Could Mold be Impacting your Health?
Mold is a type of fungus that can produce mycotoxins under certain conditions. These mycotoxins are highly toxic to humans and animals. They are microscopic and can easily enter the body to create an array of symptoms and dysfunction.
Pause and think to yourself, did your symptoms start after you moved into a new home? Started a new job? Purchased a used car?
Many people think that mold only exists if it is visible.
Remember: it is beyond what you can see. Mold spores and their toxins are microscopic and easily dispersed throughout the environment.
Mycotoxins have the ability to directly impact the immune system to create systemic wide inflammation as well as hormonal changes. It is these changes that are responsible to the wide variety of symptoms, often involving visiting multiple health practitioners without an understanding as to what is going on.
Common signs/symptoms of mold toxicity include:
Chronic sinus infections
Shortness of breath, wheezing
Static shocks
Exaggerated thirst
Urinary frequency and urgency
Brain fog & memory loss
Fatigue & weakness
Anxiety
Depression and suicidal ideation
Neurological autoimmunity including MS and ALS
Weight gain
Hair loss
Nerve pain
Rashes
Tics and tremors
Testing for You:
VCS Testing - This online test looks at your visual sensitivity to contrast and inflammation within the brain. While it cannot be used to diagnose mold illness, it can be used to track your progress while in treatment
Urinary Mycotoxins - This test looks at the presence of toxins be cleared by the body though the kidneys. My favorite labs are Vibrant America and Great Plains Laboratories
Shoemaker Markers - These would likely be ordered by an experienced physician and includes cytokines, MSH, VIP, ADH, and genetic markers. While these are not used to diagnose disease, they are used by some providers to track severity and to monitor progress
Functional Blood Work - It is important to evaluate for signs of imbalance and dysfunction within the kidneys, liver, gut, and endocrine system
Testing for Your Home/Office/Suspected Location:
Please hire a profession - they will know what to look for and will make sure to keep you safe in the process
Home History - before testing, collect information regarding the building history, water damage, leaks, questionable smells, changes to the environment, or suspected areas of contamination
Humidity - if your home humidity is >50% it creates a happy environment for mold to flourish
Direct Sampling - you can use a swab or tape to send any suspected mold samples to the lab for analysis
Air Sampling - mycotoxins are released into the air. It is important to test both the outside and indoor environment to have an appropriate understanding as to the contamination. I would also recommend testing multiple rooms/areas
ERMI - This data provides a better idea of the health of the some and long term exposures using a dust sample
Test Plates - This can be helpful to see if there is viable mold in a suspected area
Steps to Healing:
First and foremost, you need to get out of the exposure. The degree of remediation will depend on the unique situation, which is why it is critical to have a professional on board who specializes in this type of work. Any contractor or plumber is not experienced enough to make sure you are safe. In addition, you need to make sure you are only bringing things with you that will not contaminate your space. For example, most porous items including bedding, furniture, clothing, etc. will either need to be let go of or treated professionally. While it is heartbreaking, it is key to make sure that you are not bringing toxins into your new safe space.
Sweat everyday to help clear toxins through your skin. I love hot yoga and infrared saunas. If you have difficulty sweating, that is a sign that this pathway is backed up and that you need to work on it more!
Poop 2-3x/day to assure you are clearing toxins from your liver
Utilize binders to help pull toxins from your tissues. My favorite is Carboxy by CellCore. Use my code MHHTCLDP to register for an account at www.CellCore.com
Kidney and liver support are important players. I love using castor oil packs, herbs, and colon hydrotherapy!