The Hidden Link between MCAS, Orthostatic Intolerance/dysautonomia, and Interstitial Cystitis (IC)

Latest Episodes:

Are proteolytic enzymes helpful or harmful for MCAS and POTS/Orthostatic Intolerance/Dysautonomia? Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

My own personal experience with proteolytic enzymes (from those that support gluten breakdown to the wildly popular nattokinase and serrapeptase) is much different than I expected.

Here's what you need to know (whether you're taking these or considering these) even if you don't have:

gluten intolerance (and cheat occasionally by popping a handful of enzymes)

mast cell activation

orthostatic intolerance/dysautonomia (with or without tachycardia)

interstitial cystitis

Long COVID

migraines/severe headaches

(and especially if you do).

This segment is lifted directly out of Reclaim Wellness Intensive, the program I wish I'd had when I first started struggling with these symptoms (yes, I had all of these at once).

P.S. You'll find much more detail about how each of these proteases behaves in the body (whether by upregulating matrix metalloproteinases or the body's own endogenous proteases) inside an upcoming post.

P.P.S. For the tau protein part of this episode, proteases are known to cleave tau protein and those fragments are problematic (see references 5, 6, and 7 below).

References for this episode:

Biancheri P, Di Sabatino A, Corazza GR, MacDonald TT. Proteases and the gut barrier. Cell Tissue Res. 2013 Feb;351(2):269-80. doi: 10.1007/s00441-012-1390-z. Epub 2012 Mar 20. PMID: 22427120.
Van Spaendonk H, Ceuleers H, Witters L, Patteet E, Joossens J, Augustyns K, Lambeir AM, De Meester I, De Man JG, De Winter BY. Regulation of intestinal permeability: The role of proteases. World J Gastroenterol. 2017 Mar 28;23(12):2106-2123. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i12.2106. PMID: 28405139; PMCID: PMC5374123.
Fedorowski, A., Sutton, R. Autonomic dysfunction and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.Nat Rev Cardiol 20, 281–282 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41569-023-00842-w
Foote CA, Soares RN, Ramirez-Perez FI, Ghiarone T, Aroor A, Manrique-Acevedo C, Padilla J, Martinez-Lemus L. Endothelial Glycocalyx. Compr Physiol. 2022 Aug 23;12(4):3781-3811. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c210029. PMID: 35997082; PMCID: PMC10214841.
Boyarko B, Hook V. Human Tau Isoforms and Proteolysis for Production of Toxic Tau Fragments in Neurodegeneration. Front Neurosci. 2021 Oct 21;15:702788. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.702788. PMID: 34744602; PMCID: PMC8566764.
Nübling G, Levin J, Bader B, Israel L, Bötzel K, Lorenzl S, Giese A. Limited cleavage of tau with matrix-metalloproteinase MMP-9, but not MMP-3, enhances tau oligomer formation. Exp Neurol. 2012 Oct;237(2):470-6. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2012.07.018. Epub 2012 Aug 6. PMID: 22890115.
Kostiuchenko O, Kravchenko N, Markus J, Burleigh S, Fedkiv O, Cao L, Letasiova S, Skibo G, Fåk Hållenius F, Prykhodko O. Effects of Proteases from Pineapple and Papaya on Protein Digestive Capacity and Gut Microbiota in Healthy C57BL/6 Mice and Dose-Manner Response on Mucosal Permeability in Human Reconstructed Intestinal 3D Tissue Model. Metabolites. 2022 Oct 26;12(11):1027. doi: 10.3390/metabo12111027. PMID: 36355110; PMCID: PMC9696696.

