Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or MCS has a variety of aka's: Chemical Injury, Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental Illness (or E.I.), and Multiple Allergy. Whatever one calls it, MCS is basically the term used to describe a condition where people are very sensitive or allergic to various pollutants including, but not limited to,: solvents, VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds), perfumes, gasoline, diesel, smoke, food additives or simply "chemicals" in general, and often includes problems with regard to pollen, house dust mites, pet fur & dander. The problem is further complicated by the fact that no two people have the exact same symptomology which often makes diagnosis and treatment difficult and time-consuming.

Generally, people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity present with symptoms much like allergies to both large and very low levels of triggering chemicals. However, not all show dramatic allergic-type reactions. Most people with MCS have ongoing chronic health problems that they've either ignored or are having treated under a different diagnosis. Therefore, the proper treatment is not being utilized.

Oftentimes, a person with MCS will feel much better when they go on vacation to the beach or the mountains, are breathing fresher air, and are temporarily out of contact with the various chemicals, irritants and triggers they have at home.

It is also often very difficult to distinguish between MCS and autoimmune diseases such as: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lupus, or Epstein Barr Syndrome. However, there are certain symptoms that are common in MCS suffers which include:

• skin rashes/itching
• insomnia
• sinusitis
• digestion difficulties
• muscle and joint pain
• respiratory problems
• extreme fatigue
• dizziness/headaches
• lack of mental clarity/memory problems/fogginess
• burning eyes/sore throat/chronic cough, etc.

Because MCS is either not accepted or very misunderstood by the medical community, and often the general public in many cases, many MCS sufferers are dismissed as hypochondriacs, are treated with allergy medication, or are simply released from care with the overused, and very inconsiderate "diagnosis" of "it's all in your head."

It's often difficult for a healthy person to comprehend how a person suffering from MCS can be affected by even the tiniest particles of a particular chemical or chemicals. This is called Sensitization - a true allergic reaction to a chemical or irritants. Once a body is "sensitized" to a particular chemical or chemicals, another exposure to it or them triggers allergic-type reactions. But the main aspect of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity that is NOT fully understood and is regarded with such doubt, is that MCS sufferers react very similarly and in an allergic fashion to a whole array of completely unrelated toxins - typically "chemicals", solvents, perfumes, odors, smoke, house dust mites, pollen, etc.

Because MCS victims present with sensitivities to unrelated chemicals and irritants, some possibilities exist as to the cause. These include: poor nutrition, including enzyme and mineral depletion, as well as immune system weaknesses or disorders.

Enzymes play a key role in natural detoxification of the body. When these enzymes are lacking, our bodies cannot get rid of accumulations of synthetic toxins and chemicals that we are exposed to. This is in part due to poor nutrition and to the super-abundance of chemicals we are exposed to in our present technological society.

Did you know that there have basically been no extensive studies to show how the majority of chemicals found in practically everything we use affects us humans? Think about it. Manufacturers simply make something, then place the chemicals "out there" with the assumption that they are "safe until proven toxic", instead of the other way around. Did you know that many of the ingredients in your perfume or cologne are the exact same ingredients found in GASOLINE?! Yikes! As with many other organizations, the perfume industry is not regulated at all. They are free to put basically whatever number of chemicals they choose into their products without revealing what they are or how they may affect the people wearing them!

Whether you know it or not, we are all being affected by toxic chemicals in one way or another. It is inevitable. Now there certainly are different tolerance levels, but they are finding their way into our bodies. I don't know about you, but when a person passes by me that is wearing heavy perfume, I literally have a very hard time breathing and have to get away as quickly as possible! Do you ever hold your breath when walking down the detergent isle at the grocery store? I literally feel like I'm suffocating and I don't even have MCS (that I know of)! !

We are being bombarded by chemicals continuously, and unless we start making changes in lifestyle, diet, and avoid as many toxic chemicals as possible, we all could become very ill, if we're not already. Your immune system can only hold out for so long. Some people may not reach the point of being affected with chronic illness, but I would guess that most people have and will. As already mentioned, look at the rise of diseases such as cancer, ADD, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease, Allergies, Asthma, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, and Multiple Sclerosis. There has to be a reason for the rise of all these illnesses which were virtually nonexistent 60 years ago.

Chemical technology, use, and availability have increased significantly since WWII. These same chemicals are absorbed into our blood through our lungs, digestive system and skin. This is exactly the reason that sublingual medicines (such as nitroglycerine) and dermal patches such as nicotine are so effective. The chemicals we breathe (formaldehyde, exhaust fumes from cars, factories, burning garbage, etc.), the poisons we consume from synthetic vitamins, commercial fruit juices (which contain benzene), medications, pesticides and herbicides, go directly into our blood and thus to our brains and organs, accumulating over the years and wreaking havoc with our health eventually. Pretty much any "immune system" disorder could be helped by a cleaner environment, toxic-free nutrition and by using safer products.

One more thing before we conclude. Did you know that you can predispose yourself to MCS by actually "over-supplementing yourself? Too much of anything, even "natural" or "holistic" products can be harmful when combined randomly and/or in over-abundance. They can literally act like toxins, which may interfere with the good stuff. For a time, while going through my Lyme disease treatment, I was also using a number of other products, not for the disease itself, but for "symptom management" - to help with the few remaining symptoms that just seemed to linger on. These included very frequent heart palpitations (PVCs or "skipped heartbeats"), and late evening panic attacks due to the chemical and nervous system imbalance. However, it only seemed to make those remaining symptoms worse. Only when I completely stopped taking everything else, and used ONLY the intraMax and intraMIN, did my recovery accelerate and the last remaining symptoms disappeared.

My professional advice: clean up your personal environment, get rid of the non-life-dependent medications, stop taking the dead, inorganic pills and encapsulated vitamins and supplements, and use one complete, liquid, organic, pure product that contains it all. You know the one I mean! Your body will thank you for it!

Thank you all again for reading. I invite you to join me every month as we discuss the best ways for proper health and quality of life.

Until next month, I am yours in health,

Dr. Mike