Pinpoint Your List What Needs To Heal For You To Really Be Well
To give you a better feeling for what I am talking about in terms of the things I had to address to heