Words are magical, mystical things. We don't always say what we mean and the words we use don't always mean what we say.
We want to define some of the words that are being "bandied" about these days. Some of them are being modified to fit into today's language and concepts, and many are being misconstrued.
Words often have much deeper meanings than we are aware of and there is power in the way we use them. We encourage you to not be led astray, to practice discernment, to educate yourself on the true meaning of the words you use, and to use them wisely.
Adjuvant - An adjuvant is an ingredient used in some vaccines that helps create a stronger immune response in people receiving the vaccine. Adjuvanted vaccines can cause more local reactions (such as redness, swelling, and pain at the injection site) and more systemic reactions (such as fever, chills and body aches) than non-adjuvanted vaccines. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/concerns/adjuvants.html ; https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/vaccine-adjuvant
Allopathy/Allopathic Medicine - the general term for modern/western medicine. “It treats disease with remedies, such as surgery or drugs, that produce “different” effects from those caused by the disease.” [Allopathy is treatment that suppresses the symptoms of illness using the principle of opposites, while homeopathy encourages, rather than suppresses, the body's reaction to an illness.]
Antibody - also called Immunoglobulin, a protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, called an antigen. Antibodies recognize and latch onto antigens in order to remove them from the body.
Antigen – a substance that is capable of stimulating an immune response, specifically activating lymphocytes, which are the body’s infection-fighting white blood cells. In general, two main divisions of antigens are recognized - foreign antigens or heteroantigens, and autoantigens or self-antigens. Foreign antigens originate from outside the body. Examples include parts of or substances produced by viruses or microorganisms, such as bacteria and protozoa, as well as substances in snake venom, certain proteins in foods, and components of serum and red blood cells from other individuals. Autoantigens originate within the body. Normally, the body is able to distinguish self from non-self, but in persons with autoimmune disorders, normal bodily substances provoke an immune response, leading to the generation of autoantibodies. An antigen that induces an immune response - i.e., stimulates the lymphocytes to produce antibody or to attack the antigen directly - is called an immunogen.
Asymptomatic - not causing, marked by, or presenting with signs or symptoms of infection, illness, or disease.
Autism - or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. In the 1960s, 2-4 in 10,000 were diagnosed with autism; today, the estimate is 1 in 44, mainly male children. The rate is higher in certain areas like New Jersey. https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism
Bacteria - From Genome.gov - small single-celled organisms; found almost everywhere on Earth and are vital to the planet's ecosystems. Some species can live under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. The human body is full of bacteria, and in fact is estimated to contain more bacterial cells than human cells. Most are harmless, and some are even helpful. A relatively small number of species cause disease.
From MicroBiologySociety.org - Bacteria are classified into five groups according to their basic shapes: spherical (cocci), rod (bacilli), spiral (spirilla), comma (vibrios) or corkscrew (spirochaetes). They can exist as single cells, in pairs, chains or clusters. Bacteria are found in every habitat on Earth: soil, rock, oceans and even arctic snow. Some live in or on other organisms including plants and animals including humans. There are approximately 10 times as many bacterial cells as human cells in the human body. A lot of these bacterial cells are found lining the digestive system. Some bacteria live in the soil or on dead plant matter where they play an important role in the cycling of nutrients. Some types cause food spoilage and crop damage but others are incredibly useful in the production of fermented foods such as yogurt and soy sauce. Relatively few bacteria are parasites or pathogens that cause disease in animals and plants.
Blood Oxygen - The blood in your body delivers oxygen to all of your cells. When you breathe and draw fresh oxygen into your lungs, red blood cells bind with the oxygen and carry it through your bloodstream. On a cellular level, oxygen helps replace cells that "wear out", supplies you with energy, supports your immune system, and more. https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/how-to-increase-blood-oxygen-level#1 ; https://www.healthline.com/health/normal-blood-oxygen-level#basics
Cognitive - of, relating to, being, or involving conscious intellectual activity such as thinking, reasoning, or remembering. Dissonance - lack of agreement; an instance of such inconsistency or disagreement
Cognitive Dissonance - psychological conflict resulting from incongruous beliefs and attitudes held simultaneously;
the incongruence of one’s held beliefs and one’s actions; the dissonance between what is the truth and what one wants to believe is true.
Community – a group of people who live in the same area (such as a city, town, or neighborhood); a group of people who have the same interests, religion, race, etc.; a group of organisms interacting with one another and with the environment in a specific region; the region occupied by a group of interacting organisms
Co-morbidity - two or more health conditions at the same time, or if one condition occurs right after the other; often described as chronic, long-term conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Other names include co-occurring conditions, coexisting conditions, and less commonly, multiple chronic conditions or multi-morbidity.
