How to Reduce the Incidence of Asthma
by Paul Mason, Pres.
Healthy Water Assn.
Oct. 29, 1999
The increasing incidence of asthma has been largely explained
by our research here at the Healthy Water Association. The known
facts are:
1. Magnesium-deficiency can induce asthma, and asthma can
often be alleviated by repletion of Mg.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14
2. The NAS has determined that most Americans are
Mg-deficient, with men averaging about 80% of the RDA, and women
averaging about 70% of the RDA. 15 Blacks and
Hispanics are more Mg-deficient than whites. 16,17
3. Causes of loss of Mg include alcohol
18,19,20,21,22,23,24 caffeine 25,26,27 ,
cocaine 28, most asthma-treating drugs
29,30,31 phosphates (found in cola drinks)
32, physical or mental stress 33,34, loud
noises 35,36,37,38,39,40,41, dietary fat
42, dietary fiber43,44,45,46, and dietary
calcium 47,48,49,50,51.
4. The food supply has been steadily becoming magnesium-poor
since 1909. 52
1909 intake 408 mg/day
1949 intake 368 mg/day
1980 intake 349 mg/day
1985 intake 323 mg/day (men)
1985 intake 228 mg/day (women)
5. Explanations for the decline of magnesium in the American
diet include more food processing 53,54,55,
soil-exhaustion 56,57,58,59,60,61,62, the FDA's
destruction of the American mineral water industry in the 1930's
63,64,65 and the development of softer tap water
reservoirs to replace the hard water of streams and wells.
66,67,68,69,70,71
Special inner-city circumstances causing Mg-deficiency,
conducive to asthma, are (1) unusually bad diets containing much
fat but few greens. (2) mental and physical stress, and exposure
to frequent loud noises. (3) exposure to alcohol, caffeine, and
cocaine. (4) inner city populations are often Black or Hispanic
(groups having lower Mg intakes.)
The rest of the world prevents asthma largely by drinking hard
water, or mineral water with an average Mg content 10 times the
American bottled water average. 72,73,74
ENDNOTES
1 asthma.shtml (Medical Journal Reprint)
2
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=9777879&dopt=Abstract
(Medical Journal Reprint)
3 http://pharminfo.com/pubs/msb/mg_asthma.shtml (Medical
Journal Reprint)
4 http://cs.portlandpress.co.uk/cs/095/cs0950137.htm (Medical
Journal Reprint)
5 http://cs.portlandpress.co.uk/cs/095/cs0950111.htm (Medical
Journal Reprint)
6
http://www.thriveonline.com/health/Library/CAD/abstract8735.html
(Medical Journal Reprint)
7
http://www.ama-assn.org/special/asthma/library/scan/archive/magnes.htm
(Medical Journal Reprint)
8 dur27.shtml (Medical Journal Reprint)
9 http://www.wwrem.com/012797/0127973.htm (Medical Journal
Reprint)
10 abstract.shtml#asthma1 (Medical Journal Reprint)
11 abstract.shtml#asthma2 (Medical Journal Reprint)
12 abstract.shtml#asthma3 (Medical Journal Reprint)
13 abstract.shtml#asthma5 (Medical Journal Reprint)
14
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=9501684&dopt=Abstract
(Medical Journal Reprint)
15 Prepublication copy, 1997, of the Dietary Reference Intakes
for Magnesium, from the Institute of Medicine of the National
Academy of Science. exhibitk.shtml
16 Prepublication copy, 1997, of the Dietary Reference Intakes
for Magnesium, from the Institute of Medicine of the National
Academy of Science. Page 6-5 . exhibitk.shtml
17
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=9595243&dopt=Abstract
18 Kalbfleish, J. M., et al. Effects of Ethanol Administration
on Urinary Excretion of magnesium and other electrolytes in
alcoholic and normal subjects. Journal of Clinical
Investigations. Vol. 42. 1963.
19 Role of magnesium and calcium in alcohol-induced
hypertension and strokes as probed by in vivo television
microscopy, digital image microscopy, optical spectroscopy,
31P-NMR, spectroscopy and a unique magnesium ion-selective
electrode ALCOHOL. CLIN. EXP. RES. (USA), 1994, 18/5 (1057-1068)
abstract.shtml
20 Kalbfleisch JM, Lindeman RD, Ginn HE, Smith WO: Effects of
ethanol administration on urinary excretion of magnesium and
other electrolytes in alcoholic and normal subjects. J Clin
Invest 42:1471-1475, 1963.
21 Mendelson JH, Ogata M, Mello N: Effects of alcohol
ingestion and withdrawal on magnesium states of alcoholics:
clinical and experimental findings. Ann N Y Acad Sci 162:918-933,
1969.
