Am I Susceptible to Chemicals?

 

Lots of household chemicals are harmful to your health

Everyone is susceptible to chemicals. Some people are affected by chemicals more than others. These people often have a lower immune system than others. People with a lower immune system include people who suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME, CFIDS, Glandular Fever, repeated infections, allergies and chronic diseases.

Let's make a list of the places people work or jobs people do that can make them more susceptible to chemicals. I cannot list all of them so would be happy if you wanted to add to them.

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.office .workers .cleaners .farmers .gardeners .cooks

.stay at home Mums  & Dads .school children .petrol station attendants .people who work at airports .people who work in clothes shops

.nurses .doctors .factory .workers .bakers .train travellers

.babies .taxi drivers .woodworkers .elderly people in nursing homes .laboratory workers

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Everyday Products containing chemicals
Most people use some form of chemical in their daily life without even realizing it. Some of these products are:
deodorants, shampoos and conditioner, makeup, dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent, air fresheners, toilet paper, floor cleaners, insect spray, garden sprays, polish for cars, petrol, lawn mower fuel, computer printers, ballpoint pens, textas, whiteboard markers.

As you can see, this is only a small list of things used in the home. There are chemicals you are subjected to whilst traveling in trains, cars and planes. Even when walking we breathe in the fumes of the cars that pass by. In the our place of work - the office or factory there are a miriad more chemicals we either touch or breathe in.

Everyday Products
Many of our everyday products are made from chemicals too. These include polyester pillows, sponge mattresses, doona fillers, carpets, plastic utensils used in the kitchen and even your comfy lounge chairs.

Our Cars are Made of Chemicals Too
Your car is also full of chemicals from the glue that hold lots of it together to the vinyl seat covers or the synthetic removable covers over the seats to the sponge rubber inside the seats. And don't forget the plastic dashboard, the lubricants containing chemicals and the all important petrol or gas your engine runs on.

If you are affected by chemicals, try to minimise them in your life.

Photo with thanks

The Thyroid Summit

There has been a great worldwide summit on Thyroid health this week. Over 30 hours of broadcasts. The information is so very important because so many of us have a low thyroid condition causing much of our ill health. Even people who seem healthy may still have a low thyroid problem.

A low thyroid may be the cause of many heart problems. It is tied in with our sex drive and our adrenal system, that part of us that gives the extra oomf when there is a major crisis in our lives.

This summit has been given mostly by doctors who have treated thousands and thousands of over 30 to 40 years. The information is not about some new found pharmaceutical but is tried and tested natural methods of good, honest, practical help.

If you have missed out on being part of the summit and would still like to get access to this important information, click on this link
https://nq177.infusionsoft.com/go/thyroidorder/TOSSY/
as it is available to purchase after the summit. This way you will be able to take your time to digest all this wonderful information that could change your life.

There is most important information here also that can help many sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), CFIFS, ME and Fibromyalgia (FMS) and allergies.

Do You Have an Open Mind?

 

If we have an open mind then anything can happen. Sometimes we think we have an open mind but we are only looking at it from our own point of view. Many years ago when I was very ill with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and severe allergies so that I was locked in the house, in bed, out on a farm 40 kilometres from the nearest city, my daughter said to me,
'Mum what do you think about getting some healing?'
I said 'What's that?'
'You know, when energy comes out of a person's hand and it helps you.'
'No, sounds weird,' I said.


Well, wouldn't you know it? I had to open my mind! The universe conspired to lead me a merry way until I found out just what this HEALING could do for me.

Have you opened your mind to different healing modalities?

Many of these healing modalities are discussed in my book, from crystal healing, hands on healing, flower essences, tai chi, aromatherapy, massage, and healing with colour.

What a journey. You can read about it in Allergies and Chronic Fatigue  A Natural Approach. You can get the Table of Contents and the first chapter FREE.

The Table of Contents will show you all the different things discussed in the book. The first chapter starts with the worst of my illness - I didn't think I was going to make it, and nor did my husband. It was some journey. It would have been easier if I had just listened to my daughter and said 'Yes dear.'

Tell us what has helped you. We'd love to hear. I have now opened my mind to many possibilities, but, no doubt, have still further to open.

Ebooks Just for YOU

Wheezing and Sneezing - All About Asthma and Allergies

 

Announcing New Ebook

Wheezing and Sneezing
All about Asthma and Allergies 

by Thérèse Vahland

A New ebook is here just for you.

