerian is a calmative and tranquilizer. Its properties have been known at least since the time of Hippocrates, and it was prescribed by the ancient Greek physician Galen for the treatment of headaches, insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, menstrual problems, nervous stomach, and hysteria. Clinical trials have confirmed the use of valerian for treating insomnia, especially the insomnia that accompanies menopause. The advantage of valerian over tranquilizers such as Valium and Xanax is that it reduces the time required to fall asleep, without a period of bedtime drowsiness and without creating a "hangover" or grogginess the next morning. Valerian has greatest effect in treating chronic insomnia, rather than short-term sleeplessness. It also soothes the digestive system and may prevent cramping caused by irritable bowel syndrome.
If you use valerian for several months and suddenly stop using it, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as headache, insomnia, racing heart, and general grouchiness, although rare. Reduce dosage of a period of about a week if you wish to discontinue using the herb suddenly. If you are aspirin sensitive there is a very good chance you will sensitive to Valerian as well.

The things in this post are to inform and should not be used to diagnose or replace the care from your doctor. If you chose to use these herbs do so only after discussing it with your doctor. Abruptly stopping some medications can cause serious problems not excluding death.


Chris Crawford
Veteran / Herbalist

Monsanto GMOs: Monsanto Has Released the Greatest Environmental Plague Ever says Robert Rowen, M.D.





In this video, Robert Rowen, M.D., co-author of “They Own It All (Including You!)”

Supplements and foods that needs to be in AO victims Personal Regiment : By Chris Crawford Herbalist 4 Vets

I am going to touch on a few supplements that should be used by everyone not just AO victims. The first is Super B complex Vitamins and can be bought at most all stores.
B-vitamins are required for the adult nervous system to function properly. Vitamin B6 helps prevent Parkinson's disease, seizures, depression, headaches and other neurological problems. . Other neurological problems can be prevented with vitamin B12 such as aiding the recovery of Bell's palsy. A dietary deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to marked neurological impairment such as walking disability, spasticity in the legs and arms and problems with the bowels and bladder. Vitamin B1 is necessary for normal cognitive function in the brain. so finding a Super B complex with these three are a key I could go on and on about the other B vitamins but I do not want to sound to clinical and am trying to keep this so everyone can understand.Remember one thing when doing the B complex Take only as recommended on the label because taking to much can cause more damage than good.
The next supplement can be bought at most places including Wal-Mart is called Selenium. The mineral selenium is vitally important to the body for proper functioning of the immune system and thyroid gland. Low selenium levels will contribute to pain, infection, and disease. Selenium deficiency is a known trigger for several different autoimmune diseases including thyroid disorders and psoriasis. Selenium deficiency also causes susceptibility to heart disease and to viral infections.
In the body selenium combines with protein molecules to form selenoproteins which is an important antioxidant enzyme that is essential for proper immune system function. Selenium's role for Thyroid health is also well known. In addition, selenoproteins help prevent cellular damage caused by free radical molecules. Free radicals are produced as natural byproducts of oxygen metabolism that are suspected of contributing to many chronic inflammatory diseases.
Not everyone likes to take pills and supplements so I am going to mention some of the foods you need to eat to get the B vitamins as well as Selenium.
Here is a list of some of the foods very rich in Vitamin B12 that you need to eat regularly. The primary function of this vitamin is to form red blood cells, but it's one of the major influences in the maintenance of an individual's health nervous system. It also aids in the normal function of the brain.
1. Clams, Oysters, Crab, and Salmon
2. Beef, Liver
3. Turkey and chicken
4. Cereals such as Kellogg's Special K or General Mills' Total Raisin Bran
Here is a list of foods rich in Vitamin B6. This vitamin helps to lower stress, decrease symptoms of PMS, treat depression, lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of dental cavities. It also aids in the maintenance of nerve health and brain function.
1.Meats such as Chicken, turkey, beef, and pork
2. Fish such as Cod, salmon, halibut, trout, tuna and snapper
3. Vegetables such as Bell peppers, spinach, baked potatoes (skin included), green peas, yams, broccoli, asparagus and turnip greens.
4. Nuts and seeds such as Peanuts, sunflower seeds, cashews and hazelnuts
5. Beans such as Chickpeas, lentils, soybean, and Kidney beans

Here is a list of foods rich in Vitamin B2. Vitamin B2 is concentrated in major organs: the liver, kidneys and heart. It helps process nutrients in the cardiovascular system and helps keep cells in good health.
1. Milk
2. Spinich
3. Eggs

Here is a list of foods rich in Vitamin B5. Vitamin B5 is what helps turn carbohydrates into energy, processing food into fuel. It supports the adrenal glands, helping humans to respond to high stress situations as well as the overall continual stress factors that most of us deal with every single day.
1. Sunflower seeds
2. Corn, Broccoli, and squash
3. Mushrooms

Many of the foods listed in the B vitamins contain multiple B vitamins so I listed them where they had the most of any given to keep from being repetitive.

