In this post, I explore the use of inositol hexaphosphate for MCAS. Inositol hexaphosphate is also known as IP-6, and it has mast cell mediating properties.
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Table of Contents
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.
What is inositol hexaphosphate?
IP-6, or inositol hexaphosphate, is a vitamin-like carbohydrate substance found in humans, animals, and many plants, especially cereals, nuts, and legumes. It can also be synthesized in a laboratory. IP-6 serves as an important messenger and affects numerous cellular processes. It is marketed as a supplement to support natural cellular defense. Lab studies suggest anticancer and antiangiogenic effects. It is also used for anemia and diabetes, and in manufacturing, IP-6 is added to food to prevent spoilage.
My experience with IP-6
Some of my mast cell activation syndrome triggers are sulfur and oxalate dysregulation, so my functional provider recommended that I try IP-6. IP-6 regulates mast cells in several ways and has a beneficial impact on sulfur, oxalate, and uric acid metabolism. His recommendation was to start with 250 mg once a day on an empty stomach and work up to 2000 mg per day.
I tried starting with 250 mg and had severe wakefulness and depression. Then I started over with just 1/32 tsp. of a powdered version (75 mg) and I slowly increased my dose over several months. I eventually landed on a beneficial dose of 300 mg once in the morning on an empty stomach. If I take IP-6 in the evening, I don’t sleep, and if I take more than 300 mg, I get severe wakefulness and depression. IP-6 is helping with my oxalate and sulfur issues, so I will continue taking it. However, it is a bit inconvenient to take it in powder form because it must be measured each time, first thing in the morning, and shaken into a jar of water, when I’m not fully awake.
My functional provider recommends Pure Encapsulations IP-6. I am taking this powdered form of IP-6.
How does IP-6 work?
IP-6 is also an antioxidant and it might help treat and prevent cancer by slowing down the production of cancer cells. It might also bind to certain minerals, decreasing the risk of colon cancer.
Why IP-6 helps MCAS?
For patients with MCAS, IP-6 is beneficial in several ways.
First of all, IP-6 is immunoregulatory. This source discusses how IP-6 is immunoregulatory and chemoprotective by acting on various growth factors in the body.
Secondly, my functional provider and others believe that IP-6 is a mast cell mediator. This source discusses how inositol bisphosphate and inositol trisphosphate are mast cell mediators. Though these studies focus on inositol forms with fewer phosphate atoms per molecule, the expectation is that IP-6, with six phosphates per molecule, would behave similarly in mast cell-mediated processes.
Third, many people with MCAS also have issues with oxalates, and IP-6 has been shown to inhibit oxalates. – source I have found IP-6 helpful for gout, which for me is caused by having a dysregulated sulfur cycle.
And finally, IP-6 has also been shown to regulate blood sugar. – source Another of my mast cell activation triggers is blood sugar fluctuations, and I’ve found IP-6 helpful for this as well.
Basically, IP-6 helps keep my bucket less full so that mast cell activity is less likely to occur.
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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Do your research
Though I have not found any contraindications for using inositol hexaphosphate for MCAS it’s up to you to do your research and check with your healthcare provider before making changes to your supplement regimen.
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?
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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.
