“It is difficult to say how many Vietnam veterans have been affected by Agent Orange. However, any veteran who served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, is presumed by the VA to have been exposed to Agent Orange.” Other locations of likely exposure to Agent Orange include the Korean Demilitarized Zone and Thailand. Approximately 250,000 of the 697,000 U.S. veterans who served in the 1991 Gulf War are afflicted with enduring chronic multi-symptom illness, a condition with serious consequences.

The “presumption of service connection” designation has not been established by the VA for Gulf War Syndrome, nor for damage from Burn Pits. A Bill making its way through Congress dubbed the Veterans Right to Breathe Act seeks to presume a service connection for nine conditions related to veterans’ burn pit exposure. These conditions include:

• Asthma
• Emphysema
• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Constrictive bronchiolitis
• Granulomatous disease
• Interstitial lung disease
• Lung cancer
• Pneumonia

Dr Carol Henricks, MD, is not waiting on the VA. She is treating Burn Pit victims, and has been treating veterans in her NorthStar Hyperbarics, Tucson, Arizona clinic since 2004. Her clinic is part of The Patriot Clinics Network and the TreatNOW Coalition. Trained in neurology, she has developed a Protocol for military veterans who have Post Concussive Syndrome and Burn pit exposure. She is working closely with BurnPits360.org, a leader in demanding justice for Burn Pit victims. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act. This bill would provide presumptive U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits to servicemembers who have deployed and have illnesses due to exposure to burn pits and other toxins. Approximately 3.5 million veterans have been exposed to burn pits that spewed toxic fumes and carcinogens into the air.

We reproduce Dr Henricks’ Protocol here with her permission.

As we all know, any veteran we have seen in our clinic with toxic burn pit exposure also has PCS, at a minimum. Brain injury conditions cannot heal if there is persistent toxicity or nutrient deficiency. Initial evaluation for participation in our Patriot Clinic program requires an assessment by Dr. Henricks. Assessment will be done at her neurology office at 7596 N La Cholla Blvd, Tucson AZ 85741. Phone number: 520-229-1238. Combat veterans from the post – 9-11 period will be considered.
 
Initial assessment involves interview and exam with Dr. Henricks. If the veteran has been exposed to injury causing conditions testing is initiated. All veterans do a RightEyeQ as a baseline of visual function / brain function. Brain MRI – DTI – NQ without contrast is also a baseline test of brain injury. We do hair analysis (Great Plains Lab Toxic & Essential Elements; Hair sample) and urine test for toxicity ( Great Plains Lab Toxic Non-Metal Chemical Profile Urine test which includes Industrial Toxicants / Organophosphate Insecticide Metabolites / Pyrethroid Insecticide / Markers for Mitochondria Function ). Qualified veterans meet with my colleague Dr. Tim Marshall (PhD in neuropharmacology and neurotoxicity). Extensive blood work is done as needed including endocrine screening: each veteran is provided with a nutrient optimization program and detox protocol as needed. IV detoxification and nutrient support is available from IV nurse Carol Ann Smith. An initial 40 x 1 hour sessions with HBOT at 1.5 ata with 100 % Oxygen is completed by all participants followed by a reassessment appointment with Dr. Henricks. After 40 treatments patients will see Dr. Cynthia Dowdall (PhD Psychologist) to assess their need for cognitive – behavioral therapy, counseling and / or neurofeedback.

Care for each patient is individualized and dependent on the health issues of the veteran and the degree and type of toxicity. All of the testing, care and supplements is provided by sponsorship from Healing Arizona Veterans. VA / Tricare does not cover these treatments.

Any Veteran who thinks they have been exposed to Burn Pits is encouraged to register with the VA. Much more information is available through Rosie Torres at https://burnpits360.org/ and by calling Dr. Henricks or TreatNOW. Additional information about the registry can be found at https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/burnpits/registry.asp. 

The information provided by TreatNOW.org does not constitute a medical recommendation. It is intended for informational purposes only, and no claims, either real or implied, are being made.