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Colognes, Chemicals,
Compassion and the Church
by Don Hooser
Allergies, allergies! It seems almost everyone these days has some sort
of allergy, intolerance or high sensitivity to something in his or her
environment.
An increasing number of people are "allergic" to colognes. Most of these
adverse reactions are not true allergies, so antihistamines don't help.
They are physiological "sensitivities" to commercial colognes. Perhaps
everyone has some sensitivity to colognes, but "sensitivity" in this
article means noticeable or hypersensitivity that can result in
traumatic reactions.
For the sake of simplicity, "cologne" will refer to perfumes, colognes
and aftershave lotions, all of which are designed to have a far-reaching
and lingering smell. Some people are also sensitive to scented personal
care products, such as shampoos, body washes, soaps, hair sprays and
sunscreens. But most of those people are not bothered by the tiny bit of
smell when other people use them and the products have dried.
Everything a person inhales (breathes), ingests (swallows) or absorbs
(through the skin or membranes) has an effect on him. Today toxic
chemicals are flooding our environment. As a person accumulates these
chemicals in his body, his immune system can become so overwhelmed that
he increasingly has adverse reactions to the chemicals, and sometimes
even to natural substances. When people become highly sensitive to many
chemicals, they have "multiple chemical sensitivity" (MCS). Many people
who are sensitive to colognes have MCS.
"Ointment and perfume delight the heart" (Proverbs 27:9). Historically
"ointment" and "perfume" were made with natural and harmless
ingredients, such as myrrh, frankincense, aloes and cinnamon (Song of
Solomon 3:6; Proverbs 7:17).
Colognes aren't needed to cover up foul body odors like they were in
ages past when people didn't bathe regularly. Today's popularity is akin
to cosmetics, a customary part of dressing up. Advertising and imagery
certainly play major roles in boosting sales and usage. This may seem
harmless, but the fly in "the perfumer's ointment" (Ecclesiastes 10:1)
is the increasing use of chemicals in fragrances to make the scents
travel farther, increase the time they linger in the air, cut costs and
boost profits.
A report by the National Academy of Sciences in 1986 stated that "95
percent of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived
from petroleum," and then listed numerous diseases and central nervous
system disorders caused by strong exposure to these compounds.
Only a small percent of those petrochemicals are used in colognes, but
when a cologne has any toxic ingredients, everyone who smells it is
adversely affected. Most people don't notice the effects because the
toxicity is minor and God designed us to have incredible immune systems
to deal with foreign substances.
The people who suffer most from colognes are those with MCS and those
with chronic respiratory problems, such as asthma or emphysema, or with
acute conditions, such as influenza or a bad cold. The effects can be
immediate or delayed.
One helpful Web site on these subjects is http://4allergies.com, where
one article addresses medical experts' concerns for children. It
explains that early exposure to chemicals often causes allergies that
would have been avoided if exposure was delayed until adulthood. "Neurotoxics
that may have only a temporary ill effect on an adult brain can cause
enduring damage to a child's developing brain. The immaturity of
children's internal systems, especially in the first few months of life,
affects their ability to neutralize and rid their bodies of certain
toxins."
Jay S. Gartner, an allergy and asthma specialist in Duncanville, Texas,
said, "If everyone quit wearing perfumes and colognes, I wouldn't have
enough patients to continue my practice." An interview with Dr. Gartner
was a source for this article.
What Those With MCS Experience
Adverse reactions vary widely, depending on the cologne, the
concentration in the air and the duration of exposure. The reactions may
be mild, such as congestion, a mild headache or flushed face. Sometimes
they are severe, such as asthmatic reactions with difficulty in
breathing, severe headaches, other pains, coughing, uncontrollable
shaking, irregular and speeded up heartbeat, dizziness, panic attacks,
etc. Sometimes the person remains sick for a week or more.
Church members with MCS commonly feel sick during and after services,
which detracts from the desire to go to services. When exposed to a
strong whiff of cologne, they may immediately get very sick, requiring
them to leave the service. They don't feel free to attend socials or
visit other congregations during travels. They have to explain to people
why they can't stand or sit close to them. They often avoid or have to
leave restaurants and stores. However, in some public places, high
ceilings, spaciousness and good ventilation reduce the problem.
How people are affected by colognes does not remain constant. Standard
medical advice is for people to avoid putting additional strains on
their immune systems during their allergy seasons, or else their
symptoms will be magnified. In an article on "Seasonal Allergies," the
1998 New York Public Library Desk Reference states, "Don't smoke or wear
cologne, and avoid others who do." The body can cope with only so many
"enemies" at any one time.
