Soil scientists have long known the connection between human health and the soil. Below are links to information on soil-borne diseases and soil-derived medicines:

Parasitic Diseases Return to the top	Eating Dirt URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol9no8/03-0033.htm Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases (CDC/NCID) Parasitic Pathways - Insects & Worms (A-Z listing) URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasiticpathways/insects.htm Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Parasitic Diseases Geophagy - Eating Dirt - A Traditional Practice Which Provides Nutrients to the Body URL: http://geography.about.com/cs/culturalgeography/a/geophagy.htm About.com Parasitic Roundworm Diseases Fact Sheet URL: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/roundwor.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases "Most roundworms or their eggs are found in the soil and can be picked up on the hands and transferred to the mouth or can enter through the skin..." Ancylostomiasis-- Hookworm Infection URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/hookworm/factsht_hookworm.htm Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Parasitic Diseases "Hookworm is an intestinal parasite of humans that usually causes mild diarrhea or cramps.... You can become infected by direct contact with contaminated soil, generally through walking barefoot, or accidentally swallowing contaminated soil..." Ascariasis--Ascaris Infection URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/ascaris/factsht_ascaris.htm Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Parasitic Diseases "An ascarid is a worm that lives in the small intestine... Ascarid eggs are found in the soil. Infection occurs when a person accidentally ingests (swallows) infective ascarid eggs..." Enterobiasis--Parasitic Roundworm Diseases Fact Sheet URL: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/roundwor.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases "Most roundworms or their eggs are found in the soil and can be picked up on the hands and transferred to the mouth or can enter through the skin..." Toxocariasis--Cutaneous larvae migrans--Creeping eruption URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001454.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "A skin rash caused by the migration of dog or cat hookworm larvae beneath the skin... The main risk factor for this disease is contact with damp, sandy soil contaminated with cat and dog feces." Toxocariasis--Visceral larva migrans, Ocular larva migrans URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000633.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "An infection with the larval form of the dog or cat parasite which can affect the eyes, lungs, liver, brain and heart...Young children with pica (who eat dirt and other inedible things) are at highest risk, but this infection can also occur in adults. People can also become infected by eating raw liver..." Toxoplasmosis URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000637.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Toxoplasmosisis found in humans worldwide and in many species of animals and birds. The cat is the definitive host of the parasite. Human infection results from ingestion of contaminated soil, careless handling of cat litter, ingestion of raw or undercooked meat (lamb, pork and beef), or transmission from a mother to a fetus through the placenta..." Trichuriasis--Whipworm infection URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001364.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Whipworm infection is a common worldwide infection affecting primarily children, which may develop upon ingestion of soil contaminated with whipworm eggs..."
Fungal and Bacterial Diseases Return to the top	DBMD: Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/ Source: United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases (A-Z Listing) URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/default.htm Source: United States Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases Anthrax URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001325.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. Infection in humans most often involves the skin (cutaneous anthrax), the gastrointestinal tract, or the lungs (inhalation anthrax)..." Clinical and Epidemiologic Principles of Anthrax URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol5no4/cieslak.htm Source: Theodore J. Cieslak and Edward M. Eitzen, Jr., CDC/NCID Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal, Vol. 5 no. 4, July-August 1999. "Anthrax is caused by infection with Bacillus anthracis...Certain environmental conditions appear to produce "anthrax zones," areas wherein the soil is heavily contaminated with anthrax spores. Such conditions include soil rich in organic matter ..." Aspergillosis URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001326.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Aspergillosis is caused by a fungus (Aspergillus), which is found commonly growing on dead leaves, stored grain, compost piles, or other decaying vegetation..." Blastomycosis URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000102.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Blastomycosis is a rare fungal infection caused by breathing in a fungus (Blastomyces dermatitidis) found in wood and soil..." Botulism URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000598.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Clostridium botulinum is found in soil and untreated water throughout the world. It produces spores that survive in improperly preserved or canned food, where they produce toxin. When eaten, even minute amounts of this toxin can lead to severe poisoning..." Chromobacterium Sepsis URL: http://www.sma.org.sg/smj/3806/articles/3806cr2.htm Source: Singapore Medical Journal, "Case Report and Review of Chromobacterium Sepsis - A Gram-Negative Sepsis Mimicking Melioidosis" "Chromobacterium violaceum is a soil and water inhabitant that has only recently been identified as a human pathogen. It can cause severe life-threatening sepsis with metastatic abscesses similar to melioidosis..." Coccidioidomycosis URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001322.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Coccidioidomycosis is a disease caused by breathing in spores of a fungus (Coccidioides immitis) found in soil in desert regions of the southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Central and South America. It usually affects the lungs, but can spread elsewhere in the body..." Cryptococcosis URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001328.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Cryptococcosis is a rare fungal infection caused by inhaling the fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans...(which) is found in soil..." Histoplasmosis URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001082.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Histoplasma grows as a mold in soil and infection results from inhalation of airborne fungal particles. Soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings may have a higher concentration of mold..." Legionnaire's Disease URL: http://www.legionella.org/general_info.htm#1 Source: Legionella.org "Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection (pneumonia) caused by a bacterium named Legionella pneumophila... One type of Legionella species (L. longbeachae) has been found in potting soil..." Leptospirosis URL: http://www.astdhpphe.org/infect/lepto.html Source: Association of State and Territorial Directors of Health Promotion and Public Health Education "Leptospirosis is a potentially serious bacterial illness that is most common in the tropics... People get leptospirosis by contact with fresh water, wet soil, or vegetation that has been contaminated by the urine of infected animals..." Listeriosis URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/listeriosis_g.htm#getinto Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases "Listeriosis (is) a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes...Listeria monocytogenes is found in soil and water. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer..." Meningitis - cryptococcal URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000642.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Meningitis - cryptococcal is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord caused by the yeast-type organism Cryptococcus neoformans...that is found in soil worldwide..." Mucormycosis URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000649.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "A fungal infection of the sinuses, brain or lungs which occurs primarily in people with immune disorders...Mucormycosis is caused by common fungi, frequently found in the soil and amongst decaying vegetation...." Nocardiosis URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000679.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "A rare infection caused by a bacteria called Nocardia...Nocardia is found in soil around the world. It can be contracted by inhaling contaminated dust or via contamination of a wound with soil containing Nocardia..." Tetanus URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000615.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "A disease caused by the toxin of the bacterium Clostridium tetani that affects the central nervous system, sometimes resulting in death...Spores of the bacterium Clostridium tetani live in the soil and are distributed worldwide..."
