MCAS: Sensitive to Many Supplements

Mama to Many, thank you so much for your response. I appreciate your time.

My understanding is that I do not have Alpha Gal syndrome - I believe that was one of the many things I was tested for.

I do have some food sensitivities: anything fermented, alcohol, aged cheese, chocolate, dandelion root...

I do have 4 small amalgams and have been told that I have candida - although the tests have not been consistent and I don't have any symptoms of candida. My only other big red flag is that I had a root canal that went bad; and I developed severe peridontal disease. I also get canker sores frequently - especially with flares.

As mentioned in my first post, I am extremely acidic (both saliva and urine). This seems to be an indication that something is "lurking" around; my diet is very clean and I eat very little sugar and this does nothing to affect my pH.

Do you think I need to get the fillings removed?

MCAS is not an allergy.

Nettle leaf tea can help in case of acute allergic reactions that manifest as skin rashes.

When my child was not responding to doctor's prescribed remedies on the advice of her grandma we collected fresh nettle leaves and made a tea, used it in a bath, the rash was gone. Today it is practically impossible to find not contaminated with environmental pollutants nettle and other herbs. Heavy metals in medicinal herb is a huge problem.

So the large bags of dry nettle from Amazon is not a good idea, for nobody can certify its purity. I personally don't and won't buy any herbs, oils, tinctures etc on Amazon or Even supplements - I always contact the manufacturer to verify they are indeed selling their product on Amazon.
Keep also in mind Nettle contains iron many people should not be supplementing with.
There is more. Dry and fresh nettle leaves are chemically not the same. Fresh nettle promotes production of blood clotting factor - prothrombin, dried nettle slows down the blood clotting process.

Contraindications to the use of nettle
· the first trimester of pregnancy;
· treatment with antidepressants and insomnia drugs (the plant enhances their effect);
· thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, increased blood clotting and atherosclerosis (when using the plant, blood thickening occurs, which is dangerous for these pathologies);
· hypertension (nettle tones the vessels, so the pressure may increase);
· in case of bleeding;
· severe kidney diseases.

Therefore Large quantities of any herbs even in the form of teas should not be consumed.

Lastly, more information is needed from this person to have an idea how exactly her reactions manifest.
Having said that, a week of drinking wildcrafted nettle leaf tea should be safe, but again who can certify that it is indeed wildcrafted and properly dried (processed) herb.

• From scientific research ( Google translated)
• According to studies conducted on rats, the anti-inflammatory effect of dioecious nettle extract in the model of Alzheimer's disease has been confirmed. In the study, Golam Hossein Riazi (the laboratory of neuroorganic chemistry of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the University of Tehran in Iran) confirmed the antiproliferative effect in small cell lung cancer, characterized by high mortality.
• Wafa Siuda (Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University of Baji Mokhtar-Annab) wondered "why is nettles useful?" And conducted a study on the topic "Can the addition of dicoecious nettle weaken mercury intoxication in rats?". The results of his work clearly demonstrated the antitoxic effect.
• In 2013, V. Hadjashemi and Vahid Klushani wrote an article in a medical journal about the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of dioecious nettle leaf extract when exposed to animals. Thanks to their work, it began to be used more often as a traditional remedy for musculoskeletal pain and rheumatism.
• In 2016, Rahila Kayyum (Faculty of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Pakistan) conducted a study on the mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive properties of dicoecious nettle.
• The extract is effective as an antioxidant in the adjuvant therapy of type II diabetes and minimizes the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other complications in patients with diabetes. This was published by the work of Alidad Amiri Behzadi from the club of young researchers and elite of the Islamic University of Iran Azad "The effect of dicoecious nettle supplements on blood lipids, liver enzymes and nitric oxide levels in patients with type II diabetes: a double randomized clinical trial".
• In 2017, Karama Zuari Bouasida wrote an article on the topic "Study of the hemostatic and wound healing potential of the leaves of the dioecious nettle".
• The antibacterial activity of dioecious nettle was studied in 2014 by Professor of the Faculty of Biology Hossein Motamedi from Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.
• Traditionally used to treat cardiovascular diseases, especially hypertension. As a result of animal studies, the antihypertensive effect was confirmed, explained by the blockade of calcium channels and NO-mediated vasorelaxation. Rohit Bisht from the Department of Pharmacology of the ISF College of Pharmacy in Punjab, India, published a study on this topic.

