Opening Up to Health

If you've read any of my research, you know I think mercury as a neurotoxin is in part or whole the cause of Morgellons symptoms. For the nervous system to clean out, channels need to be opened and tensions need to be released.

Exercise good for internal flow include: yoga, tai chi, martial arts, and so on. Even simple stretches can help. Key is to move the body in ways it doesn't move regularly (to a point...and with care). A slow and easy start is best.

I like yoga as it is moving meditation (somehow it feels like I'm multitasking). I find it relaxing, enjoyable and I always feel better afterwords. I went to classes at one time, but discovered yoga card sets and found I could do the asanas on my own (of course it is better with a professional guiding you).

I recently went to a free yoga class (I was visiting a friend in NYC and wanted something to do while she was off on a bike trip) where yoga was combined with tai chi. The instructor told us to do a soft pounding rhythm about 2 inches below our belly button (connected to some important chi point?). Whatever the term for the point, it is a major area for nerves. I now do this light fisted pounding when I go trail running in the morning (I count to 100 pounds 5 times over a 1 hour jog). Does it help? I don't know...but I think it could.

The other exercise I learned in this session is something I'll call "bobble head". You simply bobble your head back and forth in a figure eight (think Stevie Wonder) while sitting upright. This should loosen up the nerves and muscles below the skull. You might try it and see what you think. I usually do this when I'm sitting in the sauna.

One of the purchases I made when I started to detox was a hand massager. It cost around $35 and I find it very helpful (I carry a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders).

If you can afford a professional massage or chiropractic alignment, I say go for it! I think once a month or even weekly would be great (someday, when my cash flow is back, I'd like to get these regularly again).

If you have thoughts or suggestions, please leave a comment. This is called Morg. Joe...but it's not about me...it's about everyone benefiting from shared knowledge. What is good for you may help out another.

Anger Hurts Us More Than Anyone

For myself, there was a great degree of anger when I first had the symptoms found in the Morgellons symptoms set. I was angry at my workplace (convinced I'd gotten parasites from the condemned school buildings or lack of cleaning), I was angry at the medical world...especially the medical practitioner I went to at first (who was annoyed that I kept coming back with new theories) and the dermatologist who laughed when he told me I had scabies (from his side of the room he said in his best twanglish, "There's a reason they call it the seven year itch" (Thanks, Mr. Professional!). So, I was angry at my surroundings, at the medical world (answers please!), and, honestly, at God (you know...I don't deserve this. Why me?...that kind of thing). Anyhow, my anger was minor to some of those who suffer.

Given what anyone with these symptoms goes through, I understand the anger. It is a very difficult, cruel, and frustrating condition! I do believe answers are coming...but it is difficult to have to continue to wait on the medical world (I know there are many good medical folk out there working on this...but the medical world, in general, still grasps thoughts of delusion and other falsehoods. It's time for a paradigm shift!).

One of the pieces of wisdom I've learned as a school teacher is anger is a form of defeat. I'd see some of the "old school" teachers on the reservation where I taught get angry, red faced and loud. Once you set that tone, the kids learn your buttons. From then on, they have the reins....and they are immune to your yelling. Teaching will happen...but (my opinion) it is minimally effective. These teachers tend to be the ones sitting at their desk and saying repeatedly, "Get to work". It's kinda sad.

Anger does seem to have an instantaneous gratification effect. Usually though, when I get good and angry without thinking it through...I find I regret it.

I like to use my anger in working out. I find I'm always in better shape and mind after a jog or long walk. Often I think things through and find a constructive means to express myself. It helps. Use your anger wisely and it may be a benefit.

Anger has a negative effect on our health. I know, as someone following the 12 Steps program, when I "make amends" it is much more for me than anyone else. "Forgive and you will be forgiven"...this I do believe. It may help to put your thoughts down on paper, talk to a friend, or whatever helps.

Focus on your health. If something/someone makes you angry, depressed or negative, it is best avoided. Part of getting over this condition is facing your demons high and low. And an attitude of gratitude doesn't hurt.

Help Yourself to Medical Research!

In a recent Mr. Commonsense blog entry, mention of thyroid and iodine level issues prompted me to take a trip to my new favorite medical research source- pubmed.gov(actually, my favorite medical research center open to the public is the Wellcome Center in London...but I can't always hop on a plane and head for merry olde England). I did a search of "thyroid and mercury"; there were 136 results (some of these are really interesting!). The entire search and scan of contents took me under a minute. The cost was free...and I found many studies out there connecting thyroid issues to mercury. Cool,eh!

If you do a pubmed.gov search on Morgellons, you will be disappointed. Today, I found 21 results. One new piece that caught my attention was the article titled "Intraoral Morgellons Disease or Delutional Parasitosis" by A.J. Dovigi from the Midwestern School of Dental Medicine (my spider senses are tingling...or maybe it's just my feet?).

Anyhow, it pays to be educated. Pubmed.gov is a reliable source for possible cause and cure of symptoms (at least it will give you something to talk with your doctor about). I'd suggest you take the time to do some searches under crawling sensations, fibers, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, and any other symptom you may be having. I've done some searches combining the symptoms I experienced and mercury; this is how I found mention of "scabies" as a symptom of extensive use of skin whitening creams (containing high levels of mercury).

If you find any interesting connections, be willing to share. We all benefit from it and all it cost is your time.

Do- It- Yourself Lymphatic Drainage

A key piece of cleaning out our bodies is getting lymphatic drainage. I included this as part of my protocol for cleansing from the beginning. I had a massage therapist not to far from my apartment in Scottsdale, so, at first, it was easy to get this done weekly.

