Aug 21

The “Missing” Toxin

A YOGI’S JOURNEY WITH PARKINSON’S – Volume 13

After posting the “Why Me?” blog (Volume 4) of potential toxins that likely contributed to my contracting Parkinson’s Disease, I had a lingering suspicion that my list was incomplete (though still relevant). More importantly, that list also left my initial question unanswered.

Sure, I grew up with Fluoride in my water and nasty sweeteners in my diet sodas. That was par for the course. Yes, I was showered with Chlorine and got bombarded by EMFs. Who wasn’t? I blindly noshed on pesticides and gobbled down GMOs. What made me different?

Quitting my corporate job and teaching yoga were clearly breaks from the status quo, but hardly a foray into “toxic” or “unhealthy”.

Backpacking through Asia for almost 3 years (cumulatively) also qualifies as unusual. But my journeys seemed more a departure from toxins and stress than an amplification (especially considering I spent such a large portion of that time in meditation and/or yoga retreats). Furthermore, blaming Asia doesn’t make sense (because all the countries in Asia have much lower prevalence for PD than USA).

It seems the only way traveling could have been a culprit, was if I were ignorant enough to carry my own toxin with me on each and every journey. Even then, it would require a consistent effort to rigorously and deliberately expose and re-expose myself to it. If I wasn’t eating it, it would probably have to rubbed into or sprayed onto my skin, like, say insect repellent (pretty much every day, twice a day: sunrise and sunset)…

I was frequenting areas rife with Malaria and Dengue Fever (the latter of which I managed to catch regardless of my toxic diligence). Repellent seemed both “essential” and “preventative”. Being American, I wanted the best. Not just DEET, but preferably high-octane DEET. This so called “Jungle Juice” was so strong and concentrated I could dilute into whatever local bug spray was available to enhance the “protection” and make it last longer while still keeping the pack weight down.

Sure there were warning labels. But, who cares about those when your ankles are being assaulted during dinner or your ears become landing zones during supposedly mindful meditation.

My years abroad in Southern Asia were unquestionably among my best experiences and life lessons. I would not trade them for anything (apparently not even my long-term health). However, I would do it wiser now with more natural products like Natrapel.

Admittedly, this entire exercise is conjecture (at best). Yet somehow there is comfort in having a “why?” to rationalize and a villain to blame. Owning the lion’s share of that blame allows me to better accept my diagnosis and empowers me to take the lead role in my movie going forward (not the victim). If I helped break it, I can help fix it.

As my Dad preached frequently in my formative years:

“Learn from the mistakes of others. You don’t have time to make them all yourself.”

Funny how my father has gotten wiser over the decades. But, do we really learn? Or, are we cursed to suffer from the ultra-short-term attention span that seems endemic in our society? If we don’t start heeding life’s (and Earth’s) warning labels we’ll continue to slide down the slippery slope toward the day when there is no tomorrow.

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DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are my opinions. My words should not be taken as a substitute for qualified medical expertise. This blog is designed to chronicle my journey, share what I learn in the process, and connect with others on a similar path.