Ok bear with me, I've never written a blog before... There's a first time for everything! Right? :)
So where do I start? I have been allergic to Balsam of Peru for nearly 7 years since its sudden development at the age of 15. Whilst struggling through the first 4 years using strong steroid creams every day, yet still with terrible eczema (on face, hands, etc), I remember trawling the internet for some stories and real-life experience, but there was even less information on the allergy then than there is now!
I was avoiding all fragranced creams, soaps, everything, but had sneakily pushed the lists of foods that should be avoided to the back of a draw... It just didn't make any sense - I thought if I just didn't touch the food I was eating with my lips or my hands I would be fine. After those 4 years I realised that I should probably rethink my strategy!
So over the last 3 years I embarked on the long and difficult journey of trial, error and major elimination. For those that do not have a similar allergy, this may sound relatively easy but trust me - it isn't! I can tell you that it was totally worth it, life is genuinely so much better! I use a mild steroid cream once a month maximum, and that is only when I purposefully give myself a day off. My skin is practically perfect - if I do say so myself :) and I really am a lot happier.
It would've been great to have people with the same allergy to discuss with along the way, but the odd comments I remember finding were dotted around a couple of forums, dated a few years back and pretty inconclusive. In a world where allergies are becoming ever more common, I suddenly realised that there are plenty of people now discovering their allergies and in the same position as I was a few years back. So why not start a place where people can come to share their stories, ask for advice, and just read posts that may give new ideas?
I have no idea how it'll pan out so we'll see how it goes...
I just found out I'm allergic to balsm of peru and have been suffering with hand and foot eczema for years. Don't have any idea what I can and can't eat. Please help!
ReplyDeleteHey Brad, did you not get given a list of foods to avoid? The main things are:
ReplyDeleteSpices and anything containing spices, surprising things such as tomato ketchup etc - you just gotta check all the ingredients labels! Cinnamon and vanilla (yes it is a spice!) are generally the worst. Most chocolate contains vanilla or flavourings (see below).
Citrus peel - so no citrus fruit juices as they generally use the whole fruit, marmalades, etc. Citrus juice is ok, I use lemon juice in quite a lot of my cooking.
'Flavourings' or 'natural flavourings' - avoid any food product that lists these in the ingredients. They generally mean vanillin or something similar.
Alcohol - I've completely stopped drinking because it is such a minefield. Wines, beers, etc all have various natural flavours in them which we will react to. I found that it just isn't worth it!
Soft drinks such as coke have loads of flavourings in so watch out for those. Basically all I drink now is water and tea. Watch out for coffee! I'm still not positive about coffee as I haven't given it a proper trial run but from my research it seems that coffee has natural vanilla-like flavours.
Tomatoes... For a while I completely cut tomatoes out of my diet but this was extremely restrictive. So I introduced tinned tomatoes into my cooking. It's been about 6 months and everything seems good! Although a few weeks ago I started eating fresh tomatoes and have had a reaction. So maybe it's the skin that's the problem, or maybe cooking them helps.
So yeah, you're probably very overwhelmed! But trust me, it is worth it. And you get used to avoiding things - I used to eat curry at least once a week, now I don't miss it at all :) Remember you'll have to cut these things out of your diet for at least a month to really see the effects. I've found a reaction takes on average 5 days to come up after eating something, and a few weeks to go if your blood-stream levels are high. It's more delayed than you think.
Good luck :) give me updates on your progress!
Hey Busby, thanks for your help. When you say spices, do you use salt and pepper when cooking? Citrus peel? Not sure do you eat anything like grape jelly or grape juice,apple juice? All soft drinks? Not even sprite or 7up? I appreciate all your help, still very new at this. Thanks Brad
DeleteHi just found ur blog, im allergic to balsam of Peru,vanilla, lavender and parabens, mainly balsam of Peru gives me tummy upsets rather than skin irritation, anyone else have this problem
DeleteHi just found ur blog, im allergic to balsam of Peru,vanilla, lavender and parabens, mainly balsam of Peru gives me tummy upsets rather than skin irritation, anyone else have this problem
DeleteMy son's allergic... No prepared sauces or ketchup, any benzoate ( soda) Citrix acid which is in everything. Only 1 dessert he can have... Peach mango gelato from Turkey hill. Poor kid can't have anything but that as a sweer
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteYes I use salt and pepper, and a lot of herbs! Soy sauce is a good thing to add some flavour instead of spices. I've never had grape juice but I guess it should be ok. Apple juice would be fine; even though I don't drink it I eat apples all the time. Sprite has "natural lemon-lime flavourings" which I would definitely avoid... What I would do is try and cut everything risky out to begin with for a month, then start adding things back in. But you'll have to add things in very slowly, like one every 2 weeks to really be able to tell which has caused a reaction.
ReplyDeleteIt's no problem man, everyone's different but not difficult to give some advice! :)
I just found out that I'm also allergic to Blasam of Peru. I am just starting to look at all of my products in the home. Another item that is also included is scented candles. I just found one that contains Cinnamon and Vanilla, so this one will be the first one I put away for a little while to determine if that is my culprit among the foods that you have listed. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHey Diana, how's it going since you ditched the candles?
DeleteI didn't even think about candles until my flatmate got a vanilla scent diffuser which caused constant irritation for a week or so before I told her to put it away! To be honest I don't use anything scented at all. No perfumes, a bar of Simple soap and Simple shampoo for washing, and just aqueous cream for moisturising (which I purchase from Savers for those from the UK). I always wear washing up gloves and use minimal sprays to clean the house - I find that microfibre cloths are amazing for cleaning without any products, I even have one for washing my body sometimes when I don't want to used soap as it's much less drying!
It's great how much simpler and easier life is without all these heavily scented products (and much cheaper!)
Hi Busby. I also just found out that I'm allergic to Balsam of Peru. Do you have any suggestions about toothpastes and mouthwashes, since I have heard many of these products have flavorings that those allergic to Balsam of Peru should avoid? I'm having a difficult time figuring this out. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYes toothpastes are quite confusing - for a while I thought I'd have to make my own! Luckily I've been using a Colgate one for a couple of years now without any problems. It's called 'Deep Clean Whitening with baking soda' and it's not as minty as all other toothpastes I've tried. I've found that any toothpastes that aren't just plain white are a problem. Look out for Eugenol especially. I don't use mouthwash so can't advise you here - sorry!
