Radiation Sickness
Synopsis of Radiation Sickness
Radiation sickness, or acute radiation syndrome (ARS), occurs when the body is exposed to a high dose of ionizing radiation in a short time. This radiation damages DNA and rapidly dividing cells, especially in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, and skin. Symptoms vary based on the dose and duration of exposure but often begin within hours and include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, skin burns, hair loss, and, at high doses, organ failure or death. Radiation sickness can result from nuclear accidents, radiation therapy, or occupational and military exposure. Even moderate doses can suppress immunity, impair digestion, and lead to long-term complications like cancer.
Types:
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Hematopoietic syndrome: Affects bone marrow and blood cells, leading to infection, bleeding, and anemia
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Gastrointestinal syndrome: Damages the lining of the intestines, causing diarrhea, dehydration, and malabsorption
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Neurovascular syndrome: Occurs at extremely high doses, causing confusion, seizures, and rapid death
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Cutaneous radiation injury: Localized skin damage from direct radiation contact
Common Causes:
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Accidental nuclear plant exposure (e.g., Chernobyl, Fukushima)
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Improper handling of radioactive materials
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High-dose radiation therapy or overdose
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Military exposure to nuclear weapons or dirty bombs
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Radiological terrorism or mass-casualty events
Severity Causes:
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Total dose and duration of radiation exposure
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Distance from the source and shielding involved
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Individual sensitivity, age, and immune status
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Whether exposure was external, internal (inhalation/ingestion), or both
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Access to immediate treatment and decontamination
When to See a Doctor:
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After any known or suspected radiation exposure
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Rapid onset of vomiting, diarrhea, or skin burns
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Dizziness, weakness, or disorientation following exposure
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Signs of infection or bleeding with no obvious cause
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Long-term symptoms like fatigue, hair loss, or skin changes after therapy
Natural remedies for Radiation Sickness
Potassium iodide (KI): Blocks radioactive iodine from being absorbed by the thyroid. Most effective when taken shortly before or after exposure to radioactive iodine.
Activated charcoal: May bind to radioactive particles in the digestive tract and reduce absorption after ingestion of contaminated food or water.
Chlorella: A green algae shown to bind heavy metals and radioactive isotopes, supporting detoxification and reducing oxidative stress.
Spirulina: Helps reduce radiation-induced bone marrow suppression and immune damage. Often used to counteract environmental or therapeutic radiation.
Miso soup: Traditionally used in Japan to help mitigate radiation exposure. Fermented soy may support detox pathways and reduce gastrointestinal damage.
Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant that protects DNA from oxidative damage caused by radiation. High doses may support immune recovery post-exposure.
Glutathione (or precursors like NAC): Crucial for cellular detoxification and antioxidant defense, especially during oxidative stress from radiation.
Seaweed (e.g., kelp): Contains natural iodine and may reduce uptake of radioactive iodine, offering thyroid protection similar to potassium iodide.
Ingredients
These raw ingredients are often used in alternative medicine to treat Radiation Sickness
activated charcoal
alpha lipoic acid
alpha-ketoglutarate (AKG)
arabinogalactan
ascorbyl palmitate
astaxanthin
astragalus
beta-carotene
Beta-Glucan
beta-tocopherol
bifidobacterium lactis
catalase
