My Chemical-Free House

A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home

How I Recovered from Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)

Published: December 25, 2019 |

This post will be a short detour from building material to talk about my healing from chemical sensitivities (MCS).

This is my journey through bringing down MCS from severe to moderate then to mild and finally gone completely.

At the most severe I reacted to the tiniest amount of 3rd hand smoke, scent-free detergent on other people, and lightly scented natural lavender deodorant on other people, it was hard to drive because if I was behind a diesel car it would be to much for me, even though I had an off-gassed scent-free car.

I could not stay in regular buildings due to the off-gassing and cleaning products, nor in tents or trailers for a few years.

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my tiny house with cedar siding in a natural grassy setting

STAGE ONE, THE TINY HOUSE

The main foundation for bringing down MCS was certainly mold avoidance followed by brain retraining (more on that at the end).

Soon after leaving my moldy apartment in Toronto, I was able to move into my tiny house and start mold avoidance.

I also chose an environment where there was good outdoor air.

I then started course of the most common binder for mold.

My sensitivities and brain fog came down by the end of the course.

Being in a non-toxic house making sure I was out of mold and outdoor toxins of particular concern to mold avoiders first was very important as my baseline.

During this time I was doing extreme mold avoidance which led to my sensitivities to mold going up, I also went extreme on avoiding chemicals, fragrance etc, this led to my MCS getting extreme.

Playa Ancon beach in Cuba at the shoreline with a boat in the picture

STAGE TWO, TINY HOUSE FAILS, I START TRAVELING

To get to the next stage, after my tiny house failed (went moldy) I went more even extreme with mold avoidance.

I spend time traveling for the Locations Effect.

My MCS went down dramatically during this time but my sensitivities shifted into mold and what I perceived to be outdoor toxins.

I traveled to the Caribbean where I had the most notable Locations Effect. I also camped out in a tent, cargo trailer, and shelter in Canada.

I spent two years living in tents, shelters, and simple trailers (with a few BnBs and hotels in there too).

This was helpful at first and the fact that I sometimes saw these brief boosts like in the Caribbean, it overall revved up my nervous system and kept me hypersensitive to molds, which massively slowed down healing from CFS.

If I could have done this era again I would have found mold-free indoor housing in good air, or even just camped near where I was, and stayed in one place.

The moving about was way too stressful and though it was a stage where MCS came down it hurt my overall function so much that it was not worth it.

Design composed of abstract lights and linear elements

STAGE THREE, HELL TOXIN ERA

During this time of camping, I started to become HT sensitive. MCS continued to drop, but my sensitivities had just transferred to something much worse.

Substack is the only place where I talk about what this is.

This was incredibly difficult.

When I broke from this substance it was the moment I was able to make the leap into regular housing for the first time in almost a decade.

My MCS and mold sensitivity came down, but I then had this new substance I was hypersensitive to.

In order to heal from this HT sensitivity, I used brain retraining, mineral balancing, and the supplements outlined here.

I barely feel HT now at all, I’m almost always free of it, and it’s a minor annoyance at its worst.

Closeup of sunflower sprout.

STAGE FOUR BRAIN RETRAINING/MIND-BODY WORK

I watched a few friends fully get better with brain retraining and many others make huge improvements.

My brain was very much stuck in hyper sensitivities when I started this and I had severe CFS, only taking 10 steps a day.

Because of HT I was still living in hotels when I started brain retraining. I was still very sensitive to mold and had some MCS (I still had a few things I was highly reactive to, one of those was essential oils.).

I was in sympathetic dominance all the time and I didn’t even realize that because I was not anxious, depressed, pessimistic or negative.

I had just become do used to sympathetic dominance that it felt like normal. I had majorly repressed my emotions to the point that I had no idea they were repressed. And all those years of being in life or death situations with mold avoidance made it so much worse.

I did the Gupta Programme and the last of my MCS sensitivities disappeared after only a few months of fully committing to the program.

Now in 2026, I’m still 100% recovered from MCS (two years later). I have not had a mold reaction in two years. HT is 99% at least better.

I’m about 70% recovered from CFS and still going.

See my review of Gupta vs DNRS vs Restore as well as everything that is in a brain retraining program, including the “rounds” and meditations that I do daily. (You can literally follow my exact routine based on that second Substack article).

