It is well known that there are many chemicals out and about that can be potentially harmful to humans, such as insecticides or asbestos. In addition, during day-to-day activities, human chemical exposure is very common: from laundry detergent, handling items made of plastic, your favorite perfume or cologne, the Aerosol air freshener in the living room, or the new coating of paint in the guest bathroom. 

Exposure to chemicals can cause a wide range of physical reactions, from mild to severe, and even impact the immune system. Hypersensitivity to chemicals may mean someone is suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. In this article, we will explore Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, how it is detected, and the surprising approach that many people are taking to permanently rid themselves of MCS.

What is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?

Chemicals can cause allergy type reactions in people who are sensitive to them. This is known as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or MCS. While some mild reaction to environmental chemicals, such as pesticides or solvents in cleaning products, can be normal, a person is thought to have MCS when even low levels of chemicals in small concentrations can lead to an outsized immune reaction and trigger other abnormalities, including:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• EMF Sensitivity
• Food Sensitivity
• Brain fog
• Autoimmune activity

The Role of The Limbic System in MCS

The limbic system is a set of structures in the midbrain, including the amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, and cingulate cortex. Collectively, these structures comprise the nervous system’s threat detection and response mechanism. The limbic kindling hypothesis, combined with our understanding of classical “Pavlovian” conditioning, suggests if a person is exposed to large concentrations of environmental chemicals while the limbic system is already on high alert, perhaps due to high levels of psychological stress, then this region of the brain can effectively “learn” to remain hyperactive and misclassify even mild amounts of chemical exposure as potentially life-threatening; thus, creating hypersensitivity of the olfactory system and causing  the condition known as multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome. Gulf war syndrome is one example often pointed to for how high mental, physical, and psychological stress, when combined with acute chemical exposure, may lead to an ongoing inflammatory response that leads to a host of seemingly unrelated conditions. 

It is important to note that MCS is also known by other names:

• Environmental Illness
• Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance
• Toxicant-induced Loss of Tolerance
• Chemical Sensitivity
• 20th Century Syndrome
• Toxic Injury
• Chronic inflammatory response syndrome

Chemical Sensitivity Testing & Diagnosis

How is multiple chemical sensitivity detected?

Currently, there are no “go-to” tests for MCS that are widely used by general practitioners. However, a superior test to diagnose MCS is what is known as a chemical compound exposure test where changes in symptoms are monitored to decide whether the results are positive or negative. Sadly, there are no empirical standards for this test, and therefore is not scientifically proven for general use. 

The difficulty in diagnosing MCS stems from the parallel symptoms this condition shares with other physical health conditions and concerns. 

How does this self-assessment work?

While not meant to function as or replace a clinically valid test for multiple chemical sensitivity, this quick MCS self-assessment was created by experts and patients who have lived with MCS and are intimately familiar with its particular symptoms.

For each of the following questions, you will be asked to select one of the following options to indicate the frequency of your symptoms: never, very rarely, rarely, occasionally, frequently, or always. Your unique answers will then be used to calculate your results and determine whether your symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe. Further unique educational information will be shown in accordance with your results, and all results are strictly confidential.

Please note and acknowledge that this self-assessment is not intended to establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician or health care professional, or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The aim of this quiz is to provide education about the condition. By filling out this self-assessment and clicking “calculate” you acknowledge that you’ve read and agree with this statement and agree to re-origin’s Terms & Conditions.

Symptoms of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Due to the many similarities with other health conditions, the symptoms are wide-ranging. They include:

• Headache or dizziness
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Congestion
• Itching or sneezing
• Sore throat
• Chest pain or changes in heart rhythm
• Breathing problems
• Muscle pain or stiffness
• Skin rash
• Confusion
• Trouble concentrating or memory problems

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it could be an indicator that you are being affected by MCS. However, even with some of the symptoms clearly being related to exposure to both chemicals and toxins, health practitioners are still concerned with how to best differentiate MCS from other conditions. Individuals can often tell if they have MCS based on their environment and the presence of symptoms in specific situations. Regardless, it is important that anyone suspecting they are afflicted with MCS both explore the condition and speak with medical professionals about the possibility of diagnosis.

Health Risks Related to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Similar to the wide range of symptoms, the risk factors for one's health with MCS also vary. Most of the health risks associated with MCS are confounding due to similarities with other conditions, making it difficult to discern MCS-specific health risks. The largest risks to one's health are from the symptoms themselves. 

Some of the symptoms are more serious than others, such as chest pain, changes in heart rhythm, and difficulty breathing. These ailments, if experienced chronically, can pose long-term health risks. If you are showing signs of symptoms that concern you, contact your health care provider right away.

How to Manage Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

There are multiple routes a person can take when attempting to manage MCS. Some treatment options are more effective than others, depending on the individual, so it is important to research treatment options carefully. 

Prescription medication has the benefit of leveling out chemical imbalances that cause sensitivity. However, many people opt for prescriptions as a last resort because any medication introduced into the body can disrupt the body’s natural functionality. 

Over-the-counter medication (OTC) is a common treatment due to its accessibility and low cost. These are usually antihistamines, nasal decongestants, anti-inflammatories, and saline sinus rinses. OTC medications do not treat the root cause of MCS; they simply cover up or lessen the intensity of symptoms, making OTC medications an impractical long-term solution.

Allergen avoidance allows one to completely avoid symptoms by attempting to prevent contact with sensitive chemicals. While the attraction to completely avoid symptoms seems promising, for most, it can be impossible to avoid contact with all triggering chemicals completely. The chronic high-awareness nature of this treatment makes it an unviable long-term solution.

More and more MCS sufferers are turning towards neuroplasticity and limbic system retraining programs. The re-origin program aims to address MCS at the root cause by addressing the overactive threat response produced by the limbic system. As mentioned above, new research suggests that MCS is connected to maladaptive feedback loops in the brain that are developed by the individual’s limbic system when the chemical was first introduced to them or their environment and deemed a threat by the individual's brain. After the first introduction, the limbic system responds to the chemical with an overly intense immune response that leads to the symptoms associated with MCS.

The re-origin program works with MCS sufferers to reestablish healthy feedback loops by helping them to retrain the limbic system through our science-based neuroplasticity program. The training allows the brain to recognize that the chemicals are not a threat and better equip the body to handle normal daily levels of chemical exposure.