Wheezing and Sneezing - All about Asthma and Allergies

is available now. It is a smaller, easy to read book of 30 pages in PDF format just ready for you to read on your eReader, tablet, phone, laptop or computer.

Each topic covers only a page or two so it is quick and easy to read with lots of information.


Language - English

If you would like to order this new book, Please contact me NOW.
It's only $7.75 AU. 

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Topics Covered

Allergies Sore Throats Homeopathy Asthma in Children Discussion on Milk & Wheat Plus more..... Benefits  small book  easy to read  lots of information Ebook: PDF format A4 size 80+ pages Words: approx13,000 At a glance: Table of Contents About the Author 6 Introduction 7 Allergies and Asthma in Children 8 Four Rules about Allergies 10 Asthma, Allergies and Autumn 11 My Recommendations to ease Asthma 12 Chocolate Milk Drink for People with Allergies 13 Different Allergies to Flowers 14 Asthma, Allergies and Heating 16 Natural Toothpaste for your Health 17 Ingredients to include in your toothpaste 18 Is there a Link between Asthma and Arthritis? 20 My Secret Remedy for a Sore throat 21 Homeopathy and a sore throat 23 Conclusion 26 Glossary 27 Other books by Thérèse Vahland 29

I HATE Scented Toilet Paper

Why have Scented Toilet Paper?

 

Everyone Uses Toilet Paper

Why, oh why do they have to make scented toilet paper. When I go into a toilet with these perfumes it takes my breath away. 

'Smells nice’ you say. Have you stopped to think what these perfumes are made of? Do you really think that manufacturers would buy expensive aromatherapy oils to perfume their toilet paper? Of course not!

Well, how do they perfume the toilet paper? What do they use? Have you ever heard of chemicals?

Who are the most sensitive people in our society?

Everybody needs to go to the toilet a few times a day, some more than others. Who are the most vulnerable people in our community? Babies, toddlers, older people and people who are ill. We’ll discount babies in our present discussion because they don’t go into a toilet.

Do you want your toddler exposed to chemicals?

Toddlers go to the toilet often when they are being toilet trained, and later as young children. Every time they go into a toilet that has scented toilet paper available they are inhaling a lung full of chemicals. Even worse is when a basket full of spare toilet rolls is sitting in the open air in the toilet. The perfume is overpowering. If the perfume is overpowering then the chemical overload is overpowering also. Do you want to inhale this? Do you want toddlers to breathe in chemicals that may affect their little tender bodies?

Buy Fragrance Free or Hypoallergenic

To protect ourselves and our loved ones, look for fragrance free or Hypoallergenic toilet paper. These are free of perfumes and much safer for us. Read the back of the packet of toilet paper. Look for the words ‘Fragrance Free’.

Making your own safe scented toilet paper

If you really want your toilet to be perfumed buy some pure aromatherapy oils. These are sometimes called Essential oils. These are oils of plants themselves. This is where real perfume comes from. Do not buy fragrance oils. These smell nice, but guess what? They are made from chemicals too. The fragrance oils cost around $5. Real aromatherapy oils will cost closer to $20. Which would you choose – the chemical or the pure perfume?

To perfume your toilet paper place a couple of drops of aromatherapy oil on the inner cardboard then place it on the holder as usual. Aromatherapy oils are good for you so long as you choose an oil you like. Fragrance oils are not.

Let me know what you think about inhaling unwanted chemicals in your own home.

Mould can bring on Asthma

 

Allergy to Mould

Many things can cause the bronchial tubes to swell and inflame. When this happens it can be difficult to breathe. A wheeze or cough can start. This is called asthma. You can have an allergy to mould. This means mould can make your body react in a different way. Mould can be a problem in damp humid climates eg the tropics, or it can be a problem in damp, wet areas like the bathroom. It can also be a problem on windows.

Mould on Windows

On windows you say? Sounds weird? Well, check out your windows during winter. You may see black smudges or blurs on the window. Windows are our barrier to the outside world. It is often cold outside and warm inside when we keep our houses closed up during winter. We don't want to let too many of those cold winter drafts in to cool the house. Mould is a canny little thing that will take advantage of anywhere and anything it can get on to.

How to remove mould from your windows

Step 1 

Essentials: bucket, water, vinegar, rubber gloves, old toweling cloth, old toothbrush. Rubber gloves? Well you don't want all those mouldy spores attaching themselves to your hands, do you?

