Illness
Defined
The Theorem
Quarry Bulletin - Westford, Massachusetts U.S.A.
"ILLNESS DEFINED; THE THEOREM"
A New Book by Richard Diaz
Reviewed by Shirley Chambers in January 2007
Several weeks ago when I was at the Lahey Clinic, I ran into a friend whom I had not seen in some time. She explained to me that she was at the Clinic having a battery of tests made to see if the doctors could discover the source of her mysterious ailment. On impulse I asked: "Have they tested you for heavy metals?" Now where did I come up with that?
I had recently been reading a book published by Richard Diaz entitled "Illness Defined." Richard has spent much of his lifetime investigating illness, and he believes that in order to understand illness, you must first define it. He does just that in this book.
When Richard was in military service in Vietnam he was impacted by a number of herbicides used by our military there, commonly known as 'Agent Orange' today. He believes that this was one of the catalysts for his present condition which is diagnosed as multiple sclerosis, the source and cure for which remain unknown.
So, who better to write a theorem on illness and poisons than Richard Diaz? Collecting the data for this book has been a long and, at best, arduous task. Richard calls it a passion driven quest for facts. The author says "The elements of bad health are a compromised immune system, systemic consumption, and heavy metal body burden," and he describes each of these elements in some detail.
"The only defense to poisoning is awareness."
It seems that metals which poison us come from common sources of everyday life: food (especially the mercury in fish), drinking water (arsenic, fluoride, lead), vaccines and plasma, consumable products (mercury, arsenic, aluminum), household items, cosmetics, the metal fillings in teeth, toys, and even some jewelry. The real bad boy of all of these metals is mercury. Richard says it is the easiest to identify in the human body, but it is also the most expensive and painful metal to eliminate and control.
"The hope of safeguarding our futures must be driven by the creativity, ingenuity, commerce and the industry of the individual citizen to bypass and overrule the corruption, greed and deviant behavior of our governing and manufacturing authorities." (Now this is surely food for some serious thought.)
When you read a book such as this one, and I suggest you do, you begin to apply all these findings to yourself and to your family. I found this book both enlightening and frightening at the same time. I think about all the heavy metals that I have had (and still get) in the water I drink, the food, the air, my tooth fillings, cosmetics, and on and on, and I wonder by what miracle I have lived as long as I have.
Reading this book has been an awakening.
Personal Correspondence
Your new book "ILLNESS DEFINED; THE THEOREM"
From: Ruth M. D. Attorney at Law January, 2007
"Compelling Argument"
By Bridget Scrimenti, bscrimenti@lowellsun.com
Article Last Updated: 08/16/2007 11:42:52 AM EDT
Westford man: Ban vaccines with mercury |
| WESTFORD -- The shots prevent tetanus, the flu and other
potentially deadly illnesses. But Richard Diaz wants Westford to ban such vaccines with
preservatives that contain mercury. "It's the second most deadliest of metals and we
use it like it was candy," said Diaz, a resident. Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, is used in the majority of flu and tetanus vaccines in the United States. State lawmakers are considering a bill to prohibit vaccines with thimerosal from being given to pregnant women and children under the age of 3. The bill, which was refiled this session, would only allow trace amounts of thimerosal in vaccines, allowing 1 microgram of mercury per dose or less, according to the Food and Drug Administration. "Vaccines are not the issue," said state Rep. Garrett Bradley, D-Hingham, who is sponsoring the legislation. "We have to take a known neuro-toxin out of what we're injecting in our children." In 1999, the FDA, the National Institute of Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that manufacturers reduce or eliminate thimerosal in vaccines as a precaution. While thimerosal has now been removed from all pediatric vaccines, it is still used in flu vaccines given to children and adults. The federal government doesn't consider thimerosal to be hazardous. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently conducting a study with Italian researchers to see if there's a link between thimerosal exposure and neurological developmental disorders, according to the CDC. Thimerosal-free vaccines are available, but typically cost about $2 more per dose, according to the state Department of Public Health. The thimerosal-free vaccine requires a single dose, while a less-expensive, multidose vaccine is used multiple times and needs thimerosal as a strong preservative, according to the CDC. While other states, such as California and New York, have already banned vaccines with thimerosal for children, Bradley hopes the new legislation will drive manufacturers to produce more thimerosal-free vaccines. This year, the state Department of Public Health ordered about 700,000 flu vaccines, with more than 500,000 vaccines containing