The Biogenic Feedback Loop Between Parasites and MCAS

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I put off writing this post for over six months because it is such a big topic, and frankly, I didn’t want to go there. But when I was recently diagnosed again with parasites, I realized it was time to face the issue head-on.

This post discusses the biogenic feedback loop between parasites and MCAS.

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.

My parasite journey

I started treating parasites over a decade ago when I learned I had Lyme Disease and co-infections. Parasites frequently accompany Lyme disease.

I took herbal supplements for six years and did liver cleansing, ozone insufflation, low-dose immunotherapy, enemas, and homeopathic remedies for parasites. I fasted. I used frequency-specific microcurrent. I did Sacred healing. I even took antiparasitic pharmaceuticals. In 2018, after spending thousands of dollars on parasite protocols, only to be reinfected, I turned to Cranio-Biotic treatment and successfully managed my parasites for several years.

But around 2021, I decided I was done treating parasites. I didn’t want to think about them. I wanted to believe that they were gone for good after spending so much time and money treating parasites. I wanted them out of my life, and so I turned to denial. And shortly after that, my serious mast cell activation downward spiral began.

This year I saw a powerful intuitive healer to address my persistent mast cell symptoms of insomnia and neuropathy. And to my utter dismay, she diagnosed liver toxicity and parasites as my primary underlying issues. What?! I had worked on parasites and my liver for so long, how could this be possible?

But once the news sank in, it made sense. As soon as I stopped treating (managing) my parasites, they got the upper hand again, and my MCAS spiraled out of control. This was a hard reality to digest. But when I pieced together the timing of when I stopped addressing parasites, and how that coincided with my big MCAS flare, the connection was undeniable.

This month, I started a gentle liver cleanse to address the underlying cause of parasites. Parasites love a toxic environment where they can gain a foothold, and my liver was in somewhat bad shape. Over the last three years, my liver labs had been erratic, and occasionally my levels would spike into the danger zone. As I discuss below, the underlying reasons for having human parasites are myriad, including toxic exposures.

So, this month has been all about sending love to my liver and re-addressing parasites. I realized that I need to treat parasites not as a one-and-done affair, but as an ongoing concern. I realized I needed to figure out a better way to manage parasites so that I wouldn’t feel crazy.

I’ve found that the key is to focus on managing parasites, rather than on eradicating them. As you will read below, when you have MCAS or other chronic illnesses, as I do, you are in a biogenic feedback loop creating the conditions for parasites to thrive. In this post, I share my go-to parasite remedies, including liver cleansing.

Why parasites?

Parasites are found worldwide across all populations, not just in underdeveloped areas. Parasites are endemic, and they can be caused by:

• Contaminated water
• Animals, including pets
• Human-to-human contact
• Factory-farmed meats
• Undercooked or raw meat
• Fresh foods
• Travel

Symptoms of parasite infection

• Gut Issues, including food sensitivities, IBS, abdominal pain, constipation/diarrhea, and unexplained nausea
• Insomnia
• Grinding teeth while sleeping (bruxism)
• Anal itching
• Acne, psoriasis, and skin inflammation
• Sugar cravings and increased hunger
• Fatigue, flu-like symptoms 
• Muscle and joint pain
• Heart palpitations and chest pain
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Brain fog
• Anxiety and depression 
• Unexplained weight gain and difficulty losing weight
• Worsening symptoms during the full moon 

The biogenic feedback loop between MCAS and parasites

“Pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can contribute to mast cell activation syndrome. The mast cell reaction is an immune response in an attempt to protect the human from the pathogen.” – source

If you look at the symptoms of parasite infection above, you might notice there is a lot of overlap with MCAS symptoms. This makes it difficult to determine whether MCAS or parasites are causing your symptoms.

But in any case, by their very nature, the symptoms of parasite infection cause mast cell activation. When you experience mast cell activation, the body acts as if it is under a threat to its survival. This causes more mast cell activation. A parasitic infection establishes a self-perpetuating biogenic cycle. And as long as the parasites are present in the system, you will experience more mast cell activation.