Conspiracy - also known as a plot; a secret plan or agreement between persons (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder or treason, especially with political motivation, while keeping their agreement secret from the public or from other people affected by it.
Conspiracy Theory - a theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot, usually by powerful conspirators; a theory asserting that a secret of great importance is being kept from the public. [The term should not be automatically considered to be some ridiculous story someone has fabricated. (See Knee Jerk) Although fabrications are sometimes the case, any thinking person who wants the truth of a subject should consider all the facts of a situation, even those which may seem implausible. Do not let the so-called experts try to convince you of their opinion. Do your homework. Make up your own mind. The results of a situation often tell the truth. Be open to ALL possibilities.]
Coronavirus - any virus belonging to the family Coronaviridae; club-shaped glycoprotein spikes in the envelope give the viruses a crownlike or coronal appearance (hence the name). The coronavirus genome consists of a single strand of positive-sense RNA - ribonucleic acid.
COVID-19 - the name of the disease said to be caused by the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2; COrona VIrus Disease-2019
Dehydration - When your body doesn't have as much water as it needs, it can't function properly; can be mild, moderate, or severe. Severe dehydration is a medical emergency and needs to be treated immediately.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/dehydration-adults
Discern[ment] – to recognize or identify as separate and distinct through sight or other senses; Discrimination; the ability to discern one thing from another
Discriminate - the ability to understand that one thing is different from another thing; to be discerning in matters of taste. [Discrimination is one of those words which is being used especially to define negative reactions to “others”, whether it be race or gender or preferences. Let us keep in mind that the word means to differentiate and let it not be used as a weapon]
Doctor - a person who is skilled in the science of medicine; a person who is trained and licensed to treat sick and injured people; a person skilled or specializing in healing arts; one, such as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian, who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice.
Droplets - a tiny drop, as of a liquid; Synonyms: bead, blob, driblet, drip, drop, glob, globule. [slobber]
DTP - is a combination vaccine consisting of Diphtheria, Tetanus Toxoids, and Pertussis vaccines. DTP may be used alone or with other medications. [be sure to read the possible side effects]
https://www.rxlist.com/dtp-drug.htm
Endemic - growing or existing in a certain place or region; common in a particular area or field.
Epidemic - an outbreak or product of sudden rapid spread, growth, or development. [term is not limited to disease]
Ethics - a set of moral principles; a theory or system of moral values; a guiding philosophy.
Excipient - often referred to as “inactive ingredients” because, in drugs, they comprise of everything except the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Excipient functions range from helping to guarantee the stability and bio-availability of the API to the drug product’s manufacturability to its texture and taste. Excipients are a major component of almost all drugs, as well as foods, cosmetics and dietary supplements.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/b/excipient-table-2.pdf
Exosome – nano-sized vesicle secreted from different cell types; they communicate information via surface protein signaling as well as through the transfer of lipids, nucleic acids, and other bio molecules.
https://www.britannica.com/science/exosome
Feudal System - the system of political organization prevailing in Europe from the 9th to about the 15th centuries, having as its basis the relation of lord to vassal, with all land held in fee and forfeiture; any of various political or social systems similar to medieval feudalism. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-feudalism.html
Fever - A fever is a temporary increase in your body temperature, often due to an illness. For an adult, a fever may be uncomfortable, but usually isn't a cause for concern unless it reaches 103 F (39.4 C) or higher. For infants and toddlers, a slightly elevated temperature may indicate a serious infection. Fevers generally go away within a few days. A number of over-the-counter medications can lower a fever, but often it is best to let I runs its course. Fever plays a key role in helping your body fight infections.
Germ Theory - the theory that certain diseases are caused from the invasion of the body by microorganisms- organisms too small to be seen except through a microscope.
Health – the overall condition of someone's body or mind, or of a thing, such as an ocean or rivers; the condition of being well or free from disease.
HepB - Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus that attacks and injures the liver. The Hepatitis B virus [HBV] is transmitted through blood and infected bodily fluids. It can be passed to others through direct contact with blood, unprotected sex, use of illegal drugs, unsterilized or contaminated needles, and from an infected woman to her newborn during pregnancy or childbirth. https://www.hepb.org/ ; https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-a-vs-b-vs-c#hepatitis-c
Herd Immunity – is a concept that is speculated to occur when a large part of the population of an area is immune to a specific disease.
