CASA ARMIDA | art

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Trees outstrip most people in the extent and depth

of their work for public good.” | Sara Ebenreck, American Forests.

 

“Trees clean the air we breathe as long as they can handle the toxins.”  |  Armida

 

 

 

One in five Americans suffer from toxins in the air and in household cleaning and personal products.  Armida is one of them.  This condition is known as MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities). 

 

In broad terms, MCS is a condition that involves an unusually severe sensitivity or allergy-like reaction to many different kinds of pollutants, including solvents, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), perfumes, petrol, diesel, smoke, synthetic chemicals-fragrances, and the like.  It is known by other clinical terms such as environmental illness, toxic injury, etc.

What CAN be said about defining MCS is that the following criteria apply to MCS when the person–

 

• exhibits an allergy-like reaction to both large and often extremely low levels of irritants/toxicants/triggers

• experences the allergy-like reaction when other individuals present at the same time may not be able to detect anything at all or anything unusual or out of the ordinary

• suffers from the trigger(s) on an ongoing basis (i.e., chronic and not a “one-off” event)

• is affedted by many different triggers

• improves when the triggers are absent, and

• the same symptoms are reproducible with repeated exposure to the same trigger.

 

 

Over 15 million Americans have been diagnosed with this condition.   And more will be diagnosed as the medical professionals properly diagnose the condition.  There is no zero-sum condition.  There are many irritants in our environment that are simply not healthy in the long run.  For example, asthma is one of the symptoms.  Unfortunately, there is no known cure.  Thus, the immediate solution is to make people aware of this condition and of the population that is at risk.  People with MCS need the support and cooperation of family, friends, co-workers, and society to contribute to their professional skills, ideas, creativity, ability, knowledge, and quality of life.

 

Despite MCS not being well known or understood, it is quite common, with recent epidemiological studies showing incidence rates of 10-15 percent hypersensitivity to chemicals and 2-5 percent for diagnosable MCS.

 

 

 

Symptoms of MCS may be mild to disabling.  Symptoms may be physical and/or psychological in nature and are essentially those that are disruptive to the individual’s mental or physical wellness and that the individual attributes to exposuer to a chemical or scent.

 

By far, the most common symptoms are vague complaints: feeling tired, dry eyes,  “brain fog” (short-term memory problems, difficulty concentrating) and muscle pain.  These complaints are common to a large number of medical conditions, from psychiatric conditions, such as major depression disorder, to neurological conditions, such as orthostatic intolerance, to high blood pressure, autoimmune diseases and cancer.

 

A partial list of other symptoms patients have attributed to MCS include difficulty breathing, pains in the throat, chest, or abdominal region, asthma, skin irritation, contact dermatitis, and hives or other forms of skin rash, headaches, neurological symptoms (nerve pain, pins and needles feelings, weakness, trembling, restless leg syndrome, etc.), tendonitis, seizures, visual disturbances (blurring, halo effect, inability to focus), extreme anxiety, panic and/or anger, sleep disturbance, suppression of immune system, digestive difficulties, nausea, indigestion/heartburn, vomiting, diarrhea, joint pains, vertigo/dizziness, abnormally acute sense of smell, sensitivity to natural plant fragrance or natural pine terpenes, insomnia, dry mouth, dry eyes, and an overactive bladder.

Triggers include the following:

 

• Perfumes (including after-shave lotion, body and hand lotions or other skin care products with fragrances)

• Soaps (hand soaps, shampoos, conditioners, bath oils, body washes, etc.)

• Cleaning products (furniture polish, floor and bathroom cleaners)

• Industrial cleaning products, which are much more potent, can also be very detrimental to MCS sufferers

• Fabric dyes or certain weaves of fabric that include man-made synthetics and some natural fibers that are reactive; this can be in clothing or bedding

• Laundry detergents (including bleaches, color-safe bleaches, fabric softeners, static drier sheets)

• Permanent markers or highly scented writing tools

• Soft plastics

• Air fresheners (sprays, plugs-in type units, scented indoor candles, citronella candles, etc.)

• Indoor pesticides to kill common household pests (like roaches, ants, flies and mosquitoes); industrial pesticides, which are much stronger, can also trigger attacks

• Glues used for furniture, carpets, appliances, and home construction

• Magazines or newspapers

• Gasoline

• Solvents or other VOCs (volatile organic compounds) such as fumes that come from natural gas, paints, paint thinners, varnishes, burning wood or other materials in a fireplace; and off-gassing from the use of photocopiers, fax machines and other appliances that can cause to release of VOCs when they are in use.

• Formaldehyde and  aldehyde

• Smoke ( tobacco, cooking/grilling, fireplaces, candles)

 

 

Recognition by Governmental Entities include–-

 

The World Health Organization
The Federal Government under The Americans with Disabilities Act
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
The State of Washington
The Social Security Administration
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Access Board
The County Council of Cuyahoga County, Ohio (Cleveland area)

 

 

 

A strong nation, like a person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained.  

It can afford to extend a helping hand to others.  It’s a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity.  | President Jimmy Carter

 

 

 

The painting LOST DATA illustrates how the

artist feels when exposed

to toxins in everyday consumer products.