This is called Salicylic Acid...or Salicylate, most commonly found in Aspirin. It's a compound found mostly in fruits and veggies.
After our vacation to Florida and Mexico for our sons wedding and eating LOTS of fresh fruit, gaining 5 lbs from said fruit, I had some severe health issues rise to the surface again. Plus a weekend of saying "the hell with it" and eating tortilla chips and hummus, thinking I was ok until the night sweats hit and I was soaking wet and the diarrhea started and I C O U L D N O T Sleep!
The headaches, swollen eyes, burning lips, achy bones and joints, muscle pain and severe fatigue. I'd previously mentioned to my acupuncturist that I couldn't handle raw green juices and raw green salads were getting to me. And somehow I've always known Spinach is a no no and I avoid it like the plague. (guess what? It's off the charts in Salicylic Acid).
One of the topics often mentioned in the Mast Cell FB groups is Salicylate Intolerance. So I researched it again (it's not like I haven't looked at everything under the sun in my past while searching for answers). I was pretty sure I fit the bill for SALS (which makes it a whole lot easier then trying to pronounce Sal-ic-y-late).
During my Lyme healing years I didn't eat ANY fruit, but after I healed I started again. I did eat veggies, but probably not to the degree that I was currently eating them....AND I kept wondering WHY wasn't my breathing improving? Why did I still need my nebulizer? Why did my left hip bones hurt like hell at bedtime? Why did I still hack up 2 lungs at bedtime? Why did my lips burn? Why? Why? Why?
Salicylates!
Since being on an elimination diet for just 1 week, my breathing has improved greatly, the pain in my hip is gone, my sciatica stopped hurting like hell, the headaches are minimal. I'm detoxing so I still have a few nighttime sweats, a few headaches and the itching has almost stopped.
Let me tell you....I thought the list of foods for Mast Cell was restrictive.....I had NO idea!!!!
My diet now consists of NO fruit, to my sadness almost no veggies...only green beans, carrots and peas. I do get older potatoes peeled (no new potatoes), rice but not the kind in my cupboard...no basmati or jasmine, meats are still ok, duck eggs, maple syrup, cashews, beans, rice oil, butter, grains are now back on my plate....otherwise I'd starve...which wouldn't be bad for about 10-15 lbs but after that...not so good!
I figured out the lips burning; my lip balm is made with herbs infused in Olive Oil and (honey) Bees Wax!!!!! Oh my Golly!!! All of which is off the charts in SALS. The bedtime hacking was due to the toothpaste....I can't have any mint or citrus. This morning I'm trying just plain rice oil for my lips...so far so good.
So, now I wait to see if I continue to improve...which I'm really hoping and praying I do. It would really be nice to not worry about whether you can breathe or not. Now I'm trying to learn a new diet yet AGAIN! And it's not just what goes in my mouth but what goes on my body.....lip balm, soap, shampoo, face cream, etc. etc.
Oh boy!!! This should be fun!!!
BUT I press on! Life goes on!!!