Hib - Haemophilus influenzae type b
Homeopathy - a system of medical practice that treats a disease especially by the administration of minute doses of a remedy that would in larger amounts produce in healthy persons symptoms similar to those of the disease; A system based on the principle of “like curing like,” which aims to treat the whole person; is the opposite of allopathic medicine in that it does not aim to suppress the symptoms of illness.
Hypoxemia - low oxygen in the blood; When the blood doesn't carry enough oxygen to the tissues to meet the body's needs; can cause Hypoxia. https://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/hypoxia-hypoxemia
Hypoxia - low oxygen in your tissues; can lead to death.
Immune System – the bodily system that protects the body from foreign substances, cells, and tissues by producing the immune response and that includes especially the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, special deposits of lymphoid tissue (as in the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow), macrophages, lymphocytes including the B cells and T cells, and antibodies
Infect – to introduce, inject, influence something into another thing. Can be negative, as in a body being infected with a pathogen or a computer with a virus; can be positive, as in infecting others with laughter or enthusiasm.
Infectious - producing or capable of producing infection; caused by or resulting from an infection with one or more pathogenic agents; spreading or capable of spreading rapidly to others [not just disease - laughter, happiness and yawning can be infectious]
Ionophore - Ionophores are chemical compounds that reversibly bind and transport ions through biological membranes. Many ionophores have shown antibacterial and antifungal activities. Some of them also act against insects, pests, and parasites. Some ionophores have been introduced into medicinal products for dermatological and veterinary use. A large amount of research has been directed toward investigating novel antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties of different ionophores. Ionophores for Zinc include Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin, Quercetin, Elderberry, and EGCG-Green Tea Extract. Zinc can be referred to as the bullet; the ionophores can be considered the gun. https:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionophore ;
https://www.advancedhealing.com/zinc-ionophore-covid-19-anemia-inflammation-hemoglobin-clioquinol/
IPV - Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilator - a pneumatic positive pressure device used to move mucus. The IPV sends small, fast bursts of air that open the airways. These small bursts of air also loosen and free mucus from airway walls. A continuous mist helps make mucus less sticky. The high flow rate encourages deep breathing, which helps air to get around and behind trapped mucus.
Knee-Jerk – noun [circa 1876] the sudden involuntary extension of the leg in response to a light blow just below the knee, as when doctors check your knee reflex; also known as the patellar reflex ;
adj - reacting in an automatic, habitual manner; unthinking; a predictable, often negative reaction
[In the 1950s, the Patellar Reflex was given the refreshingly simple designation; knee-jerk became an adjective with a figurative sense that doesn't require any actual twitching. Knee-jerk often has a negative connotation. It usually denotes a too-hasty, impulsive, perhaps even irrational response that is often based on preconceived notions.]
Mainstream – noun - a prevailing current or direction of activity or influence ; adj - having, reflecting, or being compatible with the prevailing attitudes and values of a society or group ; verb - to incorporate in the mainstream.
Mandate - an authoritative command, or the authority given to an elected group of people, such as a government, to perform an action or govern a country; cannot over-rule federal or state law, and cannot over-ride the Constitution
Metabolism - the total amount of the biochemical reactions involved in maintaining the living condition of the cells in an organism. The metabolic processes help in growth and reproduction and help in maintaining the structures of living organisms. https://byjus.com/biology/metabolism/
Microbiome - the genetic material of all the microbes - bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses - that live on and inside the human body. https://depts.washington.edu/ceeh/downloads/FF_Microbiome.pdf
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/gut-microbiome-and-health#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
Minerals [Nutritive] - Minerals are important for your body to stay healthy. They help produce enzymes and hormones, and keep your bones, muscles, heart, and brain working properly. There are two kinds of minerals: macro-minerals and micro-minerals/trace minerals. You need larger amounts of macro-minerals. They include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, and sulfur. You only need small amounts of trace minerals. They include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium. [Historically we could get the amount of minerals we need by eating a wide variety of foods, but with today’s soil depletion, it is often recommended to take a mineral supplement.]
Mitigate - to cause to become less harsh or hostile; to make less severe or painful
MMR vaccine - a vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles)
mRNA – Messenger RNA is a single strand of code letters (nucleotides), while DNA is double-stranded. RNA’s sugar is ribose and DNA’s is deoxyribose. DNA’s sugar contains one less oxygen atom and this difference is reflected in their names: DNA is the nickname for deoxyribonucleic acid, RNA is ribonucleic acid. Cells rely on proteins to carry out the many processes necessary for the body to function. The double-stranded DNA sequence is transcribed into an mRNA code so the instructions can be translated into proteins.
