Interesting stuff! Don’t know that this particular mycobacterium is the only one though. I think every yard that hasn’t been chemically altered probably has the right kind of dirt for the person living there.

If you’re willing to take the time to read it, you can still access the text version of the piece at: http://tinyurl.com/558zby (It’s the storyboard-style text account of the program, so it’s difficult to follow in the format at that link. Be warned: An hour-long documentary, there’s a lot there.)

Essentially, after noticing that leprosy and TB rates in one particular region were lower than neighbouring areas, a particular type of naturally-occuring bacteria found in that region seemed to help strengthen the immune systems of those exposed to it. More research showed a correlation between exposure to certain types of beneficial bacteria, and a reduction in the rates of various autoimmune disorders, such as allergies, asthma, etc.

It might be different if my symptoms weren’t being adequately controlled with medications he’s comfortable with me using long-term, but since they are, he looks at the bigger picture.

He was a know-it-all specialist who did not even bother to do a test first to find out if it was the cat that was the problem. A test later did not show much in the way of a cat allergy.

If my husband had not used DDT to spray his garden, he would be in much better shape today.
Of course, that was before he learned the harmful effects and believed what was sold it the market must be safe or the government would not allow the selling of the product.

We now have what I call an organic garden, but it is not certified.

I was much younger than, but I could not see giving away a cat that I had adopted as an 8 week old kitten and had given love to for five years.

When we moved to Colorado, the primary care physician said my husband had a pulmonary problem instead of an allergy response, and now he is better than ever. He does blow instruments to enlarge his lung capacity, and it is doing wonders for him.

I do understand that some people are allergic to cats. However, it was not my husband.

Years ago, I “fired” an allergist who was going to fire me anyway after a spectacular (and highly unprofessional) shouting match in his office.

I rebuked him after he told me he COULD NOT, WOULD NOT work with a patient who REFUSED TO DO AS SHE WAS TOLD, and he went ballistic at being challenged. (It was the first appointment after he’d taken over the practice of a retiring allergist I’d used for years, one who would have preferred I dump the pets but understood why I did not.)

Do as I was TOLD? What a jerk! I walked out of the new guy’s exam room with as much dignity as one can have while trying to put one’s shirt back on, leaving him fuming in the hallway of his practice.

I have been without an allergist ever since, because two others also went into the “FIRST, you get rid of …” routines.

Sorry, that’s LAST, and only to save my life.

Fortunately, I found a great asthma doc to address the biggest problem. And I muddle through with the rest. If I can breathe, I don’t mind dealing with (and occasionally suffering from) other allergy symptoms.

We have had other cats since then. My husband enjoys them and I really think he was never allergic to them in the first place.

I heard on the TV the other day that since children are playing computer games inside rather than playing games outside, their immunity systems are not being built up as much.