| I must preface this article with my belief that | | | | Put plants in your house. They help filter out indoor |
| everyone is chemically sensitive, just some of us | | | | air pollution. English Ivy, Peacelilly, Cornplant, Chinese |
| have a more severe reaction than others. I believe | | | | Evergreen etc. |
| that has to do with the health of an individual's | | | | Be careful about buying new furniture with the |
| immune system. Keep in mind that I am not a | | | | chemically coated fabrics and formaldehyde in the |
| medical professional, but I healed myself from my | | | | particle board, not to mention the toxic varnishes and |
| allergies and chemical sensitivities completely, using | | | | stains. Go for used or pieces that you can finish |
| food as my medicine. All the information that I will | | | | yourself. Buy non-toxic paints and even then, stay |
| share with you is from my experience. My story is | | | | out of the house until it is dry. There are |
| located on my website. | | | | environmental building centers where you can find all |
| First, I must say that severe multiple chemical | | | | the alternative paint/varnish/glue products for your |
| sensitivity is a temporary condition. I always thought | | | | home. |
| it was permanent and that my life was going to be | | | | When you insulate your roof or walls, make sure the |
| this living hell until I realized that I could get better. I | | | | insulation is formaldehyde-free. |
| thought allergies in general were irreversible, but I am | | | | Put filters on your shower to get the chemicals out. |
| here to tell you they are temporary. | | | | You don't want to breathe in those vaporized in your |
| In the meantime, there are ways to cope. | | | | shower or absorb them through your skin. Filter your |
| Get a really good air purifier for your home...one with | | | | drinking water too. |
| coconut shell carbon. Standard carbon is petroleum | | | | Is your heating system gas or electric? Natural gas |
| based and tends to aggravate chemical | | | | can cause allergic reactions. |
| sensitivities. You can even get one for your car. | | | | Stay away from pesticides indoors or outdoors and |
| Try not to drive in rush hour and stay back from | | | | no more lawn chemicals. I read somewhere about |
| other cars' tailpipes. | | | | there being higher numbers of women with breast |
| Eliminate toxins from your home. There are those | | | | cancer living in homes that use yard chemicals. Why |
| that you can control easily, like household cleaners | | | | take that chance? There are safer alternatives. |
| and laundry detergents. It can be as simple as | | | | Gas lawn mowers, leaf blowers etc., are more |
| vinegar, soap or hydrogen peroxide. Don't forget | | | | polluting than cars. Use a push mower, and electric |
| furniture polish too. Try not to use aerosol sprays | | | | weed whackers and your hands. It's good exercise. |
| that vaporize the solution. | | | | Try to stay out of shopping malls with all the |
| Be mindful of new things that you bring into your | | | | chemical-laden clothes and toxic building materials and |
| house. I had an interesting experience with my new | | | | cleaners and perfume counters. Perfume is such a |
| washing machine. I began to get dizzy every time I | | | | huge offender. Don't wear it and ask all family and |
| used it and I could smell engine oil. I realized that the | | | | friends to leave it off when they are coming to your |
| heat of the motor caused an out-gassing of the oils | | | | home. Try not to be in a closed in space it. Wash all |
| and plastics used in the internal parts. I had to put | | | | new clothes and rinse with vinegar in the water. |
| my air purifier right next to it to soak up the fumes | | | | Avoid brand new buildings or newly remodeled ones |
| or I would have vertigo by the evening. | | | | using conventional paints, carpets and glues. They still |
| Use natural products on your body. Makeup, | | | | out-gas in older buildings, just not as much. |
| shampoos, deodorant, lotions, sanitary napkins, soap | | | | Did you know wrinkle free sheets and shirts are |
| etc. Get unbleached toilet paper, tissues, paper | | | | treated with chemicals to keep them looking that |
| towels. Conventional santiary napkins and tampons | | | | way? Some of those chemicals actually make it |
| may be loaded with chemicals and pesticide residue. | | | | harder to fall asleep. Be aware that cotton is one of |
| There are substitutes for everything. | | | | the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crops, try to buy |
| Clean out your garage. If your garage is attached to | | | | organic. |
| your house, the fumes from all the toxic products | | | | Now you know that there are a lot of ways you can |
| stored there, including the fuels, plastics and glues in | | | | control chemicals in your environment. It may seem |
| you car, will infiltrate your house! | | | | overwhelming, so just change one thing at a time. |
| If you can, do some remodeling. Carpets and padding | | | | Before you know it, you will have created a safer |
| must be natural. Conventional carpets and padding | | | | home. |
| out-gas forever. No synthetic rugs with stain | | | | Remember, these sensitivities and allergies are just |
| treatment...wool and cotton are better. (Get an air | | | | temporary if you rebuild your immune system with |
| purifier, if you can't remodel & even if you do.) | | | | nutrition. |