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THE YEAST HYPOTHESIS: Practical Techniques - By John Kender
My guess at this point is that some pullers are sensitive, as are a small fraction of the population, to certain hydroxy fatty acids and/or long-chain alkanols (such as isostearyl alcohol or possibly arachidonoylethanolamine), which are produced by the skin yeast Malassezia. If so, then pulling can be managed in many ways: by inhibiting the yeast, by disabling the enzymes, or by avoiding the irritants their enzymes produce. Thus, here is a grand summary of things that might be helpful for pulling. In general, this list is based on the reported experience of many pullers, but items marked "possibly" have been reported infrequently. Please note that some things appear in more than one category; in general, those things tend to have a more pronounced effect. [EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Basically, it's a nutritional approach. First, try not eating sugar, caffeine, and chocolate. Have some dry red wine instead. These should have an effect in about two or three days. Then, avoid peanuts, beans, egg yolks, and tuna. These should have an effect in about 10 days. Take choline bitartrate or magnesium gluconate. Keep a food diary to help you track your own particular triggers. Keep your hair and hands clean. Wash your lashes with baby shampoo, use hot compresses. Watch out for pet fur. Apply antifungals, Sea Breeze, or camphor in emergencies.] [Even shorter: Avoid sugar, caffeine, lecithin; take bitartrate.] 1) Minimizing yeasts via energy supply Avoid eating sugars, even natural ones as in: honey, molasses, raisins, dates, fruit juices; use pure fructose if necessary instead. Via resting stage signals Avoid drinking caffeine as in: coffee, cocoa, chocolate, soft drinks. Via nitrogen supply Avoid eating asparagine/aspartate, as in: coffee, cocoa, chocolate, cola; legumes; tomato seeds; possibly other seeds, nuts; possibly whole grains, whole grain flours; possibly aspartame (Nutrasweet). Avoid eating glutamine/glutamate, as in: MSG, soy sauce. Avoid eating nitrites, as in: possibly preserved meats. Via growth signals Avoid eating sterols as in: egg yolk; butterfat; legumes, especially peanuts, but also beans, alfalfa sprouts, licorice, soy products (including "vegetable oil"; use olive oil instead); yams; dates; organ meats; crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster); oily fish such as tuna, herring, sardines, salmon, mackerel; hair roots; possibly (for lash or brow pullers) vitamin D enriched milk products. Avoid eating lecithins as in: brazil nuts, chocolate, whole corn (including popcorn), egg yolk, oily fish, lecithin, margarine, peanuts, soy, wheat germ. Avoid increasing blood cortisol as in: stress; possibly grapefruit. Avoid increasing blood progesterone as in: PMS. Take supplements to increase liver clearance of blood sterols as in: magnesium and vitamin B complex. Counter ethanol-induced growth by eating: inositol. Via chemical attack Eat allicins as in: garlic, possibly onions. Eat alpha hydroxy acids as in: whole fruits (not juices) of apple, grape, orange/lemon/lime, pineapple; fermented foods of cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir, sour cream, or sauerkraut, or hard sausages. Eat bromelains/papains as in: pineapple, kiwi, gingerroot, papaya, figs, guava. Eat beta-glucanases as in: ripening bananas. Eat gamma-thionins and isothiocyanates as in: mustard, and possibly other mustard family vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, etc. Drink tannins as in: unsweetened tea, dry red wine. Take "fruit acid" supplements as in: choline bitartrate, magnesium gluconate, cream of tartar*. Via external (skin) environment Bleach, color, or relax the hair. Have long hot sudsy showers and shampoos, morning and dinnertime. Use non-pH-balanced antifungal shampoos like: Zincon. Use prescription antifungal shampoos like: Nizoral. Use a low pH rinse like: 2% boric + 2% acetic (eye wash + vinegar)***. Use high pH soaps like: castile, Cuticura; avoid Neutrogena. Apply antibiotic chemicals