Don't Drink the Water and Other Cures

Today the U.S. Embassy sent this note alerting citizens not to give water to
infants in Tokyo.  But I guess it's Ok to bathe your baby in it?  What about
your dog?  It's true Ranger prefers Arrowhead to tap water any day.

My favorite part of the memo below is in the Q & A portion where they try
to describe the difference between Japanese and U.S. radiation guidelines.
My take is, so if "one" were trying not to piss off the Japanese government
than "one" might use the description they used.

Yesterday the Embassy sent out a note which looked suspiciously like a
retraction (or at least some serious back pedaling)  from the memo the day
before on distribution of potassium iodide pills.  Just part of the ongoing
series of he said; she said.  You guess whose right.  It's only your life.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Statement 

Warning For Parents and Caretakers About Radioactive Iodine Detected in Tokyo 

Drinking Water Supply 
March 24, 2011

The Tokyo metropolitan government on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, cautioned 

residents that infants should drink only bottled water because radioactive iodine 

exceeding the limit for that age group was detected in water at a purification plant.

The U.S. Embassy in Japan suggests U.S. citizens who live in Tokyo follow these 

recommendations. In addition, women who are pregnant or nursing should also follow 

these recommendations and drink bottled water. This guidance is consistent with the 

guidance that the United States Government would provide to Americans in the 

United  States under similar circumstances.  

U.S. citizens in metropolitan Tokyo can take the following steps to safeguard the 

health of infants (aged 0-3 years):

•         If giving water to infants, use only bottled water.
•         Use only bottled water to mix formula, cereal or other infant foods.

Health experts say that changing the water source for infants from tap water to 

bottled water should be adequate protection from exposure to radioactive iodine. 

No additional medication, such as potassium iodide (KI), is necessary at this time. 

Taking KI when it is not needed can harm a person’s health.

At this time, no changes in drinking water are recommended for adults because the 

limit for adults is higher than the amount detected in the water purification plant. 

Q and A:

--What are we advising U.S. citizens? Why?
Due to an elevated level of Iodine-131 found at a local Tokyo water purification 

plant,we are advising American citizens in Tokyo that infants (aged 0-3), as well 

as women who are pregnant or nursing, should drink only bottled water.

--What is the Japanese standard being used?
The Japanese standard for Iodine-131 in drinking water is 100 becquerels per liter 

if the water is to be consumed by an infant (0-12 months) and 300 becquerels per 

liter if the water is to be consumed by an adult.  The current reported 

contamination of 210 becquerels per liter is therefore about twice the permitted 

level for infants and about two thirds of the permitted level for adults, under 

Japanese regulations.

--What is the U.S. standard?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s published standard for Iodine-131 

contamination in drinking water is 3 picocuries per liter, which is equal to 

about 0.1 becquerels per liter. However, the assumptions underlying the EPA 

standard for continuous exposure do not apply to the current situation in Japan, 

which is a temporary exposure resulting from an accidental release.  In addition, 

the science of radiation protection has advanced considerably since the EPA 

standard was published in 1974.  If one uses the latest science and makes the 

adjustments in the calculations underlying the EPA standard in order to make 

it applicable to the temporary exposure occurring in Japan, one obtains a 

figure practically identical to the standard that the Japanese authorities are 

applying.

What is the risk of the current Iodine-131 levels to adults drinking the water?
--Short-term exposures at the levels that have been reported do not present 

significantly increased risks beyond the sensitive populations already identified.

I had no idea I would ever know so much about radiation.  A good friend of 

mine, who moonlights as a yoga instructor, sent the following information to 

me right before I left Tokyo.  Ironically therapeutic baths had also been 

recommended to us the day prior by a room mate of a friend of ours who is 

Eastern European and happens to be a stripper in one of Tokyo's high end 

gentlemen's clubs (but that's another story).

Anti-Radiation

Drink, and Therapeutic Baths

Yogi Bhajan taught a Meditation for Atomic Radiation 
on May 17, 1978.  

He also gave an Anti-Radiation Juice recipe to Tarn Taran Kaur 
during the time of the 

Chernobyl nuclear disaster. We’ve also included Therapeutic 
Bath instructions for 

decreasing radiaton levels. This is all useful information for those 
of us who live in areas 

high in ‘natural’ radiation as well as those in Japan in the 
disaster area. 

Anti-Radiation Juice
Drink 3 glasses daily: 

1 part pineapple juice, 1 part tomato juice, 1 part apple juice 

The best foods to eat after radiation exposure are:

Seaweed and Miso in various forms. 

Also beets, carrots, onions, and garlic. Since 
the radiation may be on the fresh plants, 

use sprout seeds and beans to replace fresh 
greens.

___________________________________________ 

Therapeutic baths can also be helpful for decreasing radiation levels and eliminating 
toxins. 

Therapeutic Baths for Elimination of Radiation, Chemicals, and Metals 

By Dr. Linda Lancaster 

Therapeutic baths are utilized to cleanse and neutralize many types of pollutants.

Baths should be taken in water as hot as you can handle without feeling faint.
During the period of soaking, the toxins are drawn to the surface of the skin.
As the water cools to slightly below body temperature, osmotic exchange of 
fluids takes place and the toxins are drawn out of the body and into the tub of 
water.
If you have high blood pressure or heart weakness, do not make the bath too hot, 
and check with your doctor beforehand.
Sea Salt and Baking Soda Bath: For most types of Radiation

Pour one pound of pure salt and one pound of baking soda into the tub of hot water.  

Use sea salt or kosher salt—check the label to make sure there are not any additives.  

Soak in the tub for 20-30 minutes or until the water cools. 

Baking Soda Bath: For Man-Made Radiations such as Barium Tests 

and Ingested Radioactive Isotopes 

Pour two pounds of baking soda into a full tub of hot water. Soak in the tub

for 20-30 
minutes until the water cools. 

Clorox Bath: For Elimination of Chemicals and Metals 

Pour 1/2 cup of Clorox into the full tub of hot water. Soak in the tub for 20-30 minutes 

or until the water cools. Use only Clorox brand bleach. 

Do not use Fresh Scent or 
powdered bleach or any other brand. 

Apple Cidar Vinegar Bath: For Elimination of Uric Acid Deposits 

and some Chemicals 

Pour one quart of apple cider vinegar into a tub of hot water. Soak in the tub 

for 
30 minutes.  Sweating sometimes occurs.

I'd be sweating too if I had to drink any of these concoctions but a bath always 

sounds good.  Do they make a rosemary scented Clorox bleach?