DeleteFor toothpaste my son uses Hello... Not one ingredient he is allergic to
DeleteFor toothpaste my son uses Hello... Not one ingredient he is allergic to
DeleteEllie,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I found this. I've found out I have an allergy to Balsam of Peru and it seems everything else on the planet. I am reacting to everything. I have a rash across my chest and breasts and my upper arms and shoulders.
I keep trying to figure out what to eat, but I think maybe after reading what is posted I am doing to much. What do you eat as plain, non-reactive food and how often do you test a food out? I am so frustrated! Thanks, Jenni
Hi Jenni,
DeleteI really feel for you, I remember what it's like to have such a horrible rash but don't worry, it will go if you persevere! It's so nice to talk to people with the same allergy at last (not that I am wishing it upon you haha) but at least it feels much more supportive.
I can tell you what I eat on a typical day, but just to warn you I am also vegan (I know, why would I restrict myself further?!) so it might be a bit different to your preferences.
For breakfast I will have cereal and soya milk - check both for vanilla, vanillin or natural flavourings; many sweet cereals have these but I just eat Weetabix and muesli - or porridge. Obviously normal cows milk is OK. If you eat toast, check butter substitutes for flavourings, don't use orange marmalade and check other preserves as some will have cloves. Remember no orange juice unless you squeeze it yourself with none of the rind. If you have yogurt make sure it is plain.
For lunch I will just have a sandwich with hummous, avocado, beetroot, salad, etc. A lot of fillings are pretty self-explanatory - for a non-vegan cheese, tuna, ham will all be good. Most chutneys and pickles are likely to be a problem and you shouldn't have things such as pickled onions, although I have found a brand of pickled cucumbers with no mustard or spices and most beetroot in vinegar is fine. Salad Cream and mayonnaise have mustard in them but whether that is a problem I'm not sure (as a vegan I make my own anyway) - I'd cut it out to begin with. Also no tomato ketchup (and most other table sauces)!! If you have pasta, pesto is great. Tinned baked beans are a no - they all have spices in them but remember it's not too difficult to make your own.
In winter I make my own soups just with a boiled selection of vegetables, herbs, salt and pepper. Beetroot and parsnip is one of personal favourites - the combination gives a great flavour without any spices! Another note for the UK: Marmite has spices in it but the Tesco alternative and Vegemite don't.
Dinner. In summer I just have a lot of salads with homemade coleslaw, potato salads, pasta salads etc. I love a Bavarian-style potato salad which doesn't use mayonnaise (make sure the pickled cucumbers you use don't contain spices!). If you are having a BBQ check the burgers as some have spices added for flavour. Sausages are just a flat out no; nearly all have nutmeg in them.
I make normal meals such as lasagne, bolognaise, risotto but I just don't use any stock cubes or gravy granules etc as most contain spices. Personally I think they're a bit of a con anyway as I find that I can still get a great flavour in my food with vegetables, onions, garlic, herbs etc - especially if you are slow cooking a stew or something. In a recipe I will just substitute stock with water. When I ate meat I had a lot of steaks and grilled fish with a bit of lemon juice or something, with a side of vegetables.
For snacks I just eat fruit and drink plain English Breakfast or Earl Grey tea. Certain flavours of crisps are OK such as plain or salt and vinegar etc but chocolate and cakes are an absolute minefield. Plain biscuits such as rich tea and digestives are safe. As a vegan I make all my own cakes and desserts, which I think is the only answer anyway!
Testing food out is a long-winded process. At least a couple of months for each thing, and I'd say you need to cut everything out and be clear for about 4-6 months before you start as you want to be absolutely certain.
I think that is everything! Please let me know if there's anything else and let me know how it all goes :) just get into your home cooking and have fun - I have so much fun experimenting with spiceless vegan cooking now!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to follow up on my post about toothpaste a while back. Thank you for the advice, Ellie! I started using original toothpaste by Cleure. It can be found on Amazon. It is unflavored and free of several common irritants for people with sensitive skin (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate, saccharine, flouride). It doesn't taste bad either.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for all this info! I just found out my 3.5 yr old daughter is allergic to Balsam of peru. She has super bad eczema all over her arms and legs and sometimes on her face. I'm trying to figure out what I need to do for her and I'm a a loss right now as her favorite food is ketchup! She dips everything in it! Do u know if I have to avoid all spices weather it's fresh or powder in a bottle? My understanding of this (from the little bit of info I have found) is that she can prob have fresh herbs/ spices but not the powdered ones in a bottle since the balsam of peru is like a preservative in the bottled ones. Does that sound right? I'd like to be able to make my own ketchup and stuff but I want to make sure I can use the spices if it's fresh. Thanks for any help u can offer me.
ReplyDeleteHello Tiffany! That sounds incredibly difficult... Unfortunately Balsam of Peru isn't usually the preservative, but it's chemical composition has a lot of similarities with the aromatic chemical composition of spices which gives the spice its aroma and taste. Please see my new post on understanding the chemistry of Balsam of Peru, I hope it helps!
DeleteOn the plus side, all herbs are fine. Homemade ketchup will never be the same but hopefully with enough sugar and salt it will taste ok! I don't have children but I feel at that age they are usually easily adaptable...?! Let me know what you come up with :)
Thanks, I checked out ur oct post. :)
DeleteOk, so I want to double check with u... She can have salt, pepper, onions, and garlic? I think I can make some stuff with all of those. :) I figured pepper would be a spice.
I saw the comments about cleaning supplies. I have found that using vinegar works great. I don't like using the chemicals either. :)
I also wanted to add that the only soap I found without fragrance is the dove bar soap with a light green color on the package. I haven't seen it in the liquid form yet. :/ I wanted to share that in case anyone else is having trouble finding a soap. It doesn't seem to be making my daughter skin worse so I assume it's safe. Thanks again for all ur help.
If the ketchup is homemade from fresh tomatoes... You should be good
DeleteIf the ketchup is homemade from fresh tomatoes... You should be good
DeleteTiffany,
DeleteI am interested to know if you have been able to make a ketchup that tastes good that is free of balsam of peru? It seems most of what I eat contains balsam of peru. I was diagnosed with the allergy about 4 years ago and have tried to remove all skin care products that contain it, but I have not managed to figure out how to eat without it. My skin has progressively been getting itchier and dryer.
So if you have a good ketchup recipe, I would be interested.
Thank!
Sally
Do you use a specific shampoo?
