A more direct form of chemical testing is undertaken with certain common petrochemicals found in the environment which are often incriminated in chronic illness. Outside the double swinging doors of the Ecology Unit is a small room in which testing for chemicals is done. Here patients are exposed to the odor of natural gas, similar [...]
Although lectins are probably the best-studied, they are certainly not the only food components that can trigger mast cells directly. Several foods contain peptides (small protein-like molecules) which also bind to mast cells and make them degranulate. Among the foods known to contain such peptides are egg-white, strawberries, crustacean shellfish (prawns, shrimps, crabs, lobsters), tomatoes, [...]
Acupuncture is a sophisticated therapy, based on Chinese traditional methods, in which fine needles are inserted at specific points in the body, to stimulate energy flow and to restore equilibrium in the body. The theory of acupuncture is that the lifeforce functions through the flow of energy through certain channels in the body and if [...]
If your main criterion is purity, then there is no substitute for a reverse osmosis system, despite its cost, and the disadvantages of flow-rate and taste. If you are short of money, an end-of-tap version is available for around £90 (supplier: Environmental Water Supplies) which has the merit that you can carry it with you [...]
Low levels of chemicals known to cause chemical sensitivity are found in tapwater, as well as metals known or suspected of causing harm. Water quality regulations permit levels of chemicals which, it is argued, are not harmful to health. Chemically sensitive people are, however, affected by very low levels of chemicals, and those present in [...]
If you are using lubricating jelly, stop for a while to see if it improves your symptoms. Ask for internal examinations and smear tests to be done without jelly. The most common jelly used is KY Jelly which contains propylene glycol, known to cause reactions. Or try using an alternative lubricant, Replens, available from pharmacies. [...]
Some people find that they are sensitive to contact with protective gloves made of rubber (latex) or synthetics. You can buy protective gloves made of a choice of materials (such as vinyl, latex and poly-ethene). It is a good idea, if you react to one particular material, to try gloves of another type to see [...]
A longer rotation, however, suits some people better, not just for reasons of practicality. They find they cannot tolerate foods on a four-day rotation, but are able to do so on a longer rotation, say once a week, or even once a month. A compromise solution that often works well is to keep a basic [...]
It is worth taking time to sort out some preconceptions about chemicals and to make clear the terms of this discussion. A ‘chemical’, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is ‘a substance obtained by, or used in a chemical process’. The adjective ‘chemical’ means ‘relating to the science of the elements and compounds and their [...]
Leisurewear for men in pure cotton is generally easy to find, but more formal clothes for men can be problematical, particularly if you have to wear suits or tailored clothes for work. If you are sensitive to wool, or are chemically sensitive and cannot tolerate fabric finishes, or dry cleaning fluids, then you may have [...]