P. S. I study, as a hobby, medicinal herbs since I was 12.

Dear Michelle, You mention that you started having symptoms after having Covid. I know a couple of people that have dealt with tachycardia for the first time after a recent virus, quite possibly Covid. Sometimes viruses trigger autoimmune diseases. We have experienced it in our family. I first read about it here at Earth Clinic. You asked if you should get your fillings removed. Well, you have had those a long time and your symptoms are newer, so I wouldn't start with that. Honestly, I would start with reading and reading here at Earth Clinic. For decades people have been sharing their stories here. Look up your symptoms and conditions. Read stories. See if you notice parallels to your situation. See what helps others. Much has been written here about balancing pH. Dave Thomas wrote often about the viral root to autoimmune diseases. The health of my family has greatly benefited from what I have learned here at Earth Clinic. So many "thinking outside of the box" solutions. I would still consider nettle. We have found it helpful for autoimmune diseases when used long term. Coconut oil is another food that we use as medicine - as an anti-viral to be exact. It has cured mono (a disease that can lurk and linger and flare up.) You will likely be your own best doctor. Keep us posted! ~Mama to Many~

Dear Michelle, You mention that you started having symptoms after having Covid. I know a couple of people that have dealt with tachycardia for the first time after a recent virus, quite possibly Covid. Sometimes viruses trigger autoimmune diseases. We have experienced it in our family. I first read about it here at Earth Clinic. You asked if you should get your fillings removed. Well, you have had those a long time and your symptoms are newer, so I wouldn't start with that. Honestly, I would start with reading and reading here at Earth Clinic. For decades people have been sharing their stories here. Look up your symptoms and conditions. Read stories. See if you notice parallels to your situation. See what helps others. Much has been written here about balancing pH. Dave Thomas wrote often about the viral root to autoimmune diseases. The health of my family has greatly benefited from what I have learned here at Earth Clinic. So many "thinking outside of the box" solutions. I would still consider nettle. We have found it helpful for autoimmune diseases when used long term. Coconut oil is another food that we use as medicine - as an anti-viral to be exact. It has cured mono (a disease that can lurk and linger and flare up.) You will likely be your own best doctor. Keep us posted! ~Mama to Many~

NT: My reactions to supplements or other triggers are as follows:

It doesn't matter what time during the day I ingest something, the time that react is always fairly consistent between 11:00pm and 1:00 am.

I am woken up by elevated and irregular HR (can be up to 150 bpm), anxiety (feeling like I'm going to die), sweaty hands, and loud ringing in my ears. If the reaction is bad enough I will start to shake uncontrollably, and if really bad...my BP spikes (150/90 has been the highest).

These reactions started within 4 months after I contracted COVID in Dec. 2021. My first severe reaction was to alcohol. Then I noticed that chocolate was doing something similar.

I saw a functional medicine doctor and he put me on a liver protocol. After several days of being on Amino DTX and LV-GB by Designs for Health, I had one of the worse reactions I've had. It was after those supplements that I became severely sensitive to many other things. Prior to the detox protocol, I had no trouble taking supplements or herbs.

Thank you for proving more details. What you are experiencing at night looks like a sympathetic nervous system activation (SNSA). I have all of the disturbing symptoms that you have at night plus more. So I understand exactly what you are going through. My HR could go from normal to 163 in less than 10 seconds, and before that I was peacefully sleeping, excruciating nausea, like kill me now, or choking on saliva, shaking, trembling, sensation of imminent death, vertigo…SO I DO KNOW.

I was diagnosed with Dysautonomia and everything that happens to me during daytime and nighttime is related to dysfunction of Autonomic Nervous System. To simplify it my autopilot is malfunctioning.
Now let's talk about timing of your SNSA and alleged connection to “everything that you ingest”.

