Before Jonathan, was six weeks old, he had a rash, which was diagnosed as eczema. Since he was 100% breastfed, I was put on a diet eliminating all forms of dairy products. There was no improvement after 5 weeks. We were then referred to a dermatologist, whose only answer was steroidal ointments in varying strengths. I was not happy with this solution. It did clear up the eczema, but as soon as the ointment was not applied, the eczema returned. Jonathan was itching and scratching all the time. He rubbed his cheeks raw, and was in mittens at night, until he was old enough to pull them off. We always dressed him in long sleeves, long pants and socks, even in the summer, so he would not scratch and bleed. I was looking for alternative methods of treatment.

I was referred by another nursing mother to a chiropractor who also practices acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy and applied kinesiology. I was very skeptical at first. On the first visit, the chiropractor saw me alone, and determined that my liver function was impaired, and causing ‘allergic’ reactions to foods which I then passed on to my son, and his system was overloaded with the IgE antibodies, and eczema was the result. Applied kinesiology determined that wheat, corn (all forms) and milk were the main culprits. A second visit included Jonathan, and as I suspected, he had allergies to the same foods as I, and in addition, oats. By avoiding these foods, we have cleared up Jonathan’s eczema, and at eight months old he no longer depended upon steroidal ointment. 

When Jonathan was 10 months old, I had cleared my body of toxins so that I may occasionally eat wheat, and it does not adversely affect Jonathan. By 18 months old, Jonathan was even able to eat oats!  It is great, because now he can have natural oat "O" cereal without corn syrup sweetener.  Now at almost four years old, he can eat corn, and only has to avoid wheat and limit his sugar or juice intake. Jonathan enjoys zucchini bread made with barley, banana bread made with millet, Rice Chex cereal, oat O's cereal, fruits (bananas, nectarines, pears. apples, grape juice) and vegetables (broccoli, potato, sweet potatoes, carrots, beans, squash, peas), especially potatoes, mashed, baked or fried. He usually orders a "hangaber" and fries when we go out to eat, and discards the bun.

It has been an adventure learning to bake without wheat and corn. I have had to make my own baking powder (it contains cornstarch). I have also learned to read food labels religiously. The ‘hidden’ foods are the worst: modified food starch, which can be corn, tapioca, or wheat, and fructose, dextrose and maltodextrin, from corn. I know my beautiful son is worth every minute and every dollar. And he is happier than he would be if I just treated his symptoms. We now believe in looking for underlying causes of eczema and allergic reactions.

"For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance."
Isaiah 66:11

All Bible quotations are from the New International Version 1984

© Copyright 1998-2006 Kirsten L. Andrews