Add half a cup to one cup of vinegar to about one to two litres of water in the bucket. Wash down the window with the vinegar and water. Do this a few times to make sure all the mould is removed as much as possible. Scrub into all the corners with the toothbrush. Wipe over again. If you have a wire screen on the inside of the window, it is essential that it is given the same treatment on both sides of the screen. If the screen is on the outside of the window, treat the inside of the window first then treat the outside wire screen.

Step 2 

Non essentials: steamer, dry old toweling cloth. Using one of those little hand held steamers, spray steam onto the window to kill off any mould spores still attached to the window that you cannot see. Rub window dry with the dry toweling cloth.

Step 3 

This is the important step to make sure the mould does not return for a long time. Take a length of paper towel, damp it and squeeze it out. Onto this place some drops of mould removing aromatherapy oils. These are NOT fragrance oils. As the name suggests with the fragrance oils, they are for the fragrance - the smell. They are made from chemicals and their sole purpose is to smell nice.

We need the real stuff, Aromatherapy oil which is the oil directly from plants. These plants include cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon, eucalyptus. Place a few drops of these on the paper towel and rub this all over the window. These are excellent at removing and killing mould spores. When you are finished, leave the paper towel in the room. It has been shown that these oils can remove many spores from the air in the room in 24 hours.

I hope your asthma improves after you have rid all the mould from your environment.

Chocolate Milk Drink for People with Allergies

  Sugar Free Chocolate Milk

Free from Cow's Milk

Here is a quick, easy recipe to make to make a delicious chocolate milk drink for those who cannot drink cow's milk or have sugar.

You will need 

• Goat's milk
• Vitarium Sugar Free Drinking Chocolate
• Hot water
• Natvia, a natural sugar supplement

Directions

Into a china mug add 1 teaspoons of Vitarium Sugar Free Drinking Chocolate or other chocolate powder supplement that is suitable for you, add 2 packets of Natvia and some hot or boiling water. Make this in the mug so that your glass does not crack. Stir. Pour the goat's milk into your glass and add the chocolate mix.

Stir and drink, knowing that the drink you are enjoying is free from cow's milk and sugar.

Allergies are NOT Forever

 

Our Immune System

Our immune system is very important. It helps us ward off 'bacteria, toxic chemicals, and viruses that cause conditions like the common cold and flu.' (from altmedicine.about.com see reference below)
We can support out immune system by paying particular attention to out diet, exercise, the stressors in our life, sleep and hygiene. We can also support our immune system by taking herbal supplements, flower essences and homeopathy. 

Diet

A diet rich in antioxidants will help our immune system These antioxidants kill off free radicals. Free radicals damage our DNA and suppress our immune system. Antioxidants are found in fruit and vegetables.

Drink lots of water to flush out the waste from your system. Keep away from sugary foods or drinks.

Exercise

When we exercise it stimulates the T cells in our blood. These guard against infections. Walking regularly is a great exercise.

Stress

Prolonged stress wears down the immune system. Meditation, Tai chi or Qi Gong are good ways to relieve stress.

Tip: When learning Tai Chi or Qi Gong, find a teacher who will teach you step by step. This way you will remember the movements and be able to replicate them on your own wherever you are in life. When people attend 'Follow the leader' classes, that is just what they are doing. When they get home after the class, very often they cannot remember the movements on their own.

Sleep

Our body and mind needs to rejuvenate and process the events of the day. We need about 8 hours of sleep to do this properly. Go easy on the caffeine. This is in coffee, milk coffee drinks, colas and chocolate.

Tip: Herbs like Valerian and Kava can help with this.

Hygiene

Keeping our hands clean is very important. We tend to neglect this because things around us appear clean. However we cannot see the germs lurking on our skin.

Tip: Good times to wash your hands are

before preparing food
after coughing or sneezing
after wiping your child's nose
after going to the toilet
after changing your child's nappy

Natural remedies

Magnesium is a natural sedative. It is found in legumes, seeds, dark green leafy vegetables, wheat bran, almonds and cashews. It is also good to take as a supplement.

We only have one body for our lifetime. If we look after it by following the steps above we will improve our immune system and banish those niggling allergies.
Tell us your secret to good health.

Four Rules about Allergies

 

An EBook by Therese Vahland

Rule No 1

Allergies are not always obvious

Rule No 2

Everybody reacts to things differently

Rule No 3

Your allergic reactions may change.