Types of parasites

Protozoa: Protozoa are microscopic, one-celled organisms that can be free-living or parasitic in nature. They can multiply in humans, which contributes to their survival and allows widespread infections to develop from a single organism. Transmission of protozoa typically occurs from contaminated food or water, or person-to-person contact. – source

The most common protozoa are Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Unfortunately, it is challenging to protect ourselves against protozoan parasites in our environments because they form cysts and biofilms. A biofilm is a protective wall that encloses and shelters the protozoan parasite, allowing it to survive changes in temperature, water scarcity, extreme acidity, and killing agents. This means that once a protozoan parasite cyst/biofilm develops, it can persist for a long time, waiting for the right moment to open and wreak havoc on the body.

Helminths: Helminths are “large, multicellular organisms that are generally visible to the naked eye in their adult stages.” Three main groups of helminths infect humans: flatworms, including trematodes (flukes), cestodes (tapeworms), and acanthocephalans (spiny-headed worms); pinworms; hookworms; and nematodes (roundworms). The adult forms of these worms can stay in the gastrointestinal tract, blood, lymphatic system, and tissues. And the larvae can cause disease by infecting specific body tissues. A typical example of a helminth infection is roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides). According to the CDC, approximately 14.3% of the human population is infected with roundworms. – source

Helminths can be transmitted from contaminated water or soil, poor sanitation, and human-to-human contact. Helminths are typically visible to the naked eye but are challenging to detect. They can attach to any organ, tissue, or muscle in the body, and can create debilitating symptoms that leave you feeling extremely ill. Hookworm infection can lead to anemia, lack of vitamin/mineral absorption, GI tract issues, and fatigue.

Pinworms are another type of helminth infection. Pinworm infections are easily contracted through contaminated food, water, and human contact, including bathtubs, toilets, and bed sheets. Perianal itching is the most common symptom, but other symptoms include GI tract issues, behavioral changes, insomnia, vaginal irritation/UTIs, hyperactivity, and even epilepsy. – source 

According to the CDC, “the most common clinical manifestation of a pinworm infection is an itchy anal region. When the infection is severe, a secondary bacterial infection can develop due to irritation and scratching of the anal area. Often, the patient will complain of teeth grinding and insomnia due to disturbed sleep, or even abdominal pain or appendicitis. Infection of the female genital tract has been well reported.”

Ectoparasites: The CDC describes Ectoparasites as “blood-sucking arthropods such as mosquitoes” because they are dependent on a blood meal from a human host for their survival. This includes ticks, fleas, lice, and mites that attach or burrow into the skin. Instead of living within the host, ectoparasites feed on its surface. Deer ticks can pass on dangerous infections such as babesia, bartonella, rickettsia, ehrlichia, and mycoplasma.

Why do modern people have parasites?

You might think that parasites are only an issue in underdeveloped parts of the world. But this is an excellent synopsis of why modern people contract parasite infections.

Our ancestors frequently purged themselves by inducing vomiting and diarrhea, eating specific herbs and foods to kill microbes, and cleansing during the full moon. They knew that, like animals, humans have parasites.

The difference between our ancestors and modern humans is that:

• Our ancestors lived connected to nature. They woke up when the sun rose and fell asleep when the sun set. This kept their hormones balanced through natural exposure to light and provided adequate vitamin D3, helping maintain healthier immune systems. 
• Our ancestors were not exposed to EMFs, which are ubiquitous in our modern world. EMFs encourage mold and parasites to multiply exponentially. Radiation dramatically lowers our immune responses, making us more susceptible to parasitic infections.
• Our ancestors did not take pharmaceutical medications, which, while helpful, can create superbugs. According to the Mayo Clinic, “drug resistance … [encourages] germs such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi [to] adapt to the drugs that are designed to kill them.” Drug resistance can cause gastritis, set the stage for autoimmune diseases, and be the gateway for parasites to invade the body.
• Our ancestors did not have factory farms and toxic pesticides that actively deplete soil quality. Our modern soil is depleted and contaminated.
• Our ancestors did not ingest processed foods and toxic chemicals, which can cause hormonal imbalances, gastrointestinal issues, and autoimmune diseases. This compromises the immune system, making us more susceptible to stealth infections.
• Our ancestors did not experience pollution and extreme environmental toxins. Pollutants can enter the body through air, food, beverages, and personal care products, leading to heavy metal toxicity and mold, both of which encourage parasites.

