This post provides practical tips for managing MCAS, specifically addressing stress as a trigger. Stress, toxins, and infections are the three underlying triggers for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). This post covers treatments that are helpful for vagus nerve injury and limbic system dysfunction, which fall under the category of “stress.” So how do you manage “stress”? Read to find out!
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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. 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, as well as avoiding triggers. Check out this post on managing MCAS.
Triggers for MCAS
Stress, toxins, and infections all cause mast cells to release mediators that trigger inflammation in affected tissues, further activating mast cells. At the same time, your organ systems respond to the increased mast cell activity, leading to more symptoms and furthering the cycle. The techniques and treatments listed below are also helpful for indirectly addressing infections and toxins.
Vagus nerve health for managing MCAS
Injury to the vagus nerve is a major trigger for MCAS, which I discuss in this blog post. Vagus nerve treatments are linked there.
Some additional ways to calm the vagus nerve are:
- The Safe and Sound Protocol – you can use an app or work with a therapist.
- Individual microcurrent – see below
- Homeopathy
Limbic system health for managing MCAS
Limbic system dysfunction is another big trigger of MCAS. The limbic system is the part of the brain that monitors for safety and controls emotion and sensitivity. Limbic system dysfunction contributes to anxiety, depression, OCD, and increased sensitivities. These sensitivities — from light and touch to foods and environmental triggers — are common in patients with MCAS. So you can see how having your limbic system regulated is part of the overall MCAS solution.
Limbic system, vagus nerve healing, and brain retraining
The SSP is a listening therapy based on Polyvagal Theory, developed by Stephen Porges, to unlock your ability to think, feel, and connect more effectively through nervous system regulation. You use the SSP via an app on your phone and listen with over-the-ear headphones to specially filtered music that heals the nervous system, specifically the vagus nerve. You subscribe to the app through a provider like mine and listen to specially curated music for 30 minutes each day for a 20-day cycle. Studies show the SSP has a profound effect on mental health and chronic conditions:
47% of clients using the SSP had fewer psychosocial challenges
If you’d like to learn more about the SSP, please reach out to me!
61% of clients using the SSP had reduced anxiety
54% of clients using the SSP had reduced depression
63% of clients using the SSP had fewer trauma symptoms
I’ve successfully used the SSP for vagus nerve healing and nervous system retraining since 2023. You can sign up for the SSP here!
Brain plasticity
These treatments help retrain the brain through the principle of neural plasticity. You can change the way your brain functions by developing new ways of thinking about stressful triggers, and these techniques teach you how to do that.
What has helped my limbic system health the most is having a daily forgiveness practice to rewire my brain toward greater health and using the Safe and Sound Protocol for nervous system retraining.
Go slow
If you are particularly sensitive, you may not be able to follow these programs as designed, so start slowly and follow a regimen with fewer repetitions.
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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Want a tool to easily track your symptoms?
Take a multi-pronged approach
MCAS practitioners will tell you that the more ways you can gently address vagal and limbic system dysfunction at once, the better. However, because MCAS patients are so sensitive, you will need to start slow and often adjust the program(s) to suit your particular sensitivities.
Tools for vagal and limbic system healing
Other ways to approach the “stress” trigger for MCAS and address vagus nerve injury and limbic system dysfunction are:
Beneficial Microcurrent
Beneficial. Microcurrent Microcurrent – uses a tiny amount of electricity that runs through the body via electrodes or paddles for detox, to address specific infections. Beneficial microcurrent can be used for vagal health, to calm MCAS, to aid sleep, and for injury to the body in general. I have used FSM for several years and have found it to be a wonderful adjunct therapy while addressing underlying infections and other triggers.
I used beneficial microcurrent for several years to sleep better, heal vagus nerve injury, detox, and treat specific infections. This post and this post discuss it in more detail.
EFT
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is another amazingly easy and effective way to calm the limbic system. I have used EFT for over ten years. You can find a description of the basic technique at the link above, and many YouTube videos show it in action. In an acute situation, you can also tap an acupressure point to help reset your mind.
CST
Cranio Sacral Therapy (CST) – There are two types of cranial sacral therapy: Osteopathic therapy, which is performed by a doctor of osteopathy, and Cranio Sacral Therapy (CST), which you can receive from massage therapists and chiropractors. Generally, the osteopathic variety is considered more effective for MCAS, but CST is also quite helpful and may be your only option depending on what is available in your area. This directory provides resources to find CST near you. Either way, the techniques help calm the nervous system.
I address toxins in this post and infections in this post.
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 based on Polyvagal Theory 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.