thimerosal, and 130,000 thimerosal-free vaccines for children. "All vaccines that we distribute are safe and effective according to the Food and Drug Administration," said Dr. Alfred DeMaria, state assistant commissioner of public health. DeMaria says the state follows federal guidelines that allow thimerosal to be used in vaccines. Westford receives about 1,800 to 2,000 flu vaccines with thimerosal from the Department of Public Health each year, said Sandy Collins, the town's director of health-care services. The town only vaccinates adults; children must receive vaccines through a private health-care provider. At Monday's Board of Health meeting, Diaz asked the board to vote not to use any vaccines with thimerosal and aluminum for children and adults. Aluminum is used to enhance immune responses after vaccination. If the board decides to continue using thimerosal vaccines, Diaz asked that it distribute a data sheet about thimerosal and aluminum. The board did not take a vote, and wants to review additional information. Members Joanne Martell and Tom Mahanna were absent. Diaz, who has multiple sclerosis, says he was exposed to mercury while working in the Navy, and as a hazardous-materials cargo agent. He believes his exposure to mercury played a large role in his illness and compromised his immune system. "This is very simple," Diaz told the board at Monday's meeting. "This is a poison." The board will review Diaz's request to ban thimerosal at a public meeting on Sept. 24. |
| 'This is Russian roulette' Westford man
petitions health board to nix vaccines containing mercury-based preservatives |
| By Bridget Scrimenti, bscrimenti@lowellsun.com Lowell Sun |
| Article Last Updated:10/11/2007 11:37:29 AM EDT |
WESTFORD -- Richard Diaz has a warning: Mercury is a poison that should be avoided. "This is Russian roulette," the Westford resident said of mercury. "This is a guaranteed demise of anyone who comes in contact with it." Diaz asked the Westford Board of Health to ban vaccines with preservatives that contain mercury. Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, is used in the majority of flu and tetanus vaccines in the United States. However, the Board of Health will continue to administer vaccines with thimerosal. "We feel there's a greater risk of getting sick and dying of the flu than the 25 micrograms of ethyl mercury in thimerosal," said Board of Health Chairman Zac Cataldo. At Tuesday's Board of Health meeting, Dr. Alfred DeMaria, assistant commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, and Dr. Susan Lett also from DPH, spoke about thimerosal in vaccines. Both the DPH and federal government consider vaccines with thimerosal to be safe and effective. While thimerosal has been removed from pediatric vaccines, it is still used in flu vaccines given to children and adults. Diaz also asked the board to hand out a data sheet about thimerosal, but Cataldo said residents who receive vaccines currently sign a consent sheet that identifies thimerosal in the vaccine. Thimerosal-free vaccines are available, but typically cost about $2 more per dose, according to the state Department of Public Health. The thimerosal-free vaccine requires a single dose, while a less expensive, multidose vaccine is used multiple times and needs thimerosal as a strong preservative, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Diaz, who has multiple sclerosis, believes mercury exposure has played a large role in his illness and compromised his immune system. Diaz says he will continue to promote mercury awareness, and wants the board to warn residents about cleaning products that contain mercury. "It's a slow-motion calamity in progress," Diaz said. |
| Essay on the Heavy Metals Toxicity Valerian Papadaki, The book I have chosen to write about is unique: it is one of
those books which are "to be chewed and digested" as Sir Francis Bacon once put
it in his famous essay "Of Studies". One may even say that it is a kind of
warning to Mankind at large, being, at the same time, "the voice of one crying out in
the wilderness". It is called "Illness Defined - The Theorem" by Richard
Diaz, a man remarkable in many ways. It was published in 2006 in the The book deals with the so-called heavy metal burden in man's
body. As the author himself puts it, "once you know how your body is compromised, you
will be prepared to avoid illness and be better prepared to deal, effectively, with
recovery efforts". A man' health is compromised, or injured, in a lot of ways,
which, according to the author, can be reduced to three main vectors, namely, the action
of micro-organisms, the trauma, and the poisoning. These vectors can cause a myriad of
illnesses and conditions. However, when they present themselves in a medley they
complicate and confuse an effective cure by creating synergistic symptoms. Whereas the
first two vectors, being self-evident, are easily detected, poisoning with heavy metals
"is rarely obvious" and the organism's exposure to them must go through a long
period before their harmful effect reaches the critical stage. Therefore, tests of the
blood and urine in a body contaminated with heavy metals "will be ineffective unless
a provocative chemical agent is used to draw the metals from their storage sites".
