She herself suspected that “sugar” was the cause of her problem (most people do not differentiate between the various forms of sugar). She believed, as well, that part of her weight problem was caused by fluid retention. She reported feeling swollen after eating a heavy meal. She said that she could gain three or four pounds in a day, but that she could also lose ten pounds on a crash diet. Miss Phillips also suspected that she was allergic to certain kinds of water and reported abdominal bloating whenever she drank tap water.

When she was treated in the Ecology Unit, her depression became worse before it gradually lessened. At the end of the fast period, she felt well. She was then tested on various waters, and she did, in fact, react to several of them, including chlorinated city water.

Her own suspicions about foods were largely correct. She reacted with depression, headache, or fatigue to corn and corn sugar and also to cane sugar, as well as to tea and coffee. She also had lesser reactions to onions, acorn squash, walnuts, lettuce, potatoes, chocolate, and honey.

She also reacted to some foods tolerated in their organic form when she was fed them in their commercial, supermarket form. This was taken as a positive test for chemical susceptibility.

Miss Phillips’ case was not very advanced, and her depression was rated at a minus-three level. With careful control of food intake and avoidance of environmental chemicals, she has been able to lead a happier life and pursue her studies without interruption.

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In the case of food, undigested molecules get into the blood through the gut wall, after a meal. This is a normal process that occurs in the healthiest of individuals, although in the food-sensitive person it is likely to be more pronounced because the gut wall is more leaky. Once the food molecules enter the bloodstream they encounter antibodies – again a natural, healthy process which leads to the formation of immune complexes when the antibodies and antigens bind together. Immune complexes attract the attention of phagocytes or ‘eating cells’, the vultures of the immune system that clear up any debris, dead cells and invading bacteria they come across.

Immune complexes form all the time, whenever antibodies encounter their antigen. Normally they are cleared from the blood by the phagocytes within a few hours. But if the immune complexes are both large and numerous, the phagocytes may not be equal to the task. Then the immune complexes accumulate in the blood, and eventually they are deposited in the blood vessels. This is the condition known as Type III hypersensitivity or serum sickness.

Serum sickness happens in autoimmune diseases, such as SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus; where there are a great many antibodies to the patient’s own proteins circulating in the blood. It is also believed to happen, to a lesser degree, in rare cases of food allergy – in some types of kidney disease, for example, where the disease seems to be induced by food. Although there is no definite proof for this, the circumstantial evidence is quite strong.

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February, depending on the pollens which affect you. Nose bleeds sometimes result from use of nasal sprays.

Steroids are sometimes given as short courses of treatment for severe seasonal rhinitis as tablets (e.g. Prednisolone) or by injection (e.g. Kenalog).

Steroid eye drops should only be used under the direction of an eye specialist. They can have serious effects if not used appropriately.

Steroid creams and ointments (e.g. hydrocortisone creams or Tinnocort, Betnovate, Dermovate) are very commonly prescribed for eczema and dermatitis. If too much is used, the steroids are absorbed through the skin and can result in the general side effects described above. It is unwise to use steroid creams and ointments lavishly, to smother a child or adult in them, however badly affected, or to use them continuously over a long period. Always consult your doctor about the best way to use these and other medication.

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Jug filters are reasonably effective at reducing chemical contaminants and are adequate for most sensitive people. Plumbed-m filter systems are more effective and convenient.

Take made-up drinks with you- or your own water, when going to work or school. Give toddlers and young children their own cup to take to nursery or playgroups. Take packed lunches if you are concerned about water used for cooking. If you have a sensitive baby, use bottled or filtered water to make up any feeds, boiling first and preparing feeds as usual. Avoid processed foods and drinks made up with water, as described in the detection programme above. You can make up your own fruit juices, for instance, by buying fruit juice concentrate (available from health food shops or direct from wholesaler Suma. You can make your own soya milk from soya flour.

On social occasions, arrange in advance to have a water you tolerate available, or take your own bottle if you have to. Friends, family, even restaurants, are usually very accommodating if you explain the situation. Bottled waters are now widely available at pubs and cafes. For children’s parties, arrange in advance with hosts what your child will drink – if necessary, delivering a drink in advance so that your child does not appear too conspicuous.

If travelling or away from home, take a portable jug filter with you. Keep a jug filter at work, or take a flask of hot drink with you.

