MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY (MCS)

The liver is a detox organ. It detoxifies the blood and the end products of your digestion. It can become inflamed or "overwhelmed" due overexposure to toxins, such as in chronic gas and bloating, leaky gut, and following chemotherapy.. Also, exposure to allergens, fatty liver disease, and other inflammatory conditions can all weaken the liver.

Once the liver becomes too weak to effectively clear toxins (like alcohol) from the bloodstream, even a small sip of wine causes high levels of blood toxicity. A weakened liver is unable to protect the body from the harmful effect of chemicals. When the liver is weak and it can't process toxins, it leads to hypersensitivity including symptoms such as nausea, allergies, irritability and sensitivity to smells. This causes a vicious cycle because the more sensitive you are, the more inflamed and weaker the liver becomes.

Pitta types tend to have the most sensitive livers and struggle to process an influx of toxins, say from a very strong perfume or paint fumes. If your diet is deficient in healthy fats and oils, you may also notice your liver is too weak to process toxins. This is more common in underweight Vata individuals.

Alternatively, the immune system is overstimulated by existing immune conditions. These can include a lingering viral infection from the distant past such as mono, frequent exposure to an allergen, or an autoimmune condition. Anything that over stimulates the immune system also weakens the liver, cascading chemical and emotional sensitivity.

Lifestyle

If you haven't already, swap all chemical based products in your home for natural alternatives. Remove chemical based cleaners and use a dilute of apple cider vinegar in warm water as a multipurpose cleaner. Lemon juice and baking soda will remove difficult to budge dirt in both the bathroom and kitchen. Chose non-toxic and unscented dish soap and make sure to vacate the house for the day if it is being painted or if the garden is being sprayed.

Favor pleasant, mild scents from lavender, rose petals and cardamon in your home, avoiding air fresheners completely. For some people, even fresh flowers can be aggravating. Cleaning your home with natural products, especially lemons, will give it a fresh, natural scent too.

Perfumes and aerosol deodorants are also common triggers. Many people with MCS have reactions to essential oils too, so going fragrance free is often the best option. Instead of drugstore skin products, introduce herbal soaps like aloe and neem and natural moisturizers like coconut oil. Get fresh air daily, preferably in a park or green area away from heavy traffic and car fumes.

As well as removing toxic chemicals from your daily life, it is essential to minimize intense emotions, anxiety, and stress too. Intense emotions aggravate and weaken the liver. Implement a daily routine to reduce unnecessary stress and restore order to your day, ensuring you take adequate time to rest. Consider your current coping mechanisms for stress. Do you have the faith you need to face obstacles with grace? Make sure to go to bed by 10-10.30pm each night as staying up later than this strains the liver.

Practice belly breathing and a few minutes of meditation or repetitive prayer each day to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, or "rest and digest" mode. This helps calm feelings of stress, tension, and anxiety and supports a sense of ease. Medical trials are currently being developed to test the efficacy of mindfulness cognitive behavioral therapy (MCBT) for the treatment of multiple chemical sensitivities.

Diet

To care for the liver, avoid alcohol and coffee. Favor mildly sweet, oily, sour, and cooling foods, such as cooked apples, coconut oil, blueberries, and foods rich in beta carotene, like carrots and sweet potatoes. Chicken or cow liver is an excellent way to strengthen the liver, as are cooling foods such as pomegranate and ghee. Include a daily dose of mildly bitter leafy greens which will cleanse the liver gently. Avoid any rough or intense cleansing techniques which could weaken the liver further.

Bone broth and ghee both help reduce sensitivities by restoring the lining of the gut wall if leaky gut or chemo have caused damage. Avoid irritating foods like coffee, alcohol, cayenne pepper, and jalapenos which can irritate the delicate lining of the intestines, particularly if it is already inflamed. For long-term management, follow a pitta pacifying diet of easy to digest foods.

Herbs

Guduchi, in particular, is among the top herbs for reducing sensitivities and strengthening the liver. It is well known for its cleansing effect on the liver while also having adaptogenic and immune tonifying properties, helping calm a reactive immune system. Licorice root is soothing and cooling to the liver. It can be used to tonify and restore liver strength.

Liver cleansers and hepatoprotectives, such as bhringaraj and milk thistle, can be used to reduce toxic accumulations while also supporting and protecting the liver.

For mild liver cleansing, try amalaki. Cilantro is known for it immune calming properties.

If you're highly sensitive and can't find a solution to your symptoms, Ayurveda can help you get to the root of the problem by supporting the liver and the immune system. While your sensitivities may never disappear completely, you can reduce the severity of reactions to through diet and lifestyle. By removing offending substances, nourishing the liver and calming a reactive immune system, you will be able to go about your daily life free from the constraints of your sensitivities.