Tetracycline at TEOTWAWKI

Disclaimer.  I am not a licensed health practitioner.  This is just another post on knowledge and understanding you might wish to acquire in advance of a disaster in case no higher care is available.  As long as our society is functioning, you should leave anything more substantial than applying a Band-Aid to the professionals.  No medication, including those available over the counter, should be taken without consulting a physician.  Information shared here is for educational and entertainment purposes only.  It is not medical advice nor a substitute for licensed medical care. 

Whenever two or more preparedness-minded individuals gather, and the topic turns to antibiotics, inevitably the following cautions are offered:  "Don't stockpile tetracycline.  Tetracycline becomes toxic."  And because a lot of what's posted online is copied from someone else online, who copied it from another source, and so on, the myth gets perpetuated.

And yes, the notion of tetracycline becoming toxic is a myth. And sometimes even doctors--who should know better--are the ones perpetuating the myth.  

As I've written in other posts, both doctors I took classes from said they had no problem with using older medications--providing that they had been stored properly. Furthermore, there was no hazard per se to using expired medications, only that they gradually decrease in efficacy. (But if you have a serious infection and your antibiotic is less effective, that could be hazardous.) Both doctors stated this was true even for tetracycline family antibiotics (including minocycline and doxycycline). While tetracycline family antibiotics reportedly used to become toxic soon after their use-by date, both physicians said that they have been re-formulated so that this is no longer the case.

Of course, anyone can write anything on the internet, and proclaim it as the gospel truth.  You shouldn't take anything you read here or on any other blog related to preparedness for granted.  This is serious stuff.  It's your life and that of your family.  You have got to do your own research.  You can start with the references I add to most articles.  The following quote comes from one of them.

According to The Medical Letter, a professional newsletter,

             "The only report of human toxicity that may have been caused by chemical or physical
             degradation of a pharmaceutical product is renal tubular damage that was associated with the
             use of degraded tetracycline... Current tetracycline preparations have been reformulated with
             different fillers to minimize degradation and are unlikely to have this effect" (The Medical 
             Letter, Vol. 44, Issue 1142, 28 October 2002).[1, 2]

If you want to go with your doctor on this, and your doctor maintains that tetracyclines are not safe beyond the expiration date, that's fine. I'm not here to argue. I'm presenting options for people who might need options, and presenting them in advance of TEOTWAWKI so they can research themselves. Truth be told, I don't really care whether you use tetracycline or Skittles. Just don't change your mind later and decide you want my tetracycline, other -cycline family antibiotics, or Skittles. (Well, if I'm in a really good mood that day, and my kids aren't around, I will probably share a few Skittles. I don't like them.)

Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat the following:

• Upper respiratory
• ear infections in adults
• sinusitis
• bronchitis
• Gastrointestinal
• cholera, 500 mg, 4 times per day for 3 days (but doxycycline, azithromycin, or ciprofloxacin may be better choices)[3, 4]
• enterotoxigenic E. coli infections
• gallbladder infections
• Helicobacter pylori, 500 mg, 2x per day, 10 days, taken in conjunction with metronidazole [5]
• Urogenital
• urinary tract infections
• trachoma
• chlamydia, 7-10 days [6]
• gonorrhea, 7-10 days [7]
• pelvic inflammatory disease, 10-14 days [8]
• Vector-borne
• tick-borne relapsing fever, 500 mg, 4 times per day for 10 days [9]
• typhus, 6-10 days [10]
• brucellosis, 2-3 weeks [11]
• malaria

Unless otherwise indicated, the adult dosage is 250 mg, 4 times per day, for 7 days.  For children ages 8 to 12 years, the dosage is 125 mg.  Do not use in children under the age of 8 years unless there is no other option.  Tetracycline can cause problems in developing bones and stain teeth.

Alternatives
Colloidal silver has been shown to be as effective as tetracycline in laboratory studies.[12]

The following herbs have been demonstrated in clinical studies to work synergistically with tetracycline, even against tetracycline-resistant bacteria:

• berberines like Oregon grape and Japanese barberry combined with tetracycline are extremely effective in treating cholera and E. coli infections;
• thyme, in the form of one to two drops of essential oil under the tongue, combined with tetracycline worked well against Salmonella typhimurium, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus [13]
  
• bidens [14]
• licorice (the herb--Glycyrrhiza--not the candy) [15]
• ginger [16]
• pomegranate rind and peel [17]

Most cholera strains are resistant to tetracycline alone.  It should be combined with an herb to be effective in treating cholera. Furthermore, combining tetracycline with an herb may significantly shorten the treatment period, allowing you to make the tetracycline supply last longer.

