Treating cytokine storm with nicotine!

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   Scientific American - June 2006
www.sciam.com
Nicotine fights inflammation

Well folks, I am a non-smoker, and I don't own or work for a tobacco company... hell, I am a healthcare worker and would gladly eliminate all tobacco products if I could. But.. that being said, there is a very interesting article on the benefits of nicotine for the downregulation of the cytokine storm that is produced in extreme inflammatory illnesses. The article describes in detail the anti-inflammatory benefits of nicotine and similar "nicotinic type" chemicals on receptors involved in inflammation.
  After reading the article, It made me wonder about the use of nicotine patches in the treatment of H5N1, even if only as a last resort. 
  One of the reasons that I am considering this, is that pregnant women are at such high risk, due to the "cytokine storm effect" during pregnancy. Now I especially would never risk the use of any unproven medical treatment in anyone, let alone a pregnant women, but for all of us that have a pregnant daughter, wife, girlfriend, etc. would this be something that may be helpfull in a last ditch attempt to save their lives...I think I would consider it. I might even stock up on some nicotine patches in my preps.

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Bobcat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: March 01 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 42	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bobcat Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Treating cytokine storm with nicotine! Posted: May 27 2006 at 10:08am
	Scientific American - June 2006 www.sciam.com Nicotine fights inflammation Well folks, I am a non-smoker, and I don't own or work for a tobacco company... hell, I am a healthcare worker and would gladly eliminate all tobacco products if I could. But.. that being said, there is a very interesting article on the benefits of nicotine for the downregulation of the cytokine storm that is produced in extreme inflammatory illnesses. The article describes in detail the anti-inflammatory benefits of nicotine and similar "nicotinic type" chemicals on receptors involved in inflammation. After reading the article, It made me wonder about the use of nicotine patches in the treatment of H5N1, even if only as a last resort. One of the reasons that I am considering this, is that pregnant women are at such high risk, due to the "cytokine storm effect" during pregnancy. Now I especially would never risk the use of any unproven medical treatment in anyone, let alone a pregnant women, but for all of us that have a pregnant daughter, wife, girlfriend, etc. would this be something that may be helpfull in a last ditch attempt to save their lives...I think I would consider it. I might even stock up on some nicotine patches in my preps.
	Ready or not, here it comes!