Now lets get to the foods rich in Selenium. Selenium is required by the body for proper functioning of the thyroid gland, and helps protect against free radical damage and cancer.
1. Brazil nuts
2. Shell fish such as Mussels, Lobster, Shrimp, and Crab
3. Sunflower seeds
4. Liver
5. Bacon and pork chops.

By eating these foods and or taking the supplements on a regular basis you will find you are able to function better. These things will not cure you but they will help your over all health and ability to function. I would also advise you to try and purchase from and eat things grown locally when it comes to meats and vegetables.

The things In this post are meant to inform and should never be used to replace the care from your doctor. If you chose to use these herbs do so only after discussing it with your doctor. Abruptly stopping some medications can cause serious problems not excluding death.

Chris Crawford
Veteran / Herbalist

Friday, September 23, 2011

Some simple foods to help your body Fight cancer: By Chris Crawford Herbalist 4 Vets

There is many food you can eat that will help your body fight cancer. I will list a few here and go into detail about one of them that has had amazing results with fighting and in some cases actually curing some forms of cancer.
So first off I am going to talk about eggplant as it is being deemed a miracle cure for many forms of cancer. there is 2 ways to get the healing properties from the eggplant one is to eat it the second it to make an extract tincture. Since everyone knows you can eat eggplant and you can find 1000s of recipes online I am not gonna waste your time on telling you how to cook it and just deal here with how to make an extract. The purple dye in the skin of the eggplant is what you want so the next few paragraphs will be on how to make the extract .
There is 2 common forms of making an extract one is with grain alcohol (I personally use 100proof vodka) or glycerin. You will need 4 items to make your extract.
1. an eggplant 1lb or larger
2. one pint grain alcohol or glycerin
3. a quart jar with lid
4. a potato peeler or knife to peel the eggplant with
First thing you want ot do is peel the eggplant try to get as close to the skin as you can with minimal white inner left on it. Once you have the eggplant peeled place the skin into the quart jar and pour the vodka / glycerin over it and put in a cool dark place for 3 to 4 days or till the liquid is purple. Now that you have made the extract leave the skin in the bottle and strain off as needed. You will want to take 1tbsp 2 to 3 times a day.
The purple dye in the eggplant has been proven to cure many forms of cancer and slow the growth of many more. This may not cure the forms some of the readers here may have but it will still help slow things down.
Now lets talk about some of the other cancer fighting foods there in 27 of them that are commonly used to fight cancer but I am only gonna talk about a few of the more common in this post.
Broccoli sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage all contain properties that fight free radical cells and help aid preventing cancers such as colon and rectal. The best of these three is broccoli spouts usually the more bitter they are the better they are for you, though mature broccoli has the same properties it is about 20 times less than what is found in the sprouts.
The next food you want to add to your diet is carrots. Carrots contain beta carotene and helps prevent lung, stomach, mouth, throat, intestinal and breast cancer. It is important to eat the carrots raw as cooking them will destroy the healing properties. Studies have shown that eating carrots will slow the growth of cancer cells.
The last thing I want to touch on here is mushroom such as shiitaki, miitaki and reishi. these mushrooms help the body fight cancer cells and build the immune system. These mushrooms produce a protein called lectin that attacks cancerous cells and prevents them from multiplying.

I could go on and on about foods and things you should eat but for now I think this is plenty for you to chew on. Happy eating and may your health and quality of life improve.

The things in this post are to inform and should not be used to diagnose or replace the care from your doctor. If you chose to use these herbs do so only after discussing it with your doctor. Abruptly stopping some medications can cause serious problems not excluding death.

