The most asked question by patients new to MCS is often, “How do I get better?” Information on MCS can be as difficult to find as a qualified medical provider. Summarized here are the most common treatments and considerations.

Most qualified physicians recommend one or more of the following basic treatments for MCS:

1. Chemical Avoidance

2. Chemical Free Housing

3. Nutrient Therapy

4. Sauna Therapy & Detoxification

Chemical Avoidance

Chemical avoidance has been scientifically proven to be the most effective treatment for MCS. Avoidance simply means eliminating exposures to chemicals which cause negative reactions. This reduces the body burden of chemicals in the tissues and hepatic detoxification pathways. Failing to avoid exposures to chemicals which do not produce a reaction could cause sensitization to additional chemicals which were previously tolerated.

Chemical avoidance starts with the often hidden chemical cocktail in personal care products.

Personal Care Products to Avoid

Perfume and Cologne

All Fragranced Products - including soaps, shampoo, conditioner, and bath products

Fragranced Lotions

Shaving Cream

Aftershave

Deodorants and Anti-Perspirants

Hair Spray

Hair Gel and Mousse

Hair Color

Fragranced Shampoo and Conditioner

Nail Polish and Remover

Make-up

Anti-Bacterial Hand Wipes or Hand Sanitizer

Other Toiletries

Personal Care Products to Use Instead

Scent - use essential oils if tolerated or eliminate perfume

Fragrance Free Products - soaps, shampoo, conditioner, and bath products

Lotion - use unscented versions or natural oils such as jojoba, coconut, and olive oil

Shaving Cream - soap

Aftershave - witch hazel or hydrogen peroxide

Deodorant - peroxide, natural salt crystal, baking soda, unscented versions

Hair Styling - aloe vera gel, lemon juice

Hair Color - natural variations, peroxide to bleach, all natural henna for color

Shampoo / Conditioner unscented variations, baking soda, vinegar, citric acid, oils

Nail Polish and Remover - safer variations from the health food store or go au natural

Make-up - unscented, natural variations or go au natural

For a detailed brochure on personal care ideas and recipes, see:

Personal Care

http://www.mcs-america.org/personal.pdf

Chemical Free Housing

The indoor environment is generally more polluted than the outdoor environment due to the extensive amounts of cleaners, fragrances, petrochemicals, solvents, and volatile organic compounds found in building materials and furnishing. Therefore, a chemical free home is most important for symptom reduction, functional improvements, and an increased ability to withstand exposures from unavoidable sources in the general environment.

Domestic Household Products to Avoid

All Fragranced Products

Fragranced Laundry Detergents

Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheet (fragranced or not)

Air Fresheners

Window Cleaning Solution

All Purpose Cleaners, Sprays, and Aerosols

Scouring Powder

Fragranced and/or Anti-Bacterial Vacuum Bags and Trash Bags

Disinfectants

Fragranced Trash Bags

Commercial or Industrial Chemicals

Concentrated Products

Solvents

Scented Candles and Incense

Pesticides

Herbicides

Fertilizers

Domestic Household Products to Use Instead

Laundry - borax, baking soda, or fragrance free laundry detergent

Fabric Softener - white vinegar in wash or peroxide, tennis shoe, tennis ball in the dryer

Air Fresheners - white vinegar, open windows, adequate ventilation, fresh herbs, and tea

Windows - white vinegar

All Purpose Cleaning - white vinegar

Scouring Powder - baking soda or borax

Disinfectant - peroxide followed by white vinegar

Fragrance Free Products

Bugs - borax, diatomaceous earth

Weeds - salt/vinegar or hand pull weeds

For detailed brochures on household cleaning idea and recipes, see:

General Cleaning

http://www.mcs-america.org/general.pdf

Kitchen Cleaning

http://www.mcs-america.org/kitchen.pdf

Laundry

http://www.mcs-america.org/laundry.pdf

The Bug Stops Here - Alternatives to Pesticides

http://tinyurl.com/6buelc

For a detailed environmental control plan written by Dr. Grace Ziem, see:

Dr. Grace Ziem’s Environmental Control Plan for MCS Patients

http://tinyurl.com/5662fs

Nutrient Therapy

Most qualified physicians offer one or more forms of nutrient and antioxidant therapy. Patients with MCS often suffer from malabsorption, either unable to absorb sufficient nutrients from the foods they eat or requiring higher levels of nutrients utilized in the detoxification process. Increasing the levels of certain nutrients often reduces symptom severity. Increasing antioxidants provides a protective effect. There are many products and protocols available, the most notable ones being created by Dr. Grace Ziem and Dr. Martin Pall.