I my case nighttime SNSA is not “fixed” in time, yet it mostly happens around or after 3am, however it could be right after I fall asleep or anytime, and is not limited to just one episode.
I work with a homeopath, via zoom and have homeopathic remedies specifically for these kind of medical emergencies, and they are medical emergencies regardless of what others including doctors believe. Those remedies do work, but should be only taken during extreme manifestation of symptoms. One can't buy them anywhere but only from a homeopathic pharmacy by a prescription ( they mail it to your home). These remedies do help when I am having an episode, yet the episodes itself still have no rhyme or reason, sometime every night, few times during a night, other time once a week or less. I continue regular (vs. emergency) homeopathic treatments hoping that my physical and mental state would improve at least 50% so I regain some functionality. What I mean by mental- when one doesn't sleep 7-8 hours for a long time uninterrupted his mind suffers.

Back to your assumption that you react to everything that you ingest. Could it be that what you ingest is not related to your SNSA? SNSA usually happen regardless of what you eat or drink and on the nights you don't have the episodes your autonomic system is simply not acting up. Remember, ANS when it malfunctions doesn't really need a trigger, it has mind of its own, so to speak.
Can you start a diary where you write down everything you ingest and the reaction that follows (or not follows). You need to see if alchohol or chocolate for example always trigger your night time SNSA.
What confusing me is the fact that you always get SNSA at night between 11pm and 1 am. It might as well not be Dysautonomia, for you are fine during a day, but some other things happening in your body during that time, unrelated to what you ingest. Acupuncturists and homeopaths know exactly what happens or should be happening in your body during nighttime hours.

Do you spend time under sunlight? Early am and an hour before sunset are the best hours . No sunglasses and least clothing.

Do you have Wi-Fi and wireless devices in your bedroom? Remove them all.

Is your headboard against a wall with lots wires in it? If a kitchen is on the other side of your bedroom, lots of high voltage wires are in the wall and could be literally inches from your head.

Where is a distribution box? Smart meters?

Do you live in 10 miles radius from an airport, weather radars or a newschanel headquarters? They do have powerful radars these days.

How far you are from cell towers, antennas, including local 5G?

As you can see the triggers could be environmental One's body could be effectively mitigating many health hazards until all energy is exhausted it it starts breaking down.

And of course past COVID infection be a reason for your symptoms.

So I'd recommend you start a diary, track your symptoms for 1-3 months to see if they are indeed triggered by what you ingest. Find a reputable homeopath, I'd recommend Larry Malerba in the US, I have one located in the UK. The UK practitioner offers memberships and it is much cheaper than individual consultations.

Stop taking all supplements, and I mean ALL OF THEM. Your homeopathic practitioner would prescribe remedies for health emergencies as well as addressing the underlying cause of your problems.

You need to work with someone who understands what you are going through and based on my experience you need help

Famous Homeopathy Quotes
“There have been two great revelations in my life. The first was bebop, the second was homeopathy.”
–Dizzy Gillespie

“Homeopathy cures a larger percentage of cases than any other method of treatment and is beyond doubt safer and more economical and (the) most complete medical science.”
–Mahatma Gandhi

“I can't manage without homeopathy. In fact, I never go anywhere without homeopathic remedies. I often make use of them.”
–Sir Paul McCartney

Thank you MtM and NT. I have been logging my food and supplement intake for over a year. I have worked with a homeopathic doctor since May 2024; but I react strongly to olfactory dosing (all remedies cause an aggravation) and the last remedy I tried made my symptoms worse - causing more foods to cause reactions. Red meat, cheese, and tomatoes now cause reactions. My homeopath said there was nothing he could do for me.

After reading the posts on this site, I thought I would try baking soda to help balance my pH. After three days of 1/2 tsp of baking soda in 16 oz of lemon water, I had a severe reaction and I went to the ER with heart palpitations and feeling confused. This reaction was a bit different as it started in the afternoon and continues. I went to the ER after 6 hours of an elevated heart rate. All tests and electrolytes were normal.

I don't understand why such a low dose of baking soda would cause such a severe reaction. I have found others that report this, but no answers to why.

I did not have a COVID vaccine. I do not live near an airport. I do not have my computer in my bedroom or wires near my headboard. My symptoms are directly related to foods and supplements.

I am an acupuncturist and I practiced for 20 years. I can no longer tolerate the very herbs that I used for so many years. Getting acupuncture has not helped.