When I moved to a remote setting for work, I found the nearest massage therapist, who knew how to do lymphatic drainage, was a two hour drive away. I asked her about self-drainage and she thought it was a good idea. If you can't get or afford a professional, you may want to take this do-it-yourself approach (and I'm hoping I can describe it correctly).

These directions are as I understand them. If you find a massage therapist in your area, it may be best to ask them. Anyhow, I'll try to share what I know.

For toxins in the lymph node to be expelled from the body, they must be guided towards the area above the heart or somewhere right around your belly button. I do this drainage while I'm in the sauna (clothing isn't an issue). I start by pulling from my mandible down the face...further down the neck...to the heart area (I do this 20+ times). The massage is gentle. The lymphatic system is just below the skin, so no need to attempt deep tissue. Next, I pull or slide down my arms, across my armpit, and again towards the heart (20+ times).

The lower part of my body is done similarly (though I pull or slide towards the belly button). First, I go up and down each side following the ribs towards the belly button (20+ times for each area). I do this to the left and right. Next I start down on my thigh go up through the groin and again pull towards the belly button area. The entire process takes 5-10 minutes. I suppose I could do more, but I think it is effective as is.

I hope this is helpful. I can have difficulty in trying to give directions (never ask me how to get from point A to point B). Make use of it if you like. I'm certain it could be improved on. I think to start you might try to do this every other day. I really don't know how to document the impact, but it should help in the detoxing. Good luck!

Twitching Feet

The base of my feet twitch on occasion. It happens primarily after a long walk and the end of the day when the temperatures are dropping. It is the most visible remaining Morgellons related symptom (I believe) I continue to have.

The physical sensations I had as documented in my account "Hell and Back Again" (found in Dec. issue of Explore 2008)felt like bugs crawling under or on my skin. This reduced, numbed and disappeared for approximately six months. As I continued to detox eventually I started to get twitching on occasion (at base of feet and spot on scalp that correlates with lowest scalp area when sleeping). It's not bad. I think it relates to nerve repairs.

The location at base of feet is significant. This is the area furthest out in terms of the nervous system. Mercury is extremely dense...making me think it would pool in the lowest points.

Note: While I've have some pretty active twitching lately, for some reason every time I tried to record it over the past week it was active...but not hugely.The twitching on this little video occurs on the side of foot (near the middle of picture) and not the base. Still, my foot video documents some.

Thanks for looking- Joe

p.s. Don't expect clean.

Say It Loud and Proud- Morgellons!

Last year my house was featured in Natural Homes Magazine's column "Can You Green This?"(see http://www.naturalhomemagazine.com/Green-Remodeling/Pennsylvania-Pick-Me-Up.aspx). My primary reason for taking a green approach in remodeling/ clean-up was to remove toxins. The article outlines what I planned to do. I followed through on my plans and over last fall cleaned up the place, insulated, rewired, and had the foundation repaired. Jessica, NHM editor, liked that I'd jumped on the projects,kept track of cost and wrote about my experience; she suggested a follow-up article. Tomorrow a professional photographer comes to record my humble abode.

What's this got to do with Morgellons? Hold on. A couple days back I had a long telephone conversation with Susan, NHM writer, and we talked extensively about my home and why I did what I did. Of course, she was noting everything.

"What was the medical reasons for cleaning up the place?" she asked.

"I had a condition called Morgellons."

"Morgellons?"

"Google it. It's pretty controversial." I could hear her fingers tapping on the keyboard and typing up my words.

She asked a good deal about the changes I'd noticed since I cleaned out toxins. Always the scientist, I let her know I couldn't quantify the effects (though I suspect there are ways to do this). I told her my mom had visited and said she could breathe better in my house and didn't wake up feeling "stuffed-up". Pretty anecdotal, but it's what I shared.

Later in the day, I emailed some thoughts on the article to Susan. I told her making an effort to get rid of toxins brought me a kind of peace. Peace is good for this condition (see yesterday's blog).

She has asked me several time, "Is there anything else I should include?". Thoughts. Reasons. Inspiration. I want her to mention Morgellons. In an internationally distributed magazine, chances are it will have impact. The less this condition is hidden, the less chomp it has. In fact I'm taking the approach of saying it loud and proud- Morgellons!

Sacred Space

In the very back of my yard, beyond the half-finished storage shed and hammock, is my sacred space. A labyrinth. It is simple made from bricks a friend gave me. It makes me think of Ireland and my Celtic heritage. It makes me feel connected. It is sacred space.

In my recovery from Morgellons symptoms faith and quiet-mindedness were more important than any protocol. My path was and is spiritual (Morgellons just a challenging hurdle to help me grow...as I've said before).

Physiologically, quieting the mind reduces the symptoms. My symptoms could be triggered by thinking about them (especially when I mentally scanned my body for them). I think in scanning subtle changes in body temperature occurred as blood flowed to those areas. Mercury expands and contrast according to temperature and slight change could start symptoms (crawling sensations). Anyhow, this scanning-temperature change-mercury movement-symptom's relationship makes sense to me as I look back. What matters here isn't the why but knowing quieting the mind quiets the symptoms. That's all.

A sacred space could be as simple as a pillow in the corner of a room, a warm rock to sit on under a tree, or just a quiet sit in a comfortable chair. Remind yourself of the words in the poem Desiderata, "You are a child of this Universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding as it should".