Contraindications.  Tetracycline should not be taken by pregnant women and children under the age of eight years as it can damage bones and stain teeth.  Tetracycline absorption is significantly (50-90%) impaired by milk and milk products. The issue arises not from the milk itself, but rather the antibiotic binding with calcium. Tetracyclines also bind with iron, zinc, and magnesium. So antacids like Tums and supplements of these minerals would also inhibit tetracyclines, as would any other foods rich in these minerals, like oysters, dried figs, and raisins.  For this reason, do not use milk products or antacids for two hours before or after taking tetracycline.

Caution.  Tetracycline may cause sensitivity to the sun and the development of a rash.  Avoid sun exposure while taking tetracycline. 

Links to related posts:
Shelf-Life of Medications
Colloidal Silver
Japanese Barberry
Thyme
Ginger
Pomegranate 

For further information:
[1] Cynthia Koelker, Armageddon Medicine, 467.
[2] Survival and Austere Medicine, 3rd Edition, 211.
[3] Armageddon Medicine, 176.
[4]  David Werner, Where There Is No Doctor, 356.
[5] Armageddon Medicine, 368.
[6]  Ibid.
[7]  Ibid.
[8]  Ibid.

[9]  “Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/tickbornediseases/tbrf.html (accessed 5 March 2020).

[10]  David Werner, Where There Is No Doctor, 356. 

[11]  Ibid.  

[12]  “Unsponsored BYU Laboratory Studies Conducted by Dr. Ron W. Leavitt, Professor of Microbiology at Brigham Young University,” SilverMedicine.org, https://www.silvermedicine.org/byustudy.html (accessed 21 March 2020).

[13]  Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, 213, 215.

[14]  Ibid, 132.

[15]  Ibid, 226.

[16]  Ibid, 235

[17]  Ibid, 215-16.

 21 april 2020

Getting the Most out of Your Dehydrated Onions

Back around 2008 when I really started diversifying our food storage, I loaded up on the dehydrated onions offered by the Home Storage Center (formerly referred to as the canneries or Bishop’s Storehouse operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).  I got a couple of cases.  I still have most of the cans, minus the few that have been given to children as they married. 

While I’ve been really pretty good about rotating through our most of our food storage items, I can’t say that’s true about the dehydrated onions.  I love fresh onions.  I love growing them in the garden and using them fresh throughout the spring (as green onions), summer, and fall.  I would rather chop fresh onions, even if they make me cry, rather than use dehydrated.  So I’ve really only used the dried ones for making onion soup mix or in a pinch when I’ve run out of fresh. 

I need to change that.  The first step, of course, was to do some research.

In the US, we consume about 20 pounds of onions per person each year.  Of course, that is fresh onions.  The equivalent is 2 pounds of dehydrated onions, or one #10 can. 

When we are using onions, we use them in so many different forms—dried or fresh, powder or flakes, per onion or by the measuring cup.  If we can calculate the equivalents, that will make the dehydrated onions easier to use.

One tablespoon of dehydrated onion flakes equals:

• ·       1 small fresh onion, chopped
• ·       1/4 cup chopped fresh onion
• ·       1 teaspoon onion powder

Use 1/4 cup of dehydrated onion flakes for 1 cup of chopped fresh onions. 

Rehydrate dehydrated onions in four times as much water for 15-20 minutes and then drain the excess water.  Dehydrated onions do not need to be rehydrated if they are being added to soups, sauces, or stews.  They should be rehydrated before adding to casseroles or sautéing. 

Here are a few ways to use dehydrated onions every day.

Onion Powder

Process dehydrated onions in a blender or food processor.  One cup of dehydrated onions will yield ½ cup of onion powder.  Store in an airtight container.  Onion powder tends to clump as it absorbs moisture from the air.  To prevent this, add 6-10 grains of uncooked white rice to the storage container to absorb this moisture and avoid clumping.

I previously posted a different recipe for dry onion soup mix (link below).  The following recipe makes a larger batch with fewer ingredients.

Onion Soup Mix

3/4 cup dried minced onion

1/3 cup beef bouillon granules

1/3 cup onion powder

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon crushed celery seed, optional

Combine all ingredients in an airtight container and shake well.  Makes 1 ½ cups, the equivalent of about 6 envelopes of dry onion soup mix.  Use ¼ cup in place of one envelope of soup mix.

Caramelized Onions

In a saucepan over medium-low heat, place the dehydrated onions and cover with four times as much water.  Cover and cook, stirring every 3-4 minutes for 10-15 minutes or until golden.  If they dry out before tender and golden, add more water.  If they finish cooking but water still remains, continue simmering until the water evaporates.  (Don’t drain the water, as it contains some of the sweetness.)   Season with a little salt to taste.  If desired, add a little sweetness with a touch of sugar or balsamic vinegar. 

