When I was 25, I started getting sick. Really sick. Every day, I felt like I was dying. I started getting escalating symptoms in every system of my body. Soon, I was nearly bed ridden, barely had the energy to walk a block, could only tolerate about 10 different foods, could hardly go into public because of everything I reacted to, and was riddled with a constant state of anxiety and dread.
Medical professionals had failed me. With nothing left to try, I decided the only thing left was to completely change my life to try to heal. It was the best decision I have ever made and it completely transformed me.
The road bas been long, winding, and hard, but today I am symptom free and living in a healthier body and calmer mind than I ever thought was possible for me. I am here to tell you that healing from even debilitating chronic illness is possible. You can live a life without constant worry, careful planning, or walking on eggshells around your body.
After my experience of profound transformation in mind and body, it has become my passion to help others walk their own path. I want to help empower you to take your health into your own hands and create the life that is your birth right. There are answers. You don’t have to keep wondering.
Let’s first talk about what MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) is…
Histamines are one compounds that are released when mast cells degranulate. Mast cells are a type of immune cell that exist to protect us from toxins. They are considered “sentinel cells”, meaning they sit just under the surface epithelial layer of the body (under the skin, in the gut lining, in the lung tissue, around every organ, etc.) and signal the immune system when it perceives an “invader” (Dudeck et. al.). These can be from various types of bacteria, parasites, and molds, but also heavy metals and pesticides. Through complex mechanisms, they trap and eliminate bacteria and other microbes (Möllerherm, Helene et al.) (Giannetti, Arianna et al.).
How bad did it get for me?
My Symptom List When I Was at My Worst:
- Hives
- Shortness of breath, sensation of “air thirst”
- Swollen/red/blotchy skin
- Constant generalized anxiety
- Highly sensitive, painful skin
- Fatigue
- Hormonal acne along my jaw
- Excess mucus production
- Extreme pain during menstruation
- Chronic constipation
- Very long menstrual cycles, 35-40 days
- Severe bloating (methane dominant SIBO)
- Hot flashes, especially during the night
- Acid reflux
- Chronic sinus congestion
- Brain fog
- Severe seasonal allergies
- Reactive hypoglycemic episodes
- Itchy and watery eyes
- Dizzy and lightheaded if I stood too long
- Severe headaches
- Chronically low blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Severe lactose intolerance
- Tinnitus
- Swollen lips after eating
- Throat tightening after eating
- A “safe” food list of about 10 foods
- Other increasingly severe food intolerances
- Random 24 hour fevers
- Impending sense of doom or dread, which felt like I was dying
- A “whooshing” sound and sensation in my head
- Easily emotionally overwhelmed, crying frequently
- Severe reactions to chemical scents and fragrances
- Tachycardia and heart palpitations, especially when trying to fall asleep
Many of these are incredibly common with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, and are a part of the current standard of diagnostic criteria according to Weiler, Catherine R et al. According to this criteria, the symptoms have to be occurring in at least two organ symptoms, be associated with release of histamine, tryptase, or other related chemicals in the cell, and be recurrent- not from a one-off allergic reaction, but to be occurring on a regular basis with no other viable explanation.
Unfortunately, whether or not you manage to get a diagnosis, our medical system and so called “specialists” are totally unequipped to tell you WHY you developed the condition (even if you have a genetic predisposition- some event had to turn this gene on!) I was told that “some people just develop this” and “we don’t know why”. I was not going to accept this non explanation. I set out on my own to understand the root causes. What I found was clearly documented in the research- but the doctors I had tried to seek help with didn’t seem to know! Of course, not everyone who is exposed to these stressors develops Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, but through my research I found that there were three major causes of mast cell activation and their associated disorders. I identified all three in my life leading up to the development of this condition.
- Exposure to heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins. Lead acetate (the most common exposure to lead from old paint), which has been shown to increase hypersensitivity of mast cells. Mercury exposure has also been shown to damage cells in the lymphatic system and gut lining and lead to upregulation of mast cells. Similar findings have been repeated for cadmium, arsenic, and chromium. Glyphosate, nitrogen based pesticides as well as the common pesticide for corn production Atrazine have also been shown to trigger mast cell degranulation. Lastly, mycotoxins from toxic molds have been documented to activate mast cells. These are considered exotoxins, coming from outside the body (Laschi-Loquerie, A et al.) (Kempuraj, Duraisamy et al.) (Teshima, Reiko et al.) (ThankGod Eze, Chukwuebuka et al.) (Thueson, Lindsay E et al).
