The impact of weather on human health.

The impact of weather on human health is a well-known fact, yet, alas, neglected in the past. Bioclimatology, a vast field of medical knowledge, has only been developed in the past few years. It shows that the air we breathe has a profound influence on our well-being. Electrical charges of the air, such as ions, spherics and electrofields can affect our endocrine, vegetative and autonomous nerve system. It may even be responsible for post-operative thromboembolism. The present article describes weather reactions, electric radiations, climate rhythm, medical aspects of weather changes, and their effect on health and disease. Special devotion is also given to the manifestations of evil winds.

Effect of manual lymphdrainage massage on blood components and urinary neurohormones in chronic lymphedema.

In an earlier paper we have shown that manual lymph drainage massage of edematous limbs can result in the excretion of up to 1 liter urine derived from reabsorption and transport from the interstitial fluid, simultaneously with significant changes in the excretion of urinary neurohormones. These findings indicated that histamine and serotonin were released from the edematous tissue and that circulation improved through increased output of adrenaline and noradrenaline. The results achieved led us to assume that similar changes may have occurred in the blood during treatment, and induced us to study the effect of manual lymphdrainage on various blood constituents and urinary neurohormones.

Preventive treatment of serotonin-migraine with 1,3,4,14b-tetrahydro-2,7-dimethyl-2H-dibenzo(b,f)pyrazino-(1,2--d)-(1,4)-oxazepine hydrogen maleate (Org GC 94). A double-blind study.

1,3,4,14b-Tetrahydro-2,7-dimethyl-2H-dibenzo(b,f)pyrazino-(1,2-d)-(1,4)-oxazepine hydrogen maleate (Org GC 94) is an oral "antamine" preparation with anti-serotoninergic and anti-histaminic effects. Its lack of unpleasant side-effects permits protracted use for the preventive treatment of serotonin-migraine. Its chemical structure--tetracyclic ring, C-beta, C-alpha, amine in a secondary position--allows block of the receptors for serotonin and histamine. Preventive treatment with 3 x 5 mg/day of Org GC 94 for a period of 3 months can almost completely eliminate migraine attacks. 21 out of 30 patients (70%) profited from such a treatment, showing a drop from 5--30 attacks to 0--1 attack per month and normalization of high urinary serotonin, 5-HIAA or histamine levels. However, 30 patients receiving 3 x 0.5 mg or placebo daily reacted only rarely. The typical side-effects of anti-serotonin drugs, especially sedation or dizziness and hyperorexia were hardly observed. Randomization of the serotonin-migraine cases and double-blind methodology were applied throughout the trial.

Migraine and headache due to weather and allied causes and its specific treatment.

Attacks of migraine resulting from climatic cold or heat-stress are a common occurrence in 20-30 per cent of a population exposed to weather changes. The electrical charges (positive ionisation and sferics) engendered by every incoming weather front produce a release of serotonin. In addition there also exists a syndrome of adrenaline deficiency, which may produce headache, while a third reaction, intermittent hyperthyreosis, plays a lesser role in evoking headache. The differential diagnosis of the various types of headache is based upon the profile of neurohormones excreted in the 24-hours urinary output, which permits a comparison between normal and weather-stress days. Such a procedure may provide an appraisal of the underlying metabolic disturbance. Consequently, appropriate treatment can be administered to the patient, and its effect controlled by analysis of any possible neurohormonal change.

Effect of manual lymph drainage massage on urinary excretion of neurohormones and minerals in chronic lymphedema.

Treatment of 29 cases of chronic lymphedema of various origins, mostly of the lower limbs, by manual lymph drainage massage resulted in significant changes of neurohormone excretion in the urine, whereas the secretion of 17-KS, thyroxine, minerals, and creatinine was not significantly changed. Comparison of the values of urinalysis before and after manual lymph drainage of the patients showed the following changes: 17-KS; -3.5% (non significant); 17-OH: -31% (significant); adrenaline: +50% (significant); noradrenaline: +19% (significant); serotonin: -22% (significant); 5-HIAA: +21% (significant); histamine: +129% (highly significant); thyroxine: -17% (nonsignificant); creatinine: -17% (nonsignificant); sodium: -1% (nonsignificant); potassium: -14% (nonsignificant). The corresponding values for ten controls were all non significant. These findings underline the importance of adrenaline and noradrenaline release by manual lymph drainage, which improves circulation. On the other hand, our results indicate the involvement of histamine and perhaps of serotonin in lymphedema formation, and suggest a combination of manual lymph drainage massage with antihistamine and antiserotonin treatment.

Quantitation of nitroglycerin in human blood after administration by sustained release.

Nitroglycerin was traced in the blood of 20 patients up to 4 h after oral administration of a sustained release preparation (Nitro-Mack Retard). The determination needs an extremely sensitive method using GLC-columns with 3% SE-30 (Packard) equipped with an electron capture detector.

Effect of indomethacin and cyproheptadine on onset of labour in rats.

An attempt was made to postpone term in 59 pregnant rats by s.c. injections of indomethacin or cyproheptadine, or a combination of both. The cyproheptadine group gave birth to their litters on days 20-22, yet indomethacin postponed labour to the 23rd day, both when given alone or in combination with cyproheptadine. As the fourth saline group went into labour on the 20--23rd day the indomethacin postponement cannot be considered significant. Indomethacin being a prostaglandin antagonist and cyproheptadine a serotinin antagonist, it may be concluded that neither prostaglandin nor serotonin are decisive for the intricate process which triggers parturition. Other factors, such as decrease of progesterone, increase of oestrogen and perhaps foetal oxytocin, as well as placental ACTH, seem to concur in inducing labour, their effect being fortified by serotonin and prostaglandins during parturition.

[New methods in the treatment of weather sensitivity]. / Neue Methoden zur Behandlung der Wetterfühligkeit

Changing weather fronts produce severe changes of daily rhythms. Electrical impulses arrive 1-2 days before the weather and create either atmospherics or "positive ions". They are responsible for the epidemic appearance of migraine and of thrombo-embolism. The impact of atmospheric electricity has been assessed in 1000 patients by daily urinalysis of serotonin, 5-HIAA, adrenaline, noradrenaline, histamine, thyroxine, 17-KS, 17-OH, Na, K, creatinine and diureses. The changes found in these 12 parameters allowed a classification of heat reactions into three clinical entities: 1. serotonin hyperproduction causing a typical irritation syndrome: 2. adrenal deficiency producing a typical exhaustion syndrome; 3. hyperthyroidism "Forme fruste" with subclinical "apathetic" thyroid symptoms. These sufferings, typical for Föhn, Tramontana, Sirocco, Sharkiye, Chamssin, Sharav and Santa Ana Winds, are mainly due to positive ionisation of the air. They can be prevented by negative ionising apparatuses or specific drug treatment.