Medical opinion by John F. Ruhland, ND

Do you have health-related questions for Dr. John, the NaturopathicDoctor? Send them to the Free Press at 1463 E Republican #178, SeattleWA 98112, or email to WAfreepress@gmail.com. Please keep questionsshort. The opinions expressed below are on general issues of health.They should not be construed as personal medical advice. Readersshould seek a variety of information about any health concern beforedeciding on a treatment from a personal physician.

Dear Nature Doc: What natural treatments are there for cervicaldysplasia?

Folic acid, in very high doses, will reverse cervical dysplasia. Infact, for any abnormal pap smear, my first recommendation is highdoses of folate for at least 2-4 weeks, with a follow-up pap. I haveyet to find a case that is not cured with this regimen. It can alsocure cervical cancer in some cases.

When the US declares an embargo or blockade on a country, and foodbecomes rationed, there is an increase in cervical disease if peopleeat less green leafy vegetables and other sources of folic acid. WhenI was in Cuba, several women asked me what could be done for cervicaldisease. Cuba is an interesting example, because the government reallyemphasizes universal healthcare. They have tried to make vitaminsupplements available for a reasonable cost during the past decade orso when reactionary US policy has caused a tightening of theblockade-like embargo. Nevertheless, because of the blockade, women'shealth has suffered, and from what I learned speaking to women there,most women in Cuba develop cervical disease at some time.

Dear Nature Doc: There have been some articles in the Seattle papersregarding the common practice of disposing of toxins in fertilizers,which are then sold through stores to home gardeners and also directlyto farmers for application to their fields. What fertilizers do yourecommend?

Be sure to research the brands of fertilizer you plan to use beforeyou apply them to your garden. You can check the websites of the USDepartment of Agriculture and Department of Ecology for the content ofsome of the most common heavy metals in any fertilizer that is soldcommercially. You can also contact Safe Food and Fertilizer, which iscurrently developing a website to make this information moreaccessible.

The fertilizer with by far the highest levels of arsenic, cadmium,lead, and mercury, is Ironite. Ironite is made from mine tailings. Thecompany sells these as fertilizer rather than pay the relatively highcosts of disposing it in hazardous waste landfills. To give you anidea of the toxin content of Ironite, waste with "safe" levels ofheavy metals have less than five parts per million (ppm) of lead andless than 20 ppm of arsenic. Ironite has 2910 ppm of lead, and 4380ppm of arsenic, as reported by Ironite Products Company. OrganicGardening magazine warns against using Ironite in their current issue.The Minnesota Department of Health also warns against using Ironite. I have yet to find a fertilizer that I would recommend. For now, Ieat very little food that is not certified organically grown. The partof my garden that I have been using for vegetable gardening is veryhigh in arsenic, a known carcinogen. The risk of eating food grown inthat soil is just too high. My recommendation is to have your soiltested, and if it is relatively clean, create your own compost fromfood waste, tree leaves, grass clippings from untreated lawns, andsimilar clean organic matter. For more on caring for soil, readOrganic Gardening magazine from Rodale Press.

Dear Nature Doc: What is the health risk from cellular phoneantennas?

While this is a topic worthy of a series of articles, let me justtouch on an answer. Cell antenna emit microwave radiation 24 hours perday.

People and any other living thing are often negatively effected by theenergy.

The studies on rats which were used as a justification for allowingcell antennas to be placed near residences and work locations exposedrats for two hours. Much better studies are being done in Europe. Somestudies show negative health effects up to two or more kilometers froman antenna.

My suggestion is to avoid being closer than one quarter to one halfmile from a cell antenna. For more information, see www.emrnetwork.org

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