The Zika computer virus has officially fan out to over 50 countries , includingthe United States . And like public wellness menace of the yesteryear , there are plenty of hucksters trying to betray “ lifelike ” cure for Zika online . But they ’re all dogshit .
“ There are no FDA - okay medical products for the Zika computer virus , ” FDA Press Officer Tara Goodwin recite me over e-mail . “ Unfortunately , during eruption situations , fraudulent product that claim to prevent , treat , or cure a disease often come out on the market . ”
And boy , is she right . Many people are understandably terrified of contracting Zika from mosquitoes , give the kinds of birth flaw that the computer virus can cause in newborns . Likemicrocephaly — a disease where baby are born with incredibly midget oral sex , which does n’t permit their brains to develop properly .
Illustration by Angelica Alzona
But the net is being flood with “ natural ” curative and preventive treatments for Zika , all of which should be take on with a bowlder - sized clod of salinity . We see to it a similar outflow of fake Ebola remediesback in 2014 . And now the practitioner of pseudo - scientific medicine have turn their eye to a computer virus which is expected to be with us for some meter .
If you ’re interested about the Zika virus and see any of the treatment or “ cures ” lean below , hold on to your wallet for dear life-time .
1) Mosquito Shield Bands
Recently the Federal Trade Commission settled a lawsuit with the makers of Viatek ’s Mosquito Shield Bands over claims that the ship’s company was draw about tribute from mosquitoes . Viatek order that the wristband created a “ vapour barrier ” which protect anyone who wore them from getting seize with teeth . This , of class , was n’t endorse up by any scientific grounds .
“ With Zika virus and other mosquito - gestate illnesses in the news show , consumers might be look for products that protect them from mosquitos , ” Jessica Rich , Director of the FTC ’s Bureau of Consumer Protection saidin a statement . “ The defendants take vantage of those business concern , and pitch a ware without have scientific support that it effectively prevented mosquito bite . ”
The party was already ordered by the FTC back in 2003 not to make bullshit health claim , but this most recent action against them shows that Viatek clearly did n’t learn its object lesson . Viatek Consumer Products Group , Inc. and President Lou Lentine had to pay $ 300,000 in fines .
“Mosquito shield bands” sold by Viatek at places like Walmart and Home Depot
Amazingly , you could still buy these things at station likeHome Depot . And Viatek is n’t the only one . There are scads of company selling “ natural ” plastic banding that they exact willward off mosquito . They do n’t .
2) Nano Silver
Hey look , it ’s our sometime friend Rima E. Laibow , a trained head-shrinker who care todress in research lab coatsfor some reason . Laibow is a big buff of Nano Silver , and believes that the Zika virus is actually get “ a big rap”for birth defects causedby vaccines .
Laibow , much like The Health Ranger from Natural News , cerebrate that there ’s some kind ofglobal conspiracyto blame the birth defect we ’re check on Zika rather than their true causa : shuddery , ominous - sound chemicals . And also like The Health Ranger , Laibow would still love to take your money .
Nano Silver , or colloidal silver gray , is an antiseptic . But its true believers claim that it ’s an antibiotic and general design healer that can be used against everything from Ebola to Zika . That ’s why so many “ raw health ” practitioners deal it on their websites .
Screenshot of Rima E. Laibow from the Natural Solutions Foundation (YouTube)
At the end of Laibow ’s recent web log Wiley Post about Zika she reminds reader to stock up on silver :
Oh , yes , one more affair , make certain , absolutely sure , that you have enough Nano Silver 10 PPM on hand to counter whatever they throw at you . Get it here , www . NSFMarketplace.com .
Do not bribe Nano Silver to fight Zika . It may sound vaguely place - agey . But it wo n’t help push the computer virus .
File photo of orange juice (Associated Press)
3) Eupatorium Perfoliatum, Belladonna, Rhus Tox
Dr. Vikas Sharmasuggeststhat people treat Zika with eupatorium perfoliatum , belladonna , and rhus tox . These plant might have their economic consumption ( in the subject of belladonna , as arecreational drug ) , but none of them will do shit to regale Zika .
From Sharma ’s web log stake :
Homeopathic medicines Eupatorium Perfoliatum , Belladonna , Rhus Tox can be safely used in Zika computer virus contagion treatment . These medicines occur the close in treating the symptoms of Zika computer virus infection . In an epidemics when a huge identification number of person are set on by acute and similar sufferings from similar cause , Homeopathy can be of great prophylactic assistant . Homeopathy has been extremely successful in treating epidemic diseases .
