RESOURCES
Arthritis Coalition
Raising awareness in new ways to help those suffering from arthritis.
International Dose-Response Society
Hormesis is a dose-response phenomenon characterized by low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition. Since dose-responses are often believed to be linear from low-dose to high, the non-linear nature of hormesis and its application in all the scientific fields is of rapidly growing interest among scientists and regulators alike.
Effects of Radon on the Immune System
by J. Soto. Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria (Spain)
SUMMARY: Radon can exert a beneficial effect on the immune system when it generates low radiation doses in man. This paper examines these effects and also their mechanisms. It also deals with the effects on the immune system of patients treated in spas where radon is the main agent.
One century of radon therapy
by Klaus Becker, International Journal of Low Radiation, Vol. 1, No. 3, 2004
This review of medical radon applications (in particular for the treatment of painful degenerative joint and spine diseases) covers mainly the first century of large-scale use and scientific studies on this subject since the discovery of radon.
Radiation’s benefits
by Lawrence Solomon, Financial Post – Saturday, September 25, 2010
“There is no safe level of radiation.” This stance is now reeling. Low levels of radiation, science is increasingly telling us, are not only safe, they are actually healthful. It may be more prudent to worry about getting too little radiation than too much.
Radon Therapy and Speleotherapy in Hungary
by K. Nagy, N. Kavasi, T. Kovacs, J. Somlai – Press. Therm. Climat. – 2008; 145:219-225
Mankind has found remedy for its illnesses in nature and has used natural resources such as thermal waters and caves for healing. Hungary is very rich in medicinal and thermal waters and caves. Some of these also contain radon. Our research team studies the role of radon in these thermal places.
Beneficial Effects of Environmental Gasses: Health Prospective
by A.Z. Hussein, M.S. Ibrahim, KH. M. Zakaria – Proceedings of the 3rd Environmental Physics Conference, 2008, Aswan Egypt
This paper describes the medical application of environmental gases: radon and ozone.
Range of motion assessment of elderly arthritis sufferers at Montana Radon Health Mines
by Barbra Erickson, International Journal of Low Radiation – Vol. 3, No. 4, 2006
The purpose of this pilot study was to use range of motion measurements to evaluate the effect of radon therapy on joint flexibility in elderly arthritis suffers at the Free Enterprise Radon Health Mine in Montana (USA). Results were mixed but indicate overall patterns of improvement. Larger controlled studies should be undertaken.
Seeds of Discord: The Politics of Radon Therapy in Canada in the 1930’s
by Charles R. R. Hayter, Bull. Hist. Med., 2003, 77:75-102
In the early twentieth century, the therapeutic use of radon gas became an accepted medical practice. “Radium emanation” plants were established in many parts of North America to supply radon seeds to physicians. This article explores how issues surrounding the ownership and distribution of radon played out in two Canadian provinces: Manitoba
Long-term efficacy of radon spa therapy in rheumatoid arthritis – a randomized, sham-controlled study and follow-up
A. Franke, L. Reiner, H.G. Pratzel, T. Franke and K.L. Resch
Balneology and Rehabilition Sciences Research Institute (FBK), Bad Elster, In-Patient rehabilitation hospital (Dr. Ebel Fachlinik) Bad Brambach and Institute of Medical Balneology and Climatology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
ABSTRACT: Marked short-term improvements were noted in two groups participating in this study of therapeutic baths. The radon bath group had long lasting effects, while the mineral baths were short term….
