Allergic to mint?? Can anyone help? - Allergies Message Board

jesska · 08-14-2005, 10:39 AM

I think I might be allergic to mint, but I don't know. I'm just kinda confused!

Especially wintergreen. If I chew wintergreen gum or eat a mint, I get a horrible headache, feel kinda sick, and I have a wintergreen taste in my mouth and nose for a really long time. It's starting to be that way with peppermint and sperimint now. And once in pre-school, I ate a cupcake with peppermint sprinkle (weird, I know?) and ended up passing out and throwing up all over myself at recess. But I've been fine with peppermint until recently.

I don't know what the deal is? I don't know if I could be allergic to it or what. If I was, I would think I would have trouble breathing or break out in a rash or something more than just a headache?
Is anyone here allergic to mint or have any idea what could be wrong with me??

-Jessica

rogertmartin1 · 10-01-2005, 03:37 PM

As an allgery sufferer for over 40 years & having been to "expert" doctors all over the USA, I can assure you that if you have bad reations to mint, you are likely allergic to it AND to other things as well. In case you don't know it, your allergic reations occur when your histamine levels increase. Exposure to an allergen (such as dust or mold spores in the air) combined with other allergens is typically what raises the level to where our bodies react. In other words, find out what you are allergic to by taking the standard allergy tests offered by most Allergists. Once you know what's on your list, you'll know what to avoid. Unfortunately when it comes to foods, it is also common for us to crave the things we may enjoy the most. If there is any good news, I have found that I can eat or expose myself to my allergens as long as I do it in moderation and not combination. Meaning, that if you are allergic to mint as I am, cheese (a form of mold) & chocolate (one of my favorites), just don't eat them all on the same day and cut down on the portions.