Ayurvedic Treatment for Mast Cell Diseases

Introduction

Are you suffering from unexplained allergies, recurrent anaphylaxis, or skin rashes? Do you frequently experience swelling, itching, or sudden allergic reactions? Are abdominal pain, dizziness, or flushing disrupting your daily life? 

If so, you might be dealing with Mast Cell Diseases, where excessive histamine is released by immune cells causing widespread inflammation in the body. 

Conditions like Mastocytosis and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) result in allergic and inflammatory symptoms affecting the various parts of our body like the skin, respiratory system, and gastrointestinal system, and even affect cardiovascular health. As such no diseases are co-related with mast cell diseases but as per the symptoms manifest in mast cell diseases can be correlated with disorders with Pitta-Vata imbalance, blood toxicity (Rakta Dushti), and toxins (Ama), which leads to hypersensitivity reactions similar to urticaria (Sheeta Pita, Udarda) and bleeding disorders (Rakta Pitta), etc.

Ayurvedic treatment for Mast Cell Disease includes detoxification therapies like purgation therapy (Virechana) and bloodletting therapy (Rakta Mokshana), along with the use of potent herbs like Guduchi, Haridra, Neem, and Shirish, etc. which stabilize the mast cells in the body and modulate immunity. A well-balanced personalized diet combined with stress management through Yoga, Pranayama, and meditation, also helps in regulating immune responses. 

If you are suffering from the above-mentioned diseases then don’t worry – Dr. Sahil Gupta and the expert team at IAFA Ayurveda provide an Ayurvedic approach to managing mast cell diseases by addressing the root cause rather than just symptoms, helping restore the balance of the Dosha, strengthen immunity (Vyadhi Kshmatva), and bring lasting relief. Reclaim your health naturally with IAFA Ayurveda!

What is Mast Cell?

Specialized immune cells that play an important role in the body’s defense system are known as mast cells. It originates in the bone marrow like all other blood cells. These cells are found in connective tissues, especially near blood vessels, nerves, and mucosal surfaces, such as the lungs, skin intestines, etc. These mast cells contain granules filled with cytokines, histamine, and other inflammatory mediators, which are released in response to infections, allergens, or injuries in the body.

What is the Role of Mast Cells in the Body?

As mentioned above, Mast cells are essential for immune defense, wound healing, and maintaining homeostasis. Their primary function of mast cells included triggering reactions by releasing histamine, as allergen comes in contact with the body leading to various symptoms like swelling, inflammation, itching, etc.

Mast cells also release cytokines that help to fight against infection and recruit other immune cells. Along with this mast cells help in modulating inflammatory response, wound healing influence pain perception, etc.

What are Mast Cell Diseases?

The group of disorders characterized by abnormal growth, accumulation, or overactivation of mast cells, which leads to excessive release of inflammatory mediators like cytokines, histamines, prostaglandins, etc. in the body is known as mast cell diseases.

Mast cell diseases include Mastocytosis, a condition where mast cells multiply excessively in various organs, and MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), where mast cells release without an increase in their number of excessive mediators.

Although mast cell diseases are mainly identified in the skin, gastrointestinal disturbances, respiratory issues, cardiopulmonary, neurological symptoms, and anaphylaxis may be seen. Mast cell diseases can be triggered by infections, stress, allergens, temperature changes, and even certain foods or medications can trigger mast cell diseases.

What are Mast Cell Diseases – As Per Ayurveda?

Mast cell diseases are not directly mentioned in Ayurveda but explain similar pathophysiology (Samprapti) involving Pitta-Vata vitiation, blood vitiation (Rakta Dushti), microchannel obstruction (Stroto Rodha), toxins accumulation (Ama Uttapati), etc. Various diseases like urticaria (Sheeta Pitta, Udarda), bleeding disorders (Rakta Pitta), erysipelas (Visarpa), skin diseases (Kustha), and gut disorders like Grahni share clinical similarities with mast cell disorders.

The excessive histamine response seen in the pathology of the mast cell diseases aligns with excess heat and inflammation i.e. Pitta Aggravation as per Ayurveda, while sudden hypersensitivity reactions resemble irregularity and overreactivity i.e. Vata disturbances. Accumulated toxins (Ama) and vitiated blood (Rakta Dushti) contribute to chronic (Jeerna) inflammation, leading to systemic mast cell dysfunction. 

Who Gets Affected by Mast Cell Diseases?

This disease affects individuals of all ages, genders, or ethnicities, but certain factors may increase susceptibility to mast cell diseases. A condition where mast cells multiply abnormally i.e. Mastocytosis, is often linked to KIT gene mutations and appears in childhood or adulthood whereas a condition where mast cells release excessive inflammatory mediators i.e. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), is more common in adults but can also affect children.

Along with this, people with a history of asthma, autoimmune diseases, various allergies, chronic inflammation, or frequent anaphylactic reactions are at higher risk of having mast cell diseases. Conditions like Irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, CFS, and POTS are often found with mast cell dysfunction. Environmental triggers like pollution, stress, infections, certain foods (high histamine or processed foods), and temperature changes can also contribute.

