Do you know about headaches and MCAS? You might not know that headaches are a common mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) symptom. This post discusses headaches as related to MCAS, and some ways to address them.
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Who is Betsy Leighton?
I’m a writer, blogger, and healer dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their innate peace and wholeness by healing nervous system dysregulation. My personal experience with chronic illness called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) shapes my work, and my content offers tools to empower those with chronic illness to improve their well-being and take charge of their health.
I created the Sacred Self-Healing Method and am a trained and certified Safe and Sound Protocol provider, an author, blogger, and A Course in Miracles Teacher. I hold a Master of Divinity in Spiritual Counseling and am a trained spiritual mentor, with certificates in sound healing, aromatherapy, nutrition, and Sacred Deathcare. I offer a self-study certificate program in the Sacred Self-Healing Method, provide spiritual counseling and coaching, courses, and supported subscriptions for the Safe and Sound Protocol.
What is MCAS?
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. It can cause severe, disabling symptoms every day, including potentially fatal anaphylaxis.
The common triggers for MCAS are infections, toxic exposures including mold exposure and EMFs, trauma, concussions, and stress.
MCAS often occurs with other chronic conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Managing MCAS is challenging because many healthcare providers are unaware of it, and diagnostic tests can be unreliable. Treatments include antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers in the form of medications and supplements, along with avoiding triggers. Check out this post on managing MCAS.
Headaches and MCAS
There are several factors that make headaches and migraines common for people with MCAS:
- Mast cell activation can cause headaches and migraines.
- Mast cell mediators can affect blood flow to the head and brain, which can cause pain.
- Mast cell reactions themselves can cause headaches and migraines.
Evaluating your symptoms for headaches and MCAS
So if you have a headache, the place to start with your inquiry is with your symptom progression.
If headaches are part of your symptom progression then the next level of inquiry would be to note any other symptoms you are experiencing, whether you have had any triggering events such as new foods or environmental exposures (pollen, car exhaust, heat or cold, emotional stress, etc.)
The bucket theory
The bucket theory simplifies understanding symptom reactions with MCAS. Imagine your body as an empty bucket you don’t want to overflow. Reactions to various stimuli fill the histamine bucket at different rates, forming the total histamine level (how full your bucket is). More histamine means more symptoms. By managing triggers, reducing exposures, and taking medications and supplements, you can control your bucket’s level.
Know your typical symptom progression
Understanding your symptom progression during a flare is key to developing your rescue plan. This post discusses how to recognize symptom progression so you can be prepared to address them.
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Atmospheric pressure headaches and MCAS
One of the first places I look at when I have a headache is the weather app on my phone. Why? I am sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure, and when it rises or falls, I am likely to get a headache.
Stable high or low atmospheric pressure is not as much of an issue. It is the change in atmospheric pressure that seems to cause headaches.
Healthline says, “Barometric pressure headaches occur after a drop in barometric pressure. They feel like your typical headache or migraine. Still, you may have some additional symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, increased sensitivity to light, numbness in the face and neck, and pain in one or both temples.”
See my other post on Atmospheric Pressure Changes and MCAS.
Hormonal changes as a cause of headaches and MCAS
The next place I look for the cause of a headache is hormonal changes. Hormonal changes are implicated in headaches in normal people, and having MCAS adds another layer of complexity to the situation. Mast cells are highly reactive to hormonal changes because
In addition, many people who have MCAS also have estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance is an imbalance in the ratio of estrogen to progesterone. To put it in simple terms, when you have proportionally more estrogen than progesterone, then you have estrogen dominance. If you notice that your MCAS symptoms worsen at certain parts of your menstrual cycle, you might have estrogen dominance because estrogen triggers mast cell activation. One way to determine if you do have estrogen dominance is testing. There are several testing methods, each with its pros and cons. According to Mast Cell 360, the most accurate testing is Dutch hormone testing.
Headache remedies
The first line of defense against a headache is keeping your bucket at an appropriate level. If I noticed that my symptom progression had begun, then I would begin to take the medications and supplements in my rescue plan. That way, my mast cells are less reactive and not adding to the problem.
The second tactic I use with headaches is homeopathy. I discuss homeopathy in this post. When I have a headache, I typically take an extra dose of my constitutional remedy. You want to work with a trained homeopath to have the appropriate constitutional remedy prescribed for your particular body.
The next tactic I use with headaches is supplements. Depending on the level of my bucket, I might be able to tolerate an herbal tincture in an alcohol base, like Herb Pharm Head Soother. Another option that I have used is Migra Eze, though if my bucket is too full, I can’t tolerate it.
For migraines, I typically drink some extra homemade electrolyte powder in my water, put on my EMF shielding hat, and close my eyes for a while.
Check out these circadian health tools!
I’m an affiliate with Bon Charge, a company that makes tools for circadian health, and you can receive 15% off your order with my coupon code BETSYL.
Bon Charge offers tools such as yellow– and red-tone blue-blocking glasses, red light therapy devices, PEMF mats, infrared saunas, and EMF-blocking products.
Sign up for the SSP!
I’ve found the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to be the most helpful bottom-up healing strategy if your nervous system has been overloaded with toxic exposures, including mold or non-native EMFs, chronic infections, concussions, stress, or trauma. The SSP is a passive listening therapy that helps heal nervous system dysregulation. Many people with MCAS and other chronic conditions have nervous system dysregulation stemming from infections, toxic exposures, concussions, and trauma. The SSP is an easy-to-use app that lets you listen to specially filtered music for 30 minutes each day as part of a 5-hour cycle. Studies show the SSP has a profound effect on mental health and chronic conditions. Here’s a short podcast describing the Safe and Sound Protocol.
You can sign up for the SSP here!
Heal your mind!
While the SSP is a bottom-up, somatic therapy for healing the nervous system, the Sacred Self-Healing Method I offer is a top-down nervous system-healing modality that focuses on cognition, attention, perception, and emotion, using the mind’s higher functions. The SSP and the Sacred Self-Healing Method complement each other and together produce lasting results. Here’s a short podcast on my self-healing practice.
I provide one-on-one in-person and remote chronic illness and caregiver coaching, as well as Sacred Self-Healing Sessions based on the Sacred Self-Healing Method, a proven, novel co-creative healing modality detailed in my Books.
Order my books!
Here’s a short podcast highlighting my five books.
My latest book, Living In The Light: Healing with Forgiveness, Sound, and Light, is all about the tools that have been most helpful for me to heal: forgiveness, sound, through nervous system retraining using the Safe and Sound Protocol, and light, through entraining my circadian rhythm with the energy of the sun. Living In The Light is available here!
Rocks and Roots chronicles my solo backpacking journey on the Superior Hiking Trail and my efforts to overcome nervous system dysregulation, gut dysbiosis, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome symptoms to complete the 328-mile hike successfully.
The Sacred Self-Healing Method ebook is available here and in most ebook retailers!
The Sacred Self-Healing Workbook is available for purchase here!
Betsy’s first book, Sacred Self-Healing: Finding Peace Through Forgiveness, is available here
Companion Recordings
The companion audio recordings of chants, guided meditations, and sound healing demonstrations that accompany the Sacred Self-Healing Method are available for free on my YouTube channel here
What do you think?
I’d love to have your reply below!
Disclaimer
The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure, or treatment.
