Franklin Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine provides treatment for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).
Mast cells are a type of white blood cell found throughout the human body, existing under the skin, near blood and lymph vessels, and around nerves. Mast cells are not entirely negative in nature, as they are involved in an array of normal physiological processes. However, they are most known for their connection to allergic reactions. They are also central to autoimmunity and inflammation. Mast cells release an abundance of inflammatory bio-chemicals, referred to as mediators. Histamine is the most recognized mast cell mediator, however, there are roughly 200 other biochemical mediators. Among those are tryptase, chymase, interleukins, prostaglandins, cytokines, chemokine, and proteases.
MCAS is a complex inflammatory condition that is highly misunderstood by the majority of medical professionals. Testing for mast cell activation syndrome in biomedicine can be unreliable. It is not uncommon for individuals to be told that they do not have MCAS per biomedical testing, while suffering from mast cell hyperactivity.
Because mast cells are present in virtually every tissue in the body and release mediators which can have a range of effects on other cells, many different symptoms can be seen. Symptoms of MCAS can be seen in a variety of systems, including skin, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and the nervous system.
Some of the most common symptoms associated with MCAS are: muscle and joint pain, gastrointestinal distress (diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, bloating/cramping), chronic fatigue, mental/emotional issues, chronic hives/rashes, itching, asthma, coughing, brain fog, headache, flushing, and insomnia.
When working with MCAS, it is important to understand the triggers associated with this condition, such as mold toxicity, chronic viruses, long COVID, chronic bacteria, parasites, heavy metal toxicity, and tick-borne illness. At Franklin Acupuncture, we specialize in treating both the mast cell activation and the root causes of MCAS. Frequency-based remedies are used in conjunction with SAAT (allergy treatment) to achieve successful results and symptom relief. For those suffering from chronic allergies who do not receive complete symptom relief from SAAT, functional medicine is often required.
