Rethink Health - September 2008
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Mumps Protection? All Under Control
I often hear from parents wanting mumps protection for a child I saw 6-7 years ago. This is what I tell them.
MMR is only dangerous and ineffective because it forces the child to cope with three items at the same time, which in nature can only occur one at a time and two of which are a considerable challenge even then. Only about 65% of children are protected against all three items after one dose of MMR, which is why a second is necessary. A minority will begin a chronic measles infection of the bowel lining, the disease identified by Dr Wakefield and never yet refuted. This is not to mention the possible risk of regressive autism. Why raise the bar in this way? – there’s no good reason.
To defuse this harm and inefficiency we have only to arrange that the three novelties in MMR are introduced one at a time, as nature would. If rubella and measles vaccines are given singly, a later dose of MMR can only introduce one novelty – mumps. Subsequent doses of MMR at 10-year intervals boost protection against mumps - unnecessary extra doses (of measles, rubella in boys) do not matter.
We hope all children will have a chance to catch mumps, which is safe and more effective than vaccination up to the onset of puberty. We recommend MMR be sought at 9 for a girl, and 10 for a boy. Girls will need a further MMR in any case at 19 (to boost rubella), whether or not they caught mumps. Boys who catch mumps are finished with doses of MMR – no boost is necessary.
We still carry a small supply of mumps single vaccine for children reaching ten who reacted against MMR at one, and a few other unusual situations. We gather that supplies of mumps single vaccine will eventually fail since their manufacture will shortly cease. Don’t panic! As it happens, our policy solves the problem. No, it was not thought up to get us out of finding single mumps! – we had recommended this approach for years before mumps supply came under threat.
Mobile Phones: Where Do We Stand?
Our thanks to Dr Philip Michael of Irish Doctors Environmental Association for access to an analysis of recent studies on mobile phones. The language of the 20 expert analysts is a bit technical, but here are their conclusions.
· Electric fields from mobile receivers do penetrate the brain, more in children.
· Several biochemical results of this have been demonstrated
· Experience so far is not long enough to rule out serious lifetime effects.
· All in all, the fields and micro-waves associated with mobiles should be considered a health hazard.
· Don’t let children under 12 use mobiles incessantly.
· Use the speaker-phone mode – the further away you hold the receiver the less the emissions you intercept
· The best hands-free kit has an air tube for the last 20 cms, nearest the head. Bluetooth headsets and traditional hands-free wiring are less protective.
· “flight” or “off line” modes stop emissions, but “standby” does not.
· If you must carry the handset in a pocket, face the keypad towards your body.
· After making mobile contact, transfer to a landline on a cord for longer calls.
· Cordless landline phones also use microwave technology – limit their use also.
· Avoid using a mobile where the signal is weak, or when at high speed – the signal activity is automatically increased as the phone attempts to contact another mast.
· Text messages are safer
· Choose a mobile with the lowest possible SAR (specific absorption rate). Google this term for more information.
None of the expert analysts has given up using a mobile phone, so follow their example and don’t over-react. We think the gas dampening devices marketed by Techno-AO are worth using, but do not absolve you from other precautions.
Alexander Technique for Chronic Low Back Pain
It works, according to a recent BMJ paper from a group in Southampton. Of the alternatives tried, exercise and Alexander lessons were effective at one year, but massage wasn’t. Six Alexander lessons followed by exercise homework were nearly as effective as 24 lessons.
There’s been quite a controversy about this paper, but it makes good sense to me – particularly as six lessons are affordable. Finding a practitioner is the problem, but previous studies suggest yoga also works, which is easier to obtain. Chiropractic and osteopathy are also powerful approaches with much more to offer than your GP can muster.
But my daughter is an osteopath, so perhaps I would say that.