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Tuesday, January 22, 2013 The Parksville Qualicum Beach News
Business
We deliver The NEWS! Anthony Rodway Carrier
HEALTH
Non-chemical treatment option for psoriasis NEIL HORNER news@pqbnews.com
Qualicum Beach physician Andy Biro wants to shine a light on a heartbreaking condition. That condition is psoriasis, an autoimmune problem that leads to red, itchy and scaly patches of skin that can cover a little, a lot or even nearly all of the body. The light he wants to shine isn’t metaphorical. It’s real and, he said, it makes a very real difference to those who suffer from the condition. Psoriasis has no cure and Biro, who heads up the Elderwood Medical Clinic in Qualicum Beach, said traditional treatments for the condition can be tough on the patient. “People are either given topical therapies such as potent stereoids or expensive creams and ointments, or they can even take oral medications that are anti-cancer agents, which make you feel just terrible for a day or two a week,” he said. “Would you rather go through that or stand in a booth for a few minutes, a few times per week?” That booth is his UVB phototherapy unit, which bathes the sufferer in a special spectrum of ultraviolet light. It makes a difference. “For the last decade or so it has been noted that peo-
ple with psoriasis and certain other skin conditions like eczema get better in the summer time,” he said. “It turns out that part of the ultraviolet spectrum of a specific wavelength suppresses the autoimmune reaction that underpins psoriasis and people get improvement with exposure.” The ultraviolet spectrum of light, he added, is divided into two parts, UVA and UVB. “The UVA has the tanning capability, whereas UVB actually penetrates deeper and is usually the component of our sun’s rays that is responsible for burning,” he said. The treatment involves the use of one of two machines, a large, walk-in unit somewhat akin to an upended tanning booth and a smaller unit that’s designed to treat hands and feet — common sites for psoriasis outbreaks. “Psoriasis is the most common condition treated this way, but certain forms of eczema and other itchy skin conditions nad a smaller list of less common conditions are treated successfully with light,” he said. “Psoriasis makes up about 80 per cent of the treatments and eczema makes another 15 per cent.” The downside of the treatment, he said, is that it needs to be repeated as many as three times per week in the initial stages.
NEIL HORNER PHOTO
Dr. Andy Biro shows his new machine.
‘I do not want to be a brain cancer statistic’
I
was first alarmed by the naïve adoption of wireless technology in the form of cell phones. Because the microwaves emitted from such devices increase the permeability of the blood brain barrier, the health implications are staggering. Firstly, brain function can change rapidly due to this kind of alteration of brain biochemistry. Difficulty concentrating, mood disturbance and blood sugar fluctuations induced by microwave devices could be significant enough to disrupt day to day living, especially in those who are susceptible to anxiety, depression and attention deficit. Secondly, this leaky blood brain barrier effect means that heavy metals and other toxins, previously restricted from the brain, can now enter and remain in the central nervous system to wreak havoc repeatedly. As a chelation doctor, I do not view heavy metals in the brain as a good thing. Metals like mercury, for example, are lethal to neurons. Such brain damage is insidious.
That said, I am sure that ers will bear the brunt of whatI am not the only person ever costs are associated with who is unhappy about rehaving both systems running is clearly a bully tactic. ceiving a letter from BC By Dr. Tara Macart Over 1.7 million smart meHydro regarding the threat of an imminent change of ters have been installed since my electricity meter. While July 2011 across BC. Surely my attempt to stop the inwe have accumulated some evidence regarding the health stallation of a smart meter/ hazards of wireless technoltransmitter on my home and business is being recogy, haven’t we? Just because the radiation ognized as a mere delay, I emitted from smart meters am horribly disappointed to find myself being bullied by a monop- is invisible; it doesn’t mean it is benign. EMFs from cell phones, cell towers, Wioly corporation. This letter states that “BC Hydro has Fi, computers, smart meters and even a responsibility to ensure safe, cost ef- some appliances in our homes all confective electricity delivery to homes and tribute to electropollution that affect the businesses all around the province.” If body in negative ways. The stress inthis is true, why replace perfectly good duced by these EMFs disturbs the symfunctioning meters with a new untested pathetic nervous system and disrupts smart meter technology. cell function. Replacing every meter in the province According to the BioInitiative Workis no fiscally conservative move, I dare ing Group, reviewing over 1,800 scientific say. studies, evidence is mounting for the risks The implied threat that those dissent- to health due to electromagnetic devices
MEDICINE 101
(2012). This report links EMF exposure to many diseases; anything from insomnia to infertility, wireless technology has an unfavorable cumulative influence. We already know that the WHO classifies radiofrequency radiation, used in cell phones and Wi-Fi, as a class 2 carcinogen. This fact is supported by claims from Dr. Lennart Hardell (Orebro University, Sweden) who says that “there is a consistent pattern of increased risk for glioma (a malignant brain tumor) with the use of mobile and cordless phones.” He suggests that “the current public safety limits and reference levels are not adequate to protect public health.” I do not want to be a brain cancer statistic. I do not want to suffer neurological and psychological upset. I do not want to sacrifice my health. How about you? We all have to share this environment. Shouldn’t we keep it clean? We need to be certain that as we adopt new technologies, the incorporation of it into our lives does not cost more than we can handle.
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