Chris Crawford
Veteran/ herbalist

My name is Chris Crawford I am a herbalist and a new author for Agent Orange Legacy

I am writing this to introduce myself to the Agent Orange community. I am a Gulf War and OIF veteran. I served just over 7 years split from 1989 to 1991 then again from 2004 to 2008 with two trips to Iraq. As a combat veteran I have been diagnosed with TBI, PTSD, Gulf War Syndrome and a long list of other medical issues. While I was still in the Army and for almost a year after I got out I was on 18 pills mostly narcotics for pain that took me almost a year to wean myself off of. The purpose of me writing on this Blog will be to help those who want a safer more natural way to treat them self and to help people learn ways to use herbs in place of medications.. I am not a doctor and anything I suggest and talk about should be discussed with your doctor before starting so not to cause drug interactions. Many of the things I will talk about on here will be to help general heath and to boost the body naturally and safely and if there is any concern about taking with medications I will make sure and note (should be discussed with your doctor before taking).
My father served in the Navy during the end of Vietnam so Working with those with Agent Orange and to be asked to write for this Blog is something I consider a privilege . As a veteran I find myself feeling obligated to share my herbal knowledge to my fellow vets so that they can also enjoy a better drug free quality of life. I currently do not have a blog or a web page, baby steps is where I am at and working here for you is a good start for me. In time I hope to have my own web page and blog but till then you can find me on Facebook and Google+. Links to my profiles are below.



I look forward to getting to know all of you and helping you gain a better quality of life through herbs.

Chris Crawford
Veteran / Herbalist

Monsanto GMOs: Monsanto or Organic? Who to trust with your food [infographic]

Fill in the blank _____________


In putting together this infographic (I have a larger version of the image if anyone wants it) it struck me that nearly all of the Monsanto endeavors I chose to highlight here, rode the same wave of public opinion. In regards to nuclear weapons, DDT, PCBs, Agent Orange and aspartame the talking point was that each was beneficial to America/Americans. It wasn’t until time (life’s best teacher) taught us that these were all highly toxic and deadly endeavors with the same two outcomes. People got sick/died and Monsanto got rich.

I am confident that GMOs will (eventually) follow suit.

The Source

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Agent Orange New Jersey: Resident headed legal team in river pollution case victory



Judge Sebastian P. Lombardi, who presides in Essex County, ruled this past July that Occidental Chemical Corp. is responsible under state law for cleanup costs associated with pollution caused by the former Newark manufacturing plant, Diamond Alkali/Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Corp., according to a press release from the state's Department of Environmental Protection. Occidental Chemical Corp. acquired and merged with Diamond Alkali/Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Corp. in the 1980s.

"This ruling marks an important step in the long history of cleanup of contamination that has severely harmed the lower Passaic River and deprived the public of safe enjoyment of this resource for decades," stated DEP Commissioner Bob Martin in the press release.

According to reports, Diamond Shamrock/Diamond Alkali operated a pesticide and herbicide manufacturing plant on Lister Avenue in Newark from 1951 to 1969 that polluted the river with an extremely toxic form of dioxin that resulted from the production of Agent Orange — a defoliant that was used during the Vietnam War — along with DDT and other chemicals.


The Source

AO/Dioxin Birth Defect Research: Fetal origins: How adult disease risk takes shape before you are born


A variety of pollutants appear capable of programming fetal metabolism to increase the risk of adult-onset disorders.

Michael Skinner of Washington State University and colleagues found that fetal exposure to high doses of the widely used fungicide, vinclozolin, produces lasting changes in the way genes are turned on and off in rats.
The changes reduced the fertility of male rats. They also made offspring more likely to develop tumors and kidney disease. Affected males passed the changes on to their offspring. Further studies showed that high doses of dioxin, jet fuel, and the plastic chemicals BPA and phthalate induced the same changes in fetal rodents.
Skinner said that each agent caused a distinct pattern of changes in genes turned on and off, so distinct that it might prove possible to determine whether a baby was exposed to the substance during development.

The Source

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Monsanto GMOs & Roundup ResearchMore GM crops in Puerto Rico: Why We Should Worry


What's wrong with all this? GM products are the subject of a worldwide heated controversy, whose participants include doctors and scientists as well as peasant movements, international organizations and political leaders, and has led to arrests, violent repression and persecution against scientists that have dared to contradict the official discourse on biotechnology. Since the 1990's this debate has produced numerous books, television and newspaper reports, documentaries (both short and of full-length), scientific symposia, contentious international negotiations, and even protest marches and civil disobedience.

