Simple treatment helps local resident

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Taking a shower, washing the dishes, eating dinner.  These are all things most do without a second thought. And, so did Maty Laird for more than 60 years.

Then, five years ago, she said she began getting symptoms that changed her life dramatically.

"I was very depressed and I thought, maybe I didn't want to live," said Maty Laird, who resides in Lafayette.

The last five years have been a constant struggle for Laird.  She describes herself as a "bubble granny" because is confined to her home.  She said a single germ can be fatal and she never knows what she may come in contact with outdoors that can cause skin problems.

"I started to break out with blisters. I had a lot of allergies, I still do. This particular disease gives you life threatening allergies," said Laird.

Staying at home can be tough as well.  Perfumes, soaps, pesticides on fruits and vegetables, and fish are all things Maty Laird's body cannot tolerate. Doctors eventually reached a diagnosis, Mastocytosis.

Clarian Arnett Allergist Jay Prochnau said the disease gives the body too many infection-fighting mast cells, which can lead to serious allergic reactions.

"With Mastocytosis, it's an over-abundance of one type of immune cell, the mast cell. Mast cells are also the effecter cells of allergies," said Dr. Prochnau.

Laird said a trip to the grocery store is a challenge.

"I went inside and I was instantly sick. I almost couldn't get out the door. They were making popcorn," said Laird, realizing at that point she was also allergic to popcorn.

Even clothing irritates her skin.

"If I'm not careful, I've got blisters all over and I would do anything to keep from going with the blisters," Laird said.

The "solution," came through the family dog, Jordy. The white Maltese has skin problems, unrelated to Laird's, which are treated with Vetricyn.  The product is a highly oxygenated solution. One day when the allergies grew too painful, Laird said she acted out of desperation and used the dog's skin treatment on herself.

"He was bleeding, he was itching and he had allergies, and he had blisters. I was itching, I was bleeding. So, I said, I'm going to try this stuff," said Laird.

Laird started researching Vetricyn, a spray on wound cleanser that consists of a blend of oxychlorine compounds.

"It's just a simple, simple water with a lot of oxygen in it. Most products you lose the oxygen. This has a patent on it that they have developed that allows the product to hold the oxygen. That's what makes it so important. Oxygen is a natural enemy to bacteria," said Laird.

Laird's hours of research led her to Oculus, which owns and manufactures Vetricyn. The company also makes Microcyn, a similar product for humans.

"Microcyn® Technology utilizes a unique multi-chamber electrolysis manufacturing process in which purified water containing trace amounts of sodium chloride (NaCl) is oxidized creating a proprietary solution of oxidized water and oxychlorine species," said Dan McFadden, Director of Investor and Public Relations.

"Using a proprietary and non-cytotoxic formulation of oxychlorine compounds in a pH-neutral solution, Microcyn Wound Care is ideal for cleaning, debriding,and moistening acute and chronic wounds without harming healthy tissue. Oxychlorine compounds occur naturally in the human body as they are released by neutrophils, which are the most abundant type of white blood cells in humans and form an essential part of the immune system," said McFadden.

Cheryl Bongiovanni, the director of  Lake District Hospital Wound Clinics in Lakeview, Oregon, has used the product on people with diabetic foot ulcers and third degree burns. Just like Maty Laird, Bongiovanni said her patients get relief from the solution.

"Put oxygen directly into a wound bed. It is extremely toxic to single-cell organisms. Those are the bacteria, viruses, fungus, yeast. And is absolutely non-toxic to human tissue," said Bongiovanni, PhD, Cardiovascular Physiologist.

"You can think of it as Microcyn calming down the mast cells so that they are not forced to release histamine as she contacts things she's allergic to," said Bongiovanni.

While Maty Laird said she finds relief from the solution, Dr. Prochnau recommends the traditional treatments.

"A lot of mastocytosis can be confined to the skin. Occasional topical treatments do help. If you just have cutaneous mastocytosis, occasionally a topical steroid can be helpful," said Dr. Prochnau.

"I think it saved my life. I think it saved my life. And it would scare me to not have it," said Laird.

For more information on Mastocytosis, visit The Mastocytosis Society at www.tmsforacure.org .

Maty Laird found a Mastocytosis support group through the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.  Visit that website at www.aafa.org .

For more information on Microcyn Technology, visit www.vetericyn.com and
www.oculusis.com/us/otc/