EPIGIRL 2

EpiGirl is a fictional character in the SPARS epidemic scenario that was published in 2017. EpiGirl collates the adverse reaction reports from VAERS and other patient forums and it seems worse. The scenario works through that issue by suggesting it was duplicated records.

2017 SPARS Report –

A database is needed, collecting data is needed – that is basic to experimental design – collect data, all the data. And in this case, all the data includes adverse reactions in the experimental group or in those with passive exposure reactions. That is even stated in the branded experimental design literature. In this case data is not being collected and definitions are being changed so the data that is being collected does not match the redefined label.

A whistleblower nurse shared what is happening with the data regarding who is in the hospitals with Covid currently – the experimental group (vac) or the control group (unvac)? The definition was changed to call anyone within 14 days of an injection unvaccinated, allegedly because their antibodies wouldn’t be expected to be elevated enough to be protective yet. That may be true but it doesn’t change the fact the person was in the experimental group – did receive an injection, or a second injection – they are no longer in the ‘unvaccinated’ control group immediately after getting the first injection.

The adverse reactions tend to occur early also, within the first few days after an injection, or second one, according to the nurse. See the full story here: twitter.com/AxelSavage4/status/1437624425281511429?s=20.

From the replies:

Benny Nomad@BennySeattle· Replying to @AxelSavage4 : “Have you considered that what you are describing is fraud? They are calling everyone who has had their first shot un-vaxxed, and if they have had the second shot, for the following 14 days they are still considered un-vaxxed. How is that not fraud?

LibertySavage@AxelSavage4·That’s exactly what it is”

The first injection or exposure can prime an allergy-like over response of the immune system to occur the next time the antigen is present in the body. People who were already sick with CoV may be at more risk of an over-reaction to an injection, because their immune system was primed by the earlier sickness.

Another medical professional shared concerns over underreporting of adverse reactions, to the US VAERS adverse reaction database. Doctors are being threatened to not report cases to the system. See: EXCLUSIVE: COVID Whistleblower Claims the VAERS Reporting Database Tracking Vaccine Complications is WRONG and Undercounting by a Factor of 100! (thegatewaypundit.com/2021/09)

170,000 comments about adverse reactions have been submitted to a news website:
https://twitter.com/LetUsUniteHere/status/1438348203334766598?s=20

News article about the ABC website postings: Unexpected and heartbreaking: Thousands flood ABC affiliate’s Facebook page with vaccination horror stories. (Sept 13, 2021, worldtribune.com) “39,000 responses (as of mid-day Sept. 13)

We need reliable data that has been double checked for identity, confidentially, in order to prevent duplication of record entries. We need reliable data that is contained in a cybersecure location on a hosting platform that is independent from technology that may be compromised regarding reliability, on Linux systems for example.

  • *Guidance is being provided on Telegram, if you are interested in learning about using Linux instead of Windows type systems. Sign up on Telegram first, and then search for and follow ‘Jeffrey Peterson,’ in his pinned posts look for the discussion Chat room link: @jptchat. People are helping each other get set up and Jeffrey also provides guidance and has tutorials.
  • Invite link: JP’s technology chat: https://t.me/jptchat

EPIGIRL 2 will need funding and a lot of volunteers around the world. These adverse reactions are happening around the world. The injection batches were not claimed to be or required to be, all the same product, so different locations may have been test cases for different experimental batches. Adverse reactions may cluster by batch/location, not just by ethnic/genetic or health differences. Without reliable data at an international level, those patterns will not be revealed. Giving us the need for EPIGIRL 2 – Epidemiologic Patterns in Genetics; Injection Reaction Log – an Extremely Professional, International, Giant, Injection Reaction Log. EPIGIRL squared – two names to represent the two strands of the double helix of a DNA molecule.

