SMOKING FOR HEALTH

I didn’t know this about smoking, and it seems worth airing. From a reader:

Here’s something that many doctors (and patients) know about, but I have yet to see it in the media…tobacco reduces intestinal inflammation associated with Crohns Disease. My stepmother has been a Crohns patient for, oh, 50 years. In recent years, she has tried without success to quit her longtime smoking habit, but every time – even with the patch and the gun – her Crohns flares up (abdominal cramps and other nasty things). Finally, she learned that nicotine, especially when delivered via a cigarette, is an effective anti-inflammatory. This has nothing to do with the fact that she’s smoked for 50 years; Crohns patients who have never smoked in their lives enjoy a benefit from smoking. Okay, so what else is new? Feds notwithstanding, many sick people claim relief from toquing up; why not lowly nicotine? My stepmother – who remains in generally good health despite the Crohns – still tries to wean herself from this habit. God knows society would rather see her sick than smoking.

I say legalize medical tobacco now! (It is legal, dummy – ed.) I know, but if Hillary has her way …