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.

*70\110\2*

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.

*40\110\2*

Although at one time there were serious side-effects associated with many anti-allergy drugs, the modern formulations have overcome most of these problems. The drug treatments now available are both safe and effective.

Before embarking on any other form of treatment, such as an elimination diet, it is important to weigh up the costs and benefits of that treatment as compared with using drugs to combat the symptoms. In cases where the symptoms are relatively mild, it may be better to rely on drugs alone. The decision involves a great many personal considerations, including, for example, the relative importance of food to the person concerned, their perseverance and will-power, and the number of meals that have to be eaten away from home. Nutritional needs also have to be taken into account. It is a decision that can only be made by the individual patient (or by the parents in the case of a small child) in consultation with the doctor concerned.

*62\180\8*

If there is not enough zinc in your diet, your cells actually lose vitamin A even though you may be taking a vitamin A tablet. Vitamin A deficiency leads to improper metabolisation of iron (anaemia) which in turn affects calcium metabolism (reduced bone growth, muscle contraction and the burning of glucose for energy). When iron metabolism is disrupted vitamin B12 metabolism is disrupted, which in turn disrupts folic acid, which in turn disrupts magnesium metabolism and so it goes on and on.

By working together, vitamins and minerals get the metabolism working properly and thus correct metabolic diseases. Vitamins are only of assistance where deficiencies exist. Metabolic diseases are, in the main, the result of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

In its 1988 report on the nutritional state of Australians the federal Department of Health found that Australian women (in particular) were deficient in zinc, calcium and iron and suggested that more seafood be eaten. My experience is that most people cannot afford the amount of seafood needed to overcome these mineral deficiencies. A complete multi-vitamin and mineral is a much cheaper way of achieving the desired result.

*228\18\9*

As carbon dioxide retention in the blood progresses the degree of metabolic imbalance increases and the symptoms of acidosis become more numerous. The early symptoms are a quickening of the pulse, stomach upsets, heart burn, gas, panic and anxiety attacks, moist warm hands, muscle cramps in neck, shoulder and back, constricted pupils and elevated blood pressure. Severe carbon dioxide retention leads to drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, tingling and numbness in arms, legs and hands, and tremors. Hallucination, fainting and coma are the severest symptoms of all. Some people experience sleep disturbances.

Although the blood has special buffer substances to neutralise the carbonic acid (retained carbon dioxide in the blood) and the kidneys are also able to neutralise it, the body still relies heavily on the lungs to blow most of it off. This can only be done if we breathe deeply as most of the carbon dioxide sits in the lower lobes of the lungs.

Drugs, especially morphine, Valium and the barbiturates, will also cause carbon dioxide retention. Deep breathing is imperative for those who are being treated with these drugs.

Those whose shallow breathing is the result of stress also have a build-up of lactic acid in the blood. An excess of lactic acid robs the body of its calcium reserves as calcium is needed to neutralise lactic acid. A deficiency in calcium contributes to anxiety. The deep breathing exercises help to reduce the levels of lactic acid as well and are even more successful at this if the mental relaxation exercises are also practised.

Deep breathing helps to maintain a steady, elevated, metabolic rate which helps keep the body weight normal.

*210\18\9*

A. They are all good. Choose an oil that you are not allergic to.

Q. Will I put on weight if I have the oil?

A. Not if you take only the quantities recommended in the programs.

Q. Which is the most stable oil for cooking?

A. Olive oil. But it contains amines and salicylates. Use one of the others if you suspect you are amine or salicylate sensitive.

Q. Is cod liver oil safe to give to children?

A. Most certainly, if you can get them to take it. If not, give them the MaxEPA marine lipid capsules. Not for toddlers though, they may choke on tablets or capsules.

Q. Which is better, butter or margarine?

A. Butter. Margarine has preservatives, colourings and often milk sugar and milk protein. Butter is pure fat.

Q. Will Nystatin and garlic kill Lactobacillus acidophilus?

A. No. Nystatin kills only yeast organisms and garlic is not a broad spectrum killer of bacteria. It only kills unfriendly bacteria. Lactobacillus is a friendly bacterium.

*192\18\9*

A 230 mL (8 oz) glass of water or vegetable juice must be sipped with lunch. Glucose cannot be added to the water on the Anti-Candida Program.

If you missed your morning deep breathing exercises then twenty minutes’ yogic walking in the park before lunch is a good substitute and will relax and energise you for the rest of the day.

As with the breakfast menu, the lunch options may be mixed and matched, swapped or changed with other meals. Again keep high and moderate amine and salicylate foods out for the first four weeks—study the lists.

OPTION 1

A home-made garden salad (not from fast food outlet) comprising any variety of garden vegetables that you are not sensitive to. Include 120-240 g (4-8 oz) of lean unprocessed meat (all fat trimmed), seafood or poultry (skin and all fat trimmed off). Eggs may also be had if you are not allergic to them and your cholesterol levels are normal. Nuts and/or sunflower and sesame seeds may be added to give the salad variety and flavour. 90-150 g (3-5 oz) of a carbohydrate food such as boiled, baked or mashed (with oil) potato must be eaten. Cooked brown rice, wholemeal pasta and wholemeal unleavened bread are other acceptable alternatives. No rice cakes.

Home-made chips (French fries) may also be eaten—not if you have high cholesterol though, and not the commercially prepared chips or the little round potato balls served at restaurants and take-away outlets, or bought frozen from the supermarket. These contain chemicals that many people are allergic to. Carbohydrate foods must be eaten at lunch to prevent the blood glucose levels dropping by mid-afternoon (hypoglycaemia). You can have a dressing of cold pressed vegetable oil with lemon juice (no vinegar) and garlic if you like. Add any of the permissible herbs and spices to the dressing. Candida Killer dip may be eaten on the side or over the salad after four weeks.

OPTION 2

Good for lowering cholesterol levels, although suitable for anyone.

A thick bean and lentil stew. Add lecithin granules if your cholesterol is high. One to three slices of wholemeal unleavened bread may be eaten with it (not rice cakes). Have the bread dry or with a thin spread of butter if you are not allergic to milk and your cholesterol levels are normal. Preferably, brush olive oil on the bread.

You may still have this dish if your cholesterol levels are normal as it only lowers high cholesterol levels, it doesn’t lower normal cholesterol levels. A rice bran muffin may be eaten in place of the bread if your cholesterol levels arc high.

OPTION 3

A thick vegetable soup. Include any variety of garden vegetables that you are not sensitive to. Lean meat, fish or poultry may be included in the soup, as may any of the permissible herbs and spices. One to three slices of unleavened wholemeal bread (not rice cakes), with butter (though preferably oil) on it, may be eaten.

Toast the bread (after first four weeks) if you like. If your cholesterol levels are high, a rice bran muffin may be eaten instead of bread, and rice bran may be added to thicken the soup. The soup may still be eaten if your cholesterol levels are normal as it won’t lower them below normal.

OPTION 4

Sandwiches—two slices of bread per sandwich, as thick as you like. Unleavened wholemeal bread (not rice cakes) or muffins may be used for sandwiches. The fillings may include salad with lean meat, fish or poultry. Canned fish (done in brine [salt and water] only) may also be used.

Egg filling is permissible if you are not allergic to egg and your cholesterol levels are normal. Cashew, almond and hazelnut pastes (and butters) and tahini are good fillings. No peanut butter though. You may have a thin spread of butter (if you are not allergic to milk and cholesterol levels are normal), though oil is preferable.

Candida Killer sandwich filling may be used if desired. Savoury Mince may also be used. Have one to three sandwiches, depending on your size, hunger and activity levels.

OPTION 5

Not for hypoglycaemics.

60-120 g (2-4 oz) of raw nuts and/or sunflower and sesame seeds. Two to three fresh fruits (but no melons, grapes or bananas) may be eaten with the nuts and seeds for eight weeks of the twelve week program. For four weeks you are to have the nuts and seeds only.

Have nuts and fruits in accordance with any allergies that you may have. Keep high and moderate amine and salicylate foods out for the first four weeks.

Note: You cannot have this option if you had fruit salad for breakfast.

*174\18\9*

This is a slow process. The time it takes depends on the amount you’re on and the length of time you have been on it. Your doctor will probably reduce it by 1 -2 mg only every two to four weeks. This gives the metabolism the chance to adjust and rebalance itself. My experience is that withdrawal from cortisone tablets is more successful if the patient is on the Metabolism-Balancing Program. If you are on cortisone and showing the early signs of Cushing’s syndrome, don’t panic. Follow the instructions listed in the recommended program. There is a 90 per cent chance you will get better.

If you allow yourself to be on the cortisone drugs (tablets taken orally) for too long you’ll reach the point of no return. You won’t be able to come off them.

*156\18\9*

If you have had immediate allergic reactions to a food, or are nervous about testing, one useful test you can carry out prior to actually eating the food is the Cheek Test. Smear a small amount of the food or its juice on the skin of your cheek and leave for half an hour. If you develop symptoms in that time, do not test-eat the food without further consulting a doctor. This is a useful test to do for babies and young children.

How to Monitor Symptoms

Before starting to eat, note down how you feel, and whether you have any specific symptoms already so that you will notice any change.

Eat the food you want to test, as a single food (see below for full advice). If you have a history of allergic reaction, you may only need to eat a little and your doctor may advise you not to eat too much. If you have no clear history of allergy, you may need to eat a lot of the chosen food: you may only react if you eat a large amount and it is better to get a clear result on the first round of testing. (You can experiment later to see if you can tolerate smaller amounts.)

Next, wait and see if symptoms develop. Note down any adverse changes (physical or mental) that you notice, and the time when they occur. Most people find that, if they are going to react, symptoms start to develop within the first four hours after eating. Delayed reactions can occur, especially with proteins and grains, and you can develop symptoms up to eight hours later or even the next day.

Do not take food or drink other than water for at least four hours after testing so that you do not confuse the results. Some people like to test foods in the late afternoon or evening, so that they can be at home resting and are able to monitor symptoms for several hours after eating.

If you get very hungry when testing or on an exclusion diet, a drink of hot boiled water helps quell hunger cravings and get you through to the next meal or snack.

If you feel worse the next day or get withdrawal symptoms, these will confirm any symptoms that you noted on eating the food.

If you have no reactions to a food first time round, it can be a good idea to wait a week (or a minimum of four days) before eating it again, and then repeat the test to be absolutely sure of negative reaction.

*104\117\8*

Angio-oedema often accompanies urticaria , like urticaria, it can be caused by false allergy reactions to foods and chemicals. Aspirin is a common trigger.

Asthma

If you have asthma, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• wheezing

• shortness of breath

• constriction of the chest

• cough

These symptoms can also be caused by other diseases, such as bronchitis or heart disease; asthma can be distinguished by measuring changes in the diameter of the airways of the lungs. Severe asthma is readily recognised, but mild asthma can go unidentified. Tightness of the chest, and shortness of breath are often accepted as normal, or go unperceived. A dry, persistent cough, especially in children, can often be a symptom of mild asthma. In a severe attack, a dry cough often becomes productive as phlegm is produced.

Asthma can occur immediately on meeting an allergen, or as a late phase reaction several hours later. Attacks are often bad late at night; this is linked to changes in the blood levels of a hormone, adrenalin.

Asthma is not always caused by an allergic reaction. It can be triggered by irritants, such as smoke or fumes. Cold air, exercise, or a viral infection can all cause asthma without allergy being involved. Stress, particularly emotional stress and anxiety, can also trigger or aggravate asthma.

Asthma can also be a symptom of food intolerance, chemical sensitivity, or of false allergy reactions to foods and chemicals.

*35\117\8*