The recommendations made by the committee investigating adverse reactions should be included as the basis of EPIGIRL 2 (from the last post, Chimeric Spike, with Prion-like areas). If we are to follow the ‘science’ – that is what the science says:

Immunization Safety Review Committee

  • Surveillance of adverse events related to vaccines is important and should be strengthened in several ways:
  • The committee recommends that standardized case definitions for adverse events be adopted.
  • The committee recommends that formal guidelines or criteria be developed for using VAERS data to study adverse events.
  • The committee recommends the continued use of large-linked databases, active surveillance, and other tools to evaluate potential vaccine-related adverse events.
  • The committee supports the development of Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) centers to improve understanding of adverse events at the individual level.
  • One area of complementary research that the committee continues to recommend is surveillance of ASD* as exposure to thimerosal declines. (*Autism Spectrum Disorder)
  • The committee recommends increased efforts to quantify the level of prenatal and postnatal exposure to thimerosal and other forms of mercury in infants, children, and pregnant women. 
  • 2. Excerpt : Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines & AutismBOX 2, Comm. Conclusions & Rec. Institute of Medicine (US) Immunization Safety Review Committee. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2004. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK25349/#a2000af8fddd00068

The SPARS report predicted an EpiGirl – we need her, badly, desperately – truthfully. This is dangerous, and is a genocide because some are more at risk than others.

Methylation: Anyone with methylation gene defects would be more at risk for epigenetic gene changes which can lead to conditions like POTS. See: Epigenetic changes may also be involved in Covid19 or LongCovid, Nov 18, 2020. They would be healthier by not taking standard B supplements which have unmethylated forms of B12 and folate. Instead seek out food sources that aren’t the supplement fortified types, and/or methylated forms of folate and B12 (not folic acid or cyanocobalamin – yes the standard form of B12 used in the US contains cyanide and taking too much of it for too long can lead to cyanide poisoning – does it make sense to use cyanide in a dietary supplement? NO, but that is off-topic.).

BHMT: People with a BHMT gene allele would also be more at risk for inflammatory membrane break-down. There is an ethnic difference in rate – people with Caucasian or African ancestry are more likely to have a defective BHMT gene allele than people of Asian ancestry. See: Cannabinoids are made with the BHMT gene (and others). Feb, 25, 2021.

Glyphosate: Glyphosate residue is also likely a factor in rate of severe reactions in CoV illness or injection reactions. See: Glyphosate and COVID-19, Oct 25, 2020, it has dietary tips for trying to reduce glyphosate intake and improve the negative effects. Glyphosate can increase the risk of misfolded proteins and may be adding to the out of control inflammation. It also likely is increasing the risk of low vitamin D and minerals such as manganese and the amino acid methionine. Manganese is really essential for mitochondria to function normally. Tracking patterns of severity of illness over geographic regions that produce or use more biofuel made with biomass from glyphosate crops is a need. Asking people with adverse reactions, and the control group, those without, to have a urine test for glyphosate residue, is a need. Reliable data requires collecting data in a method that is consistent and has quality control standards to assure the results are reliable. How a sample is taken, stored, and tested, all may affect quality of the results.

Citric Acid Cycle Nutrients & Cofactors: The spike protein is harming mitochondria, which then the debris from the mitochondria, harms our cells. We need to protect our mitochondria as cancer and other chronic degenerative disease is preceded by dysfunction of mitochondria. They switch from using oxygen and the Citric Acid Cycle. For mitochondria to be able to perform the chemical reactions of Citric Acid Cycle they require that we have nineteen different nutrients and cofactors available to them – and in balance and in adequate amounts – not just ‘one’ nutrient. One problem/one cure – is not how the body works or how nutrition works.)

Cytokine storm risk: Ten to fifteen percent of the population are estimated to be at great risk for a severe cytokine storm reaction to ANY severe immune challenge, whether a vaccine or an infection. (5) See: Cytokine Storm, SIDS, autism and Vitamin C, March 29, 2020. Their bodies do not react normally to infection. Genetic screening is needed to identify the genes involved and then screen for those at risk.

In the meantime, high dose intravenous vitamin C (Marik Protocol) therapy does work well to reduce the cytokine storm from escalating and prevent the damage that can be caused by it. See: Bitter taste receptors in the lungs & Hesperidin’s decongestant properties. April 7,2020 < the food and supplement recommendations are still valid.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” Self care – includes the word self, because oneself, is in charge of self care. It is not about spa treatments or getting disabling nail extensions applied with potentially toxic chemicals. That is not self care in any kind of health sense.