Narrative – noun - something that is narrated: a story or account; a way of presenting or understanding a situation or series of events that reflects and promotes a particular point of view or set of values.
Nutrition - the assimilation by living organisms of food materials that enable them to grow, maintain themselves, and reproduce; the act or process of nourishing or being nourished.
Pandemic - occurring over a wide geographic area (such as multiple countries or continents) and typically affecting a significant proportion of the population.
Passive Immunity - Passive immunity can develop naturally, such as when a mother's antibodies are transferred to a growing fetus or nursing infant. It also can occur artificially when antibodies that protect against specific pathogens are transferred, often via blood or plasma transfusion.
Pathogen - microorganisms that have the potential to cause infectious diseases. Viruses, bacteria, protozoans and fungi are all potential pathogens.
PCR Test - PCR means polymerase chain reaction. In the early 1990s, PCR came into popular use and the creator, Kary Mullis, was awarded the Nobel Prize for it in 1993. Simply put, PCR is a thermal cycling method used to produce up to billions of copies of a specific DNA sample, making it large enough to study. PCR is an indispensable technique with a broad variety of applications including biomedical research and criminal forensics. Mullis was quoted as saying, “The PCR Test should never be used as a tool in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Human beings are full of retrovirus. We don’t know if it is hundreds or thousands, or hundreds of thousands. We’ve only recently started to look for them, but they’ve never killed anybody before. People have always survived retroviruses.”
Pharmaceutical – a medicinal drug; adj: of, relating to, or engaged in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of pharmaceutical drugs.
Phytonutrients - Phytonutrients are natural chemicals or compounds produced by plants. They keep plants healthy, protecting them from insects and the sun. They can be found in: fruits; vegetables; whole grains; tea; nuts; beans; spices. Phytonutrients also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help support a healthy human body. There are thousands of phytonutrients found in plants and related foods. Some of the most common phytonutrients are: carotenoids; ellagic acid; resveratrol; flavonoids; phytoestrogens; glucosinolates. Visit the following websites for further study -
https://www.healthline.com/health/phytonutrients ; https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/phytonutrients
Poison - a substance that through its chemical action usually kills, injures, or impairs an organism; something destructive or harmful; an object of aversion or abhorrence; a substance that inhibits the activity of another substance or the course of a reaction or process.
Polio – Poliomyelitis - commonly shortened to polio, is considered to be an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Myelitis is a neurological condition that happens when both sides of the same section of the spinal cord become inflamed. Inflammation to the spinal cord can cause damage to the myelin (the substance that covers your nerves) or axon (nerve fiber), which can result in paralysis and sensory loss. Many people think that polio has been irradicated, but it is alive and well in many parts of the world, esp. areas with poor sanitation. [it tends to infect people through fecal matter] There is the “wild” strain of the virus and a vaccine-derived strain. According to info in Wikipedia, many of the vaccine-derived cases are caused by giving, mostly children, oral doses of a weakened strain of the polio virus, which passes into the inadequate sanitation systems of many countries; thus infecting, mostly children, who have not been vaccinated. [Organizations like the CDC claim they will one day eradicate diseases like polio, but until poverty is eradicated, sanitation is remedied, healthy nutrition is provided, and immune systems are repaired, disease will continue.]
Propaganda - the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person.
Prophylaxis - preventive medicine; measures designed to preserve health [as of an individual or of society] and prevent the spread of disease.
Pulse Oximeter - A small, electronic device that is clipped onto a part of the fingertip, which emits light that passes through the fingernail, skin, tissue, and blood. On the other side of the finger, a sensor detects and measures the amount of light that passes through the finger without getting absorbed by the tissue and blood. Using that measurement, the device calculates the oxygen saturation of the blood.
Rotavirus - a gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) infection that happens in young children. It causes diarrhea and vomiting. Kids tend to get rotavirus during the late winter to early spring. People of all ages can get rotavirus, but it mostly happens to children under age one. It’s very contagious and is usual passed on through fecal matter.
Science - such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena; knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths, or the operation of general laws, especially as obtained and tested through Scientific Method: principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit of knowledge involving the recognition and formulation of a problem, the collection of data through observation and experiment, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.
Settled Science – the absurd notion that science can somehow be “fixed” and unchangeable. The very nature of science is open to constant change and re-evaluation as new information is discovered. When someone tells you the science is settled, most likely there is an agenda afoot, or they’re just too obtuse to deal with facts. Some things in our world are certainly fairly constant, like gravity and tides, but even those are subject to change. Stay flexible.
Silent Carriers [see Asymptomatic] – another absurd notion that people without symptoms and don’t feel sick can be unknowingly infecting those around them. It has long been known that even if you have cold or flu symptoms, unless you’re running a fever, you most likely are not contagious. Each of us are swimming in pathogens wherever we go and the concept that we can actually be a danger to each other is a very convenient way to keep us in fear and divided from our loved ones. The best defense – keep your immune system strong with good nutrition, rest, and Healthy thoughts and attitudes.
Smallpox - also called Variola Major - acute infectious disease that begins with a high fever, headache, and back pain and then proceeds to an eruption on the skin that leaves the face and limbs covered with cratered pockmarks, or pox. For centuries smallpox was one of the world’s most dreaded plagues, killing as many as 30 percent of its victims, most of them children. Those who survived were permanently immune to a second infection, but they faced a lifetime of disfigurement and in some cases blindness.
Spike Protein - Members of the coronavirus family have sharp bumps that protrude from the surface of their outer envelopes, known as spike proteins. They’re actually glycoproteins, which means they contain a carbohydrate (such as a sugar molecule).
Synergy/Synergistic - combined action or operation; acting or working together in a creative, innovative, and productive manner.
T-Cell - a type of white blood cell that works with macrophages. Unlike macrophages that can attack any invading cell or virus, each T-cell can fight only one type of virus. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/t-cell
Terrain Theory – the theory that the condition of the terrain of the body determines the level of Health; the stronger the terrain, the less likely the body is to succumb to illness.
Theory - an idea or set of ideas that is intended to explain facts or events; an idea that is suggested or presented as possibly true, but that is not known or proven to be true; the general principles or ideas that relate to a particular subject [all of science is theoretical. Some points are certainly more consistent than others, but everything is subject to change as we discover and learn more] examples: Theory of Evolution; Theory of Relativity; Theory of Mind; etc.
Vaccine – [in theory] A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen, such as a bacterium or virus, or of a portion of the pathogen's structure, that is administered to prevent or treat infection by the pathogen, and that functions by stimulating the production of an immune response. [could be considered the pharmaceutical version of homeopathy]
Varicella - Varicella-zoster is a herpes virus that causes chickenpox, a common childhood illness. It is highly contagious. If an adult develops chickenpox, the illness may be more severe. After a person has had chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus can remain inactive in the body for many years. Herpes zoster (shingles) occurs when the virus becomes active again.
https://health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/chickenpox.php
Virologist - a highly skilled medical expert who manages the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases such as hepatitis C, HIV, and Ebola; may be medical doctors or researchers; Some are engaged in direct patient care, working alongside other health care professionals to treat those with persistent viral infections.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/virologists-what-they-do
Virus - The definition of a virus varies a bit and the debate is on whether they cause disease or are the result of disease. Either way they are the most numerous things in our world; you cannot avoid them nor get rid of them. From NIH.gov - "Viruses are small obligate intracellular parasites, which by definition contain either a RNA or DNA genome surrounded by a protective, virus-coded protein coat. Viruses may be viewed as mobile genetic elements, most probably of cellular origin and characterized by a long co-evolution of virus and host."
From ScienceAlert.com - "A virus is genetic material contained within an organic particle that invades living cells and uses their host's metabolic processes to produce a new generation of viral particles."
From OnHealth.com - "Viruses are small particles of genetic material (either DNA or RNA) that are surrounded by a protein coat. Some viruses also have a fatty 'envelope' covering. They are incapable of reproducing on their own. Viruses depend on the organisms they infect (hosts) for their very survival. Viruses get a bad rap, but they also perform many important functions for humans, plants, animals, and the environment. For example, some viruses protect the host against other infections. Viruses also participate in the process of evolution by transferring genes among different species. In biomedical research, scientists use viruses to insert new genes into cells."
Vitamins - organic compounds that people need in small quantities, generally acquired from food. Each organism has different vitamin requirements. Humans need to get vitamin C from their diets while dogs can produce all the vitamin C they need. Different vitamins play different roles in the body and a person requires a different amount of each vitamin to stay healthy.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/195878#_noHeaderPrefixedContent