All during my life I have been allergic to one thing or another, such as dust and wool and polyester. I avoid what I can and learn to substitute, like always wearing cotton and using rice milk in place of regular milk. Some things I have discovered by trial and error, while others have been suggested by doctors such as a dermatologist.
If you have someone allergic to laundry soap, switch to a more natural product, such as ECOS. If that doesn’t clear things up enough, run your loads through the rinse cycle twice on cold. When I was living in Anchorage in the early 60s, a woman said her husband was miserable as his feet were allergic to soap and she couldn’t seem to get the soap out of his socks. The co-op had an old-fashioned washing machine and I suggested using it to rinse out the socks. She would fill it half full of cold water and toss in all the socks she had just washed and agitate it for a few minutes. It worked splendidly and kept him from having to go barefoot (not a good choice in Alaska). She said I saved her marriage.
Also on the laundry.
Buy several net bags made for the laundry and put the clothes in them that you will wash, but want to keep out of the dryer. Then when your husband or kids help you by drying the clothes, they will know not to include those bags.
If you have anyone with a cold or allergies who has to blow their nose a lot, try putting out a roll of expensive toilet paper. It is by far a lot softer than the tissues they sell, and keeps your nose from becoming red and sore. If you have an empty square tissue box, pull off a long strip of toilet paper, fold it along its tear lines and put it in the box, just to look nicer.
For people with allergies to bar soap, switch to Dove for face and body. It has more lotion than soap and stopped the deep rashes that I still get when I use regular soap, like when on a trip (and I forgot to put my Dove bar in the suitcase.)
Another health tip.
Want to keep your skin supple as you age, but don’t want to pay the high price for collagen lotions? The membrane of an egg is loaded with the stuff. I’ve kept my wrinkles at bay by pulling off the membrane of an egg or two and tossing them into scrambled eggs or stir fries, or baked beans, etc. Some folks say to spread them on the wrinkles on your face, but by eating them (tasteless), you benefit the rest of your body as well. Just a few a week is all you need, unless you are really old and have almost no natural collagen. Then you might need a little more.
Allergic to chocolate? Buy some roasted Carob. This powdered alternative to chocolate can be sweetened with honey or your favorite sweetener. I always use it for my hot chocolate drinks. It stops the craving for regular chocolate. Make sure it is roasted.
MY heroine in Sunbeams and Shadows is a cook for a dude ranch. She has to make sure she cooks around the allergies of their guests. She makes carob brownies and other carob treats for a child allergic to chocolate.
A USA Today bestselling author, Nancy Radke grew up on a wheat and cattle ranch in SE Washinton State. She attended a one-room country school through the eighth grade. She learned to ride bareback at age 3 (Really! It was a common practice.) and when she got off or fell off, she would pull her horse’s nose to the ground, get on behind its ears, and the horse would lift its head so she could scoot down onto its back. Nancy spent most of her childhood exploring the Blue Mountain trails that bordered the ranchlands. She and a friend once took a trail that turned out to be a two day trip. They always rode with matches and pocket knives, so made camp and returned the next day. These long rides worried her parents, but provided plenty of time to make up stories. Her first novel was set in the Blues, and is entitled APPALOOSA BLUES. TURNAGAIN LOVE was the first one published. It rated a four star review from Affaire de Coeur. Scribes World said “Turnagain Love has some fascinating twists and turns, unexpected complications, and charming scenes.” It is light and humorous. Nancy currently has over 30 books written, both modern and western. All her stories are sweet and wholesome.
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