Page 86 - Spring2020
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Doctors      of underlying profit motives and irrational fear,   Those who promote vaccination also make

               have long      both of which have clouded the judgment of  the assumption that all infectious diseases are
                              vaccine manufacturers, public health officials  bad—but are they really? Doctors have long
            known that  and lawmakers. Among the numerous unfortu-     known that a bout with minor illness strengthens
            a bout with       nate consequences of these misguided policies  the immune system. This has not prevented pub-
           minor illness      are an upward shift in the age distribution of  lic health officials and the media from expound-
                              chickenpox cases from children (who generally  ing on the “dangers” of chickenpox, an illness
            strengthens  recover with no complications) to teenagers and  that was typically so benign that it did not even
           the immune         adults (who have higher complication rates),  become a nationally notifiable illness until 1972.
                  system.     as well as a painful shingles epidemic that has   Of course, the bottom line is that the deci-
                              shifted downward the age at which someone  sion to vaccinate should never be in the hands
                              gets shingles. Ironically, the FDA predicted  of doctors, educational institutions or the gov-
                              a potentially significant rise in shingles cases  ernment. It is the responsibility of every parent
                              prior to the chickenpox vaccine’s introduction  and individual to weigh the risk of the disease
                              in 1996 but said nothing when the CDC ignored  against the risk of vaccination side effects. We
                              its recommendation to monitor shingles rates  must remember that vaccination choice is a
                              closely. 21                              fundamental human right, and only with truly
                                 While some hail childhood vaccines—in-  informed consent for all medical interventions
                              cluding the chickenpox vaccine—as a victory  can we ensure that we live in a free society. Our
                              over disease, others argue that the multitude  bodies belong to us—and us only.
                              of vaccines given to children are causing huge
                              increases in chronic immune and brain dys-  Kendall Nelson is a documentary filmmaker
                              function. Currently, the CDC’s recommended  actively engaged in directing, producing and
                              childhood schedule includes sixty-nine doses of  distributing media that matter. With over twenty
                              sixteen different vaccines. Meanwhile, almost  years of television and film experience, Nelson’s
                              one in three children has an allergy,  one in  lifelong commitment is to bring about aware-
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                              six has a developmental disability,  one in nine  ness through her work, including advocating
                                                          50
                              has ADHD,  one in twelve has asthma,  one  health freedom, simple living and real food. She
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                              in thirteen has severe food allergies  and one  is a proud Idaho chapter board member of the
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                              in thirty-six has autism.                International Women’s Forum.
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                                              HOME CARE FOR CHICKENPOX
           Home remedies that may help relieve chickenpox symptoms and prevent skin infections include:
               •  Taking baths with baking soda or oatmeal
               •  Applying cool compresses
               •  Applying raw honey, diluted apple cider vinegar or a baking soda paste
               •  Using a homemade calamine lotion with bentonite clay, baking soda, sea salt and soothing essential oils
               •  Taking natural immune-boosters such as astralagus, calendula, echinecea, elderberry, garlic or vitamin C
               •  Drinking ginger tea several times a day
               •  Taking supportive homeopathic remedies (Aconite and Rhus Tox are common chickenpox remedies, but there
                  are many others depending on the patient and the stage of illness)
               •  Using diluted neem or diluted essential oils such as tea tree or lavender
               •  Consuming plentiful bone broth to reduce digestive demands and support healing
           Seek medical attention if any of the following symptoms develop: the chickenpox rash becomes tender, warm or very
           red; the rash has spread to one or both eyes; or there is vomiting, shortness of breath, dizziness, stiff neck, involuntary
           muscle movements or fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
               NOTE: Never use aspirin or aspirin-containing products to relieve symptoms of chickenpox. In children with
           chickenpox (or influenza), aspirin is associated with Reye syndrome, a severe and potentially fatal disease that affects
           the blood, brain and liver.

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