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September/October 2004 Alternative Health
"The Body Knows" - ask medical intuitive Caroline Sutherland

Dear Caroline,
For the past 2 years, I have suffered from extreme chemical sensitivities. If someone is wearing perfume, I have to leave the room. Gas fumes, fresh paint gives me a terrible headache. Do you have any suggestions to combat this problem?
Marilyn H. Denver Colorado

Dear Marilyn,

In this fast-paced, chemical ridden world in which we live, you are not alone. Chemical sensitivities are a sign of a weak immune system. The body is now over-loaded due to stress and it is starting to react to the environment – food, chemicals, airborne inhalants etc. My background for 20 years has been in Environmental Medicine and I have had the fascinating experience of witnessing first-hand, thousands of people with chemical sensitivities, and their response to practical strategies and alternative treatments. Behind this oversensitive system that you are coping with, lies your stress. Take a moment to evaluate your stress level and what it is related to. Are you over-taxed, over-worked, not being paid enough or valued enough?

Start with yourself and your own value. Ask yourself the questions: If I valued myself I would____blank. If I valued myself I would not____blank.

Honestly ask yourself if it is really serving you to continue with this level of stress, fill in these blanks and then make some changes. Meditation is so deeply healing and soothing – it can also be insightful too. As we have heard so many times "the answer to all of life’s questions lies within." In meditation let your inner guidance reveal these answers to you. There are excellent meditation tapes/CDs available which can be especially useful for first-time meditators or people who have trouble holding their focus in meditation.

On the physical level, it is time to take the pressure off the immune system. Remove all toxic chemicals from your home environment – scents, perfumes, room sprays, scented laundry soaps – the works. Create a healing environment where you can rest and restore deeply.

Now remove caffeine, alcohol and sugar from the diet. Wheat and dairy products, which are high allergens, can further tax the immune system. After a few weeks of an offending food avoidance program and minimal exposure to environmental toxins, you should be feeling much better. Look for foods that are organic, hormone and pesticide free. Build up your body with supplements and herbs. I also find that a candida yeast eradication program can be very helpful. If a person has an overgrowth of candida, they can often be highly chemically sensitive because the presence of this yeast affects not only the endocrine system, but the immune system too.

My book, "The Body Knows", has a detailed chapter on the subject of chemical sensitivities and guidelines that could be helpful. Consider your quest for good health an exciting adventure. Your body knows – remember that it has a phenomenal capacity to repair.

Caroline Sutherland has been a practicing medical intuitive for twenty years, she is the author of The Body Knows – How to Tune into Your Body and Improve Your Health (Hay House) For information, products and event schedule, visit online at www.carolinesutherland.com