22 Lindeman RD.: Nutritional influences on magnesium
homeostasis with emphasis on renal factors. In Magnesium in
Health and Disease,eds M Cantin, MS Seelig, Spectrum, NY,NY,
1980, pp 381-399 (2nd Intl Mg Sympos, Quebec, Canada, 1976)
23 Flink EB, Stutzman FL, Anderson AR, Konig T, Fraser R:
Magnesium deficiency after prolonged parenteral fluid
administration and after chronic alcoholism complicated by
delirium tremens. J Lab Clin Med 43:169-183, 1954.
24 Flink EB: Magnesium deficiency in alcoholism. Alcoh: Clin
Exp Res 10:590- 594, 1986.
25 Influence of injected caffeine on the metabolism of calcium
and the retention and excretion of sodium, potassium, phosphorus,
magnesium, zinc and copper in rats. J Nutr. 116(2):273-80, 1986
Feb.
26 Calcium and magnesium contents and volume of the terminal
cisternae in caffeine-treated skeletal muscle. J Cell Biol.
99(2):558-68, 1984 Aug.
27 Effect of caffeine and theophylline on Mg ++ -dependent
ATPase. Arch Int Physiol Biochim. 80(4):815-8, 1972 Oct.
28 Cocaine Induces Rapid Loss of Intracellular Free Mg2+ In
Cerebral Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells. Altura BM, Zhang A, Cheng
TPO, Altura BT. European J. of Pharmacology --- Molecular Pharm.
Section, 246 (1993) 299-301
29 Consequences of Magnesium Deficiency on the Enhancement of
Stress Reactions; Preventive and Therapeutic Implications (A
Review) Seelig, M.S. Journal of the American College of
Nutrition, Vol. 13, No. 5, 429-446 (1994) conseq.shtml
30 Consequences of Magnesium Deficiency on the Enhancement of
Stress Reactions; Preventive and Therapeutic Implications (A
Review) Seelig, M.S. Journal of the American College of
Nutrition, Vol. 13, No. 5, 429-446 (1994) conseq.shtml
31 Consequences of Magnesium Deficiency on the Enhancement of
Stress Reactions; Preventive and Therapeutic Implications (A
Review) Seelig, M.S. Journal of the American College of
Nutrition, Vol. 13, No. 5, 429-446 (1994) conseq.shtml
32 Prepublication copy, 1997, of the Dietary Reference Intakes
for Magnesium, from the Institute of Medicine of the National
Academy of Science. Page 6-5 . exhibitk.shtml
33 Durlach, J. (1989): Recommended dietary amounts of
magnesium: Mg RDA. Magnesium Res. 2, 195-203.
34 Consequences of Magnesium Deficiency on the Enhancement of
Stress Reactions; Preventive and Therapeutic Implications (A
Review) Seelig, M.S. Journal of the American College of
Nutrition, Vol. 13, No. 5, 429-446 (1994) conseq.shtml
35 Chronic Latent Tetany of Magnesium Deficiency: CFS, FM,
Migraine The latent tetany syndrome (LTS) parallels CFS in its
neuromuscular and psychiatric manifestations, as well as in inner
ear disturbances: vestibular in CFS and FM. URL: clmd.shtml
36 MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY AND STRESS. URL: conseq.shtml
37 Prenatal and Genetic Mg Deficiency URL: genetic.shtml
38 Cardiovascular Consequences of Mg Deficiency URL:
cardio.shtml
39 Magnesium and Ageing URL: dur06.shtml
40 Magnesium deficiency and dementia URL: dur30.shtml
41 Audiogenic seizures in magnesium-deficient mice Magnesium
deficiency in mice causes and increases audiogenic seizures. This
effect was reversed by oral administration of magnesium
acetyltaurinate (ATaMg), magnesium pyrrolido URL: dur10.shtml
42 Consequences of Magnesium Deficiency on the Enhancement of
Stress Reactions; Preventive and Therapeutic Implications (A
Review) Seelig, M.S. Journal of the American College of
Nutrition, Vol. 13, No. 5, 429-446 (1994) conseq.shtml
43 exhibitk.shtml
44 exhibitk.shtml
45 abstract.shtml
46 dur28.shtml
47 exhibitk.shtml
48 abstract.shtml
49 jmgr95_1.shtml
50 genetic.shtml
51 dur19.shtml
52 Prepublication copy, 1997, of the Dietary Reference Intakes
for Magnesium, from the Institute of Medicine of the National
Academy of Science. exhibitk.shtml
53 durwater.shtml
54 marier.shtml
55 SCHROEDER, H. A. 1971. Losses of vitamins and trace metals
resulting from processing and preservation of food. Am. J. Clin.
Nutr. 24: 562-573.
56 leaching.shtml
57 cancer.shtml (Medical Journal Reprint)
58 calcs.shtml (Medical Journal Reprint)
59 africa.shtml (Medical Journal Reprint)
60 alturacv.shtml (Medical Journal Reprint)
61 dur05.shtml (Medical Journal Reprint)
62 Karppanen, H.; Neuvonen, P. J.: Ischaemic heart-disease and
soil magnesium in Finland; Water hardness and magnesium in
heart-muscle: The Lancet, Dec. 15, 1973.
