In this post, I share what is in my MCAS rescue kit. When you have a complex chronic illness like Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) it is essential to be prepared for symptom flares. For me, it is crucial to plan ahead for situations when my symptoms start to spiral out of control. That way I can get ahead of the flare and curtail the worst symptoms from happening.
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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 a Rescue Kit?
A rescue kit is a bag or pouch you carry when you are away from home that contains essential supplies to manage your typical symptom flare. I use a case from The Mighty. You can throw it in a backpack or even a cooler (in hot or cold weather) to keep it at a consistent temperature, or use the included ice pack to keep refrigerated meds viable. What your rescue kit is made of and what you put in it will depend on your rescue plan and the needs of the medications you include.
What do I carry?
Here are the basics I keep in my rescue kit:
- Set of Epi-pens – just in case. So far, I have never needed to use it, knock on wood. But I feel a lot better having it with me.
- Medications and Supplements – specific to my rescue plan. You should develop your rescue plan with your doctor or MCAS provider. My first line of action in a symptom flare is D-Hist. When I start to notice facial flushing (sometimes I have to check with my phone camera if I’m not sure), I immediately take a Nettle/Quercetin. So I include a small, pill-sized Ziploc pouch with a dozen or so Nettle/Quercetin. My second step in a flare is to take Claritin, so I have another little pouch of about a dozen Claritin pills. Then I have several other pill pouches containing the regular MCAS supplements I take with each meal, in case I’m out of the house at mealtime and unprepared, such as Turmeric for pain and TriSalts for inflammation. I plan to post a blog specifically about my daily supplements and will share more about brands and the reasons behind them there.
- Other supplies: gloves, wipes, tissues, hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, an extra face mask, etc.
- Pain reliever – Aleve and Ibuprofen. I try not to take them, but sometimes it is necessary.
- An extra Mickey Button for my daughter’s g-tube. This is a caregiving item for my daughter because it’s just good to have one along in case her tube gets pulled out. I also carry a few of my daughter’s main medications for similar reasons. Once a caregiver, always a caregiver.
- A snack bar for an accidental blood sugar crash.
Pack a go bag for emergencies
In addition to having a rescue kit for everyday symptom flares, it’s also helpful to have a “go bag” prepared when living with a chronic illness like Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), because emergencies and flares can escalate quickly and unpredictably. A pre-packed bag reduces cognitive load and decision-making during moments of stress, fatigue, or medical crisis, when symptoms such as brain fog, hypotension, or anaphylaxis may impair functioning. It also ensures immediate access to medications, safe foods, medical documentation, and comfort items that reduce exposure to triggers in unfamiliar environments, such as emergency rooms or evacuation shelters. Ultimately, a go bag supports safety, autonomy, and nervous-system regulation by allowing you to respond calmly and efficiently when time and energy are limited.
| Category | Item | Why It’s Important for MCAS |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency medications | Antihistamines (H1 & H2) | Rapid access during flares or reactions |
| Mast cell stabilizer (if portable) | Maintains baseline symptom control | |
| Epinephrine auto-injector | Life-saving in anaphylaxis | |
| Leukotriene inhibitor | Supports respiratory and inflammatory symptoms | |
| Medication support | Pill organizer | Prevents dosing errors during stress |
| Medication list with dosages | Critical for ER staff and caregivers | |
| Medical documentation | Diagnosis summary letter | Helps clinicians understand MCAS quickly |
| Allergies and triggers list | Reduces risk of exposure to known triggers | |
| Insurance card copies | Facilitates care access | |
| Safe nutrition | Shelf-stable safe foods | Prevents reactions when safe food is unavailable |
| Electrolytes tolerated by you | Supports blood volume and dysautonomia | |
| Environmental protection | Mask or respirator | Limits exposure to fragrances and chemicals |
| Unscented wipes | Helps remove irritants from skin | |
| Comfort & regulation | Noise-reducing earplugs or headphones | Reduces sensory overload |
| Sunglasses or eye mask | Helps with light sensitivity | |
| Practical essentials | Sunglasses or an eye mask | Ensures communication access |
| Emergency contact list | Useful if you cannot speak for yourself | |
| Personal care | Unscented toiletries | Avoids fragrance-triggered reactions |
| Change of clothes | Useful after exposures or temperature changes |
You can tailor the list of items you pack in your go bag to travel, hospital visits, evacuation scenarios, or your specific trigger profile (foods, chemicals, medications).
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.
Get my free ebook, symptom log, and meal plan!
Want a tool to easily track your symptoms?
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
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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.