The only problem with that plan is that the FDA is preventing use of the treatment for Covid related care. It does not have risky side effects and has a large amount of supportive research for similar cytokine conditions. There is no sensible reason to not approve it for use during an alleged pandemic emergency – if we have an emergency, then we should be providing emergency care to those who need it – NOT WITH-HOLDING IT, or criminalizing the use of it by independent physicians who deem it in their patient’s best interest.

Vitamin C given in advance of a vaccine may also help reduce the risk of an over-reaction of the immune system – even for animals that can make some of their own vitamin C (we can’t make any). From the post: “Giving extra vitamin C before vaccines was found to be protective even in lab animals that genetically can make vitamin C. (4)

If health is the goal – then why hasn’t everyone been told that taking vitamin C in advance of a vaccine can help prevent an over-reaction of the immune system?

If health is the goal – then why don’t we screen for the 10-15% who will have a very severe reaction, which may result in a neurological condition that lasts the rest of their life, and EXCLUDE them from being given an immune challenge? They likely would never get exposed to tetanus or many of the other rare conditions that many vaccines are designed to protect against.

If health is the goal – then why did 170,000 people reply to a news-site about the death of someone they know that occurred after a CoV injection? If the VAERS system is only collecting 1% of adverse reactions, and currently shows a death count of ~14000 (check this, yes, almost 15,000 now, and over 19,000 people were left permanently disabled after CoV injections).

If health is the goal – then why are the CoV injections seeming to be used as a euthanasia device?

Adverse reaction entry to VAERS, shared by AMM MD on Telegram, invite link if you are on Telegram:

AMM, MD
Covid vaccine AEs and other hidden truths
https://t.me/AMM_MD

WHY VACCINATE PEOPLE IN THE LAST DAYS OF THEIR LIFE? 🤬” (- AMM MD)
71 yo F “In her end days of lung cancer was not eating and drinking very little for 3d before vaccination was given. She became very ill as she was told she might and was unresponsive and in the hospice 2d later. [Died 6d after vax.]. The adverse effects of this vaccine served no purpose to be administered to an imminent end to this dying woman. The vaccines effects would never have gotten in her body till after she had died and only made her more sick and weak then she needed to be.
Write-up: Suddenly more weak , exhausted, all around much worse then she had been feeling as she was in her last days of lung cancer. Within hours of the vaccine she was worse and in 2d unresponsive and in a hospice. 4d [later] she died
.” 1637303″ (quoted from VAERS, the US adverse reaction database).

Health doesn’t seem to be the goal to me.

15 Signs That You Might Be an Abusive Government (or Relationship).
– guidance about emotional manipulation- domestic violence often dies not include outright hitting, may just be threats or verbal abuse, or silent treatment to ‘punish’ the victims.

American Frontline Doctors is a group working towards making early treatment available to anyone who wants it. Their site has a proposed Vaccine Bill of Rights: https://americasfrontlinedoctors.org/take-action/the-vaccine-bill-of-rights/

EPIGIRL 2 is needed, with a giant team, for a giant project, because a giant massacre is happening, and being lied about – ask yourself “What would Viktor Fankl do?

Answer – take notes, really good notes.

More info: Viktor Frankl on the Human Search for Meaning, Maria Popova, (brainpickings.org).

I have begun a Protocol on a supplement dispensing site – people who enroll as clients could order at a discount from the items I’ve prescreened and added dosing details for, or browse the catalog. People who enroll as clients could be later added to an EPIGIRL 2 database. Starting is a place to start.