These GM crops do not yield more than their conventional non-GM counterparts, they are not more nutritional, and do not use less toxic agrochemicals. The majority were altered to be immune to a herbicide called Roundup, a product of Monsanto, and they are thus known as Roundup Ready. The rest produce their own pesticide, and are known as Bt crops. This soy and corn are used to make, among other things, flour, starch, cooking oil, high fructose corn syrup, biofuels and feed for the farm animals that give us meat, eggs and dairy.

When we say genetically modified we mean an organism whose genetic code, or genome, has had foreign genes inserted into it through genetic engineering. The process of genetic engineering tears down cell barriers in order to make genetic combinations that would have never happened in nature, and it's used in food and agriculture since the 1990's. There are actually tens of millions of hectares of farmland planted with GM crops in the world, the great majority of them in only four countries: the United States, Canada, Brazil and Argentina. Almost all these GM crops are soy and corn. The rest are mostly cotton and canola.

Ituzaingo is a population surrounded by soy fields that are systematically fumigated. The spray from these fumigations arrives at the doors of the houses.”

In 2008 Chemical Research in Toxicology published a study by Gilles-Eric Seralini, a French specialist in molecular biology and professor at the University of Caen, which indicates that Roundup is lethal to human cells. According to Seralini's research, doses far below those used on soy crops cause cell death in a few hours. “Even in doses diluted one thousand times, Roundup herbicide stimulates the deaths of human embryonic cells, which could cause deformations, miscarriages, hormonal, genital and reproductive problems, as well as different types of cancer”, Seralini told Argentine newspaper Pagina 12.

“He also emphasized that in solutions of between 10 thousand and 100 thousand times more diluted than in the commercial product it no longer killed cells, but it blocked their production of sex hormones, which could provoke in fetuses difficulties in the development of bones and of the reproductive system. He alerted about the possibility that the herbicide could be an endocrine disruptor, and called for new studies.”
Biotechnology companies assure us that the toxin secreted by Bt crops is harmless to human beings and that it dissolves in the human digestive system. Today we know both statements are wrong.

Bt toxin was found in the blood of pregnant women and their fetuses, as well as in non-pregnant women, by doctors at Sherbrooke University Hospital in Quebec. Specifically, the study determined that the toxin was present in 93% of 30 pregnant women, in the umbilical cord blood of 80% of the fetuses, and in 67% of 39 non-pregnant women. The study has been accepted for publication in Reproductive Toxicology, a peer-reviewed journal.

Research funded by the Italian government published in 2008 found that laboratory rats fed with Monsanto's Bt corn had abnormally high IgE and IgG antibodies, something that is typically associated with allergies and infections. They also had elevated levels of interleukins, which is associated to various diseases in humans, from rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis to multiple sclerosis and Lou Gehrig's. The animals also had abnormally high levels of T gamma delta cells, which is what happens in cases of asthma, childhood food allergies, and juvenile arthritis.

The Source

Veterans Health Care - Research: Computers Reading Doctors' Notes? VA Study Finds Significant Benefits to Patients


With electronic health records, computers have proven their worth in tracking, sorting and displaying data. A new study by research from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) showed computers that scan doctors' notes can reduce dangerous complications after surgery.

The study relied upon a Google-like technology called "natural language processing." It examined the complete text in medical records -- especially doctors' notes -- to pick up clues for possible post-surgery complications.

Looking at the records of about 3,000 VA patients between 1999 and 2006, the technology was able to dramatically increase the automated detection of complications such as acute renal failure, deep vein thrombosis, sepsis and pneumonia after surgery.

The Source

AO & Natural Healing - Herbs are special

AO & Natural Healing - Herbs are special

Veterans pack up after reminiscing at reunion

Veterans pack up after reminiscing at reunion

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

AO & Natural Healing - Sprout People

AO & Natural Healing - Sprout People

AO & Natural Healing - Sprouted Buckwheat is Simple and Delicious

AO & Natural Healing - Sprouted Buckwheat is Simple and Delicious

Agent Orange Korea: SGT. SHAFT: Vet asks where to find list of units exposed to Agent Orange

Dear Sgt Shaft:

Where can I find a list of units presumed exposed to Agent Orange while in service in Korea? Thanks

Larry A.
Via the Internet

Dear Larry:

Veterans who served in a unit in or near the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) anytime between April 1, 1968, and Aug. 31, 1971, and who have a disease VA recognizes as associated with Agent Orange exposure are presumed to have been exposed to herbicides. These veterans do not have to show they were exposed to Agent Orange to get disability compensation for these diseases.