ReplyDeleteMy symptoms are way different than the ones listed here by most ppl. It's a nightmare!!! This allergy has only been going on for a year since I had my 1st child. My life is crazy now!!
vmv hypoallergenics
Deletealso Everyday Shea (unscented)
T/Sal from nuetrogena
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHey guys,
ReplyDeleteSo I have been fragrance free for almost a year.... VMV hypoallergenics is amazing for makeup and cosmetics, shampoo, and even toothpaste! They are patch tested and the real deal http://www.vmvhypoallergenics.com/shop-by-concern/contact-dermatitis.html...
also we use Dr.Bronners baby mild unscented soap to wash....
to clean- plain vinegar and water... it works great! It literally cleans everything! even mirrors and windows.
My skin had greatly improved since getting rid of all fragrance products, but I still was having trouble with hand eczema and lip hives.. so now I will try the diet.
I have a feeling my main culprits are tomato ( i've always been sensitive to tomato) , lemon, Gin ( my go to liquor), earl grey tea ( which i drink about everyday) due to the essential oil of bergamot in it , and chai tea ( which I also love )... I am hoping I can still have lime, oranges, and grapefruit and wine but probably need to eliminate those for a while too....
good luck everyone... i'm going to start my diet the first of the year!
Hey! I actually drink earl grey tea everyday without any issues. Which has surprised me, I have to say. But then again, not everyone with BP allergy are allergic to same chemical constituents. However, chai tea will definitely be an issue! I'd cut that out first for sure, but experiment with earl grey.
DeleteI cook with fresh lime juice all the time, which is fine but actually squeezing the limes makes my hands react instantly. Just wear gloves and you should be fine :)
Agreed with the vinegar - the best natural cleaner!!
hello, thanks for putting up this blog, Busby
ReplyDeleteI have been diagnosed with an allergy to Balsam of Peru and have the food list now, hoping my very uncomfortable struggle with contact dermatitis will be alleviated by eliminating the foods listed.
I tried to call 2 food companies - my favorite chewing gum and my tea....Wrigley's was great, Lipton said I should have my doctor call them....so, some humor in the mix....
I have an extensive list of cosmetics and other skin products if anyone has a question about everything from eyeliner to sunscreen.
But would love more food items (by brand name or otherwise) - I find myelf questioning a lot of choices, buyt I am only one week into this - no releif yet!!
So - a few questions
? soy sauce
?oregano, basil, thyme
?milk ( know about ice cream)
Thanks everyone and on we go.......
Bad-butt-girl
Soy sauce and milk are all good! No worries :) Oregano, basil, thyme and all other herbs are also all safe to use. I use a lot of fresh coriander leaf and raw garlic in my cooking as they usually give the food a bit of a spicy kick but with no allergic reaction.
DeleteWhat did Wrigley's say? I always drink tea and it's never caused me a problem. But only english breakfast, earl grey or green tea. Be wary of a lot of other herbal teas though.
What about sunscreen? I'm currently in Thailand and need a new suncream, but can't find one that seems safe!
Hi! I have just been patch tested and was positive for Balsam of Peru. I'm interested in the list you have of skin and cosmetics products that do not contain Balsam of Peru. Thanks so much. Liz
DeleteHi my name is Amy, I'm new here & to this balsam of Peru & fragrance mix. I have look for years with doctors and hit walls. I am glad to finally get the right diagnosis So I can start feeling better & have a normal life with my family.. I'm just at a loss on what to EAT?? Lol the fragrance I will & will deal with!!:)
ReplyDeleteHi, I was diagnosed about 7 yrs ago, but only knew to avoid "benzoates" (mostly food) & all "parabens" (Ethyl, Methyl, Propol etc etc) mostly cosmetics. My rashes have been back about 2 yrs now (off & on really bad), so I went back to the dermatologist & got the longer list of food/cosmetics to avoid. Just started my "avoidance diet" March 1 & surprisingly they have subsided a great deal. I found a hydro-cortizone spray at the drug store that works great on relieving the itch. Even the store-brand helped. Thanks so much for this blog. I'm learning a lot. was surprised that tomato/lemon/oranges could have contributed. So glad that bananas are not on that list!! I've bookmarked this site & hope to check back often.
ReplyDeleteHey Ann, how are you getting along? I noticed that you mentioned hydrocortizone - do you still use this? It is a steroid, and although not as harmful as some of the stronger ones you can get, it is still harmful in the longterm and I definitely do not recommend its use. I know this from seeing how hydrocortizone has effected my Grandmother's skin - it is incredibly thin and scarred. The longterm damage generally doesn't show up for around 30 years, so be careful!
DeleteI'm so confused...... I thought Cheese was a no-go. I thought Soy Sauce was ok to eat, now I'm getting conflicting reports. SO hard to go out to dinner, but I won't give up not having to make dinner!! :)
ReplyDeleteHey Ann :) glad you've found the diet and managed to get your symptoms down. Cheese is absolutely fine, as is all dairy (unless it's a product with dairy and other flavourings, such as chocolate). Hydrocortizone, as all steroids, will help your rashes but please remember that it is not a cure. The more you use them, the more your body will rely on them and consequently the worse your symptoms will get. Due to the diet I now never need to use steroid creams, which is a lot better for me! Soy sauce is absolutely fine (I use it all the time!), it's just the 'reduced salt' ones usually contain 'flavourings so I avoid them but they are also most likely safe for use to consume.
DeleteYes going out for dinner is an absolute nightmare!! Especially when everybody chooses a curry house... But usually if I ask they can make me something not on the menu that has no spice.
Let me know how it goes :)
Thanks so much for clarifying cheese, now I can add a cheeseburger to my choice in going out for dinner. Last night we were at a HS play & the perfume on people sitting near me was strong. I was quite itchy by the time I went to bed & now I'm assuming it was the fragrance in the air that caused it rather than the "safe salad" I ate.
DeleteI try not to use the steriod creams and hope they go away on their own. But when the are real bad, I need to use them so I can get a good nights sleep or don't attempt to scratch my back with a fork when out for dinner !! :)
DeleteI also feel when a patch is really bad & doesn't seem to be getting better, it's needed to help stop the rash in its tracks.
I just found this pdf file online yesterday. WOW benzoates are in ALOT of things naturally..I will start avoiding foods with the most. Here is a link to the pdf file:http://www.bowdiges.org/documents/files/Benzoate_sensitivity.pdf if anyone wants to check it out.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good article! But even the fruits and herbs etc with the highest amounts are still safe. There's a threshold amount when there's just too much built up in our bodies which we then react to, and it seems like it would be impossible to build up that amount from eating fruit and veg with such small amounts per serving! Interesting to see the amounts in all the spices in comparison!
