Re: Allergy - sensitization to naturals

[Guest guest]

Katka --

Allergy is such an overused word that it is like nails on a chalkboard to hear

it.

You may have an allergy, or you may have an irritant reaction.

An irritant reaction, which is not an allergy, but physical irritation same as

you would get from a strong chemical or sandpaper. Essentially, you may have

what amounts to a mild chemical burn of the very sensitive tissues of your nose.

An allergy is actually a reaction whereby your body produces IGE (immunoglobulin

E) in reaction to a substance (allergen) that it has recognized through multiple

exposures. These attach to mast cells, and when they encounter the allergen

react by causing the mast cell to release histamine. Histamine burns like a bear

and causes pain and itching and inflammation. If this occurs on your skin it

manifests as urticaria (hives) if it manifests in your respiratory tract it can

cause runny nose, coughing, sneezing, broncho-spasms asthma and so forth. These

are dangerous and can lead to anaphylactic shock and death. Or they can simply

be irritating and annoying like seasonal rhinitis.

This is bordering on practicing medicine blindly across the internet, and I

should begin by saying that I am not a doctor. (I have worked specifically in

the allergy field) You should discuss reactions such as these with a doctor,

especially if they involve any part of your respiratory system such as nose,

tongue, lips or throat. The doctor can determine whether it is an irritant

reaction or an allergy. They can even send you for testing to determine which of

the ingredients it actually is. There is even a regimen of treatment that can

potentially cure the allergy.

Or your doctor may feel it is mild enough to prescribe either prescriptions or

over the counter medications to simply treat the symptoms and be done with it.

You also mentioned headache, which may suggest that you may have a migraine

trigger reaction to something as well.

Just to commiserate, 5 minutes in Yankee Candle, or about 10 in Bath and Body

Works is about all I can take without a headache, dizziness and nausea. However,

I have never had a problem with any EO or Aroma chemical or blend that I have

made with them. Though, I have never had anything in my hands that is quite so

intense as the experience of BBW or YCC sensory bombardment.

Ok, so first talk to your doctor.

Second, don't sniff these things from the bottle. It is not effective or

accurate. And it tends to give you too much at once, so then your smell is

deadened to what you are trying to smell (anosmia).

Good thoughts, and call your doctor.

-- B

[Guest guest]

So you guys who work with (and sniff) EO on everyday basis do not get such a

reaction? doesn't it influence health in any harmful way? This may sound stupid,

because hey, what did i think, that sniffing chemicals (because i consider

naturals to be chemicals too) daily would be safe? but none of the material or

book i studied did not really mentioned potential health risks of natural

perfumery - except of, well, for skin, some eo to be irritants and they need to

be well diluted or avoided at all.

If so, what is the best practice to stay healthy,except of using gloves, good

ventilation, breaks, sniffing from strips, diluted eo?

Thank you Bradley very much for your input, I appreciate you taking time to

write that.

I am now aware that if that happens again i have to see a doctor. Jeez i just

don't want to take pills to be able to work with eo..

Thanks a lot

Katka

[Guest guest]

Katka --

<SOAPBOX = ON>

You are correct in considering EO's chemicals. Of course, everything is

chemicals right? Consider the degree of concentration. You put a couple kilos of

biomass through a distillation process and end up with a few grams (if that) of

essential oil. They obviously have a volatility otherwise you would not be able

to smell them.

Consider things like eugenol (cloves, cinnamon) it will numb the hell out of

you. However, they don't use it for that any more since it also will damage

tissue. And if you have ever watched the Exterminator (I love that show),

he uses it Eugenol Oil all the time to kill bugs and such, and chrysanthamum oil

is full of pyrethrins (think flea control and lice and stuff... neurotoxic

stuff)

Foxglove (digitalis) will mess up your heart, and lets not get into how people

seem to have a hard time telling wild carrot from queen ann's lace, or hemlock.

Anything in the nightshade family (tomato, belladonna, pepper). Any of the

cherry, plum, peach and so forth and even apple to an extent ... know that

lovely almond smell? Well that's cyanide containing compounds.

I am not saying that you are using these as EO's. However, there are all sorts

of compounds in EOs that have all sorts of properties. That is why they had been

used medically (folk medicine) or even (root medicine). Many times plants

produce some compounds specifically to protect from insects or other things that

might eat them. Well these compounds come through in the EO's as well.

