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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

In broad terms this refers to an unusually severe sensitivity or allergy-like reaction to many different kinds of pollutants including solvents, VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds), perfumes, petrol, diesel, smoke, and other chemicals in general. It encompasses problems with regard to pollen, house dust mites, pet fur and dander.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), unlike true allergies (where the underlying mechanisms of the problem are relatively well understood and widely accepted), is generally regarded as idiopathic (meaning that it has no known mechanism of causation and the processes are not fully understood).

The problem here is made more difficult still, by the variable nature of MCS from one person to the next. This often makes treatment with conventional medicine & practices ineffective or inappropriate. For most sufferers of MCS, the avoidance of pollutants/toxicants is the key.

What Can be said about defining Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

In order to help one decide whether they truly have MCS or another allergy-related illness, the following criteria should be considered:-

The person exhibits problems, often an allergy-like reaction, to both large and extremely low levels of irritants/toxicants/triggers (other individuals present at the same time may be unable to detect anything at all).
The problem is ongoing, ie. chronic, and not a "one-off" event.
The same symptoms are reproducible with repeated exposure to the same triggers.
The person is affected by many different triggers.
The person improves when triggers are absent.

The Symptoms of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

The possible list of symptoms of MCS is almost endless and can vary greatly from one person to the next. Also worthy of mention here is the fact that there is no sharp demarcation between the symptoms of MCS and those of ME/CFS/CFIDS/PVFS . However, most sufferers of MCS complain of at least several of the following:

Burning, stinging eyes
Wheezing/breathlessness
Nausea
Extreme fatigue/lethargy
Headache/migraine
Vertigo/dizziness
Poor memory & concentration
Runny nose (rhinitis)
Sore throat, cough
Sinus problems
Skin rashes and/or itching skin
Sensitivity to light & noise
Sleeping problems
Digestive upset
Muscle & joint pain

Washington State University has done much research into MCS. The above information is credited to Martin L. Pall, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Sciences. He has come to the conclusion that there is a common causal mechanism for CFS , Fibromyalgia and MCS and other health disorders. This confirms the research of many individuals and the commonality of even more diseases, such as MS and autoimmune disorders in general.

Research into these common and wide ranging disorders suggest that, at least in part, a disturbed biochemistry relating to the NO/ONOO cycle is implicated. This is primarily a mitochondrial problem. Mitochondrial malfunction is at the heart of many disorder these days . The Mitochondria are responsible for ensuring complete cell respiration and also releasing energy from the cells via the ATP cycle. This in turn will effect the bodies energy and ability of the organs and immune system to function and detoxify properly.

The reasons for impairment of Mitochondrial function are varied. They include exposure to pesticides and other toxins, mercury and other heavy metals, damage by viruses and even possibly nutritional deficiencies such as mineral or trace element deficiency.

Research with various disorders has found, perhaps not urprisingly, that aspects of modern life such as mercury and pesticide contamination as well as toxins added to (or described as) food, along with poor soil mineralisation, are implicated.

It is a mistake to think that thousands of linked health disorders, each with a unique name, require thousands of different treatments. Certain populations throughout history have been virtually free from chronic disease, so it's fundamental things that preserve the health and there are simple basic reasons for deterioration of an individuals or a populations health.

It is perhaps not surprising that MCS, ME, CFS and other degenerative diseases of the nervous system have common causes, and therefore common treatments.

So, in summary, it is therefore the following issues that need to be addressed:-

Mitochondrial malfunction
Heavy metal and pesticide toxicity
Chronic infection (known or unknown)

Once these are resolved with simple natural treatments, the bodies ability to detoxify generally is enhanced and natural healing follows.

MCS can be viewed as a chronic underlying underfunctioning of cell respiration and accumulated toxicity, usually with chronic infections such as Candida that render the immune systemon hyperactive. By eliminating the infection(s), the toxicity and restoring mitochondrial function one has the best possible chance of a proper long term recovery.

Selecting the order of treatment and with experimentation of the rate at which any person can introduce each successive remedy, with a knowledge of what is being worked on with each remedy, offers a better approach than just giving an extensive list of many possible nutrients/remedies to take.

The following further reading is essential, not optional, to the understanding of this problem.

Infections and the Immune System

Heavy Metal Removal

we do not have a specific article about mitochondrial malfucnction, however the article on Zell Immunocomplex is pertinent in this regard.

A final note by Martin L. Pall, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Sciences, WashingtonState University

One important caution: To be effective, these various treatments require, in my view, that individuals avoid stressors that may be expected to up-regulate NO/ONOO- cycle biochemistry. Those include:

Chemical exposure in MCS patients
Food antigens in those who have developed food allergies
Excito toxins such as MSG and aspartame that may be expected to increase NMDA activity
Excessive exercise leading to post-exertional malaise in CFS patients
Psychological stress, especially in PTSD patients

Removal of Blocks to Health, Healing and Wellness

We have defined the major blocks to health improvement which should be considered the number one priority for resolution before one goes on to a more specific healing regimen such as that detailed in the programme above. By removing these blocks one will feel stronger and more prepared for a specific programme and will achieve far greater success with it. Please read this essential article here

The Autoimmune Protocol

Not all of the remedies listed here will neccessarily be needed. We strive to bring you the most effective remedies to resolve your health problems in the simplest supplemental regime possible. We aim to treat the actual root causes of health problems holistically rather than supply remedies that will give temporary or partial relief from only the symptoms. This has been our mission since the founding of Regenerative Nutrition in 1994. As we uncover more fundamental truths about the causes, and therefore the relief, of diseases and health problems we update and revise our product range and recommendations.

Above, we detail targeted remedy recommendations for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, but we further suggest that you view the autoimune protocol article and supplement pages by clicking here

To achieve overall good health and long term resolution of this health problem the remedies selected here should be combined with the autoimmune protocol remedies for the best results.

It may well be that there is some overlap and that many of the remedies in the autoimmune protocol are listed here also.

If you need any assistance in selecting the most suitable remedies, or have any questions, please Contact Us

Supplements for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

The supplements recommended for the treatment of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity are listed below. Not all will necessarily be discussed in the article, as some may have been added after the article was posted. If a listed supplement is not mentioned within the article, or you wish to know more about any of the listed supplements, you can find out more information by clicking on that supplement below. You can also now add to your basket directly from this page.