Deleteso glad to hear that, as I put mixed berries in my breakfast drink each morning & have had days that the rashes were good when doing that. We are planning on putting in a raspberry patch this spring & then I read raspberries & strawberries on the list.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHi, I'm also allergic to balsam of peru. Thank you so much for posting all this information. Very informative. I am a little new to this. Couple of questions, is raw honey ok? I am trying very hard to cut out all of the things on the do not eat or use list. I was doing pretty good, however I woke up this morning with my eyes all red, itchy and swollen again!! It is just so frustrating. The only thing I can think of that I did different was I had a couple of scented candles lite. Could that be the problem? Also,is all chocolate bad? How about vanilla beans instead of vanilla extract. Any information would be so helpful. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHey Kim! Ah don't worry, once you get the hang of avoiding everything it's not so bad. I'm even eating things once in a while that I know I shouldn't and it really doesn't cause much of a problem because there's no build up if it's only every 2 weeks. But that just means avoiding everything the rest of the time :D
DeleteHoney is absolutely ok - I eat it. Scented candles are definitely an issue though. As with creams, soaps etc - avoid everything fragranced! The fumes in the air will cause a reaction, as will touching the candles themselves with your bare skin. My friend bought a vanilla scent diffuser for our house - it took me a few days to work out what the problem was!
Not all chocolate is bad, but 99% will have vanilla, vanillin or natural flavourings. Just make sure you check all the ingredients before buying! Whether its vanilla beans or vanilla extract makes no difference. The compound 'vanillin' causes us all our problems, and unfortunately this is the primary component of the extract of the vanilla bean. So get ready to avoid nearly all shop bought cakes! :D
Anyway, hope this helps :)
Pure Vanilla Extract vs Artificial Vanilla (Vanillin) - A few years ago I looked up the chemical formula of Vanillin & it had the word "benzo"in the middle of it, so I assumed that artificial vanilla was a definate no-go, so I have only been using real vanilla for the past 7 years. I don't use it much, but the other weekend back in Feb I made a batch of delicious coconut macaroons (egg whites, coconut, real vanilla & sugar). I pretty much at the entire tray by myself as we were snowed in for a few days & my work (public school ~tons of scented candles in rooms) was closed. My rashes almost disapearred. So, I'm thinking that Pure Vanilla is OK, but 'chemical' artificial vanillin is not. I also do not see Pure vanilla on that Benzoate pdf I found.
Deletethanks again!
Well compound vanillin is definitely a constituent of real vanilla beans, as it's the main contributor to the flavour and aroma of vanilla. However, I just read something very interesting!...
Delete'Vanillin is an organic crystal that forms on the outside of the vanilla bean. Although it does occur naturally, a cured vanilla pod only contains about 2% dry weight of vanillin.'
So maybe we can get away with it if we bake using cured, real vanilla?! I guess all processed products that contain vanilla flavouring will all be pure vanillin so much worse for us.
This is really interesting, thank you for bringing it up! By the way, the page I was reading is: http://honeyandspice.wordpress.com/nitty-gritty/vanillin/
Busby
ReplyDeleteThanks again for all your information. My next question is, "How do you try to pinpoint what caused the reaction?" We were out of town at a wedding this weekend, my rashes are doing pretty well these past 2 weeks. I had a drink w/fresh squeezed grapefruit & lemons, vodka & cherry liquor. 2 glasses of white wine at dinner, the small champagne toast, wedding cake. I didn't have any new rash areas overnight . Sunday afternoon between 2-4p I had some really good large shrimp & it wasn't until after I at a good number of them, did I see the bottle of spices that they used. I thought they just said salt, pepper & garlic. I found the fresh grinding seasonings bottle & read salt, pepper, mustard seed, celery seeds, allspice, cinnamon bits, cloves, red chili flakes ~ I got a little nervous..... I noticed on my drive home around 6:30 that both my elbows felt very itchy. Around 9:30p I noticed a few large red itchy spots around my left waist. I didn't put any medication on any of the spots & slept well with no scratching overnight. SO, do I assume that it was the shrimp spices (cinnamon, allspice, celery seed) that caused the itch elbows & new spots , or do I look back further at the wine & fruit juice drink that I had. OR is it everything & what I ate on Sunday just pushed me over my limit?
It's really difficult to say! I'd be pretty certain that the shrimp spice mix was the main problem. But I also find a problem will some alcohol as well. Also, different things take varying amounts of time to cause a reaction - some can easily be as delayed as a few days. And it seems that different substances cause a reaction in different places on my body, which is really strange!
DeleteAs I said, the only thing you can do is avoid everything for at least a month, then introduce one thing at a time. I wish there was another way to identify the substance that caused the problem but I don't think there is! :(
Last week my 6 yr old daughter saw a dermatologist who believes she may have an allergy to BoP. She gets redness in the creases of her armpits that are very sensitive as well has a rash in her private area. The rash in her private area seems instant after using the bathroom, most of the time. We have discovered that too much sugar (say from a birthday party) or more than one serving of juice (mostly apple) will cause an instant rash in her private area.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading some of the descriptions here of rashes, I'm wondering if the dr is off? She has suggested a diet that we haven't received in the mail yet as well as skin patch testing in September.
Has anyone heard of these types of skin reactions to BofP? Confused :/
Sorry I replied on the blog instead of this. See my reply. Those are my exact symptoms w BoP allergy.
DeleteTaraB
ReplyDeleteThose are my exact symptoms. I'm allergic to BoP. Tomatoes and vanilla are the worst. Anything with artificial and natural flavors has vanilla. Birthday cake and ice cream will break me out terribly. I can only have juices that are hand squeezed. If I stay away from all that I'm ok. But one thing w vanilla will break me out for days.
Oh! Thanks for sharing! Did you have the patch test to find out that tomatoes and vanilla are the worst for you or did you just discover it? Is there a list you've found of vanilla free stuff? It's in soooo much! I feel like there has to be a list but I can't find one online. We already don't eat much processed food but still!
ReplyDeleteOh, one more question! In the ingredient list, is vanilla always called vanilla or have it in the name- like vanillan (or something like that I've read)?