The Protocol: Health Aids for Special Times – it has a lot of food and general health info also. I maxed out the memory and need to copy it over to a pdf though, and probably break the supplements and protocol into smaller groups. Important point to add – to detox – don’t overeat regularly. The body needs to get a little hungry to have the time and need for white blood cells to go looking around for cellular debris to clear up and reuse for nutrients. When we overeat the body and blood cells are busy coping with storing all the excess nutrients as fat or cholesterol plaque or excreting some of it.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

Glyphosate increases histamine, both may be a factor in COVID19

Recent posts include a long one on glyphosate, biofuel, and liver disease and how it may be increasing inflammation in severe COVID19; and two other posts (a, b) are about how an immune allergy type reaction increases histamine and a variety of symptoms, and which may be a factor in LongCovid. Foods and the health of our intestinal microbiome, bacteria and other microbes, can also increase histamine directly or indirectly. Some foods contain histamine and others cause more histamine to be produced. Glyphosate residue may also cause an increase in histamine. (1)

Genetics may be a factor in who is more at risk for having excess histamine. There is an enzyme needed to break down the excess histamine from foods, within the intestinal tract, which some people may not be able to make. It can be purchased as a supplement and taken with meals. Other people may have overactive mast cells which are the type of immune cell that produces histamine throughout the body. (1 , 2)

If the mast cells are overactive, MCAS – Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, symptoms may be more severe than a seasonal allergy type of histamine reaction and may include: “rashes, hives, itching, flushing, fainting, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fatigue, chronic pain, trouble breathing and many more.” (2) To complicate trying to figure out if this is a problem for oneself or a patient the overactivity of mast cells may also be associated with other complex conditions that have varied symptoms too, including: “allergies, autism, autoimmune disorders, cancer, diabetes, Ehler-Danlos syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, mastocytosis, migraines and obesity.” (2) Add the various symptoms together and a person might have a confusing mixture of “twenty to thirty symptoms” and feel “extremely ill.” (2)

Lab tests frequently are not helpful for many of the conditions or MCAS and it may also be unclear whether a person is having histamine symptoms because of intestinal digestion or microbiome problems or due to overactive mast cells throughout the body. Severity of symptoms may be worse if the problem is related to mast cell activation throughout the body. Treatment approach would also be different. Some people might be helped by use of the digestive histamine enzyme while others wouldn’t need it. Both types, digestive histamine excess and mast cell over activity, would be helped by decreasing histamine containing foods or ones that increase release of histamine from mast cells. Eliminating all histamine from the diet would be impractical if not impossible. Reducing the amount might make a significant difference though in reducing the negative symptoms. More details about identifying the type of problem with lab tests or other clinical indicators and an elimination diet description are available here: westonaprice.org. (2)

Glyphosate as a stimulator of histamine release (1) would create a different list of foods to avoid. See the previous post “a long one on glyphosate,” the list of tips are summarized at the top of the post, so the full length can be skipped if desired.

Over active mast cells may involve cannabinoid deficiency. Mast cells have both Cannabinoid Receptor Type 1 and Type 2 on the cell surface and when activated they cause an inhibition of the mast cell.

Mast cells contain CB1 and CB2 receptors, which when activated inhibit mast cell release (R). Research shows that cannabinoids can suppress mast cell degranulation. … Our results show that CB1 and CB2 mediate diametrically opposed effects on cAMP levels in mast cells. ” (3, 4)

We have previously shown that exposure of mast cells to cannabinoids that bind to both CB1 and CB2 cause a net suppression in the proinflammatory responses.” […] “At short time points, ligation of either CB1 or CB2 leads to a suppression of cAMP levels. However, over a longer exposure time course, the cAMP responses that follow ligation of the two receptors are diametrically opposed. These results allow us to draw two conclusions. First, the results imply that CB1 and CB2 receptors are not redundant when co-expressed in mast cells. Secondly, the results suggest that the two receptors couple to distinct signalling pathways that diverge downstream of the Gαi/o proteins to which they are both coupled.” (4) – that may suggest that a short time, small amount of THC & CBD may not help suppress the mast cells, by increasing cAMP sufficiently, a longer exposure, larger dose is needed – and that both the CB1 and CB2 receptor types need to be activated for the suppression of mast cell. CBD activates CB2 receptors and THC activates CB1 receptors.