The list can go on forever. Point is, that there are all sorts of chemicals that

we don't want in our bodies, at least not in very concentrated amounts. Many of

these chemicals are very safe at certain levels, especially the ones that do not

build up, and can be eliminated by the liver or other systems of the body.

Be careful with these things as if they were all dangerous poisons, and you will

not have so much trouble when you deal with the ones that are worse. Think about

some of the warnings, like " Contraindicated during Pregnancy " check these out

http://www.motherlove.com/category/resources-faq-herbs-to-avoid-while-pregnant.h\

tml

If you research aromatherapy, you will also find that using certain essences are

contraindicated in other health situations.

I am not intending to scare you, well maybe I am. I will work on my own

electrical wiring at home. I know how to do it, but it scares me to death. I

have said countless times, when I am not afraid of it anymore, then I will stop

doing it, because I know that is when I will get hurt. Unless you are an organic

chemist, botanist, or herbalist or otherwise expert with all these sources you

should have a good healthy fear and treat them as if they were all dangerous.

Eye protection, gloves, and only sniffing very small amounts or well diluted

amounts in a well ventilated area. Some of these compounds (I would think the

cyanide type stuff) have preferential affinity to your red blood cells. That

means the cells like them better than oxygen. There is a flushed face, and

headache right there. Similar to carbon monoxide inhalation.

Think of it like alcohol. If you have a beer, your body will metabolize the

alcohol in about an hour, and you will be as if you didn't have any. If you have

6 of them in an hour, you will fall down and talk to people who aren't there and

make really bad choices by calling your ex's on the cell phone . If you have 12

in an hour... well if your body doesn't puke it out, you may get to visit the

people at the ER or worse. Now consider 190 proof grain alcohol. 1 beer is 12

ounces of liquid, but if you drink 12 oz of grain alcohol that is the same as

drinking 33 beers.

Well consider the natural material like beer and the EOs like Everclear. There

is my overly verbose metaphor for the day.

<SOAPBOX = OFF>

I apologize if I sounded preachy..

-- B

[Guest guest]

Hi Katka:

I saw Bradley's replies, and he's right on the money with the

irritant v. allergy observation. Let me add some ideas of my own

what happened to you. EOs and absolutes are very, very

concentrated, and they are solvents, as is alcohol. We aren't

supposed to " whiff " them deeply from the bottle. Working with a

lot of these molecules, even if dispersed into the air, can

overload our respiratory system, and eventually, our liver.

My students are given very specific instructions on how to avoid

this sensory overload. To succinctly share those instructions

here: work in a well-ventilated space, use scent strips and waft

them under the nose, do not breathe in deeply, take frequent

breaks and use liver support herbs. I sometimes forget about the

ventilation and breaks, and I get a headache, especially from a

heavy perfume, like StarFlower.

You have to have respect for these concentrated solvents. Once

student, Bella, didn't follow my instructions, and instead,

sniffed deeply of the kit oils for a few days and " burned out "

her nose (her words) for six weeks, the time it took to

recuperate. So just be respectful and cautious with the oils,

and hopefully, you will avoid the problems you listed in the future.

Anya McCoy

http://AnyasGarden.com

http://PerfumeClasses.com

http://NaturalPerfumers.com

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Katka:

>

> I saw Bradley's replies, and he's right on the money with the

> irritant v. allergy observation. Let me add some ideas of my own

> what happened to you. EOs and absolutes are very, very

> concentrated, and they are solvents, as is alcohol. We aren't

> supposed to " whiff " them deeply from the bottle. Working with a

> lot of these molecules, even if dispersed into the air, can

> overload our respiratory system, and eventually, our liver.

>

> My students are given very specific instructions on how to avoid

> this sensory overload. To succinctly share those instructions

> here: work in a well-ventilated space, use scent strips and waft

> them under the nose, do not breathe in deeply, take frequent

> breaks and use liver support herbs. I sometimes forget about the

> ventilation and breaks, and I get a headache, especially from a

> heavy perfume, like StarFlower.

>

> You have to have respect for these concentrated solvents. Once

> student, Bella, didn't follow my instructions, and instead,

> sniffed deeply of the kit oils for a few days and " burned out "

> her nose (her words) for six weeks, the time it took to

> recuperate. So just be respectful and cautious with the oils,

> and hopefully, you will avoid the problems you listed in the future.

>

> Anya McCoy

> http://AnyasGarden.com

> http://PerfumeClasses.com

> http://NaturalPerfumers.com

Thank you for your precious advices. So, I reckon, none of you really had health

issues when following them.

That is good, take care and thanks again

Katka