ReplyDeleteI had the patch test and BoP was the only thing I was allergic to. Vanilla is worse for me than tomatoes, but both are bad. Vanilla is in everything and has many names. I googled the symptoms and ingredients many many times. It's hard for me can't imagine a little kid. Pastries, doughnuts, etc...have to stay away from all.
DeleteYes, it's a bit overwhelming right now! We found Aquaphor helps her tremendously. Do you use that when you break out?
DeleteNothin makes mine go away but time. Benedryl stops itching for a small amount of time, but that's about all. I use liquid Benedryl at night when it's really bad
DeleteVanilla is awful for everyone with a BofP allergy... It's the main culprit, along with cinnamon. When I eat either, I end up with rashes all over the place... all over my tummy, back, arms, legs - where ever! So where the rash is occurring isn't really an indication of anything... Just try to avoid vanilla as much as possible. Remember citrus peel is also a very bad one, so any citrus flavoured sweets, cakes, or orange juice etc could be a problem.
DeleteHello, I was recently diagnosed with BoP allergy via patch testing. I am allergic to tomatoes and citrus but oddly enough I am not allergic to cinnamon nor vanilla as the doctor tested me for it. How is this possible?
DeleteHi, I was diagnosed last year with allergies to BOP, nickel and cobalt. Has anyone had experience of going to the dentist since being diagnosed with BOP? My dentist didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about at my recent check up. Turns out I need a filling, but I have put it off so far as I am too worried to go ahead in case I have an allergic reaction. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be fine. I told my dentist before I had a filling and they said it was ok... and it was. No worries :)
DeleteBe very careful regarding the dentest! My allergist's father is a dentest and she said that the worst reaction her father ever saw was with a patient allergic to BoP. My dentest uses a non BoP product when filling my teeth. If your dentest don't know what you are talking about make sure he does resurch before working on you. It took my dentest only a few minutes to get the information he needed.
DeleteSorry, also wanted to say that I have found a great sunscreen product by a company called Kabana. It's called Green Screen. Doesn't contain any nasty chemicals and is fragrance free. They do a number of shades. I have their neutral and their peach ones. The peach one is great as it makes your skin look really healthy. You can use it on your face and the rest of your body. You can order on line from the States (I haven't been able to find anyone who stocks it in the UK). I have been using the neutral shade on my 7 year son who thinks it's great as he can't use conventional sunscreen products as it makes him come out in dreadful rashes. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteHi Busby,
ReplyDeleteI am glad I found your blog!
I have found out that I am allergic to BoP and Parabens and have been struggling with hand and lip eczema for very long!
Always knew there was some reason why I did not like tomato :P
Hi Busby. I have an off-the-charts allergy to Balsam of Peru. I've found your information very helpful. However I still have some questions. Do I need to avoid the following: Butter? Sour Cream? Bread? Parabens? Methyl? Ethyl. Propal? Thanks. Barbara
ReplyDeleteHey! Butter, cream and all dairy products should be absolutely fine. Bread is safe - I live on the stuff :)
DeleteAs for parabens, they are all esters of hydrobenzoic acid so I try to avoid them at all times. Recently, my skin has been reacting to every possible cosmetic I can put on my skin, where as this time last year I had no problems at all with most makeups - now I don't wear anything.
Having said that, methylparabens are also found in foods such as blueberries. As I eat a lot of these and have no problems, I can't say for sure how you will react. But the concentration of parabens in blueberries is much lower than those added to cosmetics.
Thanks for the blog. It's very helpful.
ReplyDeleteI'm allergic to balsam of Peru and fragrances. I have a continual rash on my face unless I'm on prednisone. I use only products on "my card" list from the doctor's office, gone green with cleaning products and try my best to have my office be a no perfume zone but I continue to have my rash. As a last resort I started the balsam of Peru free diet this week.
You mention to not eat anything that list natural and artificial ingredients as an ingredient. Does that include fresh meat? I love fresh vegetables, apples, bananas and salads but I would like some meat or something sweet.
Any advice??
Hello Pansy! I meant any ingredients listed as "natural/artificial flavourings" - not anything natural in general! So of course fresh meat, vegetables, fruit are perfectly fine. As for sweet things - a lot of supermarket cakes, biscuits and chocolate have vanilla in them. Just make sure to check the ingredients for 'vanilla' or 'flavourings' before you eat them. Or, better still, homemake your sweet treats - then you can easily control what you are eating :)
DeleteAre strawberries, blueberries or raspberries safe to eat?
DeleteYes, definitely!
Deleteso happy to find this blog-
ReplyDeleteI have had eczema my whole life- finally figured out that I am allergic to BOP and rubber accelertors- what a relief to finally get rid of the rash on my palm from using a hairbrush with the rubber stuff on it- I am in a flare up on my face right now- probably from all of the thx giving spices- I guess i need to get strict and get things under control- I am a food/spice sensitivity test done from genova- has anyone done this. I thought it would at least steer me away form the obvious ones.
ReplyDeleteAny thoughts on wine?- I seem to do ok with a light white with no oak- but reds seems to be harder.
Also chewing gum- any brands out there that are less apt to cause a rxn?
thank you again for everyone being so willing to share
Hi ADS. Wine and chewing gum are a couple of the most complicated items to work out... With most alcohols, you have absolutely no idea what has been added as flavourings during the production process. Red wine is often quite hard being BOP derivatives usually impart a warm, spicy flavour which a lot of red wines have a hint of. The only way to find out is to contact the company that make the wine, or just introduce the drink into an otherwise BOP-free diet. I find that I react badly to quite a few beers, especially wheat beers which usually have citrus peel added during the brewing process.
DeleteChewing gum again is quite hard. It's completely dependent on the flavour. Peppermint oil, for example, has a long list of various chemical components which are structurally related to some components of BOP. Many people allergic to BOP are also allergic to related substances such as linalool - which is present in peppermint oil.
You have to remember that the composition of BOP is extremely complex, with hundreds of compounds. Every person is allergic to different compounds within this, so there isn't one answer for everyone. Sometimes you just have to introduce a certain substance into your otherwise BOP-free diet to see if your body reacts. Personally, I don't drink alcohol much anymore and never have chewing gum because it's just too complicated.
I'm really sorry I couldn't be more help! Good luck :)
Hi there,
ReplyDeletesee for chocolate, but types or brands have you found to be okay so far? or do you avoid completely?
Hannah
Does anyone have hives?