CBD alone without THC maybe ineffective at treating dysfunctional mast cells because THC has a strong binding affinity for both CB1 and CB2 receptors, cannabidiol (CBD) has no particular binding affinity. Instead, many of the therapeutic benefits of CBD are created through indirect actions.” (3)

Edibles or smoke? “However, when it comes to MCAS patients who are more severe, they tend to not tolerate ingesting the Medical Cannabis oil or edibles but may can inhale the actual Organic Medical Cannabis Flower and find great relief from MCAS symptoms.” (3)

More information about mast cells and what they do is included in Mast Cells: MCAS, genetics and solutions. geneticlifehacks.com (1) Viruses can activate mast cells, which then release histamine and other inflammatory cytokines and chemicals. The immune mast cells are also called granulocytes because when activated they release little packets, granules, full of the inflammatory chemicals. Flu virus has been found to activate mast cells and mast cell inhibitors helped reduce lung damage and mortality in severe cases of influenza. Too much inhibition during an active infection might not be helpful though, because the goal is to kill the virus infected cells or other pathogens that can activate mast cells. (1)

What does histamine do?

Brain histamine promotes wakefulness and orchestrates disparate behaviors and homeostatic functions.” […] “Dysfunctions of the histaminergic system may also contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and its murine model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis,” […] “Histamine neurons send broad projections within the CNS that are organized in functionally distinct circuits impinging on different brain regions.” (5)

Histamine promotes wakefulness, so an excess may lead to insomnia problems, and it affects a lot of varied behaviors and balance of functions throughout the body, disparate – a wide range of behaviors, which suggests why there can be such a wide range of symptoms, and homeostatic – balance of body functions – no longer as able to stay at an even center, too tired, or too excited, too cold or too flushed, numbness or pain – roughly. Too itchy too often.

Histamine itch and non-histamine itch are mainly mediated by TrpV1 and TrpA1 respectively. In addition, Trp channels can be coupled to cytokine receptors, toll like receptors or may even be directly activated by pruritogens.” (6)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can involve overactive mast cells and excess histamine activating Trp channels in the intestines, (1), leading to sudden diarrhea and/or pain. “Pruritigens” refers to other chemicals that directly activate Trp channels such as horseradish or Latex that cause itching, (pruritus). Others may cause the bowel symptoms of IBD including cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon, capsaicin from hot pepper, curcumin in turmeric, and other chemicals in spices or herbs like ginger, cloves, and mint. Previous post 1, post 2/webpage G3.5-3.6.2, G5.

Yes, it is not easy to figure out what you can eat if you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, or to safely use as skin care products or medications as some of the ingredients might be Trp channel activators.

Medications that may help reduce mast cell activation in the condition of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, similar to Inflammatory bowel disease but less severe, include mast cell stabilizers and “a medication to reduce prostaglandin E2 synthesis (e.g. a COX2 inhibitor) stopped the hypersensitivity in the animal model of IBS. [ref]” (1) Pomegranate peel extract and other antioxidants may act in part through COX2 inhibition. (previous post) Prep tips for pomegranate & the peel: G13.

Mast cell activation may also be involved in autoimmune diseases including Multiple sclerosis, Type 1 Diabetes, and Rheumatoid arthritis. (1) The excessive release of cytokines and inflammatory chemicals can lead to cell damage in surrounding tissue. Mast cells tend to be located within specific tissue areas of the body or along epithelial layers (skin and membrane linings of blood vessels or other tissue), rather than be free moving like some other types of immune white blood cells. (1) Some people may have overactivity in some areas of the body rather than throughout the entire body.

