1. Another drug that causes nerve damage - Zicam 
2. Check for the Side Effects yourself - Learn what potential side effect there are for any drug. 
3. Swine Flu Remedies - What is happening?
4. Research Breakthrough - Chemo Brain - a side effect of Chemotherapy 

Zicam causing Nerve Dmage?

Zicam is touted to be a homeopathic remedy, however, it is the same as with the dental creams, large amount of zinc seems be associated with  nerve damage.  Since Zicam is in the nose, it has been reported that the sense of smell is injured. 

In 2006, a class action lawsuit was settled out of court against the makers of Zicam (and Cold-Eeze) which claimed that the product caused people to lose their sense of smell. The company admitted no wrongdoing. There are multiple websites and emails circulating about this. 

Per Snopes.com, the information is inconclusive.  See here http://www.snopes.com/medical/drugs/zicam.asp    

Side Effects of Drugs

One advise is that in taking any drug, make sure you know what the possible side effects are.   You can check yourself.   There are two good websites - www.rxlist.com and www.drugs.com.     

On RXList.com you search for the drug you are interested in and you will find a link for "side effects and drug interactions" on the left hand side of the page.   With Drugs.com, you go to the drug name and read down for the subtitle of sideeffects.   

Both sites have a wealth of information on a drug you are taking or plan to take.

Swine Flu Remedies

You can find a host of articles on the Internet about the FDA cracking down on any advertisement claiming that their natural product will protect you or help you get over the swine flu.   You can read about it here http://health.taragana.net/articles/fda-investigating-potentially-fraudulent-swine-flu-products-warns-one-web-site/

The  interesting thing is that natural products do not have to be approved by the FDA as they aren't  a drug which is  something that can potentially be harmful to your health - as it is unnatural to the body.   Seems to me that the FDA is protecting the drug companies who have not yet come out with their "cure" for the swine flu.   

Good thing that the Swine Flu isn't really a big threat to most people.   In fact, when the big scare about the swine flu was all over the news, a local CA news reporter went to interview a child  who was out of school due to the Swine Flu.   When they got to his house, he said it wasn't too bad, just like a regular flu.   And more remarkable, when they got to his house, they found him in the back yard in a batting cage  practicing his swing. 

Those who already have health challenges do need to be careful.    The suggestion, build good health.   When you build good health, disease tends to fade away. 

Research Breakthrough - What is Chemo Brain? 

Cancer treatment using chemo drugs is associated with delayed mental problems that are referred to as "chemo-brain" and sometimes "chemo-fog".

Chemo-brain and chemo fog refer to a decline in mental ability, lack of concentration and muddled thinking in some patients receiving chemotherapy. The problems are in retrieving memories, focusing and organizational skills rather then forming memories or intelligence.

Sixty one percent of chemo patients complained of these problems, and even 1 year later, over half of these patients still did not show any improvement.

Causes? 

Some doctors think that these side effects are due to:

None of these have been scientifically proved!

Breakthrough Research

Scientific research published in 2008 done by Mark Noble and fellow scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center, New York,* found the scientific reasons for this problem.

In their study, they found that nerve cells would become damaged and that this damage increased even weeks after the administration of the chemotherapy drug was completed.

They found that the myelin sheath (protective outer covering) of the nerve was damaged and that this damage often became worse over time. In other words, the problem was caused by the loss of this fatty insulation protecting the brain's vital nerve connections.

Dr. Mark Noble, team leader, said "This is the first study that puts "chemo-brain" on a sound scientific footing, in terms of neuro-biology and cellular biology."

(* Research available in the Journal of Biology, November 29 issue.
CNS progenitor cells and oligodendrocytes are targets of chemotherapeutic agents in vitro and in vivo" Joerg Dietrich, Ruolan Han, Yin Yang, Margot Mayer-Proschel and Mark Noble Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA)

What does this mean?

When damage is done to the myelin sheath it causes this outer sheathing (protective covering) of the nerve cells to degenerate. This is similar to an electrical wire that is covered with insulation, and the insulation is beginning to crumble. Without insulation the unprotected wire will start short-circuiting.

In the same way, when the sheathing of nerve cells degenerate, the signals being transmitted are scrambled.

This nerve damage is what is known as neuropathy.

How does Neuropathy create Brain Fog?

Nerves are the communication lines of the body.  Electrical signals from the brain travel through the nerves and give instructions to the various body parts.  The body receives information from the environment through the senses and sends this information to the brain via the nerves. 

When the nerves are damaged this does not happen. The signals short circuit.

For more information about neuropathy - go to www.mcvitamins.com/neuropathy.htm