Being allergic to water sounds like a joke or maybe an excuse given by a small boy for not washing behind his ears. I know this because as a small boy I had an allergy rash or dermatitis that produced a rash behind my ears and was duly told by my doctor not to have baths! I was quite happy and even my mum was amused…

So when I read recently about folks with “Water allergies” I did not know whether to laugh or sympathise.

One of the problems is the use of the word, “Allergy“. The word is used both by environmentally aware health practitioners such as Nutritionists or herbalists and a small number of specialist doctors to refer to our reactions to the toxic environment that we live in. So a rash or digestive complaint may be referred to as an allergy by “the environmental doctors”.

But the word is also used by immunologists who only call something an allergy if it involves a particular type of antibody. However painful or problematic your allergies are only allergies to immunologists if they can find antibodies to the cause and IgE antibodies at that. Simply put immunologists have been trying to corner the market – to use a metaphor – in allergies.

This is why doctors are forever “Tut tutting” at the standard use of the word. That being said, is there an allergy to water?

Water Allergy

So yes, there is such a condition as a water allergy if we use the word allergy in the normal sense or the environmental sense. Some sensitive folks do get itchiness and rashes just from a shower or from bathing in the sea.

I’ve just remembered an article I wrote on my Psoriasis blog about bathing in the Dead sea….I wonder if that would help them?

What shocked me was reading that even the sweat on the patient’s skin could trigger these reactions so even sweat or a baby dribbling on the skin can trigger symptoms in these super sensitive folks..

Treating Water Allergy

There are so few documented case of Aquagenic urticaria as it’s called in the medical books that there are no established treatments. But if I or any other Naturopath dealt with somebody with this malady we would certainly follow a few obvious steps such as these…

1. Get all info possible from lab’ results and all other sources – any reports from dermatologists or other doctors who have seen the patient

   Order a Trace Minerals Analysis – using a hair sample to check for imbalances in metals and especially toxic metals

2. I would also work out what Celloid Minerals were needed.

3. Carefully go through a meal plan working out a good anti inflammatory diet

4. Ditto with supplements – anti-inflammatory supplements such as flax oil, Vitamin C in sensible doses

5. Very carefully trial topical treatments such as castor oil, flax oil, ascorbyl palmitate – the oily version of vitamin C etc.

A few allergy resources which may help

Trace Minerals testing – I’ve always used Mineral Check, they are quick and cheap

Celloid Minerals – you need to consult a Celloids Practitioner to get Celloids. Made by Blackmore’s, an Australian compnay founded by Naturopath Maurice Blackmore

Anti-Inflammatory diet – lots of choice here try The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book: Protect Yourself and Your Family from Heart Disease, Arthritis, Diabetes, Allergies – and More

or The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Anti-Inflammation Diet

If you’ve had any experience with water allergy feel free to comment!

All for now!

Alex