Regarding COVID19 illness, the cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) tends to be present in excess, (8), and it is a mast cell activator. (1) Vitamin C can help inhibit IL-6. (7)

Psychological stress causes mast cells to release their histamine and other chemicals – uh oh, time to think serenely about that. (1)

Tips to worry less – can you do anything about them? If no, try to let them go. Writing worries on notes and putting them in a worry jar is one idea – you did something about it. You can look through your worries later. If yes, plan your time – 1. write down your goals, long term – 5-10 years, mid length, this year, and short term, this day/week/month, and 2. make an action plan, what steps to take today, write a list. 3. Do your plan, cross off your list items. It can feel more organized and good to check off your short term goals, and more peaceful to have a plan. (9)

Regarding the complexity of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, or histamine from food – writing down your symptoms and daily food, beverages, and other lifestyle issues that standout from your routine can help to start seeing a pattern of which foods or habits might be adding to the problem. Elimination diets are quiet simple to start and need to be followed for a couple weeks to get the body cleared out of the potential problem foods and hopefully start feeling better, whether itchy, headaches, fatigue, brain-fog, or pain, numbness, or other symptoms. Then add only one thing back and see if symptoms return. Symptoms may be fairly immediate, or the next day or two so gradual reintroduction will be easiest to track whether it seems to cause symptoms.

Lab tests and other help and medication may be nice too, if available, but an elimination diet can be done fairly easily and safely. Stick to a variety of foods from the different food groups and read bottles on any supplements or medications to check for ingredients that might also be trigger substances ‘starch’ is usually wheat or corn based unless specifically labeled like tapioca or arrowroot starch. Other post (a) includes links with a food diary and information about elimination diets for histamine issues. Not all people have exactly the same sensitivities and there can be an additive effect, many problem foods on the same day as stress – may become a flare up. Some of the lists vary and some are more restricted than others, but most have similarities in the worst risk foods. Starting with eliminating some of those and seeing if you start feeling better can also be a way to work towards learning what are problem foods for you personally.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

Reference List

  1. Mast cells: MCAS, genetics, and solutions, geneticlifehacks.com, https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/mast-cells/
  2. Hidden in Plain Sight: Histamine Problems, westonaprice.org, https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/modern-diseases/hidden-in-plain-sight-histamine-problems/
  3. Www.TickedOffMastCell.Org, Medical Cannabis: Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, 10/24/2019, ibcnj.com https://ibcnj.com/medical-cannabis-mast-cell-activation-syndrome/
  4. Small-Howard AL, Shimoda LMN, Adra CN and Turner H, Anti-inflammatory potential of CB1-mediated cAMP elevation in mast cells. Biochem. J. (2005) 388, 465–473 https://anandaenterprises.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Anti-inflammatory-Potential-of-CB1-mediated-CAMP-Elevation-in-Mast-Cells.pdf.pdf
  5. Passani MB, Panula P, Lin JS. Histamine in the brain. Front Syst Neurosci. 2014;8:64. Published 2014 Apr 28. doi:10.3389/fnsys.2014.00064 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4009418/
  6. Sun S, Dong X. Trp channels and itch. Semin Immunopathol. 2016;38(3):293-307. doi:10.1007/s00281-015-0530-4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4798920/
  7. Härtel C, Puzik A, Göpel W, Temming P, Bucsky P, Schultz C: Immunomodulatory Effect of Vitamin C on Intracytoplasmic Cytokine Production in Neonatal Cord Blood Cells. Neonatology 2007;91:54-60. doi: 10.1159/000096972 https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/96972#
  8. Grifoni E, Valoriani A, Cei F, et al. Interleukin-6 as prognosticator in patients with COVID-19. J Infect. 2020;81(3):452-482. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2020.06.008 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7278637/
  9. Gerry McCann, How to Manage Your Time Worry Less and Discover more Happiness, youtube.com, https://youtu.be/RgBb4xNrM-s

Sumac tea was a lemony drink used by Native Americans

Sumac is  a shrubby tree that grows easily in many areas of the U.S. and other countries. Types with reddish berries/seed clusters are safe for tea or use as a ground spice while a type with whitish berries is not safe. As a plant it is considered an invasive species because it grows so easily it can be difficult to remove from an area. It grows wild in patches along highways in some areas such as Iowa for example:

Sumac growing wild along U.S. Highway I-80 in Iowa during the winter season. when no leaves are present but last years seed clusters can still be observed on the top branches

Why care about Sumac? I bought a jar at a Middle Eastern grocery store of the plant prepared as a ground dried spice to sprinkle on foods during cooking or at the table. The jar I bought was imported from Lebanon. I paid $3.99 for a little less than a half pound size container so it isn’t a high profit margin spice but on the other hand I would be happy to by Sumac that was harvested in Iowa or Oklahoma or Michigan – all places where it grows wild.

