July 28, 2006

Yreka - Siskiyou County has been hot for many days now. Extended days of extreme heat have caused heat related illness to many frail, elderly, and homebound in the State of California. Dr. David Herfindahl is following the Governor’s directive to inform residents of risk of extreme heat exposure. This notice is to help you recognize if you or somebody you see is becoming too hot and becoming ill. The following ideas may help you cool down.

• Use your air conditioner if you are too hot, or spend time in an air-conditioned location such as a store or library.
• Run portable electric fans in your room to move the air if the room temperature is under 90 degrees.
• Take a cool bath or shower and then stand in the breeze from your fan.
• Stay out of the sun.
• Drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic drinks.
• Eat light, cool, easy to digest foods such as fruit or salads.
• Wear loose fitting, light colored clothes. Wear a hat with a brim to shade your face if you must be in the sun.
• Check on your friend to make sure they are OK.
• If somebody becomes confused, stops sweating or seems ill call 911.
• Don’t drink alcohol.
• Walk slowly and take rest break in the shade if you must go outside. Carry some water to drink with you.

July 28, 2006 - Yreka - Siskiyou County Public Health Officer, David J. Herfindahl, M.D. advises residents throughout Siskiyou County to be aware that air quality may be extremely poor in many areas due to severe smoke. In areas with visibility less than 2 miles, residents are advised to remain indoors and refrain from physical exertion. Residents with lung or heart disease, and the elderly are advised to leave areas where levels of particulate matter are high. The attached index will assist in assessing the air quality based on the visibility in your area.

To assess visibility:

Face away from the sun.

Determine visibility range by looking for targets that are at known distances (miles).

The visible range is the point where even high-contrast objects disappear.

After determining visibility in miles use the Wildfire Smoke Visibility Index (linked below) to assess air quality.

Wildfire Smoke Visibility Index

October 11, 2001

By Rudi Williams
American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 11, 2001 — “Wow”! “Look at the dogs!” Melvina Brown, 5, exclaimed as she rushed to pet a “therapy dog” at DoD’s Family (Casualty) Assistance Center here. Her little brother, Robert Russell III, 2, eagerly followed.

Later, Kelli Lynch, 2, stunned her father by petting the dogs.

“I didn’t realize what they were here for until my daughter started playing with them,” said Paul Lynch of Waldorf, Md. “She doesn’t have a dog. She’s actually terrified of them, so it’s surprising that she’s playing with these dogs.” Tears started streaming down his cheeks.

“My father has two dogs at the house, and anytime either one of them makes a move toward her, she turns around and runs and screams and cries. But she’s petting these dogs right now,” Lynch said.

His father, James Lynch, was a civilian employee in the Navy Command Center at the Pentagon. His office was in the direct path of the hijacked airliner that crashed into the building on Sept. 11.

The therapy dogs, a variety of breeds, gave tail-wagging greetings to anyone who entered their space. The four- footed therapists are part of Therapy Dogs International Inc., a volunteer organization that provides qualified handlers and their dogs for visits to hospitals, nursing homes and other places where the dogs might help make residents and patients smile.

Group officials pointed out researchers have clinically proven that petting, touching and talking to the animals lowers patients’ blood pressure, relieves stress and eases depression.

“We’re here at the family assistance center for the families, volunteers, staff, military, security — everybody,” said Sue Peetoom of Fredericksburg, Va., chairwoman of the group’s local chapter, Spirit keepers. “We have our dogs available at any time to be petted and hugged for comfort for the families to remember the pets they’ve left at home while they’re here.”

“The dogs are like a magnet, people are just drawn to them,” said Peetoom’s husband, Lee. “A lot of families, counselors, clergy and other members of support groups stopped by to pet the dogs. We also took them to the kids rooms where children were kept while the parents were taking care of business.”

“We were asked to come here because we have a chapter in Oklahoma City that helped people dealing with the disaster there,” Sue Peetoom said.

Certified therapy dogs must be trained, tested and evaluated before they’re allowed into action, she noted.

“They must be ‘bombproof,’” she said. “That is, they can’t react adversely to any situation. They have to be able to be pulled, prodded, hugged, in large crowds, loud noises. They have to be able to deal with anything that happens to them. We have dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds — and mixed breeds. The only requirement is that they have to be a year old and have excellent temperaments, love people and get along with other dogs, because we’re always in groups.”

They’re all family pets of the people on the other end of the leash, she noted.

A steady stream of people visit the dogs every day, Peetoom said. “We have dogs in the lobby, upstairs, in the children’s room. The dogs are not only for the families, though. Everybody working here is stressed as well, and they’re coming by just for a minute or to smile, touch the dogs, decompress and go back to work.”

Robert Russell III and Melvina Brown had a ball playing with the therapy dogs at DoD’s Family (Casualty) Assistance Center in Arlington, Virginia.
Photo by Rudi Williams.