- Chronic infections from bacteria, parasites, or other pathogenic microbes. Mast cells are frequently activated from an over growth of gram negative bacteria, for example the Camplobacter, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, E. Coli and others that have been associated with the development of histamine and mast cell conditions (Matsuguchi, T.). Mast cells modulate the inflammatory response of the immune system when they encounter the toxins secreted by these bacteria (Metz, Martin et al.). If we address the overgrowth, the behavior of the mast cells calms down naturally.
- Nervous system dysregulation, stress and trauma. Anything that provokes a “danger cue” from the nervous system could trigger mast cell activation. Stimuli as diverse as vibration, pressure, heat, cold, and emotional stress can fall into this category. Mast cells and nearby neurons that pick up on sensory stimuli form “neuroimmune” clusters that control direct communication between the nervous system and immune system. Corticotropin-releasing-hormone, which is excreted from the hypothalamus when stressful events are perceived, is recognized by mast cells and can trigger their degranulation (Yu, Yingxin et al.).
With my severe sensitivity, I had to go very slow and gentle with my body. There was not a magic pill. This includes a magic diet, supplement, or single test that gave me all the right answers. My sensitivities were complex and multi layered over time. I had to tease apart the threats, at the pace my body was ready for. The real “magic” happened week by week, month by month, in the slow, consistent, implementation of the practices that would eventually become my Six Support Protocols. These are the most effective practices I’ve found, through my own healing and now working with hundreds of clients who have histamine and mast cell issues. They are designed to address all three of the root causes listed above, in an order and pacing appropriate for the most highly sensitive people. Your body is sensitive for a reason: most of us have been over run and exhausted by toxins, infections and traumas, and we need to honor this.
Six Support Protocols to Rebuild Your Histamine Response and Find Immune Resilience:
Protocol #2 – Nutrition
The nutrients we consume on a daily basis provide the raw material for every cell in our body. Ensuring the proper intake of vitamins, minerals and amino acids is an essential practice to promote your healing. Additionally, nutrition is the most powerful modulator of our MICROBIOME, or the balance of microbes that reside inside our bodies. Rebuilding the microbiome through specific nutritional practices is a necessary aspect of this protocol.
Protocol #1 – Befriending
A hostile relationship with your own symptoms creates an environment in which healing cannot occur as effectively. Befriending your symptoms is a necessary first step to reversing them. This may seem like a tall order when you want nothing more than to get “rid” of your symptoms and find an end to your suffering once and for all. But the reality is: our symptoms are our body’s best way to speak to us. If our body feels over whelmed, it will tell us through the sensations we feel day to day in mind, body and spirit. Learning to work with your symptoms, and not suppress, override or discard them, is the true path to healing. Your body will simply give you stronger and stronger messages if you are not listening fully.
Practices to befriend your body:
Learning to notice your symptoms in a neutral mindset, using Mindfulness skills
Grounding into your body, instead of trying to distract or suppress the sensations of your body.
Writing letters or journal entries to your body, practicing Compassion and Gratitude for the ways it is trying to communicate with you and help you.
Protocol #2 – Nutrition
Pathogens and opportunistic microbes are modulated by the health of our immune system. Our immune system, in turn, is kept in balance by the bacteria living in the Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissue in the digestive tract. If we have a strong and balanced immune system, our body can more easily fight off pathogens and keep opportunistic microbes like parasites and yeasts in check. Because the bacteria living in our digestive tract eat what we eat, we can modulate their populations easily through nutrition and herbs.
I use the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, combined at least initially with a low histamine approach to keep symptoms stable. This is an effective approach because it eliminates all complex carbohydrates from the diet, which when not broken down and absorbed properly in the digestive tract, can easily feed opportunistic microbes, in particular gram negative and other bacteria listed above that can contribute to mast cell disorders. By not feeding these microbes, the digestive tract has a chance to repair and heal inflammation, leading to a stronger and more balanced immune system.
Practices to address nutrition:
Learn low histamine dietary parameters
Implement a low histamine version of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet
Continue until histamine and other food intolerances begin to reverse
Add in healing and nutrient dense foods that were potentially not tolerated before, such as meat stocks, fermented foods, organ meats, and more.
Protocol #3 – Sleep
Your sleep wake cycle tells your body what it is supposed to do when. This is primarily regulated by our rhythmic exposure to light and darkness through the day and night. Lack of sunlight exposure during the day and artificial light exposure at night disrupts this rhythm and causes dysfunction at the mitochondrial level. Our body being in correct rhythm with light and dark, sleep and wake fulness, provides the framework for how optimally your body is functioning in any given moment. Aligning your body to a proper circadian rhythm is a foundation to regaining your health!
