I finally figured out what has been causing Baby E's constant low-grade reaction for the last several weeks. It was the nystatin medicine.
I found out that the people at the compounding pharmacy had not been honest when they kept telling us the liquid in the nystatin suspension was nothing but water.
They were adding things like glycerine and xanthan gum and refusing to disclose that to me or even to my doctor.
Once I got them to admit that, they were claiming that the glycerine was petroleum-derived and the xanthan gum was grown on wheat molasses. Even if that WAS true, which I doubt, the pharmacist verified that the stevia they were using was made via alcohol extraction.
But, also, I found out that a standard method for growing nystatin is to culture the bacteria in a corn meal medium. It can also be grown on a soy/glucose (probably corn sugar) mixture. More details and links to my research here.
Her eczema started to clear up within half a day of taking her off the nystatin, which we had been giving 4 times per day.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Saturday, January 06, 2007
New and ingenious uses for Corn
There are new uses for corn being developed every day, it seems. Keeping track of them all is probably impossible, but luckily The Kentucky Corn Growers Association has a list of specific items derived from corn. The list is meant to help advertise the new and wonderful uses of corn, for those who want to support environmentally friendly, sustainable living products. While the environmental impact is to be admired (Really, we don't want this stuff sitting around a landfill either) from an allergy sufferer's point of view, these things are a serious danger.
Link Here
Some notable entries:
Natural living bedding materials
Magic nuudles craft material
InterfaceFLOR Ingeo Carpet
Baby care products (Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder, Desitin)
Febreze deodorizing spray (often used in Dr's offices and stores)
Secure'N Safe preemergence organic weed control
Link Here
Some notable entries:
Natural living bedding materials
Magic nuudles craft material
InterfaceFLOR Ingeo Carpet
Baby care products (Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder, Desitin)
Febreze deodorizing spray (often used in Dr's offices and stores)
Secure'N Safe preemergence organic weed control
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Phenols, Carbolic Acid, Oxybenzene – Corn based?
A document (PDF) supplied by the Environmental Choice Program, lists corn as a possible source for phenols.
In their document, "to be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, the naturally-derived phenol substitute must be completely derived from feedstocks consisting of wood waste, agricultural waste, and/or other organic waste."
Agricultural waste is further defined and may include: straw, chaff, corn cobs, bean residues, and dried stalks of harvested grains.
This makes these not only potentially problematic for those allergic to corn, but for grass, grain (ex: wheat, rye, barley, oats), and bean/peanut/soy allergies.
Phenols and Uses
According to the Austrailian Government site on Phenol: "Phenol is used as a general disinfectant, as a reagent in chemical analysis and for the manufacture of artificial resins, medical and industrial organic compounds and dyes. It is also used in the manufacture of fertilizers, explosives, paints and paint removers, drugs, pharmaceuticals, textiles and coke. It is produced in large volume, mostly as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals.
The largest single use of phenol is as an intermediate in the production of phenolic resins, which are low-cost, versatile, thermoset resins used in the plywood adhesive, construction, automotive, and appliance industries. It is also used as an intermediate in the production of caprolactam, which is used to make nylon and other synthetic fibers, and bisphenol A, which is used to make epoxy and other resins."
According to Wikipedia's Phenol page: Phenols are used produce aspirin, weedkiller, and synthetic resins, also used in cosmetic surgery as an exfoliant and in treating ingrown nails.
Another site Lakes Environmental: Phenol lists phenol use in ear and nose drops, throat lozenges, and mouthwashes.
The CDC says about Phenols: "Phenol is obtained by fractional distillation of coal tar and by organic synthesis. By far, its largest single use is in manufacture of phenolic resins and plastics. Other uses include manufacture of explosives, fertilizers, paints, rubber, textiles, adhesives, drugs, paper, soap, wood preservatives, and photographic developers. When mixed with slaked lime and other reagents, phenol is an effective disinfectant for toilets, stables, cesspools, floors, and drains.
Phenol was once an important antiseptic and is still used as a preservative in injectables. It also is used as an antipruritic, a cauterizing agent, a topical anesthetic, and as a chemical skin-peeler (chemexfoliant). It can be found in low concentrations in many over-the-counter products including preparations for treatment of localized skin disorders (Castellani's paint, PRID salve, CamphoPhenique lotion), in topical preparations (Sting-Eze), and in throat sprays and lozenges (Chloraseptic, Ambesol, Cepastat, Cheracol)."
Phenol is also commonly used a a preservative in injectibles (vaccines, medications, saline solution), topicals, and both the controls and standardized extracts for allergy testing.
Other names for Phenols are: carbolic acid, hydroxybenzene, phenic, monohydroxybenzene, phenic acid, phenylic acid, phenyl hydroxide, oxybenzene, monophenol, phenyl hydrate, phenylic alcohol, phenol alcohol, phenyl alcohol, phenol reagent, benzenol, carbolic, monophenol, Bakers's P and S liquid and ointment.
Sources:
WikiPedia: Phenol
Australian Govt: Phenol
Lakes Environmental: Phenol
Environmental Choice: Naturally Derived Phenol Substitutes PDF
The CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry: Phenols
** Additional info added with help of Purple Kanga
In their document, "to be authorized to carry the EcoLogo, the naturally-derived phenol substitute must be completely derived from feedstocks consisting of wood waste, agricultural waste, and/or other organic waste."
