Mold toxicity can cause bodywide symptoms, such as exhaustion and joint aches, that can be difficult to attribute to any specific condition at first. Because doctors often misdiagnose mycotoxicity, those dealing with this issue often have to take their health into their own hands.
If your health is struggling—and you simply know that something is not right— yet you're having difficulty finding the right diagnosis or treatment, this video can help.
In this video we cover symptoms that mold exposure can cause, why mycotoxicity can sometimes be attributed to other health issues, plus treatments to help get your health back on track.
Important points from the video:
3:50: Other issues that toxicity may be misdiagnosed as
5:20: Toxicity is a factor that conventional medicine often misses
5:40: Symptoms that toxicity can cause
7:52: Main life changes/treatments that helped Jessica to heal
10:40: Health issues that she tested herself for
13:30: Moving away from the mold source to heal
Products and Resources Mentioned in the Video:
Jessica's testing was done by Vibrant Wellness (can test for mycotoxins, food sensitivities, Lyme's disease, and other conditions)
What Is Mold Toxicity?
Mold toxicity occurs when the body responds negatively to exposure to certain types of mold.
Negative reactions to mold are also sometimes called mold allergies, but this is a bit different from mold toxicity because allergies tend to be less severe.
Mold toxicity is primarily caused by mycotoxins, which are poisons produced by some types of microfungi (another name for mold).
Mold exposure causes the body's immune system to become hyperactive, which can lead to inflammation and a variety of symptoms, including those that affect the sinuses, lungs, joints, gastrointestinal tract/gut, skin, and nervous system.
Where does mold form?
You might assume that mold only grows indoors in locations where it's wet and humid, but it can actually develop in many climates, even dry desert areas such as the South West United States.
Mold can grow in homes that are experiencing leaks and water damage. For example, musty basements, crawl spaces, or attics that hold onto moisture and humidity are commonly where mold forms.
However, it's not always obvious when a home has mold growing in it. Mold can grow inside walls where it's not visible, plus it doesn't necessarily give off a noticeable smell. These are some of the reasons why mold is often overlooked once someone begins to feel ill.
What type of symptoms does exposure to mold cause?
Every person experiences mold toxicity symptoms a bit differently. In many cases, someone's health can start to decline gradually as more symptoms begin to emerge. In the beginning, fatigue and respiratory issues might be experienced, and then more serious problems such as pain and digestive issues may occur.
Some common symptoms associated with mold toxicity can include:
Exhaustion and weakness
Poor immune function/getting sick a lot
Symptoms that mimic allergies and autoimmune disorders, such as chronic fatigue
Body aches and pains
Nasal congestion
Skin rashes
Trouble digesting foods that used to be tolerated
Headaches
Dizziness
Digestive symptoms such as bloating and pain
Poor concentration/brain-fog
Testing for Toxicity
In Jessica's case, she worked with Vibrant Wellness labs in order to be tested for a range of conditions, including toxin exposure, food sensitivities and autoimmune issues.
Her test results showed that she had been exposed to mold and candida, plus that she was sensitive to gluten. These results were crucial for helping to guide her towards effective next steps and treatment options.
Toxicity Treatments That Can Help
Once you receive your lab results, you may be left feeling confused about how to move forward in order to restore your health.
Below are steps that you can take to get your mold toxicity symptoms under control and help your body heal:
1. Move away from the source of mold
The very first step in following a mold recovery protocol is to remove yourself from the source of mold.
This may require moving to a new home and/or location, or thoroughly cleaning and remodeling your home if you do choose to stay.
Keep in mind that mold is difficult to completely get rid of, plus you will not be able to stay in your home while it's being cleaned. If you do stay in your home, be very careful to remove all potential sources of mold, such as damp carpets, broken windows, affected drywall and so on.
2. Change your diet
Mold toxicity takes a toll on both someone's immune system and gut, which are linked to one another in many ways. For example, the majority of someone's immune system is found within their gut.
When the immune system becomes overactive and sensitive due to mold, it can make it harder to digest certain goods, especially those that tend to cause sensitives anyway, such as gluten.
To help get your digestion and gut function back on track, we recommend that you stop consuming gluten for at least several months, even if you've been told you don't have a gluten sensitivity or signs of Celiac disease (an allergy to gluten). Within just a couple of weeks of giving up gluten you might notice an improvement in how you feel.
Other potential allergens and irritating foods to avoid for a period of time include dairy, grains, and possibly nightshade vegetables, eggs and peanuts. You can remove these from your diet by following a temporary elimination diet, which will help you pinpoint which foods may be aggravating your symptoms. It's possible that after some time you'll be able to add these foods back into your meals safely.
3. Avoid other irritants
While you're recovering from mold toxicity, take steps to minimize your exposure to other types of environmental toxins that your body likely can't handle, such as processed foods with additives, as well as personal care and household products containing various chemicals and fragrances.
4. Support your body with supplements
Certain supplements, such as antioxidants, glutathione and CoQ10, support your immune system and detoxification pathways, helping you remove waste from your body and recover more easily. Supplements geared towards those who are dealing with mold toxicity also help promote cellular energy and promote bile movement and normal bowel movements.
We recommend taking the following supplements if you've been exposed to mold and are experiencing toxicity as a result:
Mi Toxin Binder, to help with detoxification
Mi Toxin Electrolytes, to help with hydration and energy
Mi CoQ10, to help support mitochondrial activity as well as the heart, liver and brain
In Conclusion
Diagnosing mold-related illnesses can be difficult, both because mold toxicity is often overlooked or because its symptoms are wrongly attributed to another condition. If you're ill and suspect you may have mold toxicity, consider getting tested for mycotoxins. You can then help yourself recover by leaving the source of mold, improving your diet to support your immune system, and supplementing to support detoxification.
Ready to Learn More About Toxic Mold Healing?
Join me at my Toxic Mold Masterclass to learn step-by-step strategies to identify and address toxic mold issues in your body, assess and properly remediate your home and create a low-tox home environment!
Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is an acupuncturist turned functional health coach and has worked with thousands of clients since 2004.
She is the founder of FunctionalDetoxProducts.com and the author of The Ultimate Guide to Toxic Mold Recovery: Take Back Your Home Health & Life, available in audiobook, Kindle and paperback on Amazon.
I was introduced to CoQ10 as an supplement about 4 years ago. At the time, I was in the middle of detoxing from mold, and I had already spent a lot of money on trying to heal. I was skeptical to try yet another thing, but the truth was that I was only about 50% better, which is not enough at all. So I tried it…