Chef’s review:  Cooking/rehydrating the onions like this works very well.  They plump up nicely, even if I think they aren’t quite as aromatic as fresh onions.  As far as the salt, sugar, and vinegar go, the salt is an absolute must.  The sugar did add sweetness if that is desired.  The balsamic vinegar did nothing for me.

Links to related posts:

DIY Beef Bouillon and Onion Soup Mix  

The Medicinal Uses of Onion  

6.9.24

Moving Vegetable Plants to a Warmer Zone without Changing Zip Codes

Now that we’re into a new year and the Christmas decorations have been packed away, it’s time to start making some preparations for the garden.  In previous years I could consider planting peas in very late February without any special protection if the conditions were right, but I’m one zone colder now.  On top of that, we are on the side of a mountain that faces north.  The sun doesn’t actually hit the ground here until about an hour after it hits my next closest neighbor’s yard.  So even if I could warm the soil up, without the sunlight to grow the seeds, planting any earlier would be a waste of time for me. 

That makes heating up the ground all the more important so that my veggies can get as quick a start as possible.  Believe it or not, it’s actually possible to plant as if you live in an area that is up to three zones warmer, especially if you employ a couple of options together. 

1.  Walls (whether belonging to the house or other structure or retaining walls) can store, release, and reflect heat.  Take advantage of the free heat supplied by walls by putting plants in right next to them. 

2.  Dark compost placed around the plants helps to warm the soil and hold heat during the night.  Compost or still decomposing garden and livestock waste also release a small amount of heat as it is decomposing and slightly raise the temperature.  In addition, compost helps hold water, and water helps hold heat.  Dry soils are much cooler.  However, don’t overdo the water—soggy water can drown seedlings.

3.  In raised beds, raised boxed beds, or even just raised furrows, the soil warms up much faster and with this practice alone you’ve moved your plants one full zone warmer.  Every year in Reno, I turned the soil in the raised boxed beds.  The compost or still decomposing material went into the bottom half of the 20” high beds and then was covered with the soil that had been on the bottom of the bed the previous year.  The soil warmed quickly and I was able to plant tomatoes (also protected with other means) in mid-April.  My neighbors weren’t planting their tender vegetables for another 5-6 weeks. 

4.  Row covers can be used before and after planting.  Options like plastic sheeting, including simple drop cloths, can be quite effective.  (The jury is still out on whether black or clear plastic is more effective.)  Old sheets and tablecloths, and even transparent garbage sacks will do the job.  Commercially produced garden fleece/row covers can raise the temperatures 2-8°F.  Frost blankets, normally used at the end of the season, can protect plants down to 20°F. 

Before planting:  You need the temperature to reach 44°F consistently for planting.  Plastic is probably the best and least expensive choice here and is particularly effective when you've got heavy clay soils.  Whichever type of row cover you choose, put it in place 2-6 weeks before planting to warm the soil up fully. 

After planting:  Place old sheets or commercially produced floating row covers over vegetables to keep them warmer and prevent pests from gaining a foothold.  Plastic can also work, but it mustn't come into contact with the plants.

5.  Cloches are simple covers individual plants to protect them from frost, to warm the plants during the day, and to help retain water.  The disadvantage with them is that if not carefully monitored temperatures can rise too much, killing the plants they were meant to protect. Cloches run the gamut from free to rather expensive.  Some of the best options are milk jugs, soda bottles, and water bottles.  You simply cut the bottom off and push them into the loosened soil around the seeds and seedlings.  Another bonus of using these DIY options is that you can easily remove the cap for venting on warm or sunny days.

6.  Wall o’ waters are a particular kind of cloche.   The 14-16 vertical channels are filled with water and then pressed together to form a protective teepee around the plant.  Like other cloches, they retain moisture and heat.  Unlike the others, they can protect from freezing temperatures down to about 20°F. 

7.  Cold frames are open-bottom boxes most often with wood sides and a hinged glass top that can be opened for harvesting the vegetables growing therein or simply venting to keep tender plants from burning on sunny days. These unheated structures harness the power of the sun to get a jump start on the gardening season and protect tender seedlings from harsh weather conditions common to early spring.

Any one of these practices will make the particular patch of garden where it is used ½ to 1 zone warmer.  Combining two or more can give you up to three zones.  Keep in mind, however, that it’s also possible to have too much of a good thing.  Each layer of protection may prevent up to 10% of the sun’s energy from penetrating.  If you put a milk jug cloche over a tomato plant, then add a wall o’ water, and finally cover with a row cover, that’s 30% of the solar rays that aren’t getting through, and it can detrimentally affect plant growth.