caterpillar mushroom
chlorella
cyclodextrin
d-alpha tocopherol
green tea
iodine
kelp
l-carnosine
l-cysteine
l-glutathione
lactobacillus casei
lentinula edodes mycelia
magnesium
mannitol
mixed carotenoids
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
niacinamide (vitamin B3)
nicotinamide riboside
PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid)
potassium
purified silver
pyrroloquinoline disodium salt
quercetin
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
spirulina
vitamin C
vitamin E
seaweed
whey protein
zeolite
zinc
β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)
lingzhi
algae
Astragalus
Alpha Glucans
Agaricus mushroom
Arsenic
Alpha-Glycosyl Isoquercetin
Alpha ketoglutarate
Activated Charcoal
AHCC
Aucubin
Algae (unspecified)
Agaricus blazei
Astragaloside IV
Activated Charcoal
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Astragaloside
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Algae
Alkoxyglycerols
Acetyl-Glutathione
Acetyl-l-glutathione
Alkylglycerol (unspecified)
Acemannan
Algin
Alpha Glucans
Agaricus (unspecified)
Agaricus blazei
Algae protein
Algal protein
Astaxanthin
Alkylglycerols
Acidophilus
Antioxidant (unspecified)
Androstenetriol
Arjunolic acid
beta-carotene
Beta-Glucanase
Bifidobacterium
beta-zeacarotene
Beta-glucosidase
Bifidobacterium animalis lactis
Blue-Green Algae
BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
Basidiomycota
beta-cyclodextrin
Bacillus subtilis natto
Bifidobacteria
Beta Glucans
cyclodextrin
Clinoptilolite
Chlorella
Catalase
Carnosine
Chlorella growth factor
Coriolus mushroom
carotenoids
Calcium Folinate
Chlorella Pyrenoidosa
Coenzyme Q10
Cyclodextrin
C-Phycocyanin
Chlorella Protein
Crocetin
Cysteine compounds (unspecified)
Canthaxanthin
Cysteine
Cystine
Cordycepic acid
Ceramides
C-Phycocyanin
Chlorella
Dismutase
DNA
DL-Methionine
Dibenzo-alpha Chromoproteins
Dithiolthiones
Deuterium Depleted Water
Dunaliella salina
Ergothioneine
EGCG
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
Folinic Acid
Ferulic Acid
Flavin mononucleotide
Fulvic Acid
formylmethionine
Flavones (various)
Ferulic acid derivative
Flavonolignan
Folinic acid
Glutamine
Gamma-Glutamylcysteine
Glutathione peroxidase
Green Tea
Galactooligosaccharides
Glucanase
Germanium sesquioxide
Germanium
Glutathione
Gallium
Glucaric acid
Haematococcus pluvialis
Human growth hormone
Hydrogen
Interferon gamma
IP-6
Isoascorbate
Idebenone
Iodine
Idebenone
Kelp
Lactobacillus plantarum
Lactococcus acidophilus
L-Gluthathione
Lentinan
Lutetium
Lactococcus lactis
Lactobacillus (unspecified)
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lutein
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacillus (mixed)
Leucovorin
Lactobacillus
Lipoic Acid
Lactoferrin
Mixed Carotenoids
Methylselenocysteine
Milk Thistle
Mitoquinone mesylate
Mannans
Maitake Mushroom
Methionine reductase
Molybdenum
N-Acetyl Cysteine
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Nicotinamide Mononucleotide
N-acetyl methionine
Pyrroloquinoline Quinone
Phaffia rhodozyma
Pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt
Panax Notoginseng
Paracoccus denitrificans
Phospholipids (unspecified)
Phycocyanins
Pollen (unspecified)
Quercetin
Ribose-l-cysteine
Rhodymenia
RNA
Royal Jelly
RNA & DNA
Ruthenium
Selenium
Selenium Fructo-Oligosaccharides
Selenomethionine
Selenium ascorbate
Sulforophane
Silybin
Selenium nitrate
Selenious acid
Samarium
Selenium Yeast
SOD (Superoxide Dismutase, antioxidant activity)
Somatropin
Streptococcus Thermophilus
Selenium Yeast
Seleno Methionine
Superoxide Dismutase
Selenium Picolinate
Selenodiglutathione
Sodium biselenite
Silymarin
Selenium
Shiitake Mushroom
Selenomethionine
Sodium pyruvate
Sodium chlorite
Thorium
Transfer Factor
Transforming growth factor beta
Thymidine
Tellurium
Taurine
Thickeners
Thorium
Vitamin E (mixed tocotrienols)
Vitamin E (Gamma Tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (beta tocotrienol)
Vitamin E
Vitamin E (beta-tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (tocopheryl succinate)
Vitamin E (tocotrienol unspecified)
Vitamin E (beta tocopherol)
Vitamin E (delta tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (mixed)
Vitamin E (beta-tocopherol)
Vitamin E (tocotrienols)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopheryl succinate)
Vitamin E (alpha tocotrienol)
Vitamin A (retinyl acetate)
Vitamin E (tocopherol not specified)
Vitamin E (delta-tocotrienol)
Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols/tocotrienols)
Vitamin B3 (Nicotinamide riboside)
Vitamin E (tocofersolan)
Zinc alpha ketoglutarate
