If you thought avoiding foods was a dangerous dodgeball, fabrics is a whole new game.
My polyester story begins 18 months ago. I kept noticing muscle fatigue and just a general tiredness that was growing worse. I kept praying about it and I received the consistent urge to check my clothing. Turns out that the majority of my cotton clothing were the clothes I typically felt more relaxed in, while the bulk of my polyester clothing I rarely felt relaxed in. (I mean, could clothing really cause that much of a difference??) I wrestled for a week with the possibility of doing a trial run of only wearing cotton and minimal synthetics with no polyester. When I took the plunge, I noticed no change at first; but by the end of the day I realized I was more relaxed and could ride my bike with minimal fatigue and could make it up steep hills. But the real revelation would be if my symptoms returned when I brought polyester back in. The first few hours I noticed nothing. However, by the end of the day there was a drastic change in that my heart rate would speed up and I would get severe muscle fatigue again, among a few other symptoms. I wore polyester for three days and when I took it out, the same results happened. When I returned polyester a second time, it was clear that removing it was a dramatic improvement. Even though polyester is not life threatening and I only react with pro-longed exposure (45 minutes) against my body core, it was worth getting rid of all polyester clothing and bedding.
Before you say it's all in my head, why do I react to it when I don't even realize I am wearing it? A few months ago I bought a bra, but forgot to check the label... For a month I could not figure out what was giving me asthma attacks, digestive issues, muscle fatigue, and general tiredness. It finally hit me that it felt like a polyester reaction, but I wasn't wearing polyester. Or so I thought. Sure enough, that new bra had a lot of polyester. Yes, one small piece of clothing effected me that dramatically. After switching it out, my symptoms resolved completely within three days. It's a bit more alarming when you don't realize you are wearing the offender and the symptoms manifest themselves more cantankerously!
When I first noticed a reaction to polyester, I did a lot of research on what this stuff really was. It quickly proved frustrating because clothing manufacturers refuse to tell you what chemicals they spray and saturate into the clothing. If you email them -- and actually receive an answer -- the response will be vague. Nevertheless, numerous sources confirm that polyester is derived from petroleum (oil) and contains lung-damaging pollutants, exposes more phthalates and plastic vapors against the skin. All synthetic materials have a higher likelyhood of chemical exposure in the creation process and tend to have more toxic crap than natural fibers. Also, multiple sources made the point of, if you eat organic food because you want to be healthy and are concerned about chemicals, why aren't you paying attention to what you are putting on your skin? The skin, after all, absorbs more than we think and is not an impenetrable barrier to chemicals.
Already shunning polyester and other synthetic clothing and bedding, I was curious as to the chemicals that douse legal furniture. It was no surprise when I realized that polyurethane (generally known as couch cushion or memory foam) was another culprit to my drastic muscle fatigue. Yet, when I took out polyurethane, not only did my muscle fatigue shoot way down, but my Candida disappeared (skin lesions included), I felt cleaner and more energized, and within a week I shaved off ten minutes of my bike commute (2.5 miles each way) and I can now ride 20 miles with no fatigue. There were only two things that I had to change: my mattress and chairs/sofa. 100% cotton-wool mattresses do exist, however they are well over a thousand dollars. The only other option was to place more layers between me and my mattress. I already had a thick wool mattress cover, so I added some wool blankets. With each layer added, I felt more relaxed. For couches, I had to just give up on them. Chemical and polyurethane free couches and padded chairs exist, but they are also well in the thousands (with the exception of meditation chairs). There were already wooden chairs in my house for eating at the table, so that wasn't an issue. However, the only comfortable long-term seating were the couches...so I settled on investing in an unvarnished rocking chair. Turns out the least toxic of wood oils are boiled linseed oil and tung oil (both derived from plants). I decided on using tung oil and so far it works great (that is, after the smell of newly lacquered-ness wore off a few days later).
Did I mention I don't have a normal fabric reaction? Typical fabric reactions are fabric to skin, meaning the skin will get rashy or itchy when it comes in direct contact with the fabric-culprit. However, even if I simply sit on polyester or polyurethane with a blanket in between, I will still feel the reaction for about a day. I've talked to multiple doctors and no one has heard of this kind of reaction. It is most likely related to the fact that my body cannot handle chemicals very well and something in the off-gassing effects me. This makes it hard to avoid, but as these synthetics are everywhere sometimes I have no choice -- such as restaurants and cars. I can limit myself to natural fibers and wood at home and work (ie, my safe zones), but sometimes I have to endure the realities of not being able to completely avoid these things that breaks down my body. It sucks, but it is what it is.