like: Cuticura and ZNP soap; possibly (for very short term use only) terpenes, as in: Listerine, Vick's Vap-O-Rub, tea tree oil, spirit of camphor. Apply antifungal chemicals like: Aloe vera gel; miconazole nitrate (Micatin) cream, possibly mixed with Polysporin cream; propylene glycol homemade lotion**. Apply tannins as in: witch hazel. Apply ultraviolet light, local heat, and ozone as through: possibly high frequency generation units ("violet ray" machines). Via internal (gut) environment Eat acidophilus as in: capsules, unsweetened "live" yogurt, kefir, possibly buttermilk, sauerkraut, or kimchi. Probably avoid antacids. Via yeast reservoir control Avoid close contact with furry pets. Wash hands before touching hair or eyes, especially after touching pets. Wash eyelids with baby shampoo. Via mite vector control 1) Use insecticidal shampoos like: Nix, Rid. 2) Minimizing yeast enzymes Via all above but also Via feeding signals Avoid taking medicines with ibuprofen. Via direct induction Avoid possibly drinking alcohol; avoid probably drinking gin. Via enzyme inhibition Eat possibly broccoli. Via chemical attack Use only olive oil in foods. Take gluconate supplements: preferably magnesium, but also ferrous, potassium, and/or zinc. Take tartarates: choline bitartrate, cream of tartar solution*. Apply gluconates as in: K-Y Jelly. Apply benzoyl peroxide. Via control of chemical reactions Apply ice cubes. Minimizing fatty alcohol exposure Via all above but also Via skin exposure Wick them up by applying solvents like: rubbing alcohol, witch hazel; (for very short term use only) Sea Breeze Sensitive Skin. Avoid applying fatty alcohols, especially "-yl" alcohols (cetearyl, cetostearyl, cetyl stearyl, stearyl; possibly cetyl) as in: conditioners, deodorants, hand and body lotions that contain them. Via ingestion Avoid eating fatty alcohols as in: hair roots. * "Cream of tartar sauce" recipe: 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar 1/2 teaspoon (one packet) fructose 1 cup of water Starts to work in about 3 hours, full effect by 8 hours. ** Propylene glycol recipe: 3 parts rubbing alcohol (which comes as 70% isopropyl alcohol, 30% water) 1 part propylene glycol (available from pharmacies, about $8/pint) Optionally, 1 part pure aloe vera gel (make sure it has no other ingredients) Apply twice a day with cotton ball. Stings but works quickly. *** Acetic-boric rinse: see below; note cautions. = = = = = ACETIC-BORIC RINSE Here is the acetic-boric rinse formula. 1) WARNING! Check with your doctor first! These are my experiences only, and are not medical advice. Boric acid can be dangerous; read the label for precautions. Don't use it if you have broken skin or may be pregnant. 2) To make it, I put 2 oz. of water in a cup, and add 1/2 teaspoon boric acid. The boric acid dissolves after being zapped in the microwave enough so that the water boils. I let it cool, then add 2 oz. of vinegar. Apple cider vinegar has a better smell than white vinegar, and rice vinegar probably has the least smell of all. This makes me 4 oz. of a 2% acetic acid plus 2% boric acid solution. I would increase or decrease quantities proportionately as needed to make more or less of it, but it does not appear that exact ratios are critical. 3) I apply it only to unbroken skin. (Although this does not apply to me, I won't use it at all if I thought I was pregnant.) I let it sit for about five minutes, then I usually rinse it off. 4) I do this once a day for a week, then stop; I found that sufficient. Based on its supposed action, I would guess if there was going to be any effect, it should be evident by then, and it should continue for some days thereafter. 5) If you find the rinse useful and your doctor has approved, check again with your doctor to determine how often it would be safe for you to use it. 6) Again, WARNING! Check with your doctor first! These are my experiences only, and are not medical advice. Boric acid can be dangerous; read the label for precautions. Don't use it if you have broken skin or may be pregnant.
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