All this talk of gardening is getting to me.  It’s only been 3 months since the season ended, and I’m already itching to get back out there.  I’ve got 6” of snow on the ground and another 4-8” in the forecast for the next 24 hours.  I guess I’d better start looking at what I’ll be starting inside this year.

 

The Master Medical Shopping List

I first ran this list two years ago, about a month before the government shut us down for COVID.  It has been the second most commonly read article on the blog.  I thought it might be a good idea to review our medical supplies and make sure we've got what we need.  Supply chain disruptions are affecting supplies of medicines every bit as much as they are food, and medicine is often a more critical need.  Of all things, cold medicines have been hard to find in some areas.  

Unfortunately, shortages are not limited to cold medications.  The FDA's current list of shortages includes bacteriostatic water and saline for injection.  Folks, these are needed for so many injectable drugs used in hospitals.  If you don't have these solutions, you can't perform a lot of surgeries.  Many hospitals are close to having to shut down, a fact that my husband confirmed for us locally when speaking with a doctor acquaintance of his.  If you are lacking any of these supplies, the time has come to stop procrastinating.

This list is just a guideline; no one can predict what any given family will actually use in a year.  Hopefully none of it, right?  Tailor the list to your family and your budget, your known medical conditions, and your climate.  When it comes to antibiotics, consider whether you can get by with less--are you willing to use herbal medicine?  If so, you can probably reduce the quantities somewhat.  If you are really careful people, you may not need so many Band-Aids.  Maybe you just don't get headaches or colds.  Those things could be reduced or eliminated from the list.

As this is a list I just cranked out, I'm sure several items are missing.  I'll add them in as I remember them or as readers prompt me in the comments below.  This list is only for the pharmaceuticals, because most of them come from China, as well as the common medical supplies and tools, which also primarily come from China.  The herbs and improvisational supplies will have their own lists later.

I've already written blog posts about most of these items.  Some are in the queue.  A few have yet to be written.   If you have questions about anything, type the term into the search box on the upper right and hopefully you'll find something that offers an answer.  If not, ask away in the comments below.

The Master Medical Shopping List

Clean water and hygiene

Calcium hypochlorite (68-73%), 1 pound

Chlorine bleach, 2-3 gallons

Coffee filters, 300

Bath and hand soap, 25-30 bars per person

Hand sanitizer, 32 ounces per person

Skin preps and washes

Rubbing alcohol, 70%, 16-oz bottles, 4

Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens), 16-oz bottle, 1

Hydrogen peroxide, 16 oz bottle, 1

Povidone iodine (Betadine), 16-oz bottle, 1

Benzalkonium chloride wipes, 40
Alcohol prep pads, 3 boxes 

Tincture of benzoin, crushable vials, 10

Tincture of iodine, 2-oz bottles, 2

Sterile saline vials, 15 ml, 24

Vitamins

Multi-vitamins for all, especially B9 for women of child-bearing age, B12 for anyone on stomach medications or over the age of 60, D for those in northern latitudes without a lot of sun in winter
Prenatal vitamins

OTC Medications

Medications for managing your own chronic conditions

Primatene Mist, 1 bottle

Pain relievers

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), 300

Aspirin, 300

Naprosyn (Aleve), 300

Acetaminophen (Tylenol), 300

Excedrin/Vanquish, 50

Caffeine (Jet Alert), 90

Meloxicam, 30

Children’s chewables

Acetaminophen, 24

Ibuprofen, 24

Baby aspirin, 100

Benadryl, 24

Anti-histamines

Cetirizine (Zyrtec), 40

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), tablets and capsules, 600
Famotidine (Pepcid), 50

Ranitidine (Zantac), 50  (As most are aware by now, ranitidine is no longer available due to being linked to causing cancer.  While frequent use is probably not a good idea, ranitidine could still be administered to treat a severe allergic reaction if nothing else were available.)