ReplyDeleteI have them for 2 months every 5-8 years. The are massive, many (maybe 40 at a time), itchy, painful, ugly, all over my body. Then for the rest of the 5-8 years, no hives (and I eat normal, no restrictions for the 5-8 years & this occurs even when I was living in Liberia, Philippines & USA). This has gone on for 60 years. I'm over 2 month in this bout, though they are not fully gone & I am wondering when they will stop this time! I and doctors have NO idea what they come from. I've had scratch tests but never for Balsam of Peru.
Anyone have anything similar out there?
.
DeleteYes I also suffer from hives and have just been tested as allergic to BoP. Mine are more frequent, up to 3 times a week with a severe headache lasting a few days and they are draining. I also have an auto immune under active thyroid and I feel as though I am slowly falling apart! I am going to try the elimination diet and hope my symptoms improve
Delete100% safe Toothpaste
ReplyDeleteBaking soda - yea, it tastes a bit salty instead of sweet but it is easy to adjust to. It is cheap. It works very well. Cleans extremely well. Just dip your wet toothbrush into the box & just the right amount sticks. (Yes, the box should be dedicated to your toothbrush. It will last a long time!)
100% safe Deodorant -- Store bought stuff has LOTS of chemicals in it. 50% alcohol works extremely well, is cheap, & no odor. (Don't use 70% as this will sting). Believe it or not, B.O. comes from bacteria eating the sweat (it is the excrement of the bacteria that smells), not the sweat itself. So I use it a.m. & p.m. I use a small travel spray bottle (good for 1 month). Easy to apply. I then rub it around widely and wipe it off. I've used this for over 10 years & the wife says that it works very well.
Colgate regular tooth paste is safe as is original listerine.
DeleteI was recently diagnosed with a Balsam of Peru allergy as well as a nickel allergy among others. I too am a vegan.
ReplyDeleteHope you will be able to update your blog again soon! Especially interested in any recipes you have found success with.
Hi and thank you for sharing. How long did it take for the rash to calm down once you changed your diet? Did your body go through a detox (got worse before it got better) even though you were avoiding any foods containing BOP? The skin on my face has been extremely dry and inflamed, now that it has calmed down some it is peeling, flaking almost as if I am shedding. This is terrible!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to "meet" another vegan BoP allergy sufferer. It really does seem like I'm down to dry bread and boiled vegetables now. Steep learning curve ahead! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Guys, I've been living with bop allergy for a few years now, I was wondering apart from the itching, rashes etc does anyone suffer from aching joints and muscles?
ReplyDeleteI've been avoiding all citrus so glad to read I may be able to have the juice. I find pure coconut oil is fantastic, you can use it to cook with, as a moisturiser and a hair conditioner and it has a lovely mild coconutty scent. Also pure shea butter as a natural sun screen and moisturiser. Both of these in their pure form have absolutely nothing added. Sorry couldn't figure out how to but my name on, I'm not great with computers!!
Gill
I do believe it causes aching joints because I was diagnosed with BOP allergy along with 16 other allergens. Along with rashes that itch like nothing I have everyexperienced before, I suffer from fatigue and joint pain so the doctor did blood work looking for Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc. but all tests were negative. So yes, I do believe joint pain is part of it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteWhat a great site - like you i've struggled for years to find others to swap ideas and questions with! I was diagnosed with allergies to fragrance & lanolin 20 years ago and then to balsam of peru 15 years ago. I cut a whole host of stuff as was recommended then out of my diet (although i never had reacted i thought to many on the list). I now find a major sensitivity to even the aroma in a room of vanilla, orange, and all the winter spices - makes mulled wine tradition @ Xmas @ the inlaws a nightmare! But for the most part I cook from scratch and have gotten very used to avoiding stuff.
However over the last wee while my skin has not been great and I started looking around again for more info - finding this site amongst others.
On a few sites but not all - tomatoes and wine are mentioned.
Have to admit I'm a huge fan of both... tomatoes I did cut for a while as it was suggested i had an intolerance to them (rather than allergy) but wine... life would not be the same.
Can you help me understand why wine/ tomatoes would be something I should avoid?
Hello all, my name is Edwin Rodriguez.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep my story relatively short. I am 20 yrs old, and have been suffering from from Idiopathic Cholinergic Urticaria for about 1 year now. I have recently been diagnosed with an allergy to balsum of peru, and wondered if anyone has, or would be willing to create an official list of foods, and their associated brands, that individuals such as us should stay away from. I am trying to do an elimination diet, and it is getting very difficult in figuring out which ingredients and brands I should stay clear of (partly because of cross-reactants like benzo).
I would love to work on this with Busby, and anyone else who is interested so let me know! Also, I have (today actually) received an 86 pg list of products (not food) that my allergist says is safe for me to use. If you want the list, or would like to help me formulate the Do Not Eat List, please email me at
Erodriguez03.student@manhattan.edu with your name and the name of the blog in the description. Thank you all for taking the time to read this. Best of luck, and I hope we can all help each other with this agitating condition.
I just found out I'm allergic to Balsam of Peru and I don't even know how and where to start.
ReplyDeletewww.dermatitisacademy.com
Delete"Im allergic to balsam of Peru"
One of the most interesting thing to me is how different my reaction is to everyone's I have read on this blog! I have no real problems with my skin. My mouth burns, blisters and swells. Often I know right away if I eat something I should not other times it takes 10 or 15 minutes. My mouth is always raw and painful because I often don't know what I ate that set it off. BoP is only part of the problem, I cannot even consider any tomato products, chocolate in any form is like gulping boiling water, most fruit and on and on. It seems so strange to me that my reaction is so different than all of yours.
ReplyDeleteCan anyone shed some light on citric acid and vinegars? Are these ok to consume?
ReplyDeleteCitric acid itself is not a problem. Lemon juice is also not a problem. What could be a problem is any product with citrus flavorings, as balsam of peru allergy sufferers usually react to citrus peel. In many citrus flavored foods and drinks, elements of citrus peel will have been used. I have also found a problem with some beers and especially mulled wine of course. I've actually found that almost all alcohol causes problems.
DeleteThe biggest problem with wine comes from how the wine was ages. Oak barrels contain a significant amount of vanillin and other phenols, which will be imparted to the wine and therefore give it the oak-aged flavor.