As well as the two part articles on free brain retraining resources which cover what I’ve been working on lately after I plateaued on Gupta.

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Comments

  2. Emily

    Hi Corinne. Your info is absolutely invaluable. Question— the embedded link to supplements you used to help recover from MT/HT takes me to a facebook post about lab testing and theories around what MT is. I’d love to know what else you did specifically in addition to brain retraining and mineral balancing to help lower your sensitivity. Thank you so much.

    Reply

  3. Katharine

    Hi Corinne,

    Best of luck with the launch of what looks like a fabulous new book.

    Thank you for putting that info out into the world!

    And thank you for the article above.

    I’m highly mold-sensitive, and cannot currently enter most buildings without migraines. I’m searching for a Chicago-area apartment or house rental that’s as mold-free as possible, and it’s super challenging. (Leaving this area isn’t an option at the moment due to employment, but it might be in the future).

    Do you have info (maybe links) or other tips to share on how to identify and avoid anything over a trace amount of the outdoor air contaminants you mention (HT, cyanobacteria, FRAT, and MT) when renting/buying (or evaluating your current home)?

    I’ve read https://paradigmchange.me/wp/outdoor-toxins/, but it’s over 10 years old and doesn’t give much info on how to reduce exposure to these outdoor toxins.

    I ask because I’m eager to heal the debilitating over-sensitivity to mold, and you wrote: “I became sensitive to the substance known as “HT“. This was incredibly difficult, but breaking from this toxin was the moment I was able to make the leap into regular housing for the first time in almost a decade.”

    I need to be able to tolerate regular housing!

    I also ask because, in a recent Substack, you wrote “However, my true opinion on that is that the only real priorities for outdoor air (apart from extreme examples like being next to an oil refinery, or really specific things that are unbearable to you) are

    cyanobacteria in any amount over trace,

    areas that have been sprayed with flame retardant for forest fires often have disrupted biome we call FRAT, and

    “MT” a term that comes from crowdsourced experience in the extreme mold avoidance world, this feels like outdoor mold toxins and is akin to being in a low level moldy house based on experience and observation in that world for 10 years. I avoid anything over trace.”

    Thanks so much for considering providing any tips!

    Warmly,

    Katharine

    Reply

    • Corinne Segura, Building Biologist

      Hi, yes the substack article on finding safe housing goes over the step by step process. (As for HT if you don’t have that sensitivity you don’t need to worry about it at all apart from avoiding other people who are carrying it).

      Reply

      • Katharine

        Thanks Corinne!

        1) Are you saying this article has the info on how to avoid MT, cyanobacteria, and FRAT? https://corinnesegura.substack.com/p/how-to-find-housing-for-the-chemically.

        Does it also talk about how to avoid HT?

        2) I think the challenge with HT is I don’t know if I’m sensitive to it or not. As you wrote “many people are living in it and are masked to it”. Is there a way to find out if one is living in HT?

        Thanks again!

        P.S. I saw that you have done DNRS, Restore, & Gupta brain retraining programs. So glad to hear this approach helped you. I just started Primal Trust, and like it very much so far. In case it’s helpful to you: This is also a nice calming tool (background when working, cleaning etc): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkEKJV1FSiw&t=16458s.

        Thanks again for your kind help.

        Reply

          • Katharine

            Hi Corinne,

            Thanks again for all this helpful info.

            I’ve now read your paid substack articles & bought your PDF:

            ​Finding a Good Location (Part 1) – by Corinne Segura
            Locations Effect Part 3 – by Corinne Segura
            How to Find Housing for The Chemically Sensitive
            15 page Healthy Home Inspection Checklist

            Other than sending pictures to Dr Andrew (which is sometimes possible and sometimes not), I’m still wondering if you might have any additional info on how to identify and avoid areas with MT, cyanobacteria, and FRAT.

            For example, you sometimes write things like “[x location] is chock full of MT and [y location] has MT and cyano in some areas but not all.” How can you tell which areas have these toxins?

            Thanks so much for considering weighing in.