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Re-circulating air systems are standard on many larger, more expensive cars, such as the larger Volvos, Mercedes, or Audis. They are installed as standard on Vauxhall Astras from 1991 (‘J’) registration; you have to select the system by switching it on. A garage can instal a re-circulating air system on any car, but it can be costly and you might be better to change car to one on which it is fitted as standard, or else use a car filter in combination with a conventional ventilation system (see below and page 430).

Some models of car have air intake filters. These have been shown to be extremely effective against pollens, particles and chemical fumes in controlled tests. How these work and fuller information is given on page 430. Air intake filters are installed as standard on Vauxhall Astras since 1991 (T) registration and Ford Mondeos. They are also installed as standard on all new models of the BMW 300, 500, and 700, the Lancia Thema, and the Mercedes Roadster SI and SB class. Filters are available as options on the Volvo 400, Volkswagen Golf and Passat. Currently optional on the Audi 80 and 100, they will soon be installed as standard.

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Alternatively, opticians have found that Ultrazyme tablets work well used in combination with the Oxysept peroxide system; the Ultrazyme tablets can be dropped into the overnight soaking solution and left to work overnight. Some people who have reacted to Amiclair tablets used on their own have been able to tolerate Ultrazyme if used in combination with Oxysept in this way.

If you need to use wetting drops for your lenses, try Clerz sold in single dose sachets. This is a preservative-free system and is well tolerated. If you use a surfactant cleaner before using a peroxide solution, use Mirasept with the 10/10 system. This is generally trouble-free.

You can ask any pharmacist or optician to obtain those systems for you if you cannot readily find them in shops.

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Some women have found that Evening Primrose Oil helps relieve pre-menstrual and menstrual problems. Some react, however, to the gelatine of Evening Primrose Oil capsules. If this affects you, try taking the oil either by mouth in drops, or rub the oil gently into the fine skin of the inner elbow. It is absorbed readily into the bloodstream by the latter method. You may not be able to take as large a dose that way but you may tolerate the oil better. It is still possible to react to the oil itself, so take care.

Some women find that keeping blood sugar levels even and avoiding excessive highs and lows helps a great deal with hormonal problems. Eat something, even a small bite, every two or three hours and don’t go long between meals at pre-menstrual or menstrual times.

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Batter

Pancakes

Waffles

Yorkshire puddings

Puddings

Biscuits

Cakes

Glazing on bakery Custard

Egg custard Meringues Macaroons Quiches and flans Souffles

Sauces (e.g. mayonnaise, hollandaise)

Avoid any processed foods containing eggs or egg products. Read labels and avoid any food containing egg yolk, egg white or ovalbumin.

Lecithin is sometimes derived from eggs and sometimes from soya. Avoid products containing this (e.g. ice cream and margarine) to be absolutely sure. Eggs are often used for glazing baked products, such as pies, buns or sausage rolls. These are best avoided.

Avoid the following processed foods which contain eggs:

Quiches and flans Battered products (e.g. fish) Pancakes Waffles

Yorkshire pudding Breaded products

(e.g. fish, chicken legs) Sorbets Scotch eggs

Custard Egg custard Confectioners’ custard Meringues Macaroons Mayonnaise Hollandaise sauce Tartare sauce Egg noodles

In addition, some of the following processed products often contain eggs, although not always. If you are not sure of their contents from their labels, leave them out.

Bread

Biscuits

Cakes

Confectionery Soups

Sauces Puddings Baking powder Pasta

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The skin-prick test is most reliable at confirming allergy to things you inhale, such as house dust mites, moulds or animal hair, but it can be used to confirm sensitivity to foods or insect stings. It can, however, be misleading. You can have a positive result to a skin-prick test without actually having any symptoms. You can also get a false negative reaction to something to which you are clearly allergic, particularly with foods. As a result, most doctors use skin-prick tests as an aid to confirm a case history, not as a stand-alone test.

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Starches and sizes are often applied to stiffen clothes when new. They are of a variety of chemicals – denim, for instance, often has com starch applied. Starches and sizes wash out readily, however, and should be well tolerated.

Some fabric treatments are generally not troublesome. ‘Mercerisation’, for instance, is a process whereby cotton is scoured with caustic soda. The soda is extremely thoroughly washed out, and should not be the cause of sensitivity.

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