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

How to Safely Dispose of Unwanted Drugs

Reading about "Drug Take Back Days?" If you have unwanted pills/capsules at your home, it's easier than you may think to safely dispose of them without driving a long distance or worrying about the water system. Simply place the pills in a small containter of very hot water. One the meds are disolved, pour the liquid over cat litter. The clay litter will immediately absorb the liquid, and the clay can then be placed in a plastic bag for disposal. Not only will this not hurt the water system, you don't have to worry about anyone down the line appropriating any narcotics or even less potent meds.

Nurse Nan

Rural King - Now Spelled Alexander Shunnarah

Judging from all the ads I both saw online and received in my mail, the advent of Rural King to Muscle Shoals was second only to Christ's return. Now Rural King is in just a spot of trouble.

But let me digress, or should I say regress, to my stint in nursing school. Ah, Quincy's, what a place to work. Just try to place any cleaning liquid on the same surface where one kept or worked with food. Let's just say if you did, your ears would still be ringing. There's a reason for this health department rule. The ADPH wants to make sure you aren't eating your yeast rolls with just a tad of oven cleaner on top.

Back to today and Rural King, just how does herbicide get into popcorn destined for customers? According to initial reports, approximately 40 individuals on Sunday afternoon consumed popcorn topped with glyphosphate, a herbicide. In case you're wondering, Monsanto markets glyphosphate under the brand name Round-Up.

While I don't think a brief exposure to glyphosphate will kill anyone, it has been linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In other words, it's better not to consume even a small amount since it can build up in the body. 

Was Rural King being regularly inspected by the health department? Just how does something like that happen? Herbicide shouldn't be kept anywhere near food. Obviously there's many more questions than answers. A lawsuit should be a last resort, but customers should expect to eat Rural King's popcorn without having to worry about consuming Round-Up sauce on top.

Oh, look! There's Alexander Shunnarah pulling up now.

Nurse Nan

Vitamin K: Drops Versus Shot?

In recent years there's been a resurgence of critics of the Vitamin K shot given infants (neonates) at birth. Most of the controversy revolves around the aluminum in the injection. 

Infants don't receive enough Vitamin K from their mothers, and without enough of the vitamin, their clotting mechanisms are insufficient to prevent brain bleeds and other loss of blood. Parents should have the ultimate say in their child's medical treatments, but they should also be making informed decisions. For those who don't want the shot, oral drops are available. This treatment is administered immediately after birth, with a second dosage in five days and a third in 30 days. There are studies which show the oral treatment is not as effective.

Speak to your physician about this treatment if you feel this is better for your child. He or she should be happy to discuss it with you and honor your request.

Now, as to the aluminum in the shot? The medication contains .05 microgram of the metal. A microgram is 1/1000 of a milligram. Think about that.

Next we'll be looking at aluminum in various vaccines. If you truly have a problem with vaccines and how they can adversely affect your child, do some informed reading.

Until next time...

I'm Nurse Nan wishing your infants a happy childhood.

Which Cold Therapy Pain Gel?

Several years ago, a friend offered us a roll-on version of Biofreeze pain reliever. Biofreeze, as its name indicates, uses cold to relieve joint and muscle pain. Some individuals use the medication for migraines, messaging it into the neck or even the forehead. Does Biofreeze work and is it economical?

Yes and no. Yes, it does work for some pain. While it might work for migraine pain for you, it doesn’t for everyone. Economical? Pain relief is worth every penny, but Biofreeze isn’t cheap. So is there an alternative?

This is where convenience comes into play. Biofreeze offers its gel form in a pump bottle. You can find it at Walmart in 8 oz. bottles for just under 25.00, tax not included. If you don’t mind a less convenient form of cold therapy, Dollar General offers the Rexall brand in a 12 oz. jar for only 2.25.

We’ve tried the Rexall version ourselves on hands, feet, and ankles and have been surprised at the degree of pain relief we received during recent cold and wet weather. Obviously the price takes away some of the pain as well. Rexall is an old and trusted brand, and we give it the two thumbs up over Biofreeze.

Nurse Nan