October 7, 2001

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2001 — In addition to attacking the Taliban regime and terrorist facilities in Afghanistan today, U.S. air operations include the delivery of some 37,000 Humanitarian Daily Rations to Afghan refugees.

The daily ration was specifically designed by the Defense Department for use in emergencies to feed and sustain moderately malnourished people until more traditional feeding methods are restored.

The meals are nutritious, culturally sensitive and cost- effective and have been praised by the United Nations and the international relief community. Since their first use in 1993, they have emerged as a significant and lasting contributor to the fight against hunger.

The rations are pre-packaged, ready-to-eat foods that provide an entire day’s nutritional requirements. Each ration packet contains two main vegetarian meals based heavily on lentils, beans and rice, and also complementary items like bread, a fruit bar, a fortified biscuit, peanut butter and spices. Beans with tomatoes, beans and rice, and bean salad are entrees among the five available menus.

Humanitarian rations come in bright yellow packaging for easy identification on the ground when air-dropped. They “float” down to populations with no parachutes. The packets are marked with the words, “A Food Gift From the People of the United States of America,” and include illustrations depicting how to eat the foods.

Providing about 2,200 calories, each ration packet costs about $4 and has a shelf life of 18 to 24 months.

Hundreds of thousands of the rations were first air-dropped over isolated Bosnian enclaves on Nov. 22, 1993, as part of the humanitarian relief effort Operation Provide Promise. Since then, more than 8 million of the rations have been distributed to refugees worldwide, including in Iraq, Cuba, Bosnia, Rwanda and Haiti.

A typical Humanitarian Daily Ration packet. The yellow, plastic pack is designed to “float” to the ground once dropped by transport aircraft. The packet contains meals that can be eaten by virtually anyone, regardless of culture or religion. The United States began delivering 37,000 rations to Afghan refugees Oct. 7, 2001.

– American Forces Press Service

October 1, 2001

After three years service to Happy Campers in medical need, Dr. Akinlade and his family have left the area. Dr. Akinlade said they plan to travel for a time, then find work and settle down closer to the East Coast.

We have fond memories of his participation in our community and will miss seeing him here. The Happy Camp Health Clinic will continue to operate with nurse practitioners in October, and a temporary doctor will help starting in November while a permanent doctor is being hired.

August 19, 2001

THANK YOU!

A big Thank-You to
The Karuk Tribe,
The Humane Society,
and
Remote Area Medical

. . . for kindly holding a spay/neuter clinic in Happy Camp. Nearly 150 dogs and cats were spayed and neutered, hundreds had shots and check-ups, and other serious medical needs were taken care of. We want to thank all of those who participated to make our local animal population healthier.

Sabrina gets a rabies shot.

August 10, 2001

by Linda Martin

Blackberry bushes

Blackberry leaf iced-tea is a popular summertime drink. This plant also has safe and effective medicinal properties.

Rubus villosus

Also known as: bramble, cloudberry, dewberry, goutberry, high blackberry, thimbleberry

Our rocky hill is covered with blackberry bushes - the Klamath River Valley in Northern California abounds in them - and yet I have learned they are not naturally indigenous to this area. My research shows they are native to the northern and middle states, however they have inundated our town. When we moved here we put paths through the massive bramble patches to make picking easier, and tore out some of the bushes in the process. There are so many blackberries, nobody is complaining. They looked like they hadn’t been pruned in years and needed a heavy hand.

Blackberries do fine in dry or sandy areas, but also like rich soil and will appreciate compost and lots of sunshine. We experimented with watering the berries and decided that the unwatered berries were doing better. Berry bushes in shade or partial shade produced more than bushes in full sunshine, where often the berries dried up before they were completely ripe.

Roping these thorn-covered berry bushes in with a trellis or tie-backs not only protects berry pickers but also guards the safety of the plants, especially through the winter. Weed as much as possible and mulch during winter. Prune after berry-picking season is ended. Blackberries, like roses, must be pruned to thrive.

To harvest:

Leaves must be used fresh cut (immediately) or dried thoroughly before use. Do not use if only partially dried! If used fresh, use twice as much as you would of the dried herb. Roots are also harvested for medicinal use. Clean them thoroughly and dry completely before using.

Traditional medicinal uses:

Bleeding Gums: chew fresh leaves

Diarrhea: well-known remedy; use a tea of leaves or a decoction of roots.

Hemorrhoids: same as for diarrhea.

Mouth Ulcers (Canker Sores): drink tea or chew fresh leaves

Sore Throats: drink tea

Blackberry leaves contain vitamin C, flavonoids, tannins and ellagic acid. Ellagic acid is anti-carcinogenic. Both leaves and berries are highly astringent. A tea of the leaves is a good tonic.

I tried chewing the leaves. They are a bit prickly at first but otherwise pleasant tasting.

Definitions:

Astringent: An agent that contracts organic tissue, reducing secretions or discharges.

