Practical Strategies for Managing MCAS

This post provides some practical tips for managing MCAS — specifically to address stress as a trigger for MCAS. Stress, toxins, and infections are the three underlying triggers for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). This post covers treatments that are helpful for vagus nerve injury and limbic system dysfunction, which fall under the category of “stress.” So how do you manage “stress”? Read to find out!

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What is MCAS?

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. MCAS is serious and disabling and people with MCAS experience often significant and debilitating symptoms daily, including anaphylaxis, which can be fatal.

MCAS is often found in combination with other chronic conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

Frequently healthcare providers do not know about MCAS, and the tests for MCAS are problematic because they are not uniformly reliable. MCAS can be difficult to manage. Treatments include blocking mast cell mediators with anti-histamines and mast cell stabilizers, as well as avoiding triggers.

Triggers for MCAS

Stress, toxins, and infection all cause mast cells to dump their mediators, which brings inflammation to the affected body parts, further activating the mast cells. At the same time, your organ systems react to the increase in mast cell activity, causing more symptomatology, and furthering the cycle. The techniques and treatments listed below are also helpful for addressing infection and toxins indirectly.

Vagus nerve health for managing MCAS

Injury to the vagus nerve is a major trigger for MCAS which I discuss in this blog post. Vagus nerve treatments are linked there.

Some additional ways to calm the vagus nerve are:

• Steven Porgis’ Safe and Sound Protocol – you can use an app or work with a therapist.
• FSM – see below
• BrainTap – BrainTap uses a proprietary headset that emits sounds and lights to quiet the autonomic nervous system. It can also be used for improving sleep. If you use this program you will want to make sure to ask for the modules that address the autonomic nervous system.

Limbic system health for managing MCAS

Limbic system dysfunction is another big trigger of MCAS. The limbic system is the part of the brain that monitors for safety and controls emotion and sensitivity. Limbic system dysfunction contributes to anxiety, depression, OCD, and increased sensitivities. These sensitivities — from light, and touch, to foods, and environmental triggers — are common with MCAS patients. So you can see how having your limbic system regulated is part of the overall MCAS solution.

Limbic system treatments

Some limbic system treatments are:

• DNRS – a limbic system retraining program designed by Annie Hopper
• The Gupta Program method of amygdala retraining
• And there are other similar programs, such as the Nervous System Reboot offered by Beth O’Hara of MastCell360.

Brain plasticity

These treatments are helpful for retraining the brain based on the notion of neural plasticity. You can actually change the way your brain functions by developing new ways of thinking about stressful triggers, and these techniques teach you how to do that.

I have personally tried DNRS but found it to be too rigid a program for my particular wiring. What has helped my limbic system health the most is having a daily forgiveness practice to rewire my brain toward greater health.

Go slow

If you are particularly sensitive you may not be able to follow these programs as they are designed but to start slower, and follow a regimen with fewer repetitions.

Do you know your typical symptom progression?

Knowing your symptom progression in a flare is the key to developing your own rescue plan. In this post, I discuss symptom progressions and ways you can figure out your own symptom progression. Once you know what typically happens in your symptom flares you can put together a rescue plan to address those symptoms.

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Take a multi-pronged approach

MCAS practitioners will tell you that the more ways you can gently address vagal and limbic system dysfunction at once, the better. However, because MCAS patients are so sensitive, you will need to start slow, and often adjust the program(s) to suit your particular sensitivities.

Tools for vagal and limbic system healing

Other ways to approach the “stress” trigger for MCAS and address vagus nerve injury and limbic system dysfunction are:

Frequency Specific Microcurrent

Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) – FSM uses a tiny amount of electricity that runs through the body via electrodes or paddles for detox, to address specific infections. FSM can be used for vagal health, to calm MCAS, to aid sleep, and for injury to the body in general. I have used FSM for several years and have found it to be a wonderful adjunct therapy while addressing underlying infections and other triggers.

I used FSM for several years and literally wore my unit out — to sleep better, heal vagus nerve injury, detox, and treat specific infections. Unfortunately, I had MCAS to the electrodes, and quickly tired of dealing with the magnetic converter cords that were constantly becoming tangled. Plus the “mode” button wore out making it unusable.

EFT

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is another amazingly easy and effective technique for calming the limbic system. I have used EFT for over ten years. You can find a description of the basic technique in the link above, and you can find many YouTube videos online that show it in action. In an acute situation, you can also simply tap on one of the acupressure points, and it is helpful to reset your mind.

CST

Cranio Sacral Therapy (CST) – There are two types of cranial sacral therapy: Osteopathic therapy, which is performed by a doctor of osteopathy, and Cranio Sacral Therapy (CST), which you can receive from massage therapists and chiropractors. Generally, the osteopathic variety is considered more effective for MCAS, but CST is also quite helpful and may be your only option depending on what is available in your area. This directory provides resources to find CST near you. Either way, the techniques are helpful to calm the nervous system.

I will address toxins in this post and infections in this post.

What helps you manage your MCAS?

I’d love to hear your feedback on this post below!