How can one address indoor air pollution? The newest air filtration technology is designed to improve the air inside a home in several ways, in fact there are four ways to remove airborne contaminants.

1. Trap: A filter acting like a screen, mechanically blocks and removes large airborne particles such as pet dander, dust, smoke and pollen - removing them from the air volume immediately.

2. Destroy: A Photo catalytic filter does the best job in destroying vapors, micro dust and breaking down odor molecules. Some air filters use ultraviolet rays in this stage which actually increases air pollution - so beware of these. The newest technology uses the available light in the environment.

3. Adsorb: (as opposed to absorption) is the process where particles adhere to the surface of an agent. Charcoal carbon is ideal for adsorption because its irregular shape offers a large surface area. Like a burr sticking to your socks, the particle attaches itself to the charcoal and stays there.

4. Attract: A copper filter can attract pollutants - rather like a magnet. It produces an electrical charge in the particles to make them adhere to the filter. This filter uses nanotechnology - containing ionized copper fragments, which are only one billionth of a meter in size! HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are an example of the “attraction”method of air filtration. HEPA filters were first developed for use with nuclear reactors and they are now used in medical operating rooms and laboratories. Cleaner air is only a part of the answer to the creation of a better environment.

For many years scientists have known that the healthiest human environ-ment is one full of negative ions. Ions are molecules with a charge - either positive or negative. Studies have shown the relationship between negative ions in the air and improved human comfort. High amounts of these ions are found in natural settings such as forests, near waterfalls or the ocean surf. Not all of us have the ability to spend daily time in nature, although those of us living in Southern Oregon have a better chance than many Americans due to our life responsibilities in our work and home settings.

There are systems on the market which generate negative ions, however, most commonly an unwanted byproduct - ozone is also produced. Ozone is an altered, unstable form of oxygen that the US Environmental Protection Agency classifies as a toxic gas and is very irritating to lung tissue. If you are evaluating any air filtration unit, be very careful about this - ozone is not healthy for any living organisms.

One last area should be discussed in considering the quality of the air you breathe -aromatherapy - a revolutionary approach to enhancing indoor air. Adding carefully chosen scent mixtures can help you relax and ease stress, or provide a feeling of stimulation. Human beings have long recognized that odors can influence mood, attitude, and even our sense of well-being. Adding the scents of nature to your indoor environment can enhance your feeling of well being. Clean, healthy, energetically correct and naturally occurring air should be surrounding us and nourishing the cells of our body without us having to be conscious of each breath. There is a patent pending air filtration machine now on the market which is available for residential use and includes each technology and feature discussed in this article. It is in an energy efficient, handsome, automated, self regulated machine with remote control. This machine is so quiet you won’t even know it is in the room. Weighing in at only nineteen pounds, it can be moved easily from room to room. The quality of your life depends on your environment and what affects this most? The air you are breathing, whether you are awake or asleep.

Please call me for information, I would enjoy sharing more.

Nancy Heyerman RN, BSN, CCRN ~~~~~~~~~ 541-773-1760
Advice Nursing & Integrative Health Consultant

Alternative Medicine to me is actually an ancient art that was lost to the Western world. Let us take a look at how a person with Hepatitis C would be approached and treated.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. This is a cascade of reactions to a foreign substance. In this instance we are dealing with a virus, a very tiny package of DNA that multiplies inside of our cells. In the process of our body trying to rid our body of the virus the delicate liver structure is gradually destroyed. If enough tissue is destroyed we begin to see its effects. This is chronic cirrhosis. Chronic hepatitis C may develop into cirrhosis in about 20% of chronic hepatitis C. Hepatitis C can turn chronic in up to 50% to 69% of the cases. Hepatitis C antibodies, which are used in testing, may take up to 12 months to become positive following exposure.

Hepatitis C is transmitted usually through contaminated blood, usually through transfusions, IV drug needle sharing, and I suspect it may be transferred sexually. It can also be transferred from mother to fetus. It is important to find out how we have contracted the infection. Once it is known that we have the infection we have to take care to not expose others to it. So we need to educate ourselves on the causes of hepatitis C. It is still a relatively new disease; therefore just when we think that we know everything there is to know we must update our knowledge base.

Again hepatitis is an infection and a state of inflammation that may become chronic. In medical terms this means that we do not know how adequately to treat this disease. There are experimental protocols out there, some more popular that others, but at best around 18% of cases benefit. This is a poor response. So what can we do?

First of all, we do not want to cause further damage to an inflamed liver. We need to take a look at the toxins we are consuming on a daily basis. The liver is an organ without which we cannot live. It is the detoxification center of our body. All our body fluids are filtered through the liver, which cleans our fluids the way a car's oil filter does. Like an oil filter, it can get dirty and clogged up.

Let us start by taking a look at our daily diet and our medications, both over-the-counter and prescription. Even the most innocent types of remedies may be sources of stress for your liver because this is where they are assimilated. The most common types are pain relievers such as Tylenol, Aspirin, Ibuprophen, Acetaminophen, and Naproxen. To make it easier, stop taking all over the counter remedies for now. They will only inhibit your recovery. That was easy!

Now what in the diet could cause stress to the liver? What do I mean by stress? Anything that will keep your liver enzyme tests elevated. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, coffee, black tea, cola, and chocolate, and sugar are important to decrease the stress load on the liver.

Beneficial foods are concentrated with fruits and vegetables because of their flavonoid compounds. Especially useful are soups with various green leafy vegetables.

Now that we have started to eliminate stress-causing substances, let us concentrate on the things that we can do to regenerate or heal the liver. Above I mentioned that the liver can become clogged up with mucous and debris or dead cells. We need to find ways to clean up the pathways or ducts. Our liver has two major pathways of assimilation known as Phase I and Phase II pathways. We can clean up Phase I but if Phase II is not also cleared we will not see the benefits of our efforts.

You may have heard of Milk Thistle or Silymarin. It works on the Phase I pathway. Use standardized extract (70-80%) 400mg twice per day (1/4 teaspoon 2x//day Omnivite nutrition Inc.). Can also use intravenously. Continued on OPJ Page 13