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Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) can be terrifying. For seemingly no reason, your skin flushes, heart races, blood pressure drops, your bod feels like it's burning, and breathing gets difficult. Pain and burning ramps up as your digestive tract starts to cramp. you may feel like you have an intense UTI. These reactions can range from mild to severe to life threatening. Sometimes you can identify the triggers but othertimes it is random. Talk about fear and panic, never knowing when a reaction will hit.
After working with many MCAS patients over the years, I find that you can narrow down your triggers and avoid them. But if you never seek the root cause (#rootcausemedicine), then you will begin living life on the run, trying to constantly avoid your triggers. This is no way to live your existance. Doing this over and over with clients and patients, I have seen 3 major root causes of Mast Cell Disorder.
1) Mold
When the body encounters mold and mold toxins, the immune system tries to clear them with mast cells, histamine, and a Th2 response. But if the exposure is persistent, for instance if you live in mold, then some people will get stuck in this Th2 response and have frequent mast cell activation that begins to affect other triggers.
Another name for mold illness is CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) and that pretty well explains MCAS.
Many of my clients/patients find that when they get out of a moldy environment, some of their mast cell symptoms immediately decrease and improve. But this also requires further detoxifcation and clearance.
2) Parasites
Parasites, especially intestinal parasites, also trigger the Th2 immune response, activating mast cells. But if it can't fully eradicate these critters, then it becomes a looping response. I would say 80-90% of my mast cell cases have
parasites. It's gross to think about (and sometimes grosser to see them in the toilet) but true.
Many anti-parasitic herbs can trigger histamine as well, so go slow and low until you know how you will respond.
3) Bartonella
Bartonella is a Lyme co-infection, meaning it's a bacteria that often shows up with Borrelia and other infections. It's often associated with cats, dogs, and fleas. Symptoms can vary but often mimic MCAS or histamine intolerance because it is triggering a strong response by that part of the immune system.
With this infection you need to be very strategic and also check for other Lyme-associated infections.
Bonus Cause #1) Genetics
Some folks will have Primary Mastocytosis, w
here the body produces excess mast cells and therefore are easier to trigger. These cases will usually have had symptoms of some sore their whole life. Not to be discouraged though as you ca
n optimize the gut and stabilize the mast cells to lead a healthy life!
Bonus Contributor #1) Trauma, Stress, and CPTSD
100% of all of my MCAS cases have had either high levels of toxic stress, trauma, or complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The neurological system is closely related with mast cells and the body's stress response will trigger a mast cell release. Not only that, but histamine is one of the major chemicals that are dumped during fight or flight. Hence why people turn red. It is vital that all people dealing with MCAS address these issues early and often. THIS DOES NOT MEAN IT IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD, it just means there is a neurological componennt that must be accounted for.
Are you dealing with MCAS or know someone who is? Feel free to reach out with questions or ask for help!
*Not intended to treat, diagnose, or cure medical illness. Informational purposes only.