63 Exhibit O Letters from the Archivist of the American
Medical Association concerning prosecution of mineral water.
64 Exhibit P Excerpts from the book, Crazy Water --- The Story
of Mineral Wells and Other Texas Health Resorts.
65 Amended Complaint, Points and Authorities,
page 7, paragraphs 21-27: "In the Archives of Historical Health
Fraud Collection, maintained by the American Medical Association,
there are 57 large boxes containing files on water and mineral
water companies investigated and prosecuted or persecuted by the
FDA, AMA, DOJ, etc.
The AMA archivist, Dr. John Zwicky, wrote to plaintiff that,
"chemical analyses of the products themselves (revealed) the
water was usually anything but pure, clean water (resulting in)
notices of federal judgements against the companies. The
Historical Health Fraud Collection also has some records of
federal agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, which
prosecuted companies for misbranding or other offenses. For other
records of federal action against individual companies...contact
the FDA... Likewise with the Federal Trade Commission.
Dr. Zwicky's comments indicate the vast extent of the
persecution of mineral waters in the United States by the
organized powers of government ----- anything other than "pure,
clean water" was persecuted, until the American mineral water
industry ceased to exist, save for a few small mom-and-pop
companies, despite the now-overwhelming scientific evidence of
the benefits of Mg-rich water.
48F2d.378 concerns a bottled "healing" mineral water from a
spring well-regarded by the Catawba Indians, and named by them in
their language, "Healing Water", which was prosecuted by the FDA
without a hearing. The District Judge wrote, "We make the finding
that this water at the time of trial was free from the criticisms
made of it and will continue to be free. We make this finding
because the claimants have introduced evidence through the
testimony of experts to this effect, which is uncontradicted."
Clearly, the FDA was on an unjustified witch-hunt against this
"healing water," and attempted to use the Department of Justice
as a tool for this persecution.
In 1933, the FDA sent it's "Chamber of Horrors" exhibit of
allegedly dangerous products to Chicago's "Century of Progress
Exposition", and included Crazy Water mineral crystals in the
exhibit. The crystals contained magnesium and other minerals, and
were derived from the evaporation of mineral water, for the
purpose of making "instant mineral water" by dissolving the
crystals in ordinary, low-TDS tap water. Ref: "Crazy Water -- The
Story of Mineral Wells and Other Texas Health Resorts", Gene
Fowler, Texas Christian University Press, 1991. Vice President
Garner ordered the FDA to remove the Crazy Water crystals from
its Chamber of Horrors.
The same source cites a booklet by the AMA's Bureau of
Investigation, detailing numerous prosecutions by the FDA of
mineral water companies. The AMA booklet stated, "No
mineral water will be accepted by the medical profession for
alleged medicinal properties supported only by testimonials from
bucolic statesmen or romantic old ladies." The AMA and
FDA have never recanted their disapproval of mineral water,
despite overwhelming and conclusive scientific evidence of the
benefits of magnesium in water.
The same source recites, "In April, 1991, a congressional
sub-committee released a report stating that plain tap water,
which costs a fraction of the price of bottled water, may in some
cases actually be safer. Blaming lax FDA regulations, the report
cited nearly two dozen 1990 cases of bottled water recalls due to
the presence of benzene, styrene or mold. (IBWA's) Scoville
expressed exasperation with the subcommittee's action, stating
that he and others in the industry have been requesting the FDA
to adopt stricter regulations for the last 11 years." This is
indicative of the continuing antipathy between the FDA and the
bottled water industry to the year 1991."
66 Exhibit A Magnesium content of bottled waters from around
the world, consolidated from two books: (1) The Good Water Guide,
by Maureen & Timothy Green, Rosendale Press, London, 1994.
(2) The Pocket Guide to Bottled Water, by Arthur von
Wiesenberger, Contemporary Books, Chicago, 1991.
67 Exhibit J USGS study of 91,429 representative stream water
samples of magnesium content of American streams.
68 Exhibit E --- From California Dept. of Drinking Water, list
of licensed wells containing over 90 mg/L magnesium.
69 Exhibit E --- From Texas Dept. of Natural Resources, list
of Texas wells containing over 100 mg/L magnesium.
70 Exhibit PP Web search for "pure water" purveyors.
71 Exhibit BB Abstract of medical journal Article #1, average
magnesium content of US tap waters.
72 Exhibit A Magnesium content of bottled waters from around
the world, consolidated from two books: (1) The Good Water Guide,
by Maureen & Timothy Green, Rosendale Press, London, 1994.
(2) The Pocket Guide to Bottled Water, by Arthur von
Wiesenberger, Contemporary Books, Chicago, 1991.
73 Exhibit D Calculations of American Deaths Caused by
Magnesium Deficient Water... table, page 3.
74 Exhibit CCC --- Variation in Mineral Content of
Commercially Available Bottled Waters: Implications for Health
and Disease.
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