People's sensitivities often become increasingly worse. The more they
are exposed to colognes and chemicals, the more their immune systems
become exhausted.
What can members with MCS do? (Quit breathing is not an option.) They
move to another part of the church hall to get away from cologne
concentrations. Some have worn masks. Some have hauled portable air
purifiers to services or even worn little air cleaners around their
necks that blow clean air toward the face.
What Can We Do?
Most members and Church leaders have been very sympathetic to those with
such sensitivities. Some congregations and Feast sites have provided a
"fragrance-free room (FFR)," "environmental room" or "clean room." This
accommodation is much appreciated by those needing it. However, even if
an extra room is available and affordable, it is not an ideal solution.
It often is difficult to keep a room fragrance-free, and those with MCS
desire to be among the brethren, fellowship and serve as much as anyone
else.
One of the saddest experiences for those with MCS is when other people
(including some Church members) react skeptically and unsympathetically,
and view them as weird or crybabies who like to exaggerate problems and
complain. They may think "it's all in their heads." This adds insult to
injury.
Negative impressions of those with MCS can quickly be made worse if the
sufferers lose their cool and are impatient, discourteous, demanding or
resentful. But let's be patient and big-minded and remember it is hard
to be in the best emotional state when one feels bad, is panicking over
getting sick or has suffered for years with MCS.
We must all strive wholeheartedly not to let any issue become divisive.
The goal of everyone should be to patiently work together for mutual
respect and better understanding, not only of the chemical and
biological factors, but also of the needs and viewpoints of others.
Many chemically "handicapped" people would rather suffer silently than
reveal their suffering, for several reasons: kind consideration toward
others in not wanting to restrict anyone's pleasure in wearing cologne,
not wanting anyone to feel uncomfortable in their presence, fear of
being thought weird, fear of less fellowship and fear of alienating
close relationships (friends avoiding them rather than discontinuing
wearing cologne). Because some chemically-sensitive members and elders
have kept quiet about their sensitivities to colognes, the extent of the
problem is underreported in the Church.
Let's be sure to pray for healing for those with MCS and also think
about what else we can do. We are to be our "brother's keeper."
The apostle Paul pointed out that it is easy for people with differing
viewpoints, experiences and weaknesses to "judge" and "despise" one
another rather than "receive" and "edify" each other and "pursue peace"
(Romans 14). But he said he would gladly give up meat or wine—in fact
"anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak"
(Romans 14:21; 1 Corinthians 8:13). "And if one member suffers, all the
members suffer with it" (1 Corinthians 12:26).
This is not a suggestion for making rules or "banning" cologne from
church activities. The world has millions of laws because people don't
love one another. By comparison, God has only a few laws, and those can
all be "summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor
as yourself'" (Romans 13:9). But each of us can ask himself this
question: "If I was highly sensitive to colognes, what action would I
appreciate for others to take?"
One congregation with members who had MCS included the following
announcement in its weekly bulletin:
"Please take note: There are a few members in the congregation that are
severely allergic to the smell of most colognes, perfumes, aftershave
lotions and certain other scented products. Their ability to attend
services and fellowship depends on our abstinence from wearing these
scented products. If you have worn a fragrance today, please refrain
from going into the Fragrance-Free Room."
Most members in that congregation willingly gave up wearing colognes to
services once they understood the reasons for doing so. When someone
forgot and wore cologne, or a new person or visitor came in wearing
cologne, the chemically-sensitive members moved to another part of the
room. If the fragrances pervaded the room, creating a high concentration
in the air, those with the sensitivities had to retreat to the
fragrance-free room. But most of the time those with MCS were able to
mix with the other members and fellowship.
The abundant information available on this subject should cause us to
consider the following: That we pursue further and ongoing education on
this subject. That we try our best to consider everyone with any
handicap or sensitivity. That we consider refraining from wearing
colognes at gatherings where others are directly affected.
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ....
Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to
those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:2, 10).
To pursue further understanding of these subjects, a good place to start
is Victor Kubik's Web site. Go to
www.kubik.org and click
on "Environmental Illnesses." Articles include: The Bible and colognes,
the marvelous sense of smell, interview with Dr. Jay S. Gartner,
chemicals around us and in us, multiple chemical sensitivity, members of
UCGIA with MCS and their experiences, our immune systems, accommodating
the handicapped and a holistic approach to good health. UN
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