Allergic reaction to wood stain/varnish?

[jikki]

About a week ago I sanded back and re-stained our wooden patio table. After a couple of days drying, I brought it inside to use as our dining table. (Our other dining table was too rickety, and is doing better in the study as a computer desk on the carpet!).

My youngest's eczema has been playing up worse than usual over the last week, and she's also had a couple of hives here and there. She has it fairly bad on her face, which is unusual for her. :cry I've moved the table outside this morning, to see if it's related to the table at all, or just a coincidence.

Has anyone had or known anyone to have an allergic reaction to wood stain or varnish?? Is it feasible that the table is the problem??? :shrug

[~*heket*~]

I think you'd be the best judge of what environmental factors are playing into it. I get exema and it's heat triggered. But it's much MUCH better since I started taking tissue salts for it. Have you tried them?

[Ceres]

Was it a natural stain / varnish or a standard chemical one? They can be quite potent.

[jikki]

Heket - haven't tried tissue salts yet (have tried almost everything else though - homeopathy, chinese herbalist, molasses....) Can you tell me a bit about them?

Ceres - it was chemically nasty. I didn't even know you could get a natural version?? I just looked up the material safety data sheet for it, it's 60% kerosine (petroleum) and also solvent naphtha (petroleum), as well as some others...doesn't sound nice!

[~*heket*~]

ooooh *shudders*

I'll just google a link for you now :D

[~*heket*~]

D. Skin Combination (Kali Mur., Kali Sulph., Calc. Sulph., Silica) - For minor skin ailments, scalp eruptions, eczema, acne, scaling of the skin and allied conditions. Skin ailments which are too minor to concern your doctor can still be troublesome and annoying to you. When you want a natural remedy for such skin troubles. Combination D could be helpful. It is best taken as a course of treatment.

Here's the one I use

[~*heket*~]

link ....

http://www.h-e-c.com.au/tissue_salts.htm

[jikki]

It sounds like a homeopathic solution? Or similar principles?

Is it pretty standard at a health food shop, or would I have to get it from somewhere special?

[jikki]

cross post with your second reply!....got the link, thanks!

[~*heket*~]

you can get them from health food shops and some chemists are starting to sell them too. They're only about $10 a bottle.

[Ceres]

In terms of natural alternatives, I use organic timber oil. You won't get a polished shiny finish but it treats the wood so it doesn't splinter, and darkens the appearance of the wood.