Recommended Reading List
for patients seeking a holistic approach to MCAS & other chronic conditions (in alphabetical order)
Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve
Author: Stanley Rosenberg
An excellent resource for both practitioners and patients alike, this book dives into the Polyvagal Theory (developed by Dr. Stephen Porges) and offers some simple and practical testing, treatment and exercise considerations.
Break The Mold
Author: Dr. Jill Crista
My favorite resource for healing from CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) from mold exposure! Concise and packed with helpful–and practical information.
Canary in a Bubble
Author: Summer LeDawn
Summer shares her patient journey through diagnoses including MCAS and tick-borne illness.
Defeating Dysautonomia
Author: Tara Smith Johnson
A faith-filled patient perspective about many different aspects of living with POTS.
Full Circle: Inner Work Journal Questions for Expansive Healing from MCAS
Author: Amber Walker
The journals out there for this community focus on logging symptoms and tracking foods. That is NOT what this is. This is a place to spend a few minutes a day (or each week) asking yourself important questions. There’s no right or wrong answer—it’s simply a space for reflection.
A compilation of the topics that I wish “younger me” had on the radar, this is a great tool to accompany the healing journey with chronic illness. This journal contains 53 reflection questions (one for each week, or perhaps daily), plus bonus considerations and sub-questions, inspiring quotations, a handful of ocean-themed graphics that you can color, and a resources section.This content can be applied to all sorts of chronic conditions, not just MCAS.
Author: Amber Walker, PT, DPT
At 542 pages and referencing over 1200 academic articles, this book is the longest and most thorough resource on mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) to date. Topics include diagnostic considerations, coexisting conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and POTS, common root issues including viral/bacterial infections, mold illness and toxin overload, mainstream and natural treatment options, dietary considerations, strategies to foster holistic healing, and much more.
Never Bet Against Occam: Mast Cell Activation Disease and the Modern Epidemics of Chronic Illness and Medical Complexity
Author: Lawrence B. Afrin, M.D.
Dr. Afrin is a pioneer in terms of the identification, diagnosis and treatment of MCAS. His book includes valuable information and case studies suitable for patients and practitioners alike.
The Body Keeps The Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Author: Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD
A fantastic resource for patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. This book explores the complex relationship between past trauma and chronic illness.
The Driscoll Theory® Newly Revised: The Cause of POTS in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and How to Reverse the Process
Author: Diana Driscoll
A must-read for patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, dysautonomia, MCAS, Chiari malformation, intracranial pressure issues, and other conditions that tend to go hand-in-hand.
The Toxin Solution: How Hidden Poisons in the Air, Water, Food, and Products We Use Are Destroying Our Health–AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX IT
Author: Joseph Pizzorno
An informative and practical resource for anyone with chronic illness. Removing toxin sources can have a profound impact on patients with MCAS!
The Trifecta Passport: Tools for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Author: Amber Walker
An overview of the three “trifecta” conditions that commonly go hand-in-hand, plus 9 chapters of resources for holistic healing, case studies, and a 20-page patient workbook to help devise your own customized plan.
Through the Shadowlands: A Science Writer’s Odyssey into an Illness Science Doesn’t Understand
Author: Julie Rehmeyer
A very well written patient account of mysterious chronic illness and the potential toxic influence of mold.
TOXIC: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness
Author: Neil Nathan, MD
An incredible resource for anyone experiencing chronic illness, and very practical for the provider who works with them. This book has a chapter on MCAS but focuses on mold and other biotoxin causes of disease.
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