MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) occurs when the body’s immune and detoxification systems stop working properly. Sufferers experience a number of different symptoms following exposure to low levels of everyday chemicals – such as paints, perfumes and pesticides – e.g. their skin, lungs or nervous system may be affected.
As MCS worsens, it can affect other parts of the body and involve new triggers.
The overall cause is unknown, but is likely to involve compromised immune and nervous systems, probably as a result of underlying genetic factors in combination with exposure to synthetic chemicals, either as one large triggering exposure – such as to pesticides – or an accumulation of smaller lifetime exposures.
The key to recovery is:
1. To lessen the total load of toxins that your body has to deal with. This can be achieved through avoiding known allergens and chemical triggers and improving your immediate environment – e.g. switching to natural/low-chemical toiletries, cleaning and decorating products – and also by changing your diet.
2. To improve and repair your body’s immune and detox functions. This can be achieved by taking vitamin and mineral supplements, gentle (supported and slow) detoxification treatments/processes, or other therapies. Tests like DNA analysis and heavy metal toxicity can also be helpful to show what is going wrong.
How quickly you can recover depends on why you first became ill and how long you have been ill for. Most people can make at least some degree of recovery. If you can afford to see a doctor or nutritional therapist who specialises in MCS, this can be helpful (charity members can contact us to request a copy of our Practitioners’ list).
For further info, see our help-sheets: What is MCS? and Tips for an allergy-free bedroom.
