Carrie The Canary
*Edited image of original art by Robert Deyber
Ever heard the story behind the phrase, “canary in a coal mine”? Many of you with environmental or chemical sensitivities probably know it all too well. But just in case you’re unfamiliar…
According to the Smithsonian the mining tradition took place from 1911 to 1986. These little birds were sent into coal mines ahead of time to detect carbon monoxide and other toxic gases before those gases could hurt humans. Canaries are good early detectors of carbon monoxide because they’re vulnerable to airborne poisons. If the birds became ill or died, miners knew to evacuate. Fortunately, this practice was eventually found inhumane and an “electronic nose” has taken their place.
Much like those useful little birds, many of us with “mystery illnesses” have this exceptional ability to detect harmful toxins before our friends and family. I like to think of this as my superpower :)
Toxins - whether from our food we eat or the chemicals in the air we breath or the products we put on our bodies - are harmful to some degree to everyone. Just because someone doesn’t experience an overt reaction doesn’t mean their body isn’t having to work overtime to compensate or heal the damage incurred from exposure.
Unfortunately, we now live in a culture where environmental illnesses affect millions of Americans. Did you know that 1 in 13 children now has a life-threatening food allergy (1), 1 in 68 has autism spectrum disorder (2), and the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in children is considered an “emerging epidemic”? There’s plenty of debate about the causes of these illnesses, but there’s no doubt that toxins in our food supply and environment play a significant role.
Just because someone doesn’t experience an overt reaction doesn’t mean their body isn’t having to work overtime to compensate or heal the damage incurred from exposure.
While I’ve come to understand in the course of my healing journey that I cannot hide from the environment and living inside a toxin-free bubble isn’t the ideal solution, I can find a healthy balance. For me, that means eating well as much as I can (and mindfully enjoying the nourishing meals I put in my mouth), using safe cleaning supplies in my home, utilizing and advocating safer skincare, and maintaining a daily mindfulness practice that gives my body the boost it needs to do what it wants to do naturally - HEAL ITSELF!
1 https://www.foodallergy.org/facts-and-stats
2 https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/prevalence
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