Rule No 4

Listen to your body carefully. Become aware of how it reacts to foods and your environment. This is very important in learning about your allergies. 

Symptoms

 

Everybody does not get an obvious rash or sneezing if they are allergic to something in the environment.

Instead, some may not be able to breathe properly, some may have an upset stomach, dull or thumping headache or feel plain tired and exhausted.

Where one person may have vomiting in reaction to a food, another may have diarrhoea, and another may have a bloated stomach.

If you are exposed to an allergen for an extended time, your symptoms may change over time, for example, from a dull headache to a piercing headache when around a photocopier or printer or fresh newspaper or magazine.

Symptoms may change over time from an upset stomach when eating seafood to vomiting and diarrhoea, rash and exhaustion.

Asthma, Allergies and Autumn

 

Goat's milk may ease allergies and eczema. Read more @ www.allergiesandcfs.com/Let's-talk-health.html

Autumn is often a time when asthma appears more generally in the population, especially among children.
Speaking from my own experience, as soon as the weather started to cool down in the evenings my children started to cough and wheeze and experience restless nights.

Asthma, Hay fever and Eczema are said to be in the one family. If you or your children are susceptible to these then they will often have one or the other. When one disappears another will take its place.

Cool, damp evenings are often a harbinger for those coughs, colds and wheezes. Springtime is often a time for hay fever. Eczema has its own rules and may be aggravated by the body being extra warm and rugged up during winter or from the heat of summer.

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My Recommendations to ease Asthma

No more cow's milk
Cow's milk includes custard, yoghurt, cheese, cream, ice cream, chocolate and anything made with milk. Substitute this with Goat's milk which is often available in your supermarket or health food store. It is also available in powdered form.

No more wheat
 Many people are susceptible to wheat and do not realise it. If you are affected by wheat, this can increase the mucous in you lungs and sinuses. Therefore colds are worse with lots of mucous. There are plenty of other grains to eat and good products available made from them. Look at the Gluten Free products here as these have no wheat in them.

Try going without cow's milk or wheat for a few weeks and see how your health improves. You may feel it hasn't improved. Then try introducing either wheat or cow's milk and see how you feel.

Often you don't feel anything particular when you are having a product regularly. But when you have been without it for a few weeks and then have it again, if it affects you then you will notice a difference. It maybe excess mucous, colds, asthma, sick stomach or diarrhoea.

Be your own best detective and detect for your health and those of your loved ones. Happy detecting!

What is an Allergy?

What is an Allergy?

 

This wonderful video will explain to you how allergies work.
Please click on it to activate it and have a look. It is well worth listening to this doctor explain how allergies work.

Dry Brushing for Good Health

 

Dry Brushing for Healthy Skin

Dry brushing is an easy thing you can to for yourself each day. It stimulates the circulation system and the lymphatic system of your body. The lymphatic system rids your body of toxins. Dry Brushing helps to detoxify your body.

Dry brushing clears your skin of dead, dry flakes. It is generally advised to dry brush before showering although people with sensitive skin may find doing this after a shower is better for them. 

Brushing Direction

Start brushing at your feet. I prefer to use long sweeping motions with the harder sweep going towards the heart and the softer, recovering sweep going away from the heart. Others suggest circular motions. 

Remember the soles of your feet. Many people have hard skin on the soles and heels of their feet. Brush these regularly to have soft supple skin.

Brush up the calves and thighs, tummy and hips, reaching around to your back as much as you can. This is why a brush with a long handle can be of help. Brush your hands, forearms and upper arms, shoulders and chest. If you have dry, flaky skin, see it fall off.

You don't have to brush all your body each day. You can concentrate an one area or alternate areas. 

Dry Brushing helps Relieve Itching Skin

Dry brushing can help ease the itch of skin rashes but do this with care. Listen to your body. Do not brush where it hurts. Do not brush over infected or broken skin.

Leg Cramps

This stimulation can also be good for your legs if you are prone to leg cramps and also if the circulation in your legs is not very good. Be careful if you have varicose veins. Do not brush over them.

Enjoy your fresh, silky skin.

Are You Worse for Windy Weather?

 

Even my feathered friends can be affected by the wind

Windy Weather Coming

Today we were warned by the Weather Bureau that strong winds were on their way. Winds were to be from 120-150kms per hour - very strong, the strongest we had had for many years. (75-90mph).