Agricultural waste is further defined and may include: straw, chaff, corn cobs, bean residues, and dried stalks of harvested grains.
This makes these not only potentially problematic for those allergic to corn, but for grass, grain (ex: wheat, rye, barley, oats), and bean/peanut/soy allergies.
Phenols and Uses
According to the Austrailian Government site on Phenol: "Phenol is used as a general disinfectant, as a reagent in chemical analysis and for the manufacture of artificial resins, medical and industrial organic compounds and dyes. It is also used in the manufacture of fertilizers, explosives, paints and paint removers, drugs, pharmaceuticals, textiles and coke. It is produced in large volume, mostly as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals.
The largest single use of phenol is as an intermediate in the production of phenolic resins, which are low-cost, versatile, thermoset resins used in the plywood adhesive, construction, automotive, and appliance industries. It is also used as an intermediate in the production of caprolactam, which is used to make nylon and other synthetic fibers, and bisphenol A, which is used to make epoxy and other resins."
According to Wikipedia's Phenol page: Phenols are used produce aspirin, weedkiller, and synthetic resins, also used in cosmetic surgery as an exfoliant and in treating ingrown nails.
Another site Lakes Environmental: Phenol lists phenol use in ear and nose drops, throat lozenges, and mouthwashes.
The CDC says about Phenols: "Phenol is obtained by fractional distillation of coal tar and by organic synthesis. By far, its largest single use is in manufacture of phenolic resins and plastics. Other uses include manufacture of explosives, fertilizers, paints, rubber, textiles, adhesives, drugs, paper, soap, wood preservatives, and photographic developers. When mixed with slaked lime and other reagents, phenol is an effective disinfectant for toilets, stables, cesspools, floors, and drains.
Phenol was once an important antiseptic and is still used as a preservative in injectables. It also is used as an antipruritic, a cauterizing agent, a topical anesthetic, and as a chemical skin-peeler (chemexfoliant). It can be found in low concentrations in many over-the-counter products including preparations for treatment of localized skin disorders (Castellani's paint, PRID salve, CamphoPhenique lotion), in topical preparations (Sting-Eze), and in throat sprays and lozenges (Chloraseptic, Ambesol, Cepastat, Cheracol)."
Phenol is also commonly used a a preservative in injectibles (vaccines, medications, saline solution), topicals, and both the controls and standardized extracts for allergy testing.
Other names for Phenols are: carbolic acid, hydroxybenzene, phenic, monohydroxybenzene, phenic acid, phenylic acid, phenyl hydroxide, oxybenzene, monophenol, phenyl hydrate, phenylic alcohol, phenol alcohol, phenyl alcohol, phenol reagent, benzenol, carbolic, monophenol, Bakers's P and S liquid and ointment.
Sources:
WikiPedia: Phenol
Australian Govt: Phenol
Lakes Environmental: Phenol
Environmental Choice: Naturally Derived Phenol Substitutes PDF
The CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry: Phenols
** Additional info added with help of Purple Kanga
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Issues with Allergy Diagnosis and Treatment
Here is the new and improved version of my article about allergy testing and treatment. I think it is much more readable and easy to use in this format.
The series of posts linked here covers some of the current problems and issues with testing, doctors and scientific studies. It is applicable to all allergies, not just corn allergy. I will continue to update and add to it.
I hope the information is helpful. Please feel free to send others the links or print out the posts to help educate doctors and others about allergies.
Much labor went into this work. I would prefer that you link rather than reposting the entire series. If you post excerpts elsewhere, please do provide credit to me and a link to the post(s) on my blog.
The series of posts linked here covers some of the current problems and issues with testing, doctors and scientific studies. It is applicable to all allergies, not just corn allergy. I will continue to update and add to it.
I hope the information is helpful. Please feel free to send others the links or print out the posts to help educate doctors and others about allergies.
Much labor went into this work. I would prefer that you link rather than reposting the entire series. If you post excerpts elsewhere, please do provide credit to me and a link to the post(s) on my blog.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Moon Sand - Potentially Deadly
A recent post on Delphi has prompted me to write this cautionary article.
The Moon Sand (sold by Toys R Us) may or may not be problematic from a corn standpoint, but its best to be cautious.
The mother who posted describes severe allergic reactions to the Moon Sand in all three of her daughters. The two youngest daughters are both allergic to corn. The allergies of the oldest are currently unknown.
Her youngest (2 yr old) touched the sand for under 2 minutes before reacting. Her middle child touched it for 15 minutes, then showed signs of allergic reaction (behaviors known to be associated with allergic reactions in this child) which resulted in a mild anaphylaxis 4 hours later. The time frame of reactivity for the oldest was not given.
Please use caution if you're thinking of using this product with allergenic children.
The Moon Sand (sold by Toys R Us) may or may not be problematic from a corn standpoint, but its best to be cautious.
The mother who posted describes severe allergic reactions to the Moon Sand in all three of her daughters. The two youngest daughters are both allergic to corn. The allergies of the oldest are currently unknown.
Her youngest (2 yr old) touched the sand for under 2 minutes before reacting. Her middle child touched it for 15 minutes, then showed signs of allergic reaction (behaviors known to be associated with allergic reactions in this child) which resulted in a mild anaphylaxis 4 hours later. The time frame of reactivity for the oldest was not given.
Please use caution if you're thinking of using this product with allergenic children.
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