How to use 'The BiotoxinPathway' graphic
- do a 'mouseover' (rollover) of an area to get helpful information about this specific area
- 'left-click' your mouse to bring up more detailed information (in a new window), and definitions of terms
The origin of the BiotoxinPathway graphic
Ritchie Shoemaker, M.D. was a general practitioner doctor in Pocomoke Maryland who as of this date (3/12/15)
has retired from practice and may be in ill health. During his career, Dr. Shoemaker developed a vast collection
of experience and data concerning biotoxin illness in his patients. Though a general practitioner, he has apparently
accumulated by far the most research results in practical form of any science-oriented person dealing with biotoxins, and
was a leading advocate for fair and for legal treatment of patients in situations of water damage to buildings, as consequence
of mold growth in the building.
Relative to his accumulated work and knowledge of treating persons with biotoxin illness, Dr. Shoemaker developed a graphic,
illustrating in conceptual form, the path a biotoxin can take in disrupting a human’s normal chemical processes. The
graphic, called ‘The Biotoxin Pathway’, is a partial representation of what Dr. Shoemaker called his ‘model’
of his description of what happens chemically along ‘The Biotoxin Pathway’ in a human's body.
The complete ‘model’, in addition to the graphic, includes Dr. Shoemaker’s knowledge of and published work regarding:
- blood tests and blood test ‘markers’ to establish a patient’s condition
- use of the ‘Visual Contrast Sensitivity’ test to establish neurological effect of the invading toxin
- use of various medications to moderate a patient’s condition; largely on blood test 'markers'
- formal development of what Dr. Shoemaker called the ‘Shoemaker Protocols’ for a doctor’s use in treating
biotoxin illness
- publishment of several books detailing patient histories of illness, and his specific treatment as their condition
progressed. The primary books are:
- Desperation Medicine, Gateway Press, 2006
- Mold Warriors, Otter Bay Books, 2010
- Surviving Mold: Life in the Era of Dangerous Buildings, Otter Bay Books, 2010
- establishment of a research center (now discontinued) to help fund his research, and to accumulate
his data of assessment and treatment
The interactive version of the graphic
The interactive version of the graphic ‘The Biotoxin Pathway’ is an approximate duplicate (corrections in spelling and modifications
in presentation) of Shoemaker's graphic, except that specific objects within the graphic can be identified by an internet-based
user, and information relative to that specific object (and specific point in a patient’s condition) can be offered via
different forms, including ‘tooltips’, and other popup windows, etc. This information, presented in supplementary
windows, is retrieved in the background, so the user is not disturbed.
By offering user-selected settings on the page hosting the interactive form of this graphic, a user can select whether he/she requests
information (in response to a mouse click) relative to:
- what the terms in the graphic mean
- explanation of what is going on in the immune system at this point
- whether the explanation is to be in conceptual (layman) terms, or in medical (doctor) terms
- what the Shoemaker protocols/knowledge base suggests as treatment in this condition
- the possible side effects and direct effects a patient can expect from this treatment
- access from a database of data specific to the registered user, and specific to this point in the graphic
- other pertinent information for either the doctor or the patient relative to Shoemaker’s ‘model’ and patient information
Such an interactive graphic of ‘The Biotoxin Pathway’ could be of considerable value in:
- making use of Dr. Shoemaker’s accumulated knowledge of biotoxin illness and treatment
- helping the biotoxin sufferer understand his/her condition and help that person establish an action plan for treatment
- ensuring that the attending doctor recognize all pertinent symptoms, and avoid unnecessary tests and medications
- helping the biotoxin patient become an ‘informed’ patient who can assist the doctor in assessing what to do
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