The Source

Gulf War Illness - Research: Army-Funded Study Links Gulf War Illness to Pesticides and More



(Beyond Pesticides, September 20, 2011) A study supported by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command links pesticide exposure and other factors to Gulf War illness (also referred to as Gulf War Syndrome), an illness characterized by a wide range of acute and chronic symptoms experienced by veterans and civilians after the 1991 Gulf War. The study, “Complex Factors in the Etiology of Gulf War Illness: Wartime Exposures and Risk Factors in Veteran Subgroups,” is published in the September 19, 2011 online edition of Environmental Health Perspectives.

The researchers designed the study to compare the characteristics of deployment and the risk factors experienced by veterans participating in various theaters of the Gulf War. Among personnel who were in Iraq or Kuwait, where all battles took place, four exposures were independently associated with GWI: taking PB pills, being within one mile of an exploding SCUD missile, using pesticides on the skin, and exposure to smoke from oil well fires. For veterans who remained in support areas, GWI was significantly associated only with personal pesticide use, with increased prevalence (OR=12.7, CI=2.6-61.5) in the relatively small subgroup who wore pesticide-treated uniforms, nearly all of whom also used skin pesticides.

Among 64 pesticide products used during the Gulf War, the “pesticides of concern” identified by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) include permethrin, a synthetic pyrethroid used to impregnate fabrics that persists through multiple launderings, as well as the insect repellent DEET (N,N-dimethyl-m-toluamide) and lindane powder, an organochlorine used in delousing enemy prisoners of war and provided to some troops for personal use. All of these active ingredients are registered for use by the general public today.

Lindane is used by prescription to treat lice and scabies. Lindane is a neurotoxic insecticide linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive effects and organ damage. Permethrin is registered for use in mosquito control, including mosquito-treated outdoor clothing, home insect control, and in agriculture. It is a neurotoxic insecticide linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive effects, and organ damage. DEET is a commonly used mosquito repellent, which is quickly absorbed through the skin and has caused effects including severe skin reactions, including large blisters and burning sensations. Laboratory studies have found that DEET can cause neurological damage, including brain damage in children. Previous studies have shown synergistic effects that induce symptoms similar to Gulf War illness through combined exposure to both DEET and permethrin, a likely combination in real-world scenarios because of their use in mosquito control.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs describes Gulf War illness as a prominent condition affecting Gulf War Veterans with symptoms that include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems. According to the National Academies, approximately 250,000 of the 697,000 veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War are afflicted with enduring chronic multi-symptom illness.

Read past coverage of studies linking pesticide exposure to Gulf War illness: recent articles and older archived articles: 10-18-2004, 5-1-2003, 3-19-2003, 4-17-2001, and 1-16-2001.

http://www.beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/?p=6010

Monsanto's GMO Corn - TAKE ACTION: Tell U.S. food companies: Americans don't want Monsanto's GMO sweet corn in our grocery stores!

Right now, Monsanto, the corporation responsible for producing roughly 90% of genetically modified seeds around the globe, is working to bring their new, GMO sweet corn to a grocery store aisle or farmer's market near you.1

Unlike Monsanto's other GMO crops — which are primarily fed to animals — this sweet corn is intended for direct human consumption.

This is the first time Monsanto has engineered a vegetable that could be served straight to your dinner table. And if this unlabeled, and potentially toxic crop succeeds, Monsanto is sure to bring us even more.

As an activist and consumer, you are in a powerful position to pressure leading U.S. grocery stores to reject Monsanto's new GMO corn.

Tell U.S. food companies: Americans don't want Monsanto's GMO sweet corn in our grocery stores! Click here to automatically sign the petition.




The Source

Agent Orange treated mountains burn, sending smoke into Arizona communities

Agent Orange treated mountains burn, sending smoke into Arizona communities

Monsanto Super Weeds - Analysis: Super weeds pose growing threat to U.S. crops

IMAGINE

Nelson's struggle to control crop-choking weeds is being repeated all over America's farmland. An estimated 11 million acres are infested with "super weeds," some of which grow several inches in a day and defy even multiple dousings of the world's top-selling herbicide, Roundup, whose active ingredient is glyphosate.

