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In 1979 a patient informed me that she had recovered
form an acute state of anxiety and depression when she removed
a solid block toilet deodorant from her house. In 1985 I published
(see below) a series of 89 patients who had recovered from "dizziness"
(feelings of unreality), mild nausea, upset emotions, insomnia
and headache after purging their homes of all perfumes. There
are sound theoretical explanations for why this should be so.
The ALSPAC study published 19.10.04 gives statistical
backing for the hypothesis that odorants may cause neuropsychological
dysfunction. They found a connection with infantile diarrhoea
and earache, and maternal headache and depression (Farrow A, Taylor
H, Northstone K, Golding J, ALSPAC Study Team. Symptoms of Mothers
and Infants related to Total Volatile Organic Compounds in Household
Products. Archives of Environmental Health 2003:58; 633-641)
Anyone who suffers any of the above symptoms would
be well advised to try the effect of having a couple of weeks
avoiding perfumes of all kinds, especially the so-called "fresh"
perfumes. They should also avoid all aerosols, whether perfumed
or not.
Manufacturers should provide people with odorant
low or odorant-free consumables.
Including the Body Shop. It is likely that all
perfumes may be involved, whether natural or synthetic..
References:
Lawson RH. Is
there an air freshener syndrome? Bristol Med Chir J 1985; Jan.:10-3
Lawson RH Air freshener perfumes. Psychiatric Bull 1992;16:173.
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