LETTER TO THE EDITOR: MSG Headaches

Dear Karima,

I suffer from debilitating headaches caused by MSG. No matter how hard I try to avoid it - it continues to surprise me and pop up too often for my taste. Please help! How can I tell if a food has MSG and how can I stop these headaches? - KF

Dear KF -

I know what you mean! I also have a problem with MSG. In fact, I could be hired as a MSG tester. Almost immediately upon eating anything with MSG I get headaches and am debilitated in some way - either I am up all night or I have to go to sleep right away. I feel sick in general and it is just awful. I will eat out sometimes and have this reaction and then think - that place does not have MSG! How can it! With all the hype about Chinese MSG how can Pizza Hut have MSG in their Pizza and nobody says anything about it????? Anyway, I already have my own list of places around town that I can't eat at because of their MSG usage but you are right - it is hard to completely avoid.

One thing I do to help "flush it out" after it happens is I make a tea of Nettles, Red Rasberry, Alfalafa and Peppermint. Half of the tea is nettles which flushes the MSG out of your body. The other herbs help you regain your balance and energy and the peppermint also helps with the headaches. You can order these herbs anywhere online. You should use them in loose herb form and make a tea for best effect.

Hope this helps.

Blessings & Health,
Karima