The problem's gradual emergence has masked its growing menace. Now, however, it is becoming too big to ignore. The super weeds boost costs and cut crop yields for U.S. farmers starting their fall harvest this month. And their use of more herbicides to fight the weeds is sparking environmental concerns.

"Most of the public doesn't know because the industry is calling the shots on how this should be spun," Mortensen said, professor of weed and applied plant ecology at Penn State University, who has been helping lobby members of Congress about the implications of weed resistance.

At the heart of the matter is Monsanto Co, the world's biggest seed company and the maker of Roundup. Monsanto has made billions of dollars and revolutionized row crop agriculture through sales of Roundup and "Roundup Ready" crops genetically modified to tolerate treatment with Roundup.

But the system has also encouraged farmers to alter time-honored crop rotation practices and the mix of herbicides that previously had kept weeds in check.

The Source

VA OFFERS FREE FLU SHOTS FOR VETERANS - TheCypressTimes

VA OFFERS FREE FLU SHOTS FOR VETERANS - TheCypressTimes

VAMC - Dayton VA Clinic: New report out about dirty dentist at Dayton VA clinic


A 3,000 page study was released on Monday in the so-called dirty dentist case at the Dayton VA Center.

U.S. Congressman Mike Turner was in Dayton to release the findings of the study. It comes after several veterans who were patients at the VA Clinic, tested postive for Hepatitis-B.

A preliminary report came out in April and suggested that a former VA dentist had not properly cleaned his instruments between patients when he worked at the Dayton VA Center. The report called on VA officials to offer testing to all veterans who could have become sick because of the unsanitary practices.

Monday's report demands even further testing. It was authored by experts from the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, the Kettering Health Network and experts provided by Congressman Mike Turner.

The Source

Veterans pack up after reminiscing at reunion

Veterans pack up after reminiscing at reunion

Agent Orange New Zeland: Battler for veterans denied payout


Bev Christie has been fighting Veterans' Affairs for two years for a $25,000 ex gratia payment she believes she is entitled to.

Bev Christie's husband, Sam, died in November 2009 of a combination of diseases, some of which were recognised by Veterans' Affairs as attributable to his military service in Vietnam.

Sam Christie's death certificate did not say he died of chloracne, he said. "We were not able to make a decision that she wanted on the facts of the case."

Bev Christie said there used to be the benefit of the doubt for veterans before Ottaway took over the administration of Veterans' Affairs. She had received no help from Veterans' Affairs after her husband's death, she said.

"I don't care if I don't get the money now, as long as it wakes people up to the fact of how widows are being treated.

"Until you are actually a widow yourself, you don't realise how much they are left out ... it's like we're just expected to forget and go away," she said.

The Source

Other Toxic Substances - Burn Pits: Burn pits' role in troops' array of illnesses fans concerns at VA


"It took 20 years for the military to admit that some of the warfare was dangerous to our soldiers and they were going to have long consequences years later," Bugay said, citing Vietnam War veterans sickened by the defoliant Agent Orange. "I'm afraid that's what's going to happen to our Iraqi veterans and Afghanistan. It'll take them forever to figure out that these (burn pits) are contributing factors to these illnesses."

The government, though, is moving faster. After a congressional hearing in 2008 raised concerns, the Defense Department closed all burn pits in Iraq last year, and spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told the Tribune-Review that by the end of this year, it will close burn pits at Afghan bases with more than 100 Americans who have been there for at least 90 days.

"We continue to be concerned about the possibility that airborne sand, dust and burn pit smoke in Southwest Asia may pose a health risk to our service members," R. Craig Postlewaite, director of Force Readiness and Health Assurance for the Pentagon, wrote in an e-mail.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has commissioned the Institute of Medicine to conduct a study for release this fall to determine whether Bugay's cancer and the illnesses of perhaps thousands of other veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan are linked to exposure to the burn pits.

"There's been a better response than with Agent Orange," said Susan L. Burke, a Washington attorney who is lead counsel in a lawsuit against the contractors who ran many burn pits. "You won't see a knee-jerk denial of the problem."

The VA also is conducting the National Health Study for a New Generation of U.S. Veterans, which includes 30,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. The study examines an array of health effects, including exposure to smoke from burn pits.

