The Health Blog

Edward Rideout had had headaches for many years. In his childhood, these were fairly infrequent. In his youth, the attacks were accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. After an hour or two of sleep, he would feel better. Like Joan Kowan, Rideout constantly resorted to pain-killers and became addicted to these drugs. Eventually, he became addicted to a morphine-derived medication.

Each of Rideout’s headaches followed a characteristic pattern. His headache would come on suddenly, he would become nauseated, and would begin to vomit. This attack would be accompanied by nervousness, restlessness, hyperactivity, and sensitivity to light.

Midway through one of these terrible attacks, he would rush to the nearest emergency room for an injection of his morphine medication. Eventually, in desperation, he, too, consented to a brain operation designed to ease the pain. Again, this accomplished nothing.

Treatment with comprehensive environmental control brought dramatic changes in his condition. During the withdrawal period of the water fast, he had to be given some morphine medication to relieve the unbearable pain. By the third or fourth day of the fast, however, the pain subsided, and the medication was discontinued. On the fifth day of withdrawal, Rideout became violently angry at the world. That evening he felt as if he were about to get a headache, but it never came. On the morning of his sixth day of fasting, he woke without a sign of a headache. There was only a slight tenderness in his mid-forehead. During the next ten days, Rideout tested a variety of foods and waters according to the procedures of the Ecology Unit. The results of these tests finally exposed the root causes of this man’s lifelong headache problem.

He turned out to be susceptible to the following substances:

One form of tap water: bad headache

Cantaloupe: slight headache, which lasted half an hour

Corn and corn sugar: headache on first test; “thick feeling across forehead”

on second test, with some depression Banana: bad headache

Fish (catfish): severe headache, lasting two days Rabbit: intense pressure across forehead

Other foods gave no reaction, nor did chemically contaminated meals or other forms of common chemicals. A suitable diet, containing only those items which were tolerated, was devised for him. Leaving the hospital, Rideout was headache-free for the first time in decades. He has continued to make progress, following his diet and adding new items to it whenever possible.

Headaches do not always occur alone, but often accompany other symptoms. These can either be localized symptoms (minus-one), other minus-two reactions, or even more severe minus-three symptoms. Sandra Casey was one of these polysymptomatic patients.

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It may seem surprising to include the automobile as a source of indoor air pollution. Yet, not only does ambient (outdoor) air pollution enter the home, but the automobile itself has become part of the home in parts of the United States. Many houses have been built with the garage incorporated into their structures. This is particularly true in the case of ranch houses. Not uncommonly, the master bedroom is located directly above the garage and is saturated by fumes rising from it.

For the chemically susceptible, this development in modern living can be disastrous. Simply stated, garages should not be incorporated into the basements of homes unless elaborate precautions are taken to prevent fumes and odors from rising and fouling the air of the living quarters. To do this, however, is extremely difficult—in fact, nearly impossible. Even a passageway between a garage and home may allow sufficient fumes to enter the house to cause or perpetuate symptoms. Careless home construction often contributes to this problem.

A similar situation prevails in many apartment houses, where garage fumes get into the elevator shafts and contaminate the living quarters of the buildings. One partial solution to this problem is to let a car cool off completely before putting it into the garage. In this way, engine fumes will be less apt to accumulate and pollute the house.

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Eye allergies are allergic reactions of the eyes. They may affect the conjunctiva (the transparent covering over the whites of the eyes and the insides of the eyelids). They may also affect the skin on the eyelids and around the eyes.

Eye allergies are caused by a wide variety of substances carried to the eyes by the air or by the hands. Seasonal, airborne materials are pollens from trees, grass, weeds and other plants. Non-seasonal airborne materials include house dust, feathers, molds, and animal dander (tiny scales from the skin of an animal). Many irritants may be carried to the eyes by the hands, including nail polish, household cleaning products, materials from stuffed toys, and finger paints.

Signs and symptoms

The whites of the eyes become red and itchy. The eyes water, but no pus is formed. Occasionally, the whites become visibly swollen with clear jelly-like material. The eyelids become swollen and red. The skin of the eyelids may be smooth or rough and scaly. Pouches beneath the eyes may become swollen and bluish and resemble “shiners”.

Certain clues can distinguish eye allergies from several other conditions that also cause reddened eyes (conditions such as conjunctivitis, viruses, foreign bodies in the eyes, sties, glaucoma). Eye allergies cause itching and tearing but never cause pain or pus. Swelling of the whites of the eyes is a key sign of an eye allergy.

Home care

Oral antihistamines usually help. With your doctor’s permission, use of eye drops containing phenylephrine or ephedrine brings temporary relief. Applying cold compresses to the eyes may also ease the discomfort. Whenever possible, identifying and avoiding the irritating substance is clearly the best solution.

Precautions

• If there is pus or pain in the eyes, the condition is probably not an allergy.

• If the pupils of the eyes are dilated (enlarged) and slow to respond to light, see your doctor.

• If home treatment is not effective in 24 hours, see your doctor.

• If vision is affected, see your doctor.

Medical treatment

Your doctor will examine the outsides and insides of your child’s eyes. Medicated eye drops are effective but are safe only after a doctor’s examination. Skin tests may be suggested to help identify the substances causing the allergic reaction. Desensitization shots over an extended period are rarely recommended.

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