How to manage parasites when you have MCAS

Managing parasites begins with ensuring your body is free of toxicity. Some parasites help sequester toxins, such as heavy metals, in the body, making them paradoxically helpful.

There are many ways to treat parasites, including herbal protocols, pharmaceuticals, homeopathic remedies, Lyme Stop, and frequency. In my experience, it takes multiple treatment modalities to address parasites in the many forms they can take and to get behind biofilms.

Some of my favorite treatments include a combination of:

• Liver cleansing goes hand in hand with managing parasites to mitigate the conditions that make parasite infection more likely. My 7-Day Liver Cleanse Protocol is a great way to gently cleanse the liver while keeping your “bucket” (see below for the Bucket Theory) at a healthy level with MCAS.
• Herbal protocols – like Energetix Core Para-V Blend. Some herbal protocols can be complex on your liver, so you carefully adhere to the instructions for periodically taking the prescribed time off from treatment so your liver can rest.
• Homeopathic remedies – like Energetix Para-Chord can address the underlying causes of attracting parasites into your body in the first place while gently treating the infection. In my experience, homeopathy alone does not successfully eradicate parasites. I discuss homeopathy for MCAS and chronic illness in this post.
• LymeStop treatment – or CranioBiotic Treatment (CBT) addresses the energetic pattern in your body causing parasite infection. I’ve seen Dr. Ben Erlandson in LaCrosse, WI, for CBT.
• Frequency – like FSM, or Healy, is a fabulous therapy for addressing parasites. Healy is an individualized, specific microcurrent device (ISM) that delivers beneficial electrical currents, guided by an app on your phone. Healy can be used to magnify your intention and to get the most out of your life. Check out this post for more about Healy. This post provides some tips and tricks for Healy. You can run Healy and FSM programs specifically targeting parasite infections. I recommend this provider who designed a custom Healy parasite program for me.
• Fasting on the lunar cycle – sometimes called the “full moon challenge.” You can fast at strategic times of the month to take advantage of the natural life cycle of parasites. Typically, I try to fast a little longer (I do intermittent fasting most days) on the days surrounding the full moon.
• Probiotic-rich homemade yogurt for crowding out parasites
• And you can sign up for a session with me to fine-tune your parasite cleansing regimen!

Managing versus treating parasites

I have to admit that at times I have had a pathological fear of and hatred for parasites. For over five years, I was afraid of going near the woods because my family had sustained such terrible illnesses from ticks. But avoiding nature was not healthy; we need a connection to nature to be whole.

Similarly, I felt ashamed knowing that I had parasites inside my body under this misguided mindset that only “dirty” people contracted parasites. It was freeing to learn that parasites are so prevalent and to let go of that shame.

I also felt hatred toward the parasites, and I directed hatred toward body parts that had parasites, which wasn’t good for my mental or physical health either.

As I’ve discussed above, modern humans are very susceptible to parasites, and you can be born with parasites. It can be crazy to be constantly trying to eliminate something impossible to eradicate. And many expensive parasite-killing brands profit off the money you spend in the pursuit of total parasite eradication.

I’ve found that a more sane and doable approach is to focus on managing parasites rather than trying to eliminate them. Our ancestors worked with the rhythms of nature to control parasite infections, fasting, purging, and taking herbs, and that approach works for me. I do an annual spring parasite cleanse with a rotation of four pharmaceuticals, and for the rest of the year, I use herbals one week out of every month.

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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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

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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.