When I first began this journey, there were two pressing issues: how to afford this green-safe lifestyle and what synthetics things could slide. Obviously, polyester and polyurethane were out. It's near impossible to avoid all synthetics even in the home. After all, there is no such thing as non-synthetic shoes, heavy duty rain gear, headphones, helmets, silicone spatulas, ...a non-synthetic computer or cell phone? Get real! And as much as I want the ugly synthetic carpet gone, I rent so I have no say in that.
Needless to say, I focused on what I could change. Clothing, bedding, food, and pretty much anything that I was in constant contact with should be organic (if possible) and definitely not synthetic or manipulated with chemicals. I like to stick with cotton, wool, and silk. (And, I have learned that putting vinegar in the wash helps remove chemicals from clothing.) I do admit to having neoprene rain boots, nylon rain pants, and nylon coat. Why? Because some days in the northwest it's just better to stay really dry and I am not aware of a natural alternative here -- as wool is only water repellent to an extent -- and for some reason I have not noticed a reaction to nylon. I think it comes down to if there is a natural/organic solution, I'll take it; if not -- and I truly need and will utilize it -- I go with the least toxic option.
Sounds expensive, yes? Not necessarily. First you have to learn to prioritize and simplify. Do you really need a 4 foot span of loaded hangers in your closet along with 3 slippers and 20 polyester stuffed pillows? Ummm, no. Let's be realistic, though, you do need to wear something! Here are some shoestring tips:
-It's nice to have a few organic shirts on hand (personally I am way more relaxed in them), but they typically cost $70 and up. The trick is to look for closeout sales. I have bought organic sweatshirts, sweaters, and shirts for under $30. Yes, you do have to look around and jump on the deal when you find it, but it is possible.
-Second hand stores (or Craigslist, community boards, clothing swaps, etc.) can sometimes be a gold mine! Don't forget to check the clothing labels thoroughly...it's easy to forget.
-I have bought organic cotton blankets, thick wool blankets, wool slippers, wool coat, cotton bike seat cover, and a wool mattress topper for $15-50 on e-bay (these items brand new would be at least $100). E-Bay is a great way to look for deals. The trick is to stick to your max bid -- don't give into the bidding war.
-Let people know if you are in need of something. Someone may have a wool blanket sitting around, be willing to knit you some gloves, have a cotton hoodie that is your size unworn in the back of their closet, or gift you organic sheets.
-Learn to prioritize, as you probably don't need to replace everything in one day and maybe in the past you had six polyester sweatshirts, but really you could get by with two wool/cotton ones.
-Shop around, you'll eventually find deals. If shopping online, make sure you contact the company as not all fabric information is given online. For example, when I was looking for organic mattress toppers and organic stuffed animals, most of them contained polyester though the company did not disclose this information on their website. Also, some companies do a great job of categorizing their merchandise by fabric type, but not all fabric used on the product will be openly listed. If customer service is unsure or doesn't disclose all materials used, it's not worth it.
-Let everything you buy be an investment; in other words, get out of the American habit of buying a new one if it can be fixed and throwing it out because you found something new.
-I am a big supporter of independent businesses -- I LOVE The Herbalist and Rainbow Remedies -- but sometimes it's more cost effective to start with vitacost.com and iherb.com if the price difference is substantial.
 |
| Meet Little Mouse who hails from applepark.com! This is the only organic stuffed animal company to not put polyester in their critters. ♥♥♥ Most organic stuffed animals that are larger than 6 inches are in the hundred dollar range, but their prices are SO AFFORDABLE! (I can't imagine having a severe polyester sensitivity as a kid and not being able to have a stuffed animal.) |
Helpful Resources:
-Pure Cure by Sharyn Wynters (It's like an encyclopedia to every day toxins and how to minimize exposure.)
-Easy Green Living by Renee Loux (Another great resource in minimizing household toxins.)
-FoodBabe.com (Unashamedly exposes dangerous toxins in foods and occasionally household items.)
-Ewg.org (Environmental Working Group is a database that covers multiple products and determines whether they are considered safe or toxic.)
-vinegartips.com (Distilled vinegar goes a long way for non-toxic cleaning.)
Even if I am someday cured of these synthetic reactions, I will still avoid synthetic clothing and furniture if financially possible. It's just nasty stuff and this is not an experience you simply run back into.