            Warmly,

            Katharine

  4. Coco

    Hello Corinne,
    thank you for this article, and also the articles on your substack.
    Why are you writing some words like this, M-lybdenum, is that for legal reasons?

    Reply

    • Corinne Segura, Building Biologist

      Yes sort of, for the google algorithm. There is a detailed substack article for a detailed and non-censored overview of treat-ments for MCS

      Reply

  6. Krista S

    Thanks so much for sharing this helpful info about your recovery journey. It’s wonderful to hear how much better you are now. Would love an update if you ever feel inclined.
    Also,did you ever try and benefit from safe, very low EMF infrared sauna? Is there any support group for MCS (& possibly related stuff – I also have an ME and Hashimoto’s diagnosis) that you know of/might recommend?
    Thanks again 🙂

    Reply

    • Corinne Segura, Building Biologist

      I am still recovered from MCS. And am just about 50% recovered from CFS now from brain retraining. Mold avoidance and brain retraining is a combo that works for everyone with MCS. Dont get stuck in the support groups, they do not help people heal imo. Don’t worry about EMFs.

      Reply

  7. Caroline Repetta

    Good Morning Corinne:

    I am so thankful I discovered “My Chemical-Free House”. I have severe MCS and presently am out of my condo because of mold growing in the walls from cracks in the stucco causing water intrusion. I read your healing protocol and is there any binder that I could use instead of cholestyramine. Biocidin has one. I am so reactive to even supplements plus I have difficulty swallowing pills. Thank you so much for sharing you valuable information to all of us. God bless you.

    Reply

        • Corinne Segura

          I did some ALA but not immediately after, later I did what would be considered a full course of ALA by the cutler group. I also did ze-bind, Enter-sgel, high silica water and modified c-trus p-ctin.

          Reply

          • Danielle

            Sorry I’m just asking about amalgams—really appreciate your prompt replies!! How many did you remove at once? And how many quadrants of your mouth were they in?

    • Corinne

      You have to be carful with that one it's really powerful and I had to carefully up the dose I never made it to the full dose in one day.

      Reply

  11. nivchek

    I did many of the above things. Nothing worked completely until I did calcium gluconate. It got my liver working again and I am no longer sensitive to traces of anything, but only prolonged and heavy exposures.

    Reply

  12. cathy bliss

    thank you for your site and great info. i am doing many of binders and supps you mention. still have DDS to do as have some metal still mouth. i am looking at getting a fifth wheel trailer that is a few years old so i think the out gassing will be done. i will hire mold evaluators to look at it. then i can start CSM

    Reply

  13. RachelDLS

    Thank you for this list. 🙂 I am already doing a lot of the things you mentioned here, but it is good to see it, not only as confirmation, but to see the why's as well.

    I am living in my tiny toxic free homemade camper trailer, though I started in my car a couple years ago. It is by far the best move I made to help me regain my health. I am still on my journey towards health, but I am so much better than I was two years ago.

    I have been seeing Dr Michael Gray, who has me on many of the protocols that you have listed. I am quite certain that he saved my life.

    I hope others can benefit from the information you have listed. It is good to see it all in one place. 🙂

    Reply

  14. RachelDLS

    Thank you for this list. 🙂 I am already doing a lot of the things you mentioned here, but it is good to see it, not only as confirmation, but to see the why's as well.

    I am living in my tiny toxic free homemade camper trailer, though I started in my car a couple years ago. It is by far the best move I made to help me regain my health. I am still on my journey towards health, but I am so much better than I was two years ago.

    I have been seeing Dr Michael Gray, who has me on many of the protocols that you have listed. I am quite certain that he saved my life.

    I hope others can benefit from the information you have listed. It is good to see it all in one place. 🙂

    Reply

    • Miyushi Izumisa

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      Reply

      • Sandra Sawyer

        What worked for me…incredible results overall health. Protandim Nrf2 synergizer…some incredible research too. It’s the safest and most effective way to eliminate oxidative stress and ROS (free radicals)…to that of a newborn or young child level …. Really incredible.

        Reply

        • Joseph Jandrokovic

          Hello Sandra,
          I couldn’t tell from your comment in the My Chemical-Free House if you also suffered from MCS. If so, did the Protandim Nrf2 synergizer assist any with this issue?

          Reply