Antacids

Tums, 300

Alka-Seltzer, 100

Omeprazole, 3 courses of treatment

Anesthetics

Lidocaine, HCL powder, 500 grams

Pain relieving patches, 40

Tattoo numbing cream, 5%, 1 jar
Cold Spray, 1 can

Epinephrine, vial, 1

Antibiotics

Amoxicillin, 500 mg, 100

Augmentin, 500 mg, 100

Azithromycin, 250-500 mg, 30

Cephalexin, 500 mg, 100

Ciprofloxacin, 500 mg, 100

Doxycycline, 100 mg, 100

Erythromycin, 400-500 mg, 100

Levofloxacin, 750 mg, 40

Metronidazole, 500 mg, 100

Moxifloxacin, 400 mg, 20

Penicillin, 500 mg, 100

Tetracycline, 100 mg, 100

SMZ-TMP, DS, 100

Anti-nausea

Meclizine, 100
Sea-Bands, 1-2 pairs

Anti-diarrheal

Loperamide (Imodium), 100

Stool softener
Docusate sodium, 100

Topical creams
Hydrocortisone, 2 tubes
Hemorrhoid
Capsaicin
Silver sulfadiazine
Zinc oxide
Vaseline (16 ounces)
 

Anti-fungals

Fluconazole, 100 mg, 30

Clotrimazole (Lotrimin), 1 tube

Tolnaftate (Tinactin), 1 tube

Terbinafine (Lamisil), 1 tube

Anthelminths (dewormers)

Mebendazole, 30 tablets

Cold and cough relievers

Sudafed, 100

Guaifenesin, 100

Afrin, 2 bottles
Vicks VapoRub, 1 jar

Urogenital
Urinalysis strips, 1 bottle
Phenazopyridine, 24
Pregnancy test kits (number depends on number of females of child-bearing age, at least two per person)

Personal protection gear

Nitrile gloves, 1 box per adult in the right size

Sterile gloves, 10 pairs

N95 masks, 30

Procedure (earloop, surgical) masks, 50

RZ mask, primary caregiver, 1 per family

Tapes and Wraps

Sterilization tape, 1 roll

Transpore, 6 rolls

Nexcare, 1-2 rolls

Paper tape, 2 rolls

Cloth tape, 2-3” wide, 3 rolls

Duct tape, 2” wide roll, 1

Ducklings, ½” wide rolls, 1-2

Vet-wrap, 6

Ace bandages, 2”, 3”, 4”, one of each

Dressings

Band-Aids, 300, assorted sizes

Band-Aids, 2x4”, 50

Triple antibiotic ointment, 1-oz tube, 2

Triple antibiotic ointment, 1-use packets, 20

Gauze, sterile, 2x2", 25

Gauze, sterile, 3x3", 25

Gauze, sterile, 4x4", 25

Gauze rolls, non-sterile, 2", 5

Gauze rolls, non-sterile, 3", 5

Gauze rolls, non-sterile, 4", 5

Telfa, non-stick dressing, 3x4", 20

Q-tips, 200
Baby scrub brush, 1-2

Wound closure

Steri-Strips, assorted sizes, 50

Monofilament sutures, reverse cutting, sterile, half circle or 3/8”, sizes 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 4 each

Vet-bond, 2-3 bottles

Skin stapler and staple remover, 1

Quikclot or Celox, gauze, granules

Expendable Supplies

Scalpel blades, #10, 6

Scalpel blades, #11, 12

Scalpel blades, #12, 6

Scalpel blades, #15, 6

Chemical cold packs, 24

Activated charcoal, 1 pound
Epsom salts, 2 pounds

Permethrin, 6 quarts

RID or Nix, 4 treatments

Enema bags and tubing, 4
Disposable razors, 12

Reusable Supplies

Tourniquets, 2

Triangle bandages, 12

SAM splints, 36” long, 2
Safety pins, assorted sizes, 12
Mylar blanket, 1-2  

Instruments

Forceps/tweezers (Uncle Bill’s, Tweezerman), 1

Bandage scissors, 1
Blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer), 1

Klever Kutter, 4
Trauma shears, 1

Glass dropper, 2

Glass thermometer, 2

Bulb syringe, 2
Pulse oximeter, 1
Otoscope, 1
Penlight, 1
Headlamp, 1 
Pill splitter, 1 
Magnifying glass

Minor surgery kit 

Folding zippered pouch, 1

Scalpel handle, #3, 1

Needle driver, 1

Scissors, Metzenbaum, curved, 5.5", 1

Forceps, tissue, Adson 1x2, 1

Forceps, Debakey, 6", 1

Forceps, curved mosquito, 4

Forceps, Kelly, straight, 2

Probe, straight, 1

Forceps, Allis 2x3, 1

Towel clamps, small, 4

Blue towels, sterile, 4

Syringe, glass 5ml, 2

Hypodermic needles, assortment, 12

Dental items
Dental wax
Oragel
Dental mirror
Temporary dental cement
Clove oil
Dental instruments--Nabor's, Michigan, and explorer probes
Extraction forceps 

Links to related posts:
(that would be about half the blog today)
Family Medical Kit
Advanced Medical Kit 

FDA Drug Shortages List