The inorganic are stifling the organic. We see that directly or indirectly, happening all around us. Many of the industrial chemical byproducts and constituents of the consumer durables that we use negatively influence and affect our lives. Our body and its systems, that are accustomed to the natural and controlled environmental conditions, face difficulty adjusting to the exposure of a variety of chemicals. This commotion has given rise to a seemingly new medical situation called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).

As is evident from the nomenclature of the term MCS, it is concerned with the problem of hypersensitivity caused to an individual by a variety of chemicals. MCS manifests itself in the form of allergy-like reactions, but they differ from the general medical allergies in many respects. In typical allergic reactions, the symptoms are toxin-specific; however, in MCS, symptoms from reaction are more wide-ranging, often seemingly unrelated to the specific toxin triggering the reaction. In addition, due to high sensitization, MCS is triggered by the exposure to levels of chemicals lower than what is considered as safe. Importantly, MCS is a chronic medical condition, which is triggered at the onset of one or more irritants, after being exposed to them repeatedly over a period. MCS symptoms are mostly non-specific like fatigue, headaches, and are sometimes triggered by non-chemical, harmless stimuli.

Such ambiguity about the diagnosis of MCS and lack of proper scientific evidence deters the major medical associations like American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and others to recognize it as an established organic disease. On the other hand, there are environmental medicine specialists and organizations, like the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, that recognize MCS and regard it as an alarming medical syndrome of the modern world that needs more attention.

MCS does not have any consistent characteristics or any uniform cause, but the fact that the severity of MCS often leads to disablement cannot be ignored.  The symptoms of MCS are almost endless ranging from burning eyes, wheezing, nausea, runny nose, cough, itching skin, joint pain, sinus problems, and much more. MCS is also known as Environmental Illness (EI), Chemical Injury (CI), Multiple Allergy, and by other terms. Overall, MCS is regarded as idiopathic, as so much is still to be researched and validated about its mechanism of causation and processes.

According to the MCS campaigners, its major causes are pollutants such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), solvents, perfumes, paints, petroleum products and other chemicals that have strong scents. The severe sensitivity also extends to house dust mites, pollen, pet fur, and even to dirty air or smoke. Some clinical trials have also shown that even placebos like clean air act as excitants to some individuals, raising doubts that MCS is based on odor hypersensitivity or psychological factors. Since the nature of MCS varies from patient to patient, it is difficult to formulate and capitalize on any conventional medicine and practices as treatment. Therefore, the best solution for a MCS sufferer is to recognize triggers and avoid them, as well as avoid all pollutants and toxins.

There are different theories that suggest MCS occurs either due to depletion of detoxification enzymes present in the liver which leads to a subsequent increase of toxins in the body, or because of the malfunction or damage to the body’s immune system. Other theories state that certain allergy-like reactions get conditioned with specific chemicals or events, and the sufferers tend to generalize the effects to other excitants. In such cases, it is suggestive to undergo a course of desensitization treatment.

A healthy mental and physical lifestyle is the best cure and preventative measure against many diseases and disorders like MCS. With several studies pointing towards emotional stress, psychosomatic and anxiety disorders as plausible agents to bring about MCS syndrome, the sufferers are advised to take proactive steps to settle their worries and solve their problems. They are also advised to create a chemical-free living space, eat a nutritionally balanced diet to help strengthen the body’s immune system, and undergo a detoxification system. Activities such as exercise, meditation, massage and sauna are ways to prevent toxic rebuild-up after a detoxification program.

Thus, a stable mind, a healthy lifestyle, and a balanced diet exemplify the age-old wisdom for a happy life, and certainly a remedy for MCS sufferers.