Hey my name is Yvonne & I live in Scotland. I was diagnosed with a contact allergy (also known as contact dermatitas or atopic dermatitas)to balsam of Peru, zinc, cobalt & sodium metabisulphite. I was diagnosed about 7 years ago now & I am finally finding I have less & less episodes of itchy red skin. I use mostly home made products now, but the one thing I found which has helped through all of the bad episodes is nettle I drink nettle tea, use nettle soap or olive oil soap & make my own deoderant from coconut oil. For those in the UK I use Neal's yard remedy create your own shampoo & body wash unfragranced). The only house hold cleaning products I use are white vinegar, soda crystals & essential oils. All my meals I prepare from scratch. If you haven't found nettle yet it's worth trying it has amazing healing properties & the soap makes your skin feel so soft you won't believe! Hope that this information helps. Good luck
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
www.dermatitisacademy.com
ReplyDeletePlease visit us at www.dermatitisacademy.com FREE resource on contact dermatitis --- Nickel, BOP, formaldehyde, Methylisothiazolinone and MORE!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is interested in another balsam of peru blog check out balsamofperu.hotspot.com
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is interested in another balsam of peru blog check out balsamofperu.hotspot.com
ReplyDeleteIf anyone is interested in another balsam of peru blog check out balsamofperu.hotspot.com
ReplyDeleteBusby,
ReplyDeletethanks for reaching out to me. April 2015 I noticed that my rashes were subsiding. No major change in eating that I can recall, but MAYBE I finally got to the teachers in my building to stop plugging in those air fresheners. I still have some minor flare-ups (one I noticed was due to stress ~ my husbands mother passed away & we had to get home from a trip to Italy asap). I mainly use OTC cortisone roll-on. I haven't used the presc tube in a year. As I am now 61, I'm not too worried about my skin in 30 years. BUt I will keep your info in my mind & try to use it less. thanks!
Hi Ellie!
ReplyDeleteI was diagnosed with balsam of peru allergy this year AS well as nickel which is in a lot of food. since then i've eliminated a lot of food I am feeling almost 100% better and my eczema is almost completely gone. Between the two allergies it's tough to find things to eat :( do you have any recommendations for dessert? My nickel allergy says to stay away from chocolate and the balsam of peru says to avoid vanilla so i'm not sure what to eat at night when I need a little something sweet.
thanks so much!!
Maria
Have you found a tea that is okay to have with balsam of Peru allergies? And do you avoid all products that include citric acid? Just found out a few days ago I'm allergic to balsam of Peru among many other things and I found this blog very helpful.
ReplyDeleteSearching for new scent can overwhelm with most of the smells available. Not simply are there unlimited smells open, there are similarly interesting aroma obsessions. Blossoms, a fundamental part of any aroma; particularly looking like fragrant sprouts, frequently rich in nuance. Here are conceivable outcomes for the best aroma for men, best perfume for men, best smells for women, cologne, versace fragrance, aromas, hugo supervisor aroma and ladies fragrance.
ReplyDeleteIf it helps some, the only cream that finally got severe skin reaction under control was Elidel. Now I use it roughly every other day on eyelids and lips, but will probably start phasing out completely (I prefer to avoid reliance on any form of medication, and I strongly agree that dependence on cortisone/steroids is a big no-no). Also, I highly recommend VMV Hypoallergenics for hair care, skin care, and make up.
ReplyDeleteNote that one of the inactive ingredients in Elidel cream is benzyl alcohol, which can be a problem for those with BoP allergy.
DeleteFacebook group for those with patch-test diagnosed allergy to balsam of Peru or fragrance:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/284324351616200/
Does anyone have a good recipe for a homemade vinaigrette that would be safe for the Balsam of Peru allergy?
ReplyDeleteAre you sensitive to balsamic vinegar? I'm actually ok with it, so I just use balsamic vinegar, olive oil, wholegrain mustard (you MUST check the ingredients - a lot of mustards contain SPICES and FLAVOURINGS and some outright cinnamon!) and honey. If you are sensitive to balsamic vinegar, try apple cider vinegar, which is a little stronger but if you had a bit less and use more honey it's still good.
DeleteHi Ellie,
ReplyDeleteI have just found out that I react to colophony during a patch test. I stay in Nigeria and I don't know what products to use in terms of makeup and foods and fruits to eat.. please can anyone help me
Hi Ellie,
ReplyDeleteI have just found out that I react to colophony during a patch test. I stay in Nigeria and I don't know what products to use in terms of makeup and foods and fruits to eat.. please can anyone help me
I recently had 2 patch tests (2nd one due to delayed reaction) and on this round, I had a borderline reaction to BOP. My allergy is only on my lips, they get inflamed, red, and tingly. This sounds fairly mild compared to most people with BOP allergies. My doctor can't say for sure if the borderline reaction points directly to BOP, but he's having me try to diet to see if it clears it up. Has anyone else had success calling restaurants to check ingredients. I hate feeling like I'm inconveniencing people. Has anyone had a similar lip allergy that was helped by avoiding the foods?
ReplyDeleteMariM, this are exactly my symptoms. Please try to the BoP free diet and do not use steroid creams, like all my doctors prescribed me for years before sending me for a patch test! DEMAND a patch test referral from your GP.
DeleteRestaurants are really difficult to deal with because most of the time they will not check every single ingredient. If they use mustard in their cooking, for instance, they will most likely not check the jar to see if any of the ingredients in that are BoP related.
I would suggest not eating out in restaurants or have anyone else prepare your food until your mouth is completely cleared up. This could take a couple of months, but it is definitely worth having normal skin and being pain free - trust me. I hate not being able to smile because it's too painful when I have a reaction!
When your symptoms are completely clear, you might be able to get away with eating something you're sensitive to once a month or so. It's the build up in your system of eating BoP related ingredients every day which is the big problem.
I hope this helps!
Hi everyone! I suffer from balsam of peru allergy. I get really itchy spots on my scalp, face, neck, and ears. I tried to find some cosmetics without it but it's seems like everything contains either parfum or benzyl alkohol. Can anyone reccomend any shampoos and makeup products?
ReplyDeleteAre you tired of seeking loans and Mortgages,have you been turned down constantly By your banks and other financial institutions,We offer any form of loan to individuals and corporate bodies at low interest rate.If you are interested in taking a loan,feel free to contact us today,we promise to offer you the best services ever.Just give us a try,because a trial will convince you.What are your Financial needs?Do you need a business loan?Do you need a personal loan?Do you want to buy a car?Do you want to refinance?Do you need a mortgage loan?Do you need a huge capital to start off your business proposal or expansion? Have you lost hope and you think there is no way out, and your financial burdens still persists? Contact us (gaincreditloan1@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteYour Name:...............
