Nutmeg & Formaldehyde

Did your mother keep nutmeg in her kitchen? Mine did. Thanksgiving and Christmas meant custard pie for my father. Looking at the recipe for these pies, you'll see that most call for 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg. That's fine if you're baking a pie meant for six or eight people, but did you know that from two to three teaspoons of nutmeg consumed at one sitting can be fatal? If you're wondering why anyone would ingest such an amount, nutmeg has hallucinogenic properties.

Yes, it's all a matter of amount - just like formaldehyde. Take a good look at the graphic above. Not giving up custard pies or pears, are you?

So the next time anyone makes ignorant remarks about "embalming fluid" being in the vaccines your children take, be sure to mention nutmeg and pears. You might want to throw in that 5,000 milligram teaspoon compared with the .8 milligram of total formaldehyde in vaccines. Just stand back in case they spit as they sputter.

Nurse Nan

Yes, You Can Legally Buy Hypodermic Needles, But...

A reader recently asked if one needed a prescription to purchase hypodermic needles in Alabama. The answer is "no," but the limit is usually 10, and a pharmacist may refuse if he feels such a purchase could be dangerous to the customer. 

If you would like more information about these type sales, here's an excellent article:

Laws Related to the Retail Sale of Syringes/Needles

The question brings up an excellent point for those needing information on anything pharmacy related: Always Ask the Pharmacist, Not the Tech!

A few years ago, I went to a Florence Rite-Aid to purchase a large syringe for patient use. The type of syringe for which I asked does not have a Luer lock tip, so no needle could be attached. The tech who came to the window practically shouted at me that I couldn't purchase any syringe without a script. I was pretty gobsmacked by her lack of knowledge, but since then others have told me of similar experiences. It's always best to speak directly to the pharmacist concerning any medication or durable medical equipment.

We've often wondered if the tech we spoke to knew just what came with many over the counter meds sold in her very store (see photo)?

Nurse Nan

Worried about Mercury in the Flu Vaccine?

The question of thimerisol (mercury) in the influenzia vaccine has again popped up. Should any rational person be worried? In one word...no.

When one thinks of mercury, the element often found in fish comes to mind. This is chemically methylmercury. How often do you (or your Feline-American companion) eat a 3 oz. can of tuna? Whenever you consume this canned fish, you're orally consuming the same amount of mercury found in one dose of the flu vaccine. 

But wait...the mercury found in the flu shot is ethylmercury, not at all the same thing as methylmercury. The two types of mercury have been laboratory tested in apes with interesting results. For those worried about any chemical residue in the body, only one-third the amount of ethylmercury (usually administered by injection) is retained in comparison to methylmercury (usually taken orally).

Then we have critics who point out that the mercury in the flu vaccine is twice that allowed in drinking water. Yes, that statement is true. Think .5 ml total liquid in the once a year flu shot and the 237 ml in one eight ounce glass of water, presumably drunk daily. 

Do your own research before you accept the mindless and useless figures spouted by the anti-vaxxers.

Nurse Nan