Things are aggravated by the fact that man's homeostasis prevents early detection of the
environmental poisoning with heavy metals (and not only with them!) until it is too late. The state of bad health can be shown as an equilateral triangle
with its sides representing the compromised immune system +/-, the systemic consumption
+/-, and the heavy metal body burden. The immune system can move in two directions:
"it can either be overly aggressive (+) and mistakes normal, natural body functions
as targets to be defeated or inept (-) and will not identify and/fight any targets for
defeat". The systemic consumption factor is also given +/- signs, which
is, simply stated, too much, or too little. As the author rightly states, "in today's
world, we are given small doses of preservatives, fungicides, pesticides, and a host of
other chemical elements that are advertised to be "safe". This is a true
statement if these chemicals are examined by individual exposure levels. However, if
observed in total over a period of a lifetime, considering the cumulative effects, the
picture of good health is lost slowly, with every minute dose. That is to say, when
observed from the long view, the supplemental toxins are systemic. Since we are all
creatures of habit, we can not escape the influences of society (i.e. the mercury in
vaccines, dental amalgams and fish, and the lead in gasoline, paint and ceramics). The
only avenue we have to maintain health is the identification, elimination, and deletion of
these toxins from our consumable environment and body burden". With the heavy metals, however, the situation gets much more
complicated as "our vital systems begin to fail when the accumulation of them reaches
the so-called ignition point (here the author makes a comparison with the setting of fire,
which needs three basic elements to start: the fuel, the oxygen, and the ignition factor).
So far, so good! Then, in the next chapter, the author takes
sudden turn and plunges into the realms of mythology and occult. True, in the very
beginning he takes an excursus into history, mentioning the effects of lead on the
collapse of the As the symbol for medicine, however, the caduceus is often used
interchangeably with the Rod of Aesclepius (single snake, no wings), although learned
opinion prefers the staff of Aesclepius (the Greek god of medicine and healing), reserving
the caduceus for representing commerce. Some medical organizations join the serpents (of
the caduceus) with rungs to suggest DNA double helix. The last mention of the sacred
serpent is culled from the Holy Bible, adding more confusion to the issue.
"Whoops!" (An exclamation used by the author apparently to show us his disgust
of this obscure matter). The remainder of the book (which consists of 14 chapters) is a
sober and factual description of various ways the heavy metals compromise the human body.
The textual material is supplied with a plethora of the Internet sources and websites,
which makes it, if anything else, a good reference book of its kind. Chapter 4 deals with the fish and seafood as the most apparent
source of the body's contamination with mercury. Without much beating around the bush, the
author cites the FDA and EPA recommendations, given to future mothers as to how to avoid
being poisoned with mercury while eating fish and shellfish. There are also a number of
FAQs about mercury in fish and shellfish and the tables showing the mercury levels in
commercial fish and shellfish. Very illuminating, indeed, but who cares! Chapter 5 is devoted to the heavy metals in drinking water. Here
we learn that arsenic, fluoride, lead, and mercury in drinking water may gravely
compromise the body's health, and result in delays in physical and mental development of
children. There is another chart listing the contaminants contained in water and their
potential health effects as well as the sources of the water contamination. Taken together
with the notes to the chart, it is really elucidating. Chapter 6 treats of the vaccines and plasma adulterated with
mercury in the so-called thimerosal, which is a preservative used therein. There is a
chart specifying the thimerosal content in the currently manufactured Chapter 7 highlights the need to be cautious in purchasing
consumable products, which may contain measurable amount of mercury. Notable among these
are some herbal drugs from Antiperspirants (aluminum) Candles (aluminum, fluoride, lead, arsenic, and mercury) Old mirrors (mercury) as well as such household items as Thermometers Gauges Fluorescent bulbs Some vintage toys and games Paint Necklaces and jewelry Soap and cosmetics Dyes and pigments Fungicides As the author himself aptly put it, "a chapter like this
could go on indefinitely". What follows in Chapter 8 is a lively diversion from more somber
facts of the previous chapters, being the recording of the online chats on the subject of
the various uses of mercury in everyday life and the risks involved therein. As the author
