Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, can homeopathy help?
Disclaimer: this article is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition.
I have many personal friends who have an official diagnosis of MCS, which is one of the fastest growing conditions in the western world right now.
What does it mean? Like many diagnosis, it is simply the description of a collection of symptoms that come from exposure to various chemicals that we are all familiar with in daily life. The symptoms vary in intensity and range of chemicals, but the result is that people affected by this condition find it very challenging to function.
Could you have MCS?
I see many patients who come with symptoms of various sensitivities and sometimes I ask if they have heard of MCS.
You can check here if you have any of the following symptoms:
-headaches, shortness of breath, skin rash, stomach pain, nausea, vertigo
when exposed to:
-skin products, cleaning chemicals, paint, laundry detergents, perfume, microwave, electromagnetic waves, food additives, medication, essential oils.
What does homeopathy do about it?
The basic principle of homeopathy is that it helps the individual, not the condition.
When the Vital Force is so weakend and out of balance that it reacts to everything around it, it is necessary to look at the whole totality of the symptoms, medical history and emotional state of the patient.
Very often, this acute sensitivity to environmental agents is genetic and runs in the family. However, in our modern cities especially, we are exposed to much more polluting agents than our parents and grandparents and that is why we see so many cases now.
As homeopathy works on all levels of existence (physical, emotional and mental), whenever there is so much sensitivity on the physical level, there is probably the same sensitivity on the mental/emotional level.
Sometimes it is advisable to start with a homeopathic detox, however, this is not always necessary.
It is no coincidence, I am sure, that all patients in my practice who come with MCS, report a history of emotional trauma, sometimes in childhood. Sometimes they have gone through some emotional upheaval, a life-changing experience, like a divorce or a long-term illness and that is when the symptoms of MCS started.
Case study:
Young woman in her twenties with the following symptoms:
-headaches
-dry skin, with itchiness
-shortness of breath
All the symptoms are worse when near chemicals like perfume, scented candles and chemical cleaning products.
The symptoms had started in her teenage years. Her family was quite dysfunctional by her own account: her father was an alcoholic and she was mainly raised by her grandparents. Once she became a teenager, the situation in the family home had become unbearable and she decided to leave. When she came to see me, she looked liked she “had it together”, had a nice place of her own, a job she loved and good friends around her, yet, she was now suffering these physical symptoms and it was clear that the years of emotional turmoil had taken their toll on her health.
Carcinosin is a deep acting remedy that can help a lot with issues of hyper-sensitivity. After three months of daily low potency of Carcinosin, she reported that her symptoms had much reduced and she also felt happier and able to make good life decisions that improved her overall quality of life.
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