Screenshot of The Health Ranger’s news story accusing the CDC of a global conspiracy
Homeopathic prophylactics ? Do tell .
So what are genus Eupatorium perfoliatum , belladonna , and rhus tox ? Eupatorium perfoliatum is a industrial plant that some Native American kindred used to believe could cure upset os . ( It ca n’t . ) Belladona is a highly toxic plant that can create vivid hallucination , and rhus tox is deduce from poison ivy .
Again , none of these thing will regale Zika computer virus .
4) Just take Vitamin C
The hoi polloi atNaturalHealth365are big believer in vitamin C. But there ’s precisely zero evidence that vitamin snow will help press Zika .
Unlike Ebola , Chikungunya , and Dengue , there are not yet any cover cases of Zika virus contagion being treated with ozone , vitamin C , or hydrogen peroxide . However , it would all defy scientific logical system to think that Zika would not be promptly antiphonal to any or all of these anti - viral therapy . All virus to date that have been treated in the test tube or in the septic affected role have responded in a standardized plus mode .
It has long been ceremonious wisdom in the United States that high venereal disease of vitamin C can advance the immune organization . But unfortunately , that myth is the result of a man named Linus Pauling whose research on vitamin C ’s handling of the vulgar cold ( and other , more serious diseases ) has sincebeen debunk .
High doses of vitamin C might make you feel good , but it wo n’t do anything to ward off Zika virus .
5) Literally eat dirt and charcoal powder
This guyis telling people that all they need to crusade the Zika virus is to eat dirt .
Do not eat dirt , edible or otherwise . It will not cure Zika . And it does n’t savour very proficient . Well , I ’m guessing . I ’ve never eaten dirt .
6) Homeopathy in general
If you see anything with the give-and-take “ homeopathy ” being marketed to treat Zika virus , hightail it in the other direction as fast as you may . It simply does n’t work . Study after sketch after report has essay that homeopathy is garbage .
I do n’t doubt that there are homeopathic “ doctors ” who believe in the garbage they ’re peddling , but you certainly have to be skeptical of people who say that you should n’t hope drug companies because they ’re only out to make money and then ask for money to provide their own homeopathic “ cure . ”
This site , Pay After Cure , explain that they do n’t want to give out the homeopathic redress for Zika because they need to treat each patient role individually :
If a pregnant female parent suspect that she has been bitten by a mosquito , she should immediately seek homeopathic treatment based on the symptom present at that time . We have no way of knowing with certainty but we retrieve that the ripe homeopathic treatment at the right fourth dimension may forbid microcephaly .
[ … ]
We have intentionally not impart the public figure of the cure here as homeopathy is based on individual symptoms and one remedy may not work on another even though both are taint with Zika virus .
Actually , it ’s about morals in water remembering .
7) Bugs Away Spray sold by Natural News
As we explored last workweek , websites likeNatural Newsaccuse the Centers for Disease Control of planning a global conspiracy around Zika . writer like Mike “ The Health Ranger ” Adams claim that chemical and vaccines are the veridical effort of Zika computer virus — but he ’d like you to grease one’s palms his “ chemical - free ” bug spray anyways .
Notice the advertizement up there just to the right of the Health Ranger ’s level ? Adam want to warn you about ZIKA mosquito ! The only problem is that there ’s no such thing as ZIKA MOSQUITOES . There are just mosquito that happen to be carrying Zika . There ’s also no such thing as a chemical - free bug spray . Even this “ truly natural loathly spray , ” which is sold by the author of the article , contains “ chemical ” because that ’s what our world is made of .
But you do n’t need to take my word for it . Take any of the ingredients in the Health Ranger ’s bug nebuliser at random and just add “ chemical composition ” at the final stage in Google . Like Lemongrass oil : C51H84O5 . If innate hemipteron sprays had C51H84O5 in their ingredients list rather of “ lemon grass ” would you be more panicked of their chemicals ?
I ca n’t personally speak to the efficaciousness of the Health Ranger ’s very particular mix of “ chemical substance - free ” chemical at getting free of ZIKA MOSQUITOES . But I do do it that DEET , the fighting ingredient in traditional bug sprays , is both safe for use on human skin — even while pregnant — and incredibly efficacious at deterring mosquito from biting you .
In fact , DEET is the most in effect hemipterous insect spray we know about , so it ’s probably the good anti - mosquito arm at our disposal , whether those mosquitoes are carry Zika or not . disconsolate , Health Ranger .
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