One species that is safe for use is known to grow in all 48 contiguous states. Early in the spring the newly sprouted shoots can be eaten as a salad like vegetable. the lemony flavored tea can also be made into a jelly or candy: (http://www.eattheweeds.com/sumac-more-than-just-native-lemonade/)

Research performed with the plant in other nations regarding its medicinal benefits have found the spice or extracts to have a wide range of benefits.  More information about medicinal benefits are in an earlier post on the topic and are also listed with summertime images of the red seed clusters in an article Sumac: Nutritional Properties: https://iowaherbalist.com/tag/sumac-nutritional-properties/ and one about Sumac Tea: https://allnaturalideas.com/sumac-tea/.

The spice or tea can have significant diuretic properties similar to drinking coffee or alcoholic beverages so having smaller amounts earlier in the day along with plenty of water throughout the day can help the body cleanse toxins early in the day without waking you in the middle of the night. Overly acidic urine may cause an extreme urge to urinate but then produce only a small amount – which means the body is working hard to remove acidity without adequate water to dilute it – so drink plenty of water and acidity and toxins will be readily removed in the more dilute urine. Diuretic medications are often given to patients who are retaining excess water with a goal to help the body remove the excess water and salt from edematous areas between organs and outside of blood vessels. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/tips-for-taking-diuretic-medications  They are different but similar in effect to a diuretic beverage such as coffee or alcoholic beverages.

The acidic and antimicrobial properties of sumac have also been studied in food preparation of raw chicken to reduce the risk of salmonella and other food pathogens: The Effect of Water Extract of Sumac (Rhus coriariaL.) and Lactic Acid on Decontamination and Shelf Life of Raw Broiler Wings,  https://academic.oup.com/ps/article/85/8/1466/1524938

Gallotannins are one of the phytonutrients in sumac with medicinal benefits and is concentrated enough that the plant can be a source for extracting the substance, gallotannins and sumac. While the active phytonutrients in pomegranate peel extract and sumac extract are slightly different they both exhibit antifungal properties that may be beneficial for commercial, agricultural use: Chemical Characterization of Different Sumac and Pomegranate Extracts Effective against Botrytis cinerea Rots http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/20/7/11941/htm

To connect the dots for those who don’t see the bigger picture in the same way that I do – one easy to grow crop that grows across the nation could be used to flavor anything lemon flavored for possibly less cost that lemons cost.  The lemon flavor is from the terpene content, it contains the same type as lemon and limes: limonene. Sumac could be used for a variety of products for direct use by humans and might also be useful as a medication for humans or for animals. It also might have industrial and agricultural uses for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. One negative side effect that has become more apparent in agriculture is that pathogenic fungal strains seem more prevalent in soil that has had a buildup of Roundup/glyphosate. Hard to treat fungal illnesses in humans may also becoming more common. A lemony drink or food that treats hard to treat diseases in humans or farm animals and which can be grown very inexpensively could be useful if it was recognized as useful instead of simply an invasive weed.

The seed clusters left over from last fall could likely be harvested now, before spring growth occurs, and used for agricultural experiments this season, instead of waiting for the next new crop of seed clusters that would be ripe at the end of next summer, approximately in August.

The pomegranate peel leftover from making pomegranate juice is currently also being wasted when it might be useful as a medicine or food substance or even as an agricultural antifungal treatment.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

Glyphosate from Roundup causing soil problems in No-Till agriculture

In a recent article published for the agricultural No-Till system specialists were recommended to reduce use of the GM crops that are designed to use the herbicide Round-Up which contains glyphosate by rotating non Round-Up crops with the GM Round-Up ready crops. Research findings suggest the chemical glyphosate is remaining in the soil longer than expected, over years of time, and collecting to levels that seem to support increased fungal pathogens. Some types of healthy strains of bacteria that would typically help protect the soil environment from the harmful strains of fungi are being negatively affected by the glyphosate. Some crops are also beginning to be affected by the increased saturation of glyphosate within the soil.

