Allergic to most plants- dread help??
Dreads Hair and Scalp Health
Oh man. Life can be such a challenge. My story in a nutshell...Everyone in my entire family has a "bad stomach". So for many years I thought it was a given that I would too. I was told I had gastritis and I.B.S. a few years back, but was unaware (as most people are) that that is not a conclusion...it is a symptom. Why do you have gastritis or I.B.S? No one told me why. So for years I have suffered with asssorted complaints without realizing they were all connected!!! Who thinks that joint pain is connected to your stomach? Or that headaches and intestinal cramps are from the same source? One night, I Googled my symptoms...ALL of them...and what appeared was Celiac disease! I was shocked, until I read a book called "Wheat Belly". That was enough for me!! I found that the wheat of today has been super engineered, just like most foods and it is a dangerous thing for ANYONE...much less someone with a sensitivity. I went off gluten a month ago, and within 3 days I felt a world of difference! My belly stopped hurting and I could actually go to the restroom normally (instead of only once a week!). I went to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy to see if I was not just sensitive but Celiac and to see what intestinal damage I had thus far. Anyway, the doctor said my colon was fine but that I had severe gastritis and to eat more whole grain!!!! I found out through my own research that many people who are gluten intolerant don't register as so on blood testsor when internally examined...and because of this doctors ignore their insistance that wheat and gluten is their problem. So, I asked why I had gastritis (which is severe redness and inflammation internally)...the doctor couldn't answer me. So, I decided to take control of my own health. On Monday, I still have to see an Endocrinologist for my Thyroid because according to bloodwork, my thyroid is not functioning right...another result of gluten intolerance. Unfortunately, there is no med or help for me if I eat gluten...just a heating pad, tylenol and time. I have lost alot of enthusiasm for food. I read labels constantly but still worry. I bring my own snacks in my bag all the time. But it is hard to explain when friends and family who are uninformed keep saying.."Here, have some...it won't kill you to have just a small bit." Actually, one bite can make me severly ill for 3-4 days!!!! It is a real challenge....so, I feel for you. Alot of foods don't even say gluten on them....but contain gluten because of processing...like some vinegars, beer and some perservatives. You mentioned salad dressing...gluten lurks in most of those and marinades and sauces....I was also shocked to find out just this past week that as you also mentioned....lip balm, lotion, sunscreen, etc. can contain gluten too and be absorbed through my skin and make me sick!!! I feel like I am suddenly in another world where danger is around every corner. It really sucks...ALOT!
Angel Frye said:
Thank you, Panterra. Going through the toothpaste and mouthwash isle to purchase these items for my family makes me grieve a bit every time. And the lip balms! GAH!!! Burt's Beees is the shit, man! No more... Now I make my own lip balm with cocoa butter, shea butter, and rice bran oil. You just learn to adapt.
I fibbed. Actually some foods CAN cause a reaction with me but I just learn to stay away from them. Like salad dressing. Look at the ingredients. Sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, olive oil... yep. Those are salicylates! So I use watered down honey and or plain balsamic vinegar from the bottle.
Gluten intolerance, eek. Panterra, that's a serious issue. Take care that you find a good support group/site(s) to get involved in with recipes because from what I hear it can really take you on a roller coaster ride. It's good that you got diagnosed before your life was threatened. Or, I hope that was the case! Is there an emergency shot or medication you can take/keep with you if you do eat something with gluten?
I double up on my med dose if I accidentally come into contact with a salicylate but even then I feel like I got slammed against a wall for at least a day.
And now I'm worried about the lice issue. What if? I can't use tea tree oil. And you want to know what the irony is here? I make a tea tree oil ointment for my kids. *headdesk* I make stuff that I can't use. I have to use heavy duty rubber gloves when I make the stuff and be careful not to inhale the fumes when it's on the stove. But with all the scrapes and crap my kids get it's the most natural option to take care of them and I like that. I bottle it and they slather it on themselves whenever they get a boo boo. I actually used it on their hair once in kindergarten when they got lice because it's butter based.
I bought mine at Stater Brothers and I have seen it at Target...so it is probably at Walmart as well. Hope that does the trick for you!