Prepare for Wind

Of course the first thing we do is make sure that anything outside is moves in or stabilized so that it won't blow away.

I had to make sure that my hens were locked in for the night so that they wouldn't get out the next day and be blown away by the wind.

Preparations for Health

Our health can be affected by the wind. To some people that can sound very strange. To others that are affected by the wind, it is very real.

When I was a teacher I came to dread windy days because I knew that the children would be very scatty - hard to control. Even my mother used to get very irritable when it was windy.
 

Allergies and Asthma

A windy day can cause some people to get asthma. Going into the cold icy wind after being in a warm room can cause asthma. Hot north wind in the southern hemisphere or hot southerly winds in the northern hemisphere can bring grief to many people in the form of asthma or hay fever. 

Homeopathy and the Wind

There are some remedies in Homeopathy that can help people who are affected by the wind.
Aconite
People who may benefit from this are affected by cold dry winds.
Belladonna
People are affected by drafts.
Calc phos
People are affected by the east wind.
Ruta and Nux vom
People are also affected by cold wind
Euphrasia
People are affected by the wind
Rhododendron
People are affected by the wind and stormy wet weather

If you are affected by the wind, I hope you can find a remedy that is right for you and take it before the wind comes so that you are not affected.

Hay Fever Relief

 

Nat mur Cell Salts

Natural Hay Fever Relief

Natrum muriaticum or Nat mur for short is a wonderful, simple and effective natural remedy that helps relieve hay fever.

Here in Australia we are about to go into Spring. This is the time many flowers bloom and there is lots of pollen in the air. Also around the time of the equinox there is more wind. The equinox is when we experience equal day and night. This happens twice a year - at the third week in March and September every year. Leading up to this time the weather can become very windy. This can cause lots of sneezing and watery eyes  too, especially on the days of hot dry winds from the north.

Nat mur is a Cell salt. These can also be called Tissue salts or Bio-chemic salt. Our body is made up of 12 different salts or minerals. This is one of them. Each of these salts affects a different system in our body.

Nat mur affects the water in our body. It seeks to stabilise the moisture in our body, stopping it from getting too wet or too dry.
Nat mur is good for when we experience excessive moisture from hay fever.

Symptoms of Hay Fever are:

• excessive sneezing

• runny nose

• watery eyes

• irritability (who wouldn't be irritable with all these uncomfortable symptoms)

Nat mur can also help with sinus problems when there is excess moisture.

Skin Symptoms

Nat mur can also relieve blister type rashes on our skin. Watery blisters, eczema, and shingles may be helped or very dry, itchy skin for example in the creases of knees and elbows. Remember, Nat  mur is about regulating the water in our body, to stop it from being too dry or too moist. Eczema and allergies are common. It also helps with heatstroke.

Emotions

People who need Nat mur may also hold a lot of grief. It is also good for people who cry a lot, or who cannot cry at all. These people also hold resentment and wish to be alone.

Nat mur can be purchased as tablets or spray for under the tongue, or as a Homeopathic remedy.

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Click on image to purchase Nat mur

Link Between Fuel and Allergies

 

Gaseous chemicals are bad for everyone

Following on from my article about Renewable Fuel for our cars comes this article showing how there is a link between petroluem and allergies.

Crude Oil to Fuel

The crude oil found in reserves beneath the earth's crust is sucked out from its resting place where it has been for thousands of years. It is then refined into thousands of products. Our world is now made up of products from crude oil.

The thick, black sticky oil contains hydrocarbons like methane, ethane, propane, butane and pentane. You have probably heard of many of these. It is then made into petrol, gasoline,  deisel, jet fuel, kerosene, asphalt, heating and liquified petroleum gas.

Crude Oil to Chemicals

Products made from these substances are pharmaceuticals, solvents, fertilizers, pesticides, paraffin wax and plastics.

Can you see how our world has been influenced by crude oil?

Some Gases form these oils are
Butane which is used to power cigarette lighters
Propane which is used for cooking and heating and transportation
Any fuel that burns with a sooty flame may be carcinogenic, that is, cause cancer.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)

Some people react badly to chemicals, sometimes many different chemicals including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs include perfumes, petrol or gasoline, deisel, smoke, solvents and are found in paint.

These people usually react to other allergens as well, for example pollens, house dust mites and pet fur and dander.

