Husband of an EI, Jim Montagne, speaks of Dolan Springs:
"My wife Pam and I, executed an eclectic and jagged itinerary which covered a good deal of the eleven western states and the northern 1000 miles of western Mexico. We were searching for the EI Shangri La with its complete year round freedom from the four foul follies of civilization -- WOOD SMOKE, MOLD, PESTICIDES and URBAN POLLUTION. We spent 4 years looking for a place which she could tolerate. The spot that was our final choice was located only 70 miles from where we started our almost 100,000 mile journey."
In addition to the four foul follies we gave consideration to other factors which contribute to EI comfort and discomfort. Among the myriad of things contemplated were availability of suitable medical care, a climate free from extremes of temperature, a suitable source of organic produce, a congenial community with local support for disabled persons, lack of regional contaminators such as pulp mills, coal fired electrical plants or forest fires and the presence of other unique or unusual environmental factors which might have an effect upon Pam or other EIs.
CLIMATE
Extremes of temperature seem to have a detrimental effect upon most EI sufferers. Pam contracts both hypothermia when overly chilled and hyperthermia when exposed to high temperatures. As is so often the case with EI people both conditions are often not recognized by her. Hyperthermia results in the classic EI brain fog and this is accompanied by physical symptoms such as flushing, listlessness and dry skin. Hypothermia causes her to exhibit cold extremities, and shivering in addition to the lack of awareness that EI brain fog brings about.
For Pam temperature extremes would be ideal if they did not exceed 80 degrees or go below about 60 degrees. High humidity is another climactic condition that is also undesirable. There just isn't a place in the US that has these weather parameters.
In the west we find that the northern mountain regions have much too much cold and snow and the winters are seemingly endless. The most hospitable winters are found in the low deserts of California and Arizona along the Colorado River. But the summer highs of 120 degrees or more (in the shade are unbearable. On the other hand the lack of mold that is found in the desert is most desirable. Low temperatures mean WOOD SMOKE . For example, the wood burning furnaces, fireplaces and stoves make Missoula, Montana and the adjacent Bitteroot Valley a place of extreme EI discomfort during the seven month heating season. Las Vegas, Nevada has a short heating season, but the up scale yuppie population adore their fireplaces and coupled with the winter inversion layer. Las Vegans have a city that has worse winter air than New Jersey - sayeth the EPA.
GASOLINE
Areas such as Las Vegas have a very high density of automobile exhaust pollution. The EPA requires a wintertime burning of oxygenated motor fuel to cut down on the presence of ca rbon monoxide. However, no consideration is given to the fact that if you reduce the production of carbon monoxide by introducing more oxygen in the fuel, the end product mix of vehicular combustion is changed. New toxic compounds are produced -- Compounds which are much more virulent than carbon monoxide to the EI sufferer. No consideration is given to this fact of life by the EPA. It stands to reason that "normal" people are also adversely effected by the oxygenation. We find ourselves with relief fr om a comparatively less harmful poison but exposed to a much more vicious contaminant. Sort of like getting rid of the usually ( but not always) innocuous black bear by letting the almost universally detrimental grizzly take over.
MEDICAL CARE
Choice of medical care for the EI condition is a difficult and complex subject. Most traditional medical treatment is useless to the majority of EI sufferers. A variety of alternative care practitioners seem to be more helpful than the well intended but woefully ill informed ministrations of the main line medical practitioners. Pam has found an ecologist in Las Vegas who has been the most helpful to her insofar as medical treatment is concerned. He is a disciple of Dr. Rea. Coupled his treatment with ma ny protocols from books by Sherry Rogers a great deal of alleviation of symptoms has resulted. However, to her the three most beneficial medical procedures are in order of effectiveness.
1. AVOIDANCE 2. AVOIDANCE 3. AVOIDANCE.
Therefore, finding a safe place to live is the critical factor in living a safe and enjoyable EI life.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ABUSES
Regional environmental abuses are usually not as bad as the Sadaam Hussein originated blights, but must be considered by anyone looking for a safe EI location. Burning of all sorts occurs --Annual forest fires in the Northwest and occasionally in other areas must be considered. Grass seed growers get a fivefold increase in seed output when their fields are torched. M ontana and Arizona (among others) have coal fueled electric energy plants. Pulp mills in places like Lewiston, Idaho and Frenchtown, Montana make horrendous inroads on areas that are located downwind. Mine tailings with arsenic and other heavy metal residues are to be avoided. Many ghost towns and semi abandoned communities are toxic to a huge percentage of EI sufferers.
MOLD
The gigantic number of molds which can effect EI sufferers greatly limits the geographic scope of acceptable living areas. T he necessity for a dry climate eliminates a large number of possible living sites. Coastal communities are not acceptable. Pam and I lived for six months in a villa about 100 miles north of Puerto Villarta on the Mexican Pacific coast. We had a ceme n t (termites seriously attack wood structures) 4 bedroom home with a beach front location. The must and rust were unbearable to her. Rivers present much the same problem along their banks. Mold is present almost everywhere in the vicinity of streams and lakes. Even desert rivers are not free from mold . Further problems arise from the agriculture on the shores of most fresh water bodies. The combination of mold and pesticides is a particularly vicious assailant upon EIs. A very low annual rainfall and low humidity result in the suppression of mold and carpet mites. The soil of a region contains a huge number of molds and even organically grown vegetation harbors mold. The benefits of growing good pesticide free veggies can be ameliorated in mold infested areas. Mold can be a deadly enemy in older structures in a wet or humid area. Basements smell dank because of mold. Crawl spaces can be highly contaminated.
WOOD SMOKE
Wood smoke can be the most exasperating of all contaminants. Just when the area seems to be good, a slight cold spell will cause all the fireplaces and wood burning heaters to be ignited. Pam and I spent a great week end in Lakeview,Oregon -- located in drier Southeastern Oregon and were quite enthused about the area. Then Monday morning the saw mill lit off the sawdust burner.
Cold weather and wood smoke are synonymous. Most of the rural areas in the northern states burn wood as a primary fuel. It is easily and cheaply available. Urban areas have many fireplaces. Some such as Las Vegas have wood burning restrictions when the smoke and crud get too bad. But the density of housing with fireplaces and gas burning heating systems overwhelms the possible good air.
In addition to wood burning fireplaces, gas heat and cooking the presence of agricultural and trash burning contribute to the smoke problem. Many rural areas have no garbage service and the residents will burn their combustible offal in spite of EPA regs to the contrary.
PESTICIDES
Farming areas will have a large number of pesticides as an ambient contaminant. The Medfly spraying in some states will cause severe problems for EI people. One healthy individual who was a nurse in San Francisco decided to ride her bicycle to work to contribute to a good environment. The stealthy Medfly helicopter got her. She is now an EI. Cotton fields along the southern US border are allowed to have a good deal more pesticide than are growers of foods. The fields are indeed so bad that Pam cannot even drive through areas such as Deming, NM without becoming peripherally numb and if contin ued in the area losing consciousness.
In loving memory of Jim Montagne.
Editor's Note: This description is based on personal experience. Many EIs vary in the type and severity of their reactions. What may cause a reaction for one EI, may not cause a reaction in another.