The brain connection in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Electromagnetic Sensitivity. Part I – What is the cause of MCS & EMFS?
I believe that damage to the amagdala part of the brain is a cause of hyper-sensitivity to neurotoxic chemicals ( MCS). The amagdala is where the ‘stress response, flight fght or freeze’ originates. Abnormalities in this part of the brain also have been linked to Borderline Personality Disorder (which is a hyper-sensitive emotional response), depression and autism. Many people with autism suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and Electro-Magnetic Frequency Sensitivity (EMFS). Many astute and observant parents have observed the disturbance in an autistic child’s behavior in the presence of neurotoxic chemicals i.e. air fresheners, scented detergents and cleaning materials. Toxins could be the cause of these brain abnormalities.
The ‘stress response’ can be too easily set off in the people mentioned above. Neurotoxic chemicals and other chemicals that are perceived through the senses do set off the ‘fight, flight or freeze’ stress response as the body rightly detects them as a threat. This can make daily life a constant mine field of toxic chemical ‘predators’ for the sensitive.
In MCS there has been damage to the organs and nervous system caused by toxicity and and consequent or a coinciding inability of the body to process toxins. This means that by the time one is chemically sensitive there is already lots of stress to different systems in the body. It’s not all in our mind, but the brain and nervous system are involved. A brain that is sensitive to stress and a world full of toxic chemicals is a likely recipe for MCS.
What I have learned these past years is that the body/mind/spirit all work together; and as one part is compromised, all other parts are Adversely affected. No illness is one cause or one symptom that needs to be fixed. All of the body/mind systems are inter-related? it is only in the last two hundred years or so that “science” has tried to find one cause for illnesses. It’s only in the last hundred years or so that finding one drug or treatment for one problem became the model for health care. This model of treatment has molded how we think about our health. We are not a whole bunch of removable parts in a machine, but an interconnected complex unit. In reality, one thing affects all the others and all work together for health. Sadly, when one is not functioning, it adversely affects everything.
To be healthy in this age, we need to study and understand as much as we can about how we function as human beings. Being healthy requires much knowledge these days.
One example and probably the cause of many illnesses, certainly my MCS, are how stress in the amagdala part of the brain affects digestion, digestion affects the brain. Serotonin (the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter) is produced in the gut. If you have poor digestion from parasites, stress etc, it will affect serotonin production and, thus, your mood and increase stress. If you are stressed, this cuts off blood and oxygen to the intestines which adversely affects the digestion (which affects your mood). The immune system is also in the gut. So when you are stressed from toxins or emotional stress that affects your gut, which affects your immune system, which compromises your ability to detox incoming toxins. This is not to mention the hormones, which are the messengers and keep all of these systems running smoothly. A hormone imbalance will affect everything and toxins can create an imbalance in your
hormones.
Even naturopaths almost always have their one area of focus. That’s why we hear about MCS & EMFS being caused by the “adrenals” or “brain damage ” or “microbial imbalance”.
So to say that MCS is because of brain damage or the adrenals , is an alkalinity issue, a methylation (liver) issue, psychosomatic, or oxygen depletion issue is all true!
My acupuncturist( the only doctor I could ever get to help me) told me that what she saw as my weakest areas were my immune system, kidneys and hormones. She said that this as consistent with PTSD, which I think is a major causation factor in my MCS. Another person with MCS might have poor liver detox function or another weakness.
Here is a good place to mention that my acupuncturist was always impressed how well I responded to treatment. She said its because I did so much to heal myself, doing everything from Yoga, Psychotherapy, to eliminating toxins, having an incredible superfood diet, supplements, spiritual practice, avoiding toxins and detoxing my home, coffee enemas, sauna, and everything I could do to help all of my systems. If I had just done one of those, I may have continued to get worse. It was an effort of many months before i had any improvement. A complete overhaul of every system was necessary in my case. Everyone is different. Sometimes it is one issue. I read about a guy who was immediately cured after having all metals removed from his teeth. The different kinds of metals were causing stress on his system and he was immediately and completely healed.
I am no longer hypersensitive to chemicals, but am still sensitive to them, probably like 50% of the population. Most people have yet to make the connection between everyday chemicals and well being. I am somewhat hyper-vigilant to chemicals, but not necessarily much more sensitive or affected than most people.
Lots of my healing has come from doing yoga, eliminating stress, meditation, visualization or other parasympathetic (relaxation) activating activity. This along with getting rid of lots of toxins and strengthening the immune system was what enabled me to heal.
I have always been sensitive and have had one doctor diagnose me as mildly autistic. I think MCS often goes along with various forms of sensory and emotional sensitivity. This due to an ‘abnormality’ in the amagdala. I think caused by stress, or perhaps the stress was from being very sensitive. Either way, there are many ways to compensate and heal. Eat your vegetables and don’t give up!!
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