Q: I, too, got an e-mail about the brown recluse spider, which I read with a grain of salt, but two years ago there were three bites all attributed to that spider, all within 50 kilometres of me in southern Alberta.
My friend was bitten quite severely and today still has a purple leg. Although the clinic had a tough time identifying the bite, they did call it a brown recluse.
I have found that what was true years ago is not necessarily true today, and there may indeed be a hitchhiker on produce from other areas.
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A: This is just one of several letters and e-mails that I received on this topic.
Just to be on the safe side, I checked again with my Alberta spider expert, who referred me to a world expert in spiders from the University of California, Dr. Rick Vetter. He has also had lots of enquiries about the presence of these spiders in California, but he states quite categorically that they do not exist outside southeastern United States. Quite a few spiders can bite, and the black widow, often found in outhouses, is one of the nastier ones in Western Canada.
To prove the existence of a brown recluse spider in other parts of the U.S. or Canada, the arachnid should be taken to a spider expert for identification.
Blueberry therapy
Q: Is it true that eating blueberries can help with macular degeneration?
A: Macular degeneration is an eye disease that can lead to blindness, in which the retina at the central part of the back of the eye gradually deteriorates.
Blueberries contain an antioxidant known as anthocyanin, which is partly responsible for the fruit’s blue colour. Some researchers in different parts of the world have claimed to have found measurable gains in night vision, and even a possibility that blueberry extract can help guard against macular degeneration.
Eating blueberries may not make much difference if you already have this eye disease, but it might slow the deterioration in vision.
Blueberries can help slow other aspects of the aging process, such as declining balance and co-ordination. They may even have a positive effect on memory. There have also been claims that they help reduce cholesterol.
One of the major benefits of blueberries is that they contain certain carbohydrates that help prevent coliform bacteria from adhering to the walls of the urethra and bladder, which is the first step in a urinary tract infection. Most readers will already be aware of the benefits of drinking cranberry juice, which has a similar positive effect on the bladder.
Clare Rowson is a retired medical doctor living near Belleville, Ont. Her columns are intended for general information only. Individuals are encouraged to also seek the advice of their own doctor regarding medical questions and treatments.