How Common are the Mast Cell Diseases?

As per the recent survey, mast cell disease is considered rare in Mastocytosis having a prevalence of approximately 13 in 100,000, and MCAS has prevalence approximately from 1 in 6 people to less than 1 in 1000. In the United States,  studies done on 2018, showed that the incidence of mastocytosis was found to be 0.046 per 10,000 among the general population. A study in The Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology reported that the overall prevalence of idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome is 4.4%.

Types of Mast Cell Diseases

Mast cell diseases can be classified into three main types:-

1. Mastocytosis 
2. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
3. Other Mast Cell-Related Disorders

1. Mastocytosis

The condition in which there is excessive proliferation and accumulation of mast cells occurs. It is classified into two types one that only affects the skin i.e. cutaneous and one that affects multiple organs i.e. systemic.

1.1) Cutaneous Mastocytosis – Cutaneous Mastocytosis is mainly seen in children. This type of mast cell only affects the skin and they have no effect on internal organs. It is further divided into three types:-

1.1.1) Urticaria Pigmentosa / Maculopapular Cutaneous Mastocytosis (MPCM): The most common type of cutaneous Mastocytosis which is characterized by brown-red papules or macules that show Darier’s sign means urticate when stroked. It is mainly seen in infants and resolved when adolescence is attained.

1.1.2) Diffuse Cutaneous Mastocytosis (DCM): This is a rare type of cutaneous Mastocytosis, but it is a very severe condition in which skin thickens and blister formation occurs as a result of widespread mast cell infiltration. In very severe cases it may result in hypotension and anaphylaxis.

1.1.3) Solitary Mastocytoma: This type of Mastocytosis is often resolved spontaneously in childhood. In this type, single or few localized nodules of mast cells are formed.

1.2) Systemic Mastocytosis (SM) – Mastocytosis affects the internal organs like the liver, spleen, bone marrow, etc. as it involves mast cell infiltration of internal organs. Based on severity it is further divided into 5 types:-

1.2.1) Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis (ISM): This is the mildest form of systemic macrocytosis with slow progression in which symptoms like itching, flushing, and gastrointestinal discomfort occur. This type of bone marrow is involved but without major organ dysfunction.

1.2.2) Smoldering Systemic Mastocytosis (SSM): This type of systemic Mastocytosis shows intermediate severity with more mast cell burden than indolent systemic mastocytosis. With time this type may progress to an aggressive form.

1.2.3) Aggressive Systemic mastocytosis (ASM): In this type of systemic mastocytosis organ damage like bone fracture, liver dysfunction, and cytopenia occur as this is a severe form. In this type of main symptoms include weight loss, malabsorption, anemia, etc.

1.2.4) Mast Cell Leukemia (MCL): This type of systemic mastocytosis is rare but highly aggressive as mast cells are found in the blood and symptoms of this type include severe organ failure.

1.2.5) Mast Cell Sarcoma (MCS): This is a malignant tumor of mast cells that is rare but progresses rapidly and is often fatal.

2. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)

MCAS does not involve an increase in the number of mast cells but rather their abnormal activation of the mast cells, which leads to excessive release of inflammatory mediators in the body. It is further divided into three types:-

2.1) Primary MCAS: This type of MCAS mainly occurs due to KIT gene mutation i.e. gene mutation in mast cells which overlaps with indolent Systemic Mastocytosis.

2.2) Secondary MCAS: This type of MCAS is triggered by external factors such as allergens, infections, autoimmune diseases, or drugs and is commonly seen in chronic inflammatory conditions.

2.3) Idiopathic MCAS: Its cause is not known but individuals experience recurrent symptoms of abnormal mast cell activation without an increase in mast cell numbers.

In the above-mentioned types of MCAS, various symptoms are involved like gastrointestinal system symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc. In the cardiovascular system symptoms like hypotension, dizziness, palpitation, etc. In the respiratory system symptoms like shortness of breath, wheezing, etc. In the skin symptoms like itching, hives, angioedema, and flushing, and along with this in the nervous system symptoms like headache, anxiety, and brain fog develop.

3) Other Mast Cell-Related Disorders

The conditions under this type are linked to mast cell dysfunction but do not fit into the above-mentioned type. It is of three types: 

3.1) Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia (HaT): When extra copies of the TPSAB1 gene are formed as a genetic disorder, tryptase levels elevate in the body and the symptoms appear like flushing, connective tissue issues, anaphylaxis, etc. which overlaps with MCAS.

3.2) Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES) with Mast Cell Activation: The rare condition in which mast cells and eosinophils are overactive and cause severe allergic reactions and even tissue damage.

3.3) Mast Cell Disorders in Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and POTS: Patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) experience mast cell activation symptoms.t, animal dander, extreme heat, extreme cold, mold, anxiety, chronic stress, etc.