See “Glyphosate & GM Crops are Harming No-Till Soils,” GMwatch.org, Jan. 10, 2018, for more detail.

The fungi that may be promoted by increased concentrations of glyphosate may include Fusarium strains which can affect large percentages of a crop causing a large financial loss to the farmer. The effect has been noted in Canadian research: Monsanto’s Roundup Spreading Fusarium Fungus, organicconsumers.org.

Some of the fungal strains may be a risk to farm workers exposed to dusty air that contains the fungal spores and protective masks were recommended. Symptoms might result in a persistent cough and testing and a diagnosis of fungal growth in the lungs is not typical. Beneficial types of fungus in the soil that also help prevent growth of the harmful strains may also be negatively effected by glyphosate. People consuming foods with glyphosate residue would not be at risk to dust in a farm field in the same way that a farm worker is at risk however increased health complaints in farm workers and people living near by may be a concern in areas with increased agricultural use of glyphosate/Roundup.

“Few cases of Aspergillus lung infections resulting in death have been recorded, but possibly only because pneumonia, asthma or viral infections are assumed to be the cause of death when respiratory failure occurs. A fungus growing in the lungs has not been considered as a cause of death by most physicians. Nor does death always occur, as the Aspergillus niger mold growing in the lungs might just cause a persistent cough and respiratory discomfort.”

– Read more: Dust Study is There More to the Story on GMO’s?, Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, FarmandRanchFreedom.org.

What would be less easy to determine is if eating a diet that contains a greater concentration of glyphosate is increasing the internal percentage of pathogenic strains of fungi over more benign bacteria and fungi. Our intestines and bodies benefit from a healthy balance of bacteria as they create some important nutrients and more digestible forms of some types of carbohydrate starches from less digestible types of plant fiber.

There has been an increase in asthma (7% in 2001 to 8% in 2009, cdc.gov) and an increase in deaths due to respiratory problems in the U.S. between 1980 and 2014:

“From 1980 through 2014, more than 4.6 million Americans died from a range of chronic respiratory illnesses, the researchers reported. While the risk was pegged at 41 deaths for every 100,000 people back in 1980, it rose to nearly 53 out of every 100,000 by 2014, representing a nearly 31 percent spike over 35 years.”

Read more: Respiratory  Disease Death Rates Have Soared, Sept. 29, 2017, WebMD.com.

More information about respiratory and other types of illnesses associated with Aspergillus fungi and current treatment options is available here: aspergillus.org.uk .

The tips for avoiding glyphosate residue in food is not something anyone is likely going to be happy about – eat organically grown foods. Animal products from animals fed crops that were grown with RoundUp may also have glyphosate residue as chemically it may be similar enough to an amino acid that is incorporated into proteins throughout the body.

A summary of the main GM crops grown with glyphosate and a timeline for when use was significantly increased in the U.S.:

Avoid processed foods, as most contain ingredients made from crops on which Roundup was used as an herbicide or as a drying agent. Foods made from ‘organic’ ingredients may also contain residue of glyphosate or Roundup; but screening of food samples has found less glyphosate in organic samples than in commercially grown samples; and individuals who have switched to a diet containing only organically grown food were found to have a drop in the level of glyphosate measured in their specimen samples (blood or urine) that were taken before and after switching to the organic diet for several weeks (posts with more info: glyphosate levels in test samples and subjectsGlyphosate, a consensus statementSome tips for reducing dietary exposure to glyphosate or to replace nutrients it effects negatively; and an update on the post with dietary tips).

Soy, corn and cottonseed oil all may be sources of increased amounts of glyphosate residue since use of the chemical increased in the late 1990’s with the introduction of crops genetically modified to be resistant to the herbicide Roundup which contains glyphosate also has other ingredients which in combination seem to be even more of a health risk than safety tests suggest glyphosate is on its own as a single chemical hazard.

Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.