Symptoms of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity 

burning, stinging eyes wheezing, breathlessness and nausea extreme fatigue or lethargy headaches or migraines vertigo or dizziness poor memory and concentration runny nose - rhinitis

sinus problems skin rashes and/or itchy skin sensitivity to light and noise sleeping problems digestive upsets muscle and joint pain sore throat and cough

 

Toxic chemicals known to be Immune System Disruptors include organochlorines, formaldehyde, pesticides, herbicides and organophosphates. This means that they can upset our immune system.

I hope you have not been frightened off by all the big chemical words, but you would probably have heard of many of them. Now you know how they are all connected.

Renewable Fuel for Cars

References: follow the Links

 

 

Allergies and Folk Art Painting

People with Chemical sensitivities can be allergic to paint

Allergies and Paint

I LOVED to paint. It was my life. If you read my book, Allergies and Chronic Fatigue  A Natural Approach, you will know that from a very young age I have been fascinated with painting, whether it is transforming and beautifying a door or wall or decorating a canvas, piece of paper or some wood.

Throughout my book you will see that every time I was exposed to paint from childhood, I became very ill. We now know this as chemical allergies.

Modern paint is full of chemicals. Goodness knows what they were full of in the 'Old' days. I passed my thirties a good while ago.

Paint contains a good dose of chemicals including toluene and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are BAD for people with allergies to chemicals.

My Painting Career

For many years I painted - artistically - up to 12 hours a day with artists acrylics. I would not use artists oil paints as the brushes had to be cleaned in turpentine - another strong smelling chemical. One video I watched of an artist explaining how to paint even used petrol to clean his brushes!!!!!

Now I thought I could get away with these tubes of acrylic paints. After all it said on the plastic tube 'Non toxic'. Mmmm. To whom?

I painted folk art style and still love this simplistic version of painting. This style is often painted on wood or tin. The background has to be painted first. Here come the larger quantities of paint. Get the picture?

I also used to mix large quantities of background colour for my students - I taught painting for years too. Painting classes were a delight for me but I found that going home after a couple of classes I was totally drained. I had been exposed to paint from 12 students for 5 hours.

Well eventually my chemical allergies all came to a head and I ended up in bed - for years. But here I am.

My style of painting has changed a lot over the years, as happens. I used watercolour paint for a while as very little paint or pigment is used. It is different to acrylic paints. Now I can use acrylics again, but I will never use them to the extent of before.

Chemical Sensitivities

If you have chemical sensitivities be careful with acrylic artist's paint too. It is not only the paint in the tubes but the tubes themselves are made out of plastic - more on that another day. People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) need to be careful.

To see my Folk Art Books click here.

For more information on my book Allergies and Chronic Fatigue  A Natural

MDF and Chemical Sensitivities

 

This display board is made from MDF but well sealed

Health Risks of MDF

Medium Density Fibreboard, or MDF for short, is the wooden product many artists use when they paint in folk art style, Tole painting or Decorative painting.
It is a manufactured wood product containing chemicals that may be hazardous to humans.

The original wood is finely powdered then bonded together with resins and bonding agents. It may also be made retardant to fire, water or stains - with chemicals.

Toxic Chemicals are a Major Health Risk

The main chemical used to form the MDF is formaldehyde.

Symptoms experienced by different people from MDF are

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lethargy flu like symptoms asthma lung conditions rashes chest infections

irritated mucous membranes dermatitis racing mind sweating racing heart

Toxic chemicals are often considered carcinogens, that is, cancer causing agents.

Other Uses for MDF

MDF is often used in building these days too. I was told by medical professionals involved in Environmental Medicine 17 years ago that MDF gives off gases from the chemicals used to make it, for about 30 years.
MDF should never be burnt in a fire, especially an indoor fireplace, because of the chemicals it gives off.

When Artists paint on this board, they also do a lot of sanding. This fine dust can get in your lungs producing irritation and asthma. Always use a mask when sanding this wood.

Children and MDF

Don't use MDF board around children or in their bedrooms. They spend a lot of time in their bedrooms sleeping and playing and they are breathing in the toxic gases all the time. Young children are readily susceptible to chest infection. You don't want to aggravate this.
Increasingly articles of furniture are made from MDF. Kitchen cupbards and shelving are among the myriad items created from MDF. The powdered dust that is the result of cutting and sanding this board are also dangerous. If you are in this industry, make sure to wear a mask. It is better to wear a mask now than to die of lung disease later on.