Your Country:...............
Your Occupation:...............
Loan Amount Needed:...............
Loan Duration...............
Monthly Income:...............
Your Telephone Number:.....................
Business Plan/Use Of Your Loan:...............
Contact Us At : gaincreditloan1@gmail.com
Phone number :+44-75967-81743 (WhatsApp Only)
I also suffer from a Balsam of Peru allergy and also Propolis, I find it a total nightmare avoiding products, I am going back to see dermatologist tomorrow as my reactions are now starting to spread to other parts of my body now, I have been suffering this for 7 years now and it seems to be getting trickier to avoid.
ReplyDeleteHello all,
ReplyDeleteI am allergic to Balsam Peru, Soy & Nickel. So glad to find this blog. I have been eating a number of the "NO" foods but @ least now have a place to start. Any recipes would be greatly appreciated. My spices are all organic. Will this form of nutmeg and cinnamon still be a problem
Hello, welcome to the spiceless life! :) yes, organic nutmeg and cinnamon will cause the same reaction as non-organic, unfortunately, as this allergy is not mediated by any sort of pesticides. Our reaction is actually to some of the molecules naturally that make up the flavour of the spices.
DeleteThe spices that are safe for us include coriander seed, mustard seed, cumin, black cumin (also known as onion/nigella seeds), black pepper and tumeric.
Those that are strictly off-bounds include vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, garam masala spice mix, chinese five spice. Also check your jar of mustard as they sometimes contain cinnamon. Avoid everything that states 'spices' or 'spice extracts'in the ingredients list.
Thank you for the blog. It is so nice to find people dealing with the same thing as me. I am having trouble finding good products/alternatives to body wash and deodorant (I did read the comment above about the alcohol use). Any other suggestions anyone?
ReplyDeleteGENUINE LOAN WITH LOW INTEREST RATE APPLY
ReplyDeleteDo you need finance to start up your own business or expand your business, Do you need funds to pay off your debt? We give out loan to interested individuals and company's who are seeking loan with good faith. Are you seriously in need of an urgent loan contact us.Email: (urgentloan22@gmail.com)
BORROWERS DATA FORM
1)YOUR NAME:_______________
2)YOUR COUNTRY:____________
3)YOUR OCCUPATION:_________
4)YOUR MARITAL STATUS:_____
5)PHONE NUMBER:____________
6)MONTHLY INCOME:__________
7)ADDRESS:_________________
8)PURPOSE:_________________
9)LOAN REQUEST:____________
10)LOAN DURATION:__________
11)CITY/ZIP CODE:__________
12)HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR LOAN BEFORE?
E-mail: (urgentloan22@gmail.com)
¿Estás buscando asistencia financiera de algún tipo? Somos un privado
ReplyDeletefirma de préstamos que proporciona todo tipo de préstamos / fondos para todos aquellos que
deseo de ayuda financiera. Si está interesado, por favor denos su opinión con
monto del préstamo necesario y el propósito del préstamo, así como el pago
período / marco de tiempo que necesita el préstamo.
Contáctenos para un préstamo a través del correo electrónico solutionlogicmoney@gmail.com
Nombre
Cantidad
Duración
País
Estado
Sexo
Móvil#
Atentamente
Sr. Ahmed Ibrahim
+918860675979
solutionlogicmoney@gmail.com
Pure Gelato Sydney. Highest Awarded Gelato Manufacturer,
ReplyDeleteRetailer & Online orders in Sydney for Pure gelato and ice cream cake.
I am very happy to come across this site as it has been very helpful hearing everyone's similar but very different stories. I had patch test done in March of 2015 and it revealed that I reacted to the following ingredients: balsalm of peru, carba mix, d-limonene, limonene, linalool and shellac. I realise I react to certain fragrances more than others (lavender, rosemary, lemon) and basically need to cut al scents out (candles, scentsy products etc. so I can get to a base level to reintroduce things.
ReplyDeleteI have been getting a rash quite often and still am unable to pinpoint exactly what I am reacting to but I am going to omit as much as I can to get to the bottom of it. One thing I noticed from this year to last is the time of year I had the worst flare up is about Halloween until now (currently have rash symptoms, face hurting, cant smile :( etc.) I have no idea if anything seasonal has to do with it and wondered if anyone had similar findings aside from foods. May be coincidence but frustrating to get to the root of the problem. I have been off dairy for 2 weeks now because I tried to remember the last time I felt pain free, rash free and that was then I lived in Taiwan with absolutely no dairy in my diet for 4 months. I felt wonderful so hopefully this will help as well. I had pesto pizza (dairy free) last night and this morning I have more redness and very sore face....although it said on here a few times pesto is fine, in researching the BOP food list basil and pesto are a no? I understand many people can have different ingredients/foods that affect them but im at a loss to have pasta right now as alfredo, tomato and now pesto are a no go...any suggestions on this would be appreciated haha. Seeing spices are a no I am almost thinking plain pasta is my only option.
As I am trying to eliminate as much as I can to reintroduce foods, I am at a loss of what I actually can eat. I have been eating salads but now unsure of dressings to use, meat (chicken and fish plain), plain rice, oatmeal(homemade with PB honey and oats mixed) but other than those staples, I am really unsure what to try that is plain and wont affect me.
Thank you and look forward to any reply on this. I feel your pain!!!!
If you have a Facebook account I would highly recommend you join the Balsam of Peru and Fragrance Contact Allergy group. You will find a great deal of information and support there.
DeleteThank you so much! All the info really helps. I've been suffering for 1 year and a half. Didn't realize what balsam of Peru was. I'm all natural. I use Free and Clear shampoo and conditioner. For soap I use Cleure face and body wash, but until I changed my diet no results. And for that I thank you.
ReplyDeleteI have Bop. How do you make mayonnaise homemade?
ReplyDeleteHi, I tested positive to bop about a year ago. I did a 4 month elimination diet. I started cheating a few months ago. it only took one tasty item and the horse was out of the barn! I suddenly started having immediate reaction to eggs, slight on milk. burning mouth, lips etc. Has anyone had a problem with dairy products such as eggs, cows milk?
ReplyDeleteHello Busby,
ReplyDeleteI'm looking to get in contact with you as I'm writing a book about Balsam of Peru. How can I get in contact with you here in 2023?