The Defense Department acknowledges that the dry, dusty desert conditions as well as the inhalation of burn pit smoke can cause mild, acute respiratory symptoms, Postlewaite said. But, he continued, the military has not found any increased incidence of neurological conditions, cancer, depression or heart disease that can be linked with sand, dust or smoke exposure.

Bugay's doctor, James M. Rossetti, associate director of the cell transplantation program at the Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute, said her cancer often results five to 10 years after exposure to environmental toxins like benzene. Usually, he said, the disease befalls people in their 70s or 80s — not age 50.

"The most likely scenario is that she had some kind of toxic exposure, and it seems reasonable that the military service contributed to this," said Rossetti, an oncologist who specializes in blood disorders.

The Source

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Agent Orange Okinawa: US Military Defoliants on Okinawa: Agent Orange

This image is compliments of Agent Orange Okinawa (AOO)
With fresh revelations coming to light on a regular basis, this is still a rapidly developing issue.
However in this paper, I will attempt to unravel the situation as it currently stands. Starting with a brief overview of the role of Okinawa during the Vietnam War and the military’s use of defoliants during the conflict, I will then explore the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rulings of 1998 and 2009 that appeared to offer official recognition of the presence of these defoliants on the island. Following this, I will summarize US veterans’ accounts of their experiences handling these defoliants on Okinawa - including their transportation, storage, spraying and burial. In conclusion, I will assess the obstacles that these veterans and Okinawan residents face in winning an admission from the Pentagon - plus possible signs of hope that, while difficult, such an acknowledgement is achievable.

But as Vietnam War journalist, Philip Jones Griffiths, describes, “the use of herbicides was not confined to the jungles. It was widely used to suppress vegetation around the perimeters of military bases and, in many instances, the interiors of those bases.”7 Fred A. Wilcox makes a similar point when he writes, “base perimeters were routinely sprayed.”8

This localized spraying was conducted by GIs without the protection of even basic safety equipment since it was not until the late 1970s that the general public became aware of the toxicity of the dioxin contained in these defoliants. Throughout the 1960s, the manufacturers, Dow and Monsanto, repeatedly suppressed memos related to the dangers of their products.9 Furthermore in 1969, the US military, despite suspecting the risks as early as 1967, continued to assure its personnel that “(Agent) ORANGE is relatively nontoxic to man or animals. No injuries have been reported to personnel exposed to aircraft spray.”10

Veterans Speak Out

On April 12th, 2011, The Japan Times published my article, based upon the testimonies of three US veterans, titled “Evidence for Agent Orange on Okinawa.”22 James Spencer, a longshoreman, described the unloading of hundreds of barrels of Agent Orange at Naha Port and White Beach. Joe Sipala, an Air Force sergeant stationed at Awase Transmitter Site, explained how he regularly sprayed the defoliant around the base in order to kill weeds. Lamar Threet, a medic on Camp Kue, explained how Agent Orange was used on the installation - including an incident where a service member was drenched in defoliants when a barrel tipped over. Accompanying the article was, for the first time, a photograph of a drum of Agent Orange on Okinawa.

The Source

From the edge of death to rehab: A soldier fights back


Eilers and two other Iowa Guardsmen were injured when a Taliban bomb shattered their truck. Eilers got the worst of it, suffering a serious brain injury, two spinal fractures, a broken leg, a broken elbow, a collapsed lung and a destroyed spleen. His heart stopped in the days after he was injured, and it took medical staff 12 minutes to resuscitate him. He was unconscious or close to it for nearly three months. After he awoke, he had to relearn how to walk and talk.

Eilers was still unconscious when he arrived March 7 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. His mother, Kathy Eilers, will never forget the scene. “It didn’t look like Adam. He was so swollen. He had tubes everywhere, and bandages. It made me sick,” she said. “He doesn’t really understand how far he’s come from where he was. I don’t know how to describe it to him.”

She took no pictures, because she didn’t think he’d want to see how terrible he looked. Now, they both wish she had pulled out the camera.

Kathy Eilers said her son was “always our little soldier-boy.” All he ever wanted was to be in the Army, so she signed the papers letting him join the Guard at 17. He served a peacekeeping stint in Kosovo, and he could have chosen to leave the service instead of going on the Afghanistan deployment. But his friends were going, and there was extra money to be made, so he volunteered to go. He has no regrets.

The Source