Is adrenal fatigue causing your estrogen dominance? Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, you'll discover why adrenal fatigue causes estrogen dominance. For more on hormone health check out: https://brandysearcy.com/the-secret-reason-youre-sick

Detecting cortisol dysregulation Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

How do you know if your cortisol's high or low without a lab test? Find out in this episode. For more, subscribe to youtube.com/@feelbetterthanfine

Connect with Brandy at hey@rainorganica.com or shesbalanced@gmail.com

Could this be causing your symptoms? Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

We often chase things that don't matter when seeking wellness. I myself have chased low estrogen, migraines, fatigue, weight gain, and chronic UTI symptoms. At the end of the day, the one thing causing all those symptoms was the same...my body couldn't meet energy demands. If you're tired of living life limited by symptoms and frustrated with chasing those symptoms, this episode's for you. Click to listen. Ready to break free of your symptoms? Claim your seat in From Gaslit to Resilient here: brandysearcy.lpages.co/from-gaslit-to-resilient

Is TSH enough to test for thyroid function? Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

What tests are necessary to properly evaluate thyroid function? This episode discusses the markers necessary. Hint, some are thyroid hormones and some aren't 🤯 Download that lab test here: brandysearcy.lpages.co/is-tsh-enough-to-determine-low-thyroid And, save your spot in from Gaslit to Resilient here: brandysearcy.lpages.co/from-gaslit-to-resilient

What does the Mira Fertility monitor reveal about your health? Feb 17, 2024

Show notes

Quantitative fertility monitors are new(er) on the scene, and they're powerful tools for empowered health! Sylvia Kang, founder of Mira Care joins me in this episode to talk about Mira the fertility monitor I use daily. Get the Mira monitor here: mira-fertility.pxf.io/rainorganica Save your spot at the summit here: tinyurl.com/flourish-beyond-40

Bonus: why's it so much harder to lose weight at 40+? Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

As our friend estrogen makes her departure, thyroid hormones and cortisol imbalances are revealed. In this episode you'll learn how to support your adrenals and thyroid as estrogen levels fall (spoiler alert... estrogen dominance is really an indication of stressed adrenals!) For more conversation on hormone balance beyond 40, save your seat for this summit: tinyurl.com/flourish-beyond-40

is it your thyroid? infertility, high cholesterol, a-fib and more Feb 10, 2024

Show notes

this episode, we're covering lots of symptoms caused by low thyroid. starting out with high cholesterol, blood pressure, and atrial fibrillation in otherwise healthy people and the thyroid connection. Then, in the main part of today's episode, you'll discover why: acne infertility fibromyalgia chronic fatigue syndrome are all symptoms of low thyroid. Then you'll find out why low thyroid's so commonly missed for years (sometimes decades) before being diagnosed. We'll also talk about the cortisol connection with thyroid (cortisol's gotta be just right in order for thyroid hormone to get out of the bloodstream and into the body's cells). Ready to check your symptoms against the full list of low thyroid symptoms? Take the quiz here: https://subscribepage.io/is-it-your-thyroid Find the complete shownotes here

How do you know if it's a thyroid problem? Feb 02, 2024

Show notes

Many symptoms that seemingly have nothing to do with the thyroid gland are in fact due to low thyroid... and, TSH isn't the right test to figure out whether you've got a thyroid problem.

Tune into this episode to discover a few of the many symptoms of low thyroid and what needs to be tested to rule out a problem.

And, be sure to check out this assessment to see whether your symptoms point to a thyroid problem.

Grab your assessment here: subscribepage.io/is-it-your-thyroid (in case that link above doesn't work 🙂)

Energy and autoimmune conditions a guided session with Jen Poulson Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

Get ready to discover the connection between how your energy flows and autoimmunity in this episode. This is your chance to experience a guided energy session completely for free and while the focus may be on autoimmunity, you may just find that your relationships are better and your mind is clearer after this session. Find Jen on her own podcast, Journey with Jen and also check out these episodes: Breaking barriers preventing weight loss Overcoming negative head talk Be sure to subscribe to Holistic Wellness for new episodes.

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The Hidden Link between MCAS, Orthostatic Intolerance/dysautonomia, and Interstitial Cystitis (IC)

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