Is multiple chemical sensitivity a real illness? Commonly known as “environmental illness,” "sick building syndrome,” or “MCS.” Medical health experts tend to disagree about it being a real entity, but I’m here to tell you, many people suffer terribly from it. Idiopathic environmental intolerance is another term used to describe the feelings and symptoms so very common and real to the sufferer.
In cases where the patient is dealing with these symptoms, there will be a response of white blood cells, revealing a physiological response of the body to a perceived threat, either physical, mental, or emotional.
Usually when we see increased bodily defense, we look for some kind of chemical exposure, which put the body into a defense posture. We would expect this from someone who has a job working in solvents, pesticides, fertilizers, or chemicals in many forms. When none of these have apparently initiated the problem, we need to investigate further.
Formaldehyde is a chemical found in your new car smell, new furniture or carpets. This can evoke a bodily response, but why does this affect only a few people and not everyone? This is a very valid question for sure.
Under normal circumstances, perfumes, soap and other chemicals fail to evoke the kind of response to the majority of people that we see among those dealing with MCS. Many of the same reasons are why a large number of people suffer from multiple food allergies.
Something has to put the immune system on red alert and keep it there to produce the kind of response which keeps people locked away from society. An interesting and disturbing element is how many of these sufferers are women. It’s estimated that somewhere between 85 and 90% of those who deal with MCS and environmental illness are women.
If we look at occupations which would expose workers to injurious chemicals, we would expect men to be more affected. Why is it that women suffer this condition more than men? One reason is that men tend to get over emotional traumas rather quickly, but because of the caring and nurturing nature of women, they take longer to recover from these issues.
It’s been seen that a major root of MCS is anxiety. From a medical perspective, anxiety will over time deplete the adrenal glands, which are instrumental in dealing with inflammation. When we are in a fight or flight modality, our immune system goes on red alert and is ready to attack anything. This can eventually lead to autoimmune issues as well.
The main life events which can set up the fear and anxiety root of MCS are, 1 Verbal and or emotional abuse. (I’ve witnessed this in patients far too often). 2 Physical abuse, 3 Sexual abuse, and 4 Drivenness to meet the expectations of a parent in order to receive love. The common denominator in all of these is a foundational need for unconditional love. Without it we go into survival mode.
When I consider the hemispheric differences between a man’s brain and a woman’s brain, we see where us guys tend to live in the left hemisphere more than the right. This means we tend to be more logic based, and aren’t as impacted by emotions. Women use the right hemisphere more, which is the feeling hemisphere. This is why feelings tend to have a greater impact on women.
Thankfully women are the nurturing aspect of the family. Without this, many of us would have been abandoned in our childhood. Men tend to shake things off while women need to evaluate feelings. When they don’t get the support and protection in these circumstances, the immune system is recruited in effect to defend them.
All these conditions are mediated by the hypothalamus, which controls the autonomic nervous system, which is constantly working behind the scenes to protect us. When this system is constantly on guard, conditions like fibromyalgia can accompany these systemic allergies.
Since the endocrine system is also governed by the hypothalamus, we can see adrenal exhaustion along with many thyroid conditions accompanying an MCS condition. To truly correct these conditions, there has to be a change in underlying emotions, not feeling threatened, but feeling loved and appreciated. Many times this means help from loved ones and being receptive to being loved.
In cases where the patient is dealing with these symptoms, there will be a response of white blood cells, revealing a physiological response of the body to a perceived threat, either physical, mental, or emotional.
Usually when we see increased bodily defense, we look for some kind of chemical exposure, which put the body into a defense posture. We would expect this from someone who has a job working in solvents, pesticides, fertilizers, or chemicals in many forms. When none of these have apparently initiated the problem, we need to investigate further.
Formaldehyde is a chemical found in your new car smell, new furniture or carpets. This can evoke a bodily response, but why does this affect only a few people and not everyone? This is a very valid question for sure.
Under normal circumstances, perfumes, soap and other chemicals fail to evoke the kind of response to the majority of people that we see among those dealing with MCS. Many of the same reasons are why a large number of people suffer from multiple food allergies.
Something has to put the immune system on red alert and keep it there to produce the kind of response which keeps people locked away from society. An interesting and disturbing element is how many of these sufferers are women. It’s estimated that somewhere between 85 and 90% of those who deal with MCS and environmental illness are women.
If we look at occupations which would expose workers to injurious chemicals, we would expect men to be more affected. Why is it that women suffer this condition more than men? One reason is that men tend to get over emotional traumas rather quickly, but because of the caring and nurturing nature of women, they take longer to recover from these issues.
It’s been seen that a major root of MCS is anxiety. From a medical perspective, anxiety will over time deplete the adrenal glands, which are instrumental in dealing with inflammation. When we are in a fight or flight modality, our immune system goes on red alert and is ready to attack anything. This can eventually lead to autoimmune issues as well.
The main life events which can set up the fear and anxiety root of MCS are, 1 Verbal and or emotional abuse. (I’ve witnessed this in patients far too often). 2 Physical abuse, 3 Sexual abuse, and 4 Drivenness to meet the expectations of a parent in order to receive love. The common denominator in all of these is a foundational need for unconditional love. Without it we go into survival mode.
When I consider the hemispheric differences between a man’s brain and a woman’s brain, we see where us guys tend to live in the left hemisphere more than the right. This means we tend to be more logic based, and aren’t as impacted by emotions. Women use the right hemisphere more, which is the feeling hemisphere. This is why feelings tend to have a greater impact on women.
Thankfully women are the nurturing aspect of the family. Without this, many of us would have been abandoned in our childhood. Men tend to shake things off while women need to evaluate feelings. When they don’t get the support and protection in these circumstances, the immune system is recruited in effect to defend them.
All these conditions are mediated by the hypothalamus, which controls the autonomic nervous system, which is constantly working behind the scenes to protect us. When this system is constantly on guard, conditions like fibromyalgia can accompany these systemic allergies.
Since the endocrine system is also governed by the hypothalamus, we can see adrenal exhaustion along with many thyroid conditions accompanying an MCS condition. To truly correct these conditions, there has to be a change in underlying emotions, not feeling threatened, but feeling loved and appreciated. Many times this means help from loved ones and being receptive to being loved.
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