Other Soil-related Diseases Return to the top	Allergy to mold - dander - dust URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000814.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Many people are allergic to mold. Mold spores are carried in the air and may be present all year long. Mold is most prevalent indoors... Outdoors, mold lives in the soil, on compost, and on damp vegetation..." Colloid nodular goiter URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000383.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Thyroid gland enlargement that is usually caused by too little iodine in the diet... Colloid nodular goiters are also known as endemic goiters and are usually caused by inadequate dietary iodine (iodine in diet) and occur in certain geographical areas with iodine depleted soil, usually areas away from the sea coast..." Goiter URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001178.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "An enlargement of the thyroid gland that is not associated with inflammation or cancer....Endemic (also known as colloid) goiters are usually caused by inadequate dietary intake of iodine in geographical areas with iodine-depleted soil, usually areas away from the sea coast..." Lead Poisoning URL: http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdalead.html Source: "Lead: Dangers of Lead Still Linger" U. S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Consumer, January-February 1998 "Lead paint abounds in older housing. The deteriorating paint exposes youngsters indoors to lead-laden dust and paint chips and outdoors to exterior paint lead residues in nearby soil--residues that remain unless removed..." Pica URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001538.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Pica is the eating of non-food substances. Clay, dirt, ice, starch, animal feces, paint, and hairballs are just a few examples of what children and adults with pica have been known to eat..." Pica: Dirt Eating or "Geophagy" URL: http://www.eating-disorder.org/pica.html Source: Support, Concern and Resources For Eating Disorders "Pica is the craving or eating of items that are not food. There are many reasons why people eat dirt or other non food items...."
Medicines from Soil Return to the top	Antacids URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202047.html Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Antacids are taken by mouth to relieve heartburn, sour stomach, or acid indigestion. They work by neutralizing excess stomach acid..." Antibiotics--Penicillins URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/antibiotics.html Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Penicillins are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They work by killing the bacteria or preventing their growth...." Antidiarrheals--Kaolin and Pectin URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601065.html Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Kaolin and pectin...combination medicine is used to treat diarrhea... Kaolin is a clay-like powder believed to work by attracting and holding onto the bacteria or germ that may be causing the diarrhea..." Antifungals--Azole URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202294.html Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Azole antifungals are used to treat serious fungus infections that may occur in different parts of the body..." Anthelmintic--Thiabendazole URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202559.html Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Thiabendazole...belongs to the family of medicines called anthelmintics...Anthelmintics are medicines used in the treatment of worm infections..." Antiseborrheic--Selenium Sulfide URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202520.html Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Selenium sulfide...1% and 2.5% strengths are used on the scalp to help control the symptoms of dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis..."
Dietary Supplements Return to the top	Iodine URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002421.htm Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Iodine is a trace mineral and an essential nutrient... Iodized salt is the primary food source of iodine. Iodine is also widely available in seafood; cod, sea bass, haddock, and perch are good sources. Kelp is the most common vegetable seafood that is a rich source of iodine. Dairy products and plants grown in soil that is rich in iodine are also good sources..." Molybdenum URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202619.html Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "The body needs molybdenum...for normal growth and health... The amount of molybdenum in foods depends on the soil in which the food is grown. Some soils have more molybdenum than others... leafy vegetables, and low-fat milk are good sources of molybdenum..." Selenium URL: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202633.html Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Selenium is needed for certain enzymes that help with normal body functions... Selenium is found in seafood, liver, lean red meat, and grains grown in soil that is rich in selenium..."
Soil and Health Research Return to the top	"Soil and Human Health: A Review" URL: http://www.csa.com/routenet/cnie/pop/health/health41.html Source: Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, Environmental RouteNet "Soil can affect human health in several ways leading either to specific diseases or to more general ill health..." "Hookworm Infection Linked to Asthma Prevention" URL: http://www.aerias.org/news_article.asp?article=536 Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MEDLINEplus Medical Encyclopedia "Hookworm is most common in tropical and subtropical areas and is picked up by walking barefoot on or accidentally swallowing soil contaminated with human feces..." "Wallow in Mud for Beauty and Health?" URL: http://www.drweil.com/drw/app/cda/drw_cda.php?command=TodayQA&pt=Question&questionId=3804 Source: DrWeil.com "Physical therapies & Rheumatoid Arthritis" URL: http://www.internethealthlibrary.com/Health-problems/Rheumatoid%20Arthritis%20-%20researchAltTherapies.htm Source: Internet Health Library "Function of the hypothalamic adrenal axis in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome undergoing mud-pack treatment" URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=8726690&dopt=AbstractSource: National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, PubMed "Thermalism in Argentina. Alternative or complementary dermatologic therapy" URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9828877&dopt=Abstract Source: National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, PubMed Mud Therapy URL: http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/diabetes/mud.htm Source: Health Library.com: HELP (Health Education Library for People): Nature Cure for Diabetes Curative Powers of Earth URL: http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/chap4.htm Source: Health Library.com: HELP (Health Education Library for People): Nature Cure Return to the top