20 years ago I knew nothing about allergies and intolerances so I was totally unprepared over the next few years as we dealt with asthma, eczema, sleep problems and hyperactivity in our first born daughter. It wasn’t until she was 4 years old and had a CVA (stroke) after suffering a migraine headache that we discovered that she had intolerances to a variety of foods and the chemicals around her.

My advice to the many people who come into our store and phone us is to keep it simple and back to basics and seek professional advice if needed.

Following is some of my suggestions to reduce the frequency and severity of allergies and intolerances and also general guidelines to living chemically free. Remember to always seek advice from professionals like The Royal Prince Alfred Allergy Clinic where we first sought help. http://www.cs.nsw.gov.au/rpa/allergy/default.htm

Cleaning

Remove all chemical based cleaning products from around your home. When I first found out my daughter had allergies and was sensitive to chemicals I packed up a couple of garbage bags of cleaning and personal care products and sent them to the tip but it can be done slowly. As each product is finished replace with a natural plant based alternative like Ecostore products. They can be found here in our online store. Use Seventh Generation Free & Clear liquid if you have known allergies or intolerances.

It’s handy to have separate kitchen, bathroom and floor cleaners but in the early days I found this a bit expensive so if funds are an issue just buy the basics and use dishwashing liquid watered down and put into spray bottles for the majority of your cleaning. Soap and water remove 99% of all germs and bacteria; there is no need for disinfectants. Use a damp cloth to remove dust so as not to spread it through the air. I also like to have some olive oil in a container to polish my hardwood furniture. Not only does it shine beautifully but the dust sticks to the oil rather than becoming air born with movement.

If you are just trying to remove chemicals from your life all of the Alchemy and Natural Instinct products are suitable but if you have sensitivities or allergies choose the essential oil free varieties like Alchemy unscented shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Unfortunately even natural ingredients like essential oils can cause problems for those with allergies.

Personal Care

My children still suffer with eczema from time to time. One of the best ways to clear up mild eczema is to rub sunflower oil or Shea Butter (if you or your children have nut sensitivities avoid Shea Butter) on the body before showering or bathing and only using unscented Castille soap where needed. After the shower pat dry with a towel leaving skin still moist and apply more oil if needed.

Most toothpaste contains Sodium Lauryl sulphate (a toxic foaming agent) but this was the last item we switched over to a natural version simply because we couldn’t find one we liked. Now there are a number of good natural toothpastes available. Jason Powersmile is our favourite because it leaves your breath fresh and your teeth clean but it contains a lot of peppermint. Another good one is Red Seal Natural, the most similar to conventional toothpaste, and Riddels Creek is organic. For those with allergies Weleda Calendula toothpaste is well tolerated and peppermint free as well as salt free.

Choose unbleached and unscented toilet paper and tissues as regular toilet paper is chlorine bleached and often scented with harmful man made fragrances.

Choose the best quality chlorine and fluoride free water available. Currently we buy spring water for our drinking and cooking water as filtering our rain water tank would be a costly exercise but we are lucky enough not to bathe in chlorine treated water. If you are in the city I would recommend buying a filter for your shower and bath to avoid chlorine being absorbed by your skin. Water filters including shower filters are available in our online store.

Food

For the best health and for those with allergies and intolerances it is best to completely eliminate all artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. Keep to a minimum canned food; choose foods packed in glass where possible. As a general rule I like to buy most of our food as fresh produce and therefore rarely visit big supermarkets.

Be aware that just because a package says natural doesn’t mean it really is. Read ingredient lists and if needed carry with you a pocket food additives book to decipher all the numbers manufacturers use.

For many people with allergies and intolerances as well as children with ADHD even a humble fruit or vegetable can cause a reaction. Keep the diet simple if you think this might be the case and slowly reintroduce other foods gradually noting reactions as you go. For a list of suggested low natural chemical foods check out "Friendly Food", a recipe book written by the Royal Prince Alfred allergy clinic doctors and nutritionists. It contains complete lists of foods to avoid as well as the elimination diet used to find out which are the problem foods in your diet.

Clothing

Choose natural fibres like cotton when buying clothes. Keep in mind that cotton is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world today and wash items thoroughly before wearing.

One winter I bought the children new 100% cotton flannelette pj’s. One of my daughters wore hers before I had a chance to wash them and in the middle of the night she came to me because she was itchy. I got the shock of my life when I turned on the light to find her face, neck and arms were extremely swollen and her skin had a leathery feel. Off we went straight to the hospital still wearing her new pj’s; the Dr on duty pointed out that most cotton is sprayed with formaldehyde to set the colour in the fabric. It turns out she had had a reaction to this toxic chemical and needed cortisone for a week.

Bedding

As with clothing choose natural fibres for bedding. Organic cotton is a luxury but if you can afford it I would recommend purchasing organic cotton quilts and pillows. Air bedding regularly in the sun to kill dust mite and harmful moulds. Washing in natural plant based products is even more important with bedding due to the amount of time spent in bed with fabric next to your skin.

A note about mattresses.

Recently it came to our attention that all mattresses are sprayed with toxic chemicals to make them fire and mould proof; for this reason I strongly recommend that you purchase an Organic Cotton Mattress for your newborn. Why subject their little bodies to more chemicals than we need too.

In health and happiness

Peta

Please fell free to contact me at mamaaum@optusnet.com.au for further help or advise.