Tonic: An agent that strengthens or invigorates organs or the entire organism.

Recipes

Tea

For tea, I choose the freshest, cleanest leaves I can find. Use eight teaspoons chopped fresh leaves for each cup boiled water or use four teaspoons dried leaves for each cup boiled water. To make the tea using fresh leaves, use twice as much, and use them immediately upon picking. Semi-dry leaves should never be used. Steep 20 minutes. I like this tea quite a bit - it needs no sweetener to be delicious hot or cold.

Decoction

This will extract the bitter principles and mineral salts of the plant more than vitamins. Boil about 1/2 ounce blackberry root per cup of water. Use an enamel pot (non-metallic). Boil 10 minutes, then cover and steep about 10 minutes more. Strain and store in the refrigerator. This would be used as a medicine, given by the spoonful, not as a tea. Blackberry root is a well-known, time-honored remedy, and I’ve never heard of anyone being harmed by it. Nevertheless, use caution, using only a small amount, especially if you are using the herb for the first time. Moderation is needed; too much of anything can be harmful.

Some basic information on making jam

Jam is a crushed fruit preserve made with sugar, thickened, and stored in jars. Jam is usually thickened with pectin, a natural vegetable substance that creates jelly when combined with sugar and acidic fruit. Blackberries are one of several fruits that can produce enough natural pectin to be able to eliminate store-bought pectin, but to do so you would have to boil the fruit much longer and add a few under-ripe berries as they contain more pectin.

To prepare jars: clean them, and then place them in a kettle, covering jars and lids with hot water. Heat to a boil, then leave them covered and warm until they are needed.

Jam that will be kept longer than two months must be sealed with paraffin or put in specially sealed canning jars. Canning jars are filled to the top. The rim is wiped clean and then the seals are placed on while hot. The metal rim is then screwed on tightly and the jar allowed to cool on a metal rack.

To seal with paraffin: Heat the paraffin in a double boiler. Fill jars up to 1/2 inch from the top, and immediately cover with a 1/8″ layer of paraffin. Prick any air-bubbles to get rid of them, and be sure all the jam is covered.

Blackberry Jam - with powdered pectin

2 quarts delicious, ripe blackberries
7 cups sugar
One ‘1+3/4′ oz box powdered pectin
Wash the berries and crush them well.
If you prefer less seedy jam, sieve half of the crushed berries to remove seeds.

In a sauce pan, combine 4 cups crushed berries with the sugar and bring to a full rolling boil.
Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly to prevent scorching.
Remove from heat and stir in the powdered pectin.
For five minutes you will need to skim off the foam. Between skimmings, stir some more.
Fill hot sterilized jars and seal.
Makes about 4 pints.
Optional: If you prefer a more tart jam, replace 1/4 cup of the berries with 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Blackberry Jam - no cooking needed, with liquid pectin

2 cups very ripe blackberries, about 1 quart
4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 bottle liquid pectin
Crush the berries
Strain 1/2 of them if desired, but if you do, add one more cup of berries.

Put berries in a large bowl and mix with the sugar.
Combine pectin and lemon juice, and then stir them into the berries.
Stir for about three minutes.
Pour into glasses or freezer jars, cover tightly and let stand 24 hours.
Store in freezer up to one year, or 3 weeks in refrigerator.
Makes 3 pints.

Blackberry Cobbler

5 cups fresh blackberries
3/4 cups sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
Unbaked pastry crust (enough to cover)

Wash berries and put in 10″x6″x2″ pan. Mix the sugar, flour and salt together and sprinkle over the berries to sweeten and thicken the cobbler. Dot with butter, roll the pastry crust 1/8″ thick and cover, pressing down the edges with your fingers or a fork. Cut vents in the crust to allow steam to escape. Bake 30 minutes in a 425-degree oven, until the crust is golden brown. You will not regret it!

—

Author’s disclaimer - read this!

I am not a doctor, health practitioner, or licensed anything. All I do is read books, experiment, and write about things I’ve researched in this way. Please use common sense in using herbs - using only a very small amount when you first use a new herb. You may be allergic to it, for goodness sakes! So go slow. If it helps, you can use more if you are sure it is safe to do so. Herbs are medicinal in nature and you need to know how it will affect you before using a whole lot. I myself have found some herbs dangerous to me - for example, one tea I tried reacted badly to a doctor-prescribed medicine I always use, and I cannot drink that herb tea at all. Do be careful, but enjoy the herbs God has set upon the earth for us to use.

August 1, 2001

The Clinic Pharmacy has been serving Happy Camp for twenty years now, so owners Patt and Michael Celayeta are celebrating with a contest. Simply guess how many pills are in the jar, and if your guess is closest to the actual number, you can win a 5 CD changer stereo system. Entries are limited to one per day per person, and must be completed at the Clinic Pharmacy, 64012 Hillside Road, Happy Camp. The contest will continue until the end of August 2001.