Sense or No Sense?

Recently I was in a factory where they made furniture. A man was spraying a piece of wooden furniture with varnish (chemical of course). He had on a mask, however the mask was keeping his neck warm instead of covering his mouth and nose!

Musty Cupboards, Allergies and CFS

Wash baby clothes so they stay fresh and clean

Musty Odours

Time to wash all the clothes in my cupboard again!

I pulled a summer nightie out of the cupbaord last night and it had not been worn for six months. I am not the sort of fanatical housekeeper that washes all the clothes in my cupboard even though I do not wear them. They sit in my cupboard until the season is right and I am ready for them again. I am sure I am not the only person who does this.

However my breath is taken away when I take a stored item of clothing from the cupboard. Over the years I have had asthma attacks from this and become very ill from going through old boxes with musty odours. I recommend that people with allergies, asthma, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, CFIDS, ME and any other auto immune disease stay clear of anything musty.

If you have to sort through musty goods then use a mask to prevent inhaling airborne particles.

Things that go Musty

This includes clothing in a wardrobe, linen in a closet, musty books in boxes at home or in a Secondhand bookshop, or clothing in Op shops or anything stored in the back of your garage that has not been disturbed for a long time.  All these have old stored goods and can get this musty smell. If you have a basement or unused shed in the back yard be aware of these too.

Precautions for Change of Season 

When the season is changing it is a good time to take out all your clothing for the next season and give it a wash. Wash down the cupboard it is stored in then it will stay fresh for the next few months.

The same goes for the linen in your cupboard. Take out the stored sheets and wash them all, wash the cupboard and replace them.

I have had to do this for years, not because I am a fussy housekeeper, because, believe me I am not. I have had to do this for my health and for my family.

Occasionally I have forgotten to do this and needed a sheet for my bed or a nightgown that had not been washed for a few months. I have wondered how I would get through the night with this musty smell around me. So take precautions and care for your health and that of your loved ones.
Preparing for a new Baby
Young mothers often store clothing used by a previous child waiting for the next addition to the family. This can sometimes take a few years to happen. This clothing for a newborn needs extra care. A tiny baby cannot tell you that it feels unwell if you wrap it in a musty rug or lie it on musty sheets. Give these clothes and bedclothes and bunnyrugs extra care. Washing these clothes twice with a good airing on the outdoor clothes line in the sunshine for a couple of times makes extra sure the clothes are fresh for your new baby.

Often other young mums who feel they will not be extending their family give their used baby clothes to others. If you receive some of these gifts make sure this clothing and wrapping rugs are thoroughly cleaned too.

Have a great day and work towards being healthy.

Allergies & Stored Clothing

Keeping your Cupboards FREE from Musty Smells

Rotate clothing in the cupboard to keep them fresh

Have you ever experienced a draining feeling when you walk into an Op Shop (secondhand clothing shop)? Have you ever smelt an overpowering musty smell when walking into an old shed or basement? Have you started sneezing in these places?

Our cupboards can get this musty smell too and if they do it also gets into our clothing and sheets. Mustiness can bring on an asthma attack or overpowering sneezing and affect those with tendencies to great fatigue. We wish to stay as healthy as possible, boosting our health in we are unwell. Here are some tips.

Rotating Clothing & Linen
To keep your clothing in your cupbards free from that musty smell which is so bad for people with CFS, CFIDS, ME, Fibromyalgia and a load of other auto immune illnesses, rotating can help.

By rotating I mean when you replace your freshly washed clothing in the cupboard, place it at the bottom of the pile. Then use new clothing from the top of the pile. This way the older clothes are always at the top and you keep the pile of clothing cycling through.

This is also important in your linen cupboard and bathroom cupboard. Keep face washers and towel rotated, putting the freshly washed goods at the bottom of the pile.

Discard Unused Linen & Clothing
This rotation will not help you hugely if you have an enormous pile of sheets or clothes. Therefore, go through your cupboard twice a year and discard what you do not wear or use. Keep your stack of clothing and sheets small so that they are recycled regularly. If you have an excess quantity which you do want to keep, wash them regularly and hang them out in the sunshine to dry.

In the old days the washerwomen used to spread the delicates over lavender bushes to dry in the sun. This way they also smelt pretty when they were returned to the cupboard. You could add a few drops of aromatherapy oil to your wash load if it suits you.

Musty Cupboards, Allergies and CFS

Have a great day