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Colophony & Food Allergy…

As I stated earlier, colophony (or rosin) is a resin that comes from coniferous trees such as pine trees and is completely natural and can be organic. Colophony is used in almost every industry, especially to process and preserve foods. This, here, is where having this allergy becomes tricky.

Allergy to colophony is considered to be a contact dermatitis. However, my allergy is so extreme that I react to any product made or that has come into contact with colophony. Most people with allergy to colophony have to be careful about coming in contact with it or any of its derived substances. I have to be as or even more careful about the foods I eat.

Since my allergy diagnosis, I learned that I am also allergic to foods I ate all my life because at some point these foods come into contact with colophony. Some of the foods I am allergic to include: bananas, blueberries, all types of bread, chocolate, all types of citrus (lemon, lime, oranges, tangerines, etc.), carbonated drinks, coffee and tea, COCONUT, cauliflower, ICE CREAM, lettuce, broccoli, all types of sauces (ketchup, mayo, honey mustard, soy sauce, etc.), oils (coconut, olive, sunflower), spices (PAPRIKA, nutmeg, CINNAMON, cloves, etc), processed meats, many dairy products, and more. I am also allergic to all types of gums (chewing gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, etc.)

Now, that might not seem too bad, but I challenge you to go to the store and find something that does not have paprika, cinnamon, or coconut oil. It is almost IMPOSSIBLE!By the way, I need to mention that before I was diagnosed with the allergy to colophony, I had been diagnosed with an allergy to all nuts, beans, and seeds. You can cry now!

My shock was still fresh when I was slapped with the notion that way too many medical drugs and health products are made with colophony. The very medicines I was taking when I had an allergic reaction or felt ill have rosin (one of the many names given to colophony) as their number one inactive ingredient. Some of those medicine include but are not limited to: Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl, Neosporin, Claritin, MiraLax, and almost all first aid ointments. Fortunately, I am able to take Aleve and Zyrtec. Thank God for them!

To make matters more interestingly, I am also highly, highly allergic to paper (wax paper, notebook paper, magazines, printer paper, text books, disposable sanitary products, food packed in boxes, and the list keeps going crazy). Excluded from the no-no paper list are the toilet paper and paper napkins. Hooray! If you are wondering about my reaction to the paper, here is the reason… paper is coated in a form of wax which is derived from colophony to make it glossy, durable, impermeable, and the list goes on. You are probably wondering how I know that I am allergic to paper? Well, whenever I touch paper (gift wrapping paper, textbook, notebook, baking paper – you get the idea) my arms get itchy, red spots that burn start coming out, my hands get dry, begin to hurt and eventually my skin breakdown and bleed.