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Reported symptoms of MCS
anaphylactic shock difficulty breathing, chest pains and
asthma skin irritation, contact dermatitis, and hives or other
forms of skin rash migraine headaches "brain fog" (short term
memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, including attention
deficit) exacerbation of neurological symptoms (example: nerve
pain, paralysis, weakness, restless leg syndrome, etc) extreme
anxiety, panic and/or anger suppression of immune system
digestive difficulties, nausea, indigestion/heartburn,
vomiting, diarrhea food intolerances, which may or may not be
clinically identifiable (e.g., lactose intolerance, celiac
disease): commonly wheat and dairy. joint and muscle pains
extreme fatigue, lethargy and lassitude vertigo/dizziness
abnormally acute sense of smell (which may simply be the
result of ridding one's home of strong masking scents,
therefore purging olfactory neurons) sensitivity to natural
plant fragrance, pine turpines insomnia dry mouth, dry eyes
overactive bladder
Treatment of MCS
Biological and chemical exposure - particularly long- term -
is capable of causing many systemic disturbances, especially
within the functioning of the immune and central nervous
systems. Such exposures are also a proposed cause of
psychological illnesses like depression, though studies in
this area are often inconclusive and contradictory and so
physicians have as yet no guide as to the proper diagnoses or
treatment of such chronic effects
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Dear Farid,
Multiple chemical sensitivity ( MCS )syndrome is a disorder
that appears to be triggered by low-level exposure to multiple
chemical substances commonly found in the environment.
Multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome is more common among
women than men. In addition, 40% of people with chronic
fatigue syndrome and 16% of people with fibromyalgia have
multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome as well.
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Cause of MCS
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There are different theories as to what causes MCS (its
etiology). Suggested causes include an increase in exposure to
irritants or toxic injury. Several chemical- producing
companies, especially producers of pesticides, have funded
studies that have cast doubts on the existence and cause of
MCS. Conventional medicine does not typically recognize the
MCS diagnosis, because to date there is no definitive test for
diagnosis or proven scientific mechanism. Symptoms may be
explainable by allergic, metabolic, enzymatic,
inflammatory,infectious, or psychological mechanism. Because
the nature and cause(s) of MCS are still unanswered,
conventional medical testing for legal purposes is not yet
available |
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Science recognizes that there are chemicals that build up in
the body (such as mercury), but these are not
yet recognized to cause allergic reactions. However, some
people claim that after a meal of fish, they have an immediate
bout of diarrhea. This may be another chemical sensitivity
reaction. Chemicals such as mercury can also
cause organ failure, such as failure of the liver (which is
involved in storing these chemicals) or the kidneys (involved
in filtering them out). Some chemicals are also stored in body
fat. Cumulative effects on such organs should be studied in
MCS patients in order to tell if there is a body burden of
some chemicals or not. |
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Treatment of
MCS
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Treatments offered by practitioners of environmental
medicine specify the avoidance of known allergens and
irritants, nutritional support to open up the body's various
detoxification channels designed to purge the body of its
toxic load, sauna detoxification, autolymphycyte factor
treatment, allergy shots, experimental treatments and several
other lifestyle changes. Enclosed, air-conditioned buildings
with a recycled air supply such as shopping centres or large
office buildings are generally considered particularly bad
environments for the chemically-sensitive. Some with MCS find
it helpful to avoid certain types of fabric for their
clothing, hang printed paper outside for days to air it out
(or avoid it all together), use only untreated wooden
furniture, use only organic food etc. Some avoid contact with
the outside world all together in favor of a controlled
environment which limits exposure to offending chemicals that
otherwise cannot be avoided. In our office we participate in
detoxification of a lot of MCS patients from Mercury in
collaboration with their physician. Since Mercury can impair
immune system and can over burden one's autonomic nervous
system majority of the MCS sufferers have a toxic level of
Mercury in their body. |
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