Martin Pall asserts that MCS is initially triggered by volatile organic solvent exposure, organophosphorus/carbamate pesticide exposure, organochlorine pesticide exposure, and/or pyrethroid pesticide exposure. These initiating triggers act to increase the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in the body. Nitric oxide then acts through its oxidant product, peroxynitrite (ONOO-), to maintain a vicious cycle mechanism which is responsible for the resulting chronic illness (MCS). This cycle is called the NO/ONOO- Cycle (pronounced “no oh no”). In Summary,

Short term triggers initiate MCS by raising nitric oxide synthesis and consequent levels of nitric oxide and its oxidant product peroxynitrite.
Initiation is converted into a chronic illness through the action of a vicious cycle mechanism in which chronic elevation of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite and is produced and maintained.
Symptoms of MCS are generated by elevated levels of nitric oxide and elevated levels of peroxynitrite or inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and elevated NMDA and vanilloid receptor activity. This is called “up-regulation”.
Treatment should focus on down-regulating NO/ONOO- cycle biochemistry.

Pall first developed a nutritional protocol for down-regulating the NO/ONOO– cycle with Dr. Grace Ziem and later developed his own variation.

The NO/ONOO- Cycle is also known as the 10th Paradigm in Medicine.

The following agents have been predicted to be useful to down-regulate the NO/ONOO- cycle and reduce symptoms:

Nebulized Inhaled Reduced Glutathione (RX Only)

Nebulized Inhaled Hyroxocobalamin (RX Only)

Mixed Natural Tocopherols

Buffered Vitamin C

Magnesium as Malate

Four Different Flavonoid Sources:

Ginkgo Biloba Extract, Cranberry Extract, Silymarin, & Bilberry Extract

Selenium as Selenium-Grown Yeast

Coenzyme Q10

Folic Acid

Carotenoids Including Lycopene, Lutein and Alpha-carotene

Alpha-Lipoic acid

Zinc (modest dose)

Manganese (low dose)

Copper (low dose)

Vitamin B6 in the Form of Pyridoxal Phosphate

Riboflavin 5’-Phosphate (FMN)

Betaine (Trimethylglycine)

Green Tea Extract

Acetyl L-Carnitine

The nutrients can be purchased separately over the counter. Or, they may be purchased as several multiple vitamins via a compounding pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription. For more information, speak with your doctor or contact:

Key Pharmacy

23422 Pacific Highway South

Kent, WA 98390

(206) 878-3900 or 800-878-1322

www.keynutritionrx.com

info@keynutritionrx.com

Dr. Grace Ziem

16926 Eyler's Valley Road,

Emmitsburg MD 21727

301-241-4346

A variation of the nutrient protocol is also available over-the-counter for direct purchase (nfi) at:

http://tinyurl.com/6e36bm

Further data about the NO/ONOO– Cycle:

A Novel Disease Paradigm

(NO/ONOO-)

(Dr. Pall's Research Page)

http://tinyurl.com/67vpcd

Pall ML. 2007. Haworth Medical Press. Explaining “Unexplained Illnesses”: Disease Paradigm for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Fibromyalgia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Gulf War Syndrome and Others,

http://tinyurl.com/5ehk9t

Neural Protocol

(The Ziem/Pall Protocol)

http://mcs-america.org/ziempall.pdf

Ziem/Pall Protocol

from Key Pharmacy

http://mcs-america.org/ziempall.pdf

Dr. Grace Ziem:

Treating Chemical Injury Step by Step

http://tinyurl.com/6qddem

Tenth Paradigm Society

http://www.geocities.com/tenthparadigm/

Tenth Paradigm Society Listserv (discussion of the protocol)

http://tinyurl.com/5pmwll

*MCS America has no financial interests in any products, protocols, or researchers/physicians.

Sauna Therapy & Detoxification

There are numerous methods of detoxification which may prove helpful. Testing should be conducted by a qualified provider to rule out or treat heavy metal and pesticide intoxication. Chelation therapy may be considered in cases of documented heavy metal toxicity. Fasting should only be undertaken with medical supervision as the mobilization of chemicals stored in body fat during fasting may cause a worsening of symptoms.

One of the safest methods of overall detoxification recommended by qualified physicians is a sauna. Dr. William Rea offers a sauna room for treatment at his clinic, the Environmental Health Center, in Dallas.

A sauna is a heated, insulated room used for cleansing and detoxification. Saunas eliminate environmental chemicals that are stored in fat cells by heating the body to mobilize chemicals from fat stores which are then eliminated via sweat. The sauna should be one that is not treated with toxic chemicals, such as Heavenly Heat brand (nfi).

Basic instructions:

· Set the heat to 165-180^oF (traditional rock sauna) or 100-130^oF (FIR - far infrared sauna)

· Take a shower before beginning.

· Enter the sauna and sit on a towel or mat on the bench. As you gain experience, you will learn what temperature works best for you and may adjust accordingly.

· Throw water on the stones of the heater for a more intense heat and to add moisture to the air (traditional sauna).

· Rinse off in the shower every few minutes when you feel the need to cool down and return for another round if desired.

MCSA NEWS – Online Edition

October 2008, Volume 3, Issue 10

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Medical Treatment