Radiation and Health: An Overview of Radon Therapy in the United States and Europe
by Barbra E. Erickson, Ph.D
California State University, Fullerton CA
beerickson@fullerton.edu
Presentation at the Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference, Honolulu HI, March 2006
As consumers, people regularly choose their own solutions for health promotion and maintenance, solutions which may or may not be sanctioned by mainstream medicine. Radon therapy exemplifies a non-sanctioned treatment eagerly sought by certain patients, but scorned or dismissed by many physicians. In this paper, the author discusses the decision-making process involved in using radon and compare the Montana health mine facilities with selected radon mines and spas in Europe…
The Benefits of Radiation at Low Doses
by Ronald E.J. Mitchel, Ph.D
Current research is focused on the effects of low doses on birth defects in mice and on the effects of low doses on the risk of spontaneous cancer in cancer prone mice. The “Linear No Threshold” (LNT) hypothesis, used in all radiation protection practices, assumes that all doses, no matter how low, increase the risk of cancer. In vitro cell based experiments show adaptive processes in response to low doses and dose rates of low LET radiation, and do not support the LNT hypothesis…
Research Shows Beneficial Effects of Low Doses of Radiation
by Jerry Cuttler
Canadian Nuclear Society Newsletter, Spring 2003, Issue 2
Hormesis is an adaptive response of living organisms to low levels of chemical, biological or radiological stress or damage – a modest overcompensation to a disruption – resulting in improved fitness. Observations of this reproducible phenomen (low-dose stimulation and high-dose inhibition) have been widely reported in the scientific biomedical literature since the 1880’s, and form the basis for all immunology treatment….
Summary: The Therapeutic Application of Low Dose Radiation (Hormetic Effects)
by Dr. Sadao Hattori, ScD
Survival depends on the adaptive response mechanisms. The hormetic response to low dose radiation includes pain relief, prevention of and recovery from the disease process, by improvement of the immune response…
Commentary: Toxicology rethinks its central belief
Hormesis demands a reappraisal of the way risks are assessed.
by Edward J. Calabrese and Linda A. Baldwin, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
NATURE Magazine, February 2003, Vol. 421, pgs 691-692
The hormetic dose response represents a paradigm shift in the concept of the dose response throughout biological science. It is widespread and outperforms other dose-response models. The implications of the hormetic perspective challenge the belief and use of low-dose linearity in estimating cancer risks, and emphasizes that there are thresholds for carcinogens…
Risk in perspective: Radiation, reactor accidents, and radioactive waste
An interview with Bernard Cohen, by Jay Lehr
Dr. Bernard Cohen, Professor Emeritus University of Pittsburgh, is internationally known for his work in radiation, health, and physics. He explains how Americans developed their fear of things nuclear and puts perceived risks in perspective….
Radiobiology Deceptions Reject Health
by T.D. Luckey, Ph.D
Prof Emeritus, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE8),
April 2-6, 2000, Baltimore MD
Abstract: Radiolobiology data shows that biological functions are stimulated at low doses of ionizing radiation, while high doses result in detrimental effects. The results of improved health, and successful treatment of medical conditions, by low to moderate radiation doses, as shown in numerous studies, in both animal experiments and human epidemiological studies….
UNDEREXPOSED: What If Radiation Is Actually Good for You?
by Ed Hiserodt Laissez Faire Books, 2005, paperback
SPELEOTHERAPY – MEDICAL SPAS
Also known as “cave” therapy – recognized throughout the world. Specific microclimates within underground excavations are prescribed for various disorders.
Germany, the destination for the finest health spa resorts
http://www.germany.travel/en/erholung/gesundheit___wellness/deep_content_datenbank_1252.html
Bad Kreuznach is widely regarded as one of Germany’s finest health spa resorts. Here radon therapy has been used to relieve complaints for 100 years. You’ll find links to other radon spas at this site.
Gasteiner Heilstollen – Bad Gastein, Austria
Medical Spa Jachymov (est’d 1992) – Jachymov, Czech Republic
Kurmittelhaus Sibyllenbad – Neualbenreuth, Germany
Kurbad Schlema – Schlema, Germany
Wieliczka Salt Mine – Wieliczka, Poland
Republican Speleotherapeutical Hospital – Armenia
4,000 square meters of corridors, 235 meters below the surface for asthma and other respiratory disorders
Guarapari, Brazil – Atlantic coasts of Brazil are covered with sand that originated from nearby naturally radioactive monazite and zirconite hillsides.