Practices to address sleep:
Wake up and go to bed at the same times every day
Be exposed to natural light at least three times a day (ideally first thing in the morning, during the middle of the day to activate Vitamin D synthesis, and towards the end of the day)
Avoid blue light and bright overhead nights at night. Use orange or red tinted, dim lights only at night and avoid screens.
Protocol #4 – Detoxification
Toxicity is another major root cause of these conditions. We all have natural mechanisms in the body to detoxify anything unhealthy or dangerous we come into contact with, but there is a point of overload for everyone. When our natural detoxification pathways are overloaded, excess toxins are stored in tissues all over the body. Symptoms of chronic illness are the result. Many people who develop serious chronic illnesses have a genetic predisposition for slower detoxification in the liver. This means you are more likely to accumulate excess toxins such as pesticides, heavy metals and mycotoxins that an average person. Learning how to live a non toxic lifestyle and implementing daily practices supportive of your detox organs is necessary and often overlooked.
Practices to address detoxification:
Implement a non toxic lifestyle by auditing hygiene products, cleaning products, cook ware, filtering your drinking and bathing water, installing an air filter, and more
Engage in daily detox supportive practices such as lymphatic massage, castor oil packs, epsom salt baths, and more
Protocol #5 – Movement
Movement is a nutrient. We respond to the movement we engage in every day on a cellular level. Movement includes proper structural alignment, breathing techniques, and addressing chronic tension patterns in the body. Poor muscle tone in our primary muscle groups leads to a hunched posture. This impinges on the vagus nerve, which modulates our gut brain connection, as well as collapses the diaphragm and leads to reduced oxygenation of our tissues. Simple movement practices should therefore be implemented to improve our breathing, vagal tone, functional movement patterns that are less stressful on our joints, and move our lymphatic fluid.
Practice to implement movement:
Daily stretching and mobility work
Daily posture check ins when sitting or standing
Diaphragmatic breathwork (3D breathing)
Learning to strengthen the glutes, core and back muscles
Protocol #6 – Mindset
The brains of people with chronic illness are wired to perceive danger. It is not a coincidence that people with a history of childhood trauma and stressful lifestyles have a significant higher risk of developing autoimmune and other conditions later in life. If the body is focused on avoiding danger, it puts all healing and repairing mechanisms on hold. Convincing your brain that you are safe, and ready to be healing, healthy and thriving is just as important as the food you eat, and the quality of your sleep. Does your brain believe you are ready to be healthy now? Shifting your mindset means engaging in daily practices to notice thoughts and behaviors that orient you to danger, pessimism, and negativity, and intentionally engaging in positive, uplifting, and hope cultivating exercises. Sometimes, deeper emotional blockages from unresolved traumas must be addressed directly on the level of the subconscious brain.
Practices to improve mindset:
Mindfulness practice to build awareness of habitual thought and behavior patterns
Compassion and gratitude practice to increase positive feelings in the body
Addressing stuck trauma and tension patterns through TRE (Trauma Releasing Exercises)
Using Parts Work to address emotional blocks in the subconscious brain
All of these Six Support Protocols are what I implemented to make my recovery, and are addressed extensively in our coaching program Immune Resilience. I promise you, hope is within reach. If you are ready to learn more about our fully comprehensive program, click on this link: Immune Resilience, Learn More
Citations:
Dudeck, Anne, et al. “Mast cells as protectors of health.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 144, no. 4, Oct. 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2018.10.054.
Giannetti, Arianna et al. “Mast Cell Activation Disorders.” Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) vol. 57,2 124. 30 Jan. 2021, doi:10.3390/medicina57020124
Matsuguchi, T. “Mast cells as critical effectors of host immune defense against Gram-negative bacteria.” Current medicinal chemistry vol. 19,10 (2012): 1432-42. doi:10.2174/092986712799828319
Metz, Martin et al. “Mast cells determine the magnitude of bacterial toxin-induced skin inflammation.” Experimental dermatology vol. 18,2 (2009): 160-6. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0625.2008.00778.x
Möllerherm, Helene et al. “Antimicrobial Activity of Mast Cells: Role and Relevance of Extracellular DNA Traps.” Frontiers in immunology vol. 7 265. 18 Jul. 2016, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2016.00265
Weiler, Catherine R et al. “AAAAI Mast Cell Disorders Committee Work Group Report: Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) diagnosis and management.” The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology vol. 144,4 (2019): 883-896. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.08.023
Yu, Yingxin et al. “Non-IgE mediated mast cell activation.” European journal of pharmacology vol. 778 (2016): 33-43. doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.07.017
