13. Calcium
Where There Is No Doctor 2011 53
Injecting calcium into a vein can be extremely dangerous. It can
quickly kill someone if not injected very slowly. Injecting calcium
into the buttocks sometimes causes very serious abscesses or
infections.
Never inject calcium without first seeking medical advice!
Note: In Mexico and other countries where people eat a lot of corn tortillas or other
foods prepared with lime (“cal”, not the fruit), it is foolish to use calcium injections or
tonics (as is often done to ‘give strength’ or ‘help children grow’). The body gets all
the calcium it needs from the lime.
14. ‘Feeding’ through the veins (Intravenous or ‘I.V.’ solutions)
In some areas, persons who are anemic or very weak spend their last penny to
have a liter of I.V. solution put into their veins. They believe that this will make them
stronger or their blood richer. But they are wrong! Intravenous solution is nothing
more than pure water with some salt or sugar in it. It gives less energy than a large
candy bar and makes the blood thinner, not richer. It does not help anemia or make
the weak person stronger.
Also when a person who is not well trained puts the I.V. solution into a vein, there
is danger of an infection entering the blood. This can kill the sick person.
Intravenous solution should be used only when a person can take nothing by
mouth, or when she is badly dehydrated (see p. 151).
If the sick person can swallow, give her a liter of water with sugar (or cereal)
and salt (see Rehydration Drink, p. 152). It will do as much for her as injecting
a liter of I.V. solution. For people who are able to eat, nutritious foods do more to
strengthen them than any type of I.V. fluid.
If a sick person is able to swallow and keep down liquids . . .