himself puts it, "this is a good example of the inconsistent attitudes and the
quality of information that is circulating among tradesmen and professionals on this
controversial subject". In fact, it is rather an expression of the widespread ignorance
of the dangers ensuing from handling this poisonous stuff. As it turns out, one of the
participants of the forum has a bottle of mercury which he does not want to get rid of
"cause if I store it safely it isn't gonna hurt anything and if a use ever comes up
I’m sure it would by pretty hard to get it nowadays". There follows then a
lively discussion as to what uses can be devised for this highly hazardous material (and
not all of them recognize this patent fact!). People recollect various episodes from their
childhoods and from history and suggest a variety of uses from selling it on the ebay to
prospecting for gold and making the barometers and switches. Some make lighthearted
remarks, revealing their 'I-care-less' attitude to the whole matter, others sound more
concerned, advising the boy to "dispose of it in an environmentally responsible
way". There are also quite sober voices warning him that mercury is "hazmat and
neurotoxin" On the whole, the forum makes one fully aware of the environmental risks
of living in the contemporary world as it is never "free from idiots who, despite all
manner of "green products" (environmentally safe) : will succeed in hurting
themselves and others". A separate topic emerging in the chapter is the amalgam used
in dental fillings, which is 50 percent mercury, and it is treated more in detail in
Chapter 12. Chapter 10 is devoted to "Behavioral, Structural, and
Functional Abnormalities Associated with Various Heavy Metal Toxins". Incidentally,
each chapter is prefaced with an epigraph epitomizing, as it were, the author's personal
attitude to the issue in question. The one to Chapter 10 quotes Napoleon Bonaparte,
Emperor of the French, who said that "medicine is a collection of uncertain
prescriptions the results of which, taken collectively, are more fatal than useful to
mankind". Clear enough! The four charts included herein list a number of
"psychiatric disturbances, cognitive impairments, sensory abnormalities, and motor
disorders resulting from the heavy metal poisoning. It is scary stuff when one considers
how easily one can be exposed to their lethal influence. It also describes some commonly
encountered toxic metals and compounds. Chapter 11 seem at first sight to be besides the
point, being as it is, an English translation of the German article written in 1926 by Dr
Alfred stock for the Zeitschrift fuer angewendte Chemie and entitled "The
Dangerousness of the Mercury Vapor". When one goes through it, one immediately sees
its relevance. The German researcher speaks of the "insidious mercury poisoning"
which may take a long time before one is aware of its deadly after effects. The researcher
also mentions (for the first time in medical history, as it seems!) a little known source
of mercury poisoning: amalgam dental fillings. The matter is given a very detailed
consideration in Chapter 12 with a conclusion that dentists should "reassess their
legal and ethical positions" on this point as the evidence of the amalgam toxicity
and the availability of safer materials substantially increase the liability of the
amalgam protagonists. Chapter 13 provides us with some recent data on the mercury
poisoning in the Chapter 14 sums up the author's study of the issue of the
"heavy metal body burden ". The Rule supplied at the end of it is the
quintessence of the author's philosophy and may be cited here unabridged: "If the
patient has been diagnosed with a disease or condition that has no identified cause and/or
prescribed cure, the probability of his/her being influenced by one or more of the heavy
metals is severe. It is possible to have all three vectors of illness affect the health
simultaneously. When more than one vector (see Ch. 2) is obvious, the heavy metal
influence must be minimized before a cure or a treatment will be effective". So, here
it is! In conclusion, one must say that it is for the Reader to judge the importance and topicality of the issues raised in the book. Some may brush it aside as an amateurish attempt to draw attention to a serious issue, others - to consider it too haphazard and jumbled. In my humble opinion, this monograph must be read quite thoroughly, and the more people will read it, the better are the chances for our survival.
I found the book very informative and a must read for
everyone who is concerned about the health impact caused by Mercury exposure via eating
Mercury contaminated sea food, Dental Amalgam and other sources of Mercury in our daily
life. The book is very readable, well researched and up to date with latest information
and many case studies. I highly recommend it to any one interested in their health and in
the environment.
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