It hit me a few weeks ago – if nylon is a possible isothiazolinone contamination issue due to MI’s presence in the lubricating oils used while manufacturing the fibre, what about my toothbrush? Every drug store and commercial outlet sells nylon-bristled toothbrushes, seen to be the best in modern tooth care. Meanwhile, I’ve been having […]
This is a concept that has been zig-zagging through my head for the past while. Honestly, it was more a group of concepts, but one key trigger seems to be bringing the situation into clearer focus. I’m not a doctor, but I think this theory bears investigation. About Allergies Allergy symptoms I have experienced: Runny […]
Recently in one of the allergy Facebook groups of which I’m a part someone asked an interesting question: If you’re covering your pillow with multiple layers of organic cotton, but allergic to the pillow’s fill, does what’s inside the pillow really matter? This question was a very timely one for me, because I changed all […]
Readers of this site will know that I’ve slowly been working on reducing the synthetic fibre content of my clothing and the fabrics in my environment. I’m allergic to polyester (including things labelled olefin), lycra/spandex/elastane, which is made from polyester, and nylon, whose fibres are lubricated with oil containing isothiazolinones. Given that, I’d rather not […]
Himalayan Salt Lamps: Hype or Help? We received a “Himalayan salt lamp” for Christmas this year from well-meaning relatives. The manufacturers of these lamps claim that the heated salt crystal releases negative ions into the environment, countering positive ions and electromagnetic waves. These manufacturers (and sellers of the lamps) have posted all sorts of “science” […]
This question appears on no-poo message boards a lot: “Since I’m not using shampoo, how do I get rid of my scalp itchiness without medicated shampoos?” I don’t have all the answers. I’ve shared a few before, but the process really takes into account a number of factors, and not every factor will be applicable […]
One of my saving graces lately has been my cotton flannel PJ pants. Whenever I’m home I can put those on, even if they do have polyester seams, and avoid contact with the lycra/spandex/elastane in yoga pants and jeans. Someday I hope to cover or change all of their polyester seams, but for now they’re […]
Five years ago, gluten-free foods were just beginning to make an appearance in mainstream grocery stores. Gluten-free was becoming more known, and people with no specific gluten issue or celiac disease were experimenting with gluten-free as a diet choice rather than a medical one. Around that same time, lactose-free dairy was just beginning to enter […]