Boy, did I get ticked off this week. A building in which I work was being painted. Not just some run-of-the-mill smelly paint job, but some super-toxic resinous material. It started wafting in through the air conditioning vent and my patient and I couldn’t leave the room fast enough! I went home with a sore throat, headache and cough. Ugh.
I am indeed the proverbial Canary in the Coal Mine…chirp, chirp, chirp, aack, thud to the bottom of the cage.
In the past I was extremely chemically-sensitive. I was not just being fussy, I was getting physically ill.
I used to blow out all of the scented candles my Mom was using when I went home for Christmas. I’ve even been known to throw the air fresheners away that I find in public bathrooms! I remember an episode when I went into a department store and lasted about 10 minutes before I was having difficulty breathing and started to panic. Such drama 🙂
I do as much as possible to avoid adding more toxins to what I’m already exposed to each day. I use only environmentally-safe cleaning and personal products, eat from organic sources as much as possible, and filter my drinking and shower water. I spend as little time as possible in department stores and never wear perfume. I wouldn’t dream of moving into a house with new carpeting – toxic formaldehyde city!
All this to say that I do my best to control my environment, but, certainly, there are many, many things out of my control – and usually, I’m okay with that. But this time I wasn’t. I spoke up and the work was halted (temporarily, which allowed me to reschedule my patients to a different, non-toxic day). I try to have a live-and-let-live attitude and be tolerant of other people’s choices, but the pervasive ignorance truly baffles and upsets me. I mean, I’m working in a health clinic here!
I’m much less chemically-sensitive than in years past, but I can still be affected (obviously). What this incident really triggered in me was a deep sadness and outrage, even, that we, as a human race, are doing this to ourselves and to our planet. I know there is heightened awareness of this issue and I’m really grateful for that. I just want to keep apologizing to Mother Earth, to her land, air, waters and creatures, humans included. I’m sorry – we know not what we do.
Colleen
Your Modern Day Medicine Woman’s Recommendations for Chemical Exposure First Aid
The sources of, and reasons for, chemical sensitivity are complex, as is their treatment. That is outside the scope of this article. These are suggestions for immediate relief of symptoms only, when there is an unexpected chemical exposure.
1. Chem-Defense – a great product, which is a combination of glutathione and molybdenum, from Source Naturals (check your local stores or order on-line) – take one upon exposure (the lozenge goes under your tongue) and then another right away if you don’t start to feel better. If you have chronic chemical sensitivities, don’t leave home without it!
2. Alka Selzter Gold – to alkalize your system which will reduce the immediate inflammatory response (don’t use regular Alka Selzer as it contains aspirin). Drink 1-2 after exposure. Can be helpful in acute asthmatic and allergic symptoms.
3. Epsom Salt Bath – a gentle detoxifier. 1 cup in the bath along 1 cup of organic apple cider vinegar. Soak for 15 minutes only, then rinse off.
4. Sniff An Essential Oil – to ease any breathing difficulties or headache: eucalyptus and peppermint; and lemon to help detoxify in general. Put a drop of each on your palms and rub together. Then cup your hands over your nose and inhale. Repeat a few times during the day until you feel better.
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