What You Need to Know About Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
If you’re someone who reacts to everything — food, smells, supplements, stress, weather changes — and no one can figure out why… you might be dealing with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).
It’s a condition I’m seeing more and and it often goes undiagnosed for years.
What Is MCAS?
Mast cells are immune cells that live throughout your body — especially in your skin, gut, lungs, and nervous system. They’re your body’s first responders, releasing histamine and other chemicals to fight off infections or react to allergens.
But in MCAS, these cells become overactive and hypersensitive, releasing too many chemicals at the wrong time — even when there’s no real threat.
This leads to widespread inflammation and a whole host of confusing, chronic symptoms.
Common Symptoms of MCAS
Since mast cells live all over your body, the symptoms of MCAS can vary from person to person — and often mimic other conditions:
Skin:
Flushing, itching, rashes, hives
Swelling (especially around the face or eyes)
Dermatographia (skin writing)
Digestive:
Bloating, cramping, diarrhea, or nausea
Food sensitivities (especially to high-histamine foods)
Cardiovascular:
Dizziness or lightheadedness (especially when standing)
Rapid heartbeat or low blood pressure
Neurological:
Brain fog, fatigue, headaches, anxiety
You might also experience symptoms that seem to “move around” — one day it’s your skin, the next your gut, then your mood.
What Causes MCAS?
MCAS doesn’t usually show up out of nowhere. It’s often triggered by long-standing stress on the body like:
Chronic infections (Lyme, Epstein-Barr, parasites)
Mold exposure or environmental toxins
Leaky gut and microbiome imbalances
Hormonal shifts (like perimenopause)
Histamine overload from food or poor detox pathways
High-stress lifestyles or trauma history
Many of my clients with MCAS have been told they have IBS, anxiety, allergies, POTS, or are just “sensitive” — when in reality, it’s their mast cells sounding the alarm.
How to Support MCAS Naturally
There’s no magic pill, but we can calm the immune system and reduce symptoms by removing the triggers and supporting your detox and repair systems. Here's where we start:
1. Lower Your Histamine Load
2. Support Mast Cell Stabilization
3. Heal the Gut
4. Reduce Your Body's Toxic Load
5. Regulate Your Nervous System
MCAS can feel overwhelming — especially when your body seems to be reacting to everything. But with the right support, it can get better.
You’re not crazy. Your body is not broken. It’s just trying to protect you in the only way it knows how.
If you’re dealing with chronic, mysterious symptoms and suspect MCAS might be at play, I’d love to help you get to the root of it. I offer personalized protocols based on advanced testing, food plans, and targeted supplements to help stabilize your system and support healing. If you’re looking for a more detailed, natural approach to managing MCAS, let’s work together.
Reach out or book a session at nutritionalrestoration@gmail.com — you don’t have to figure this out alone.
With care,
Dr. Jennette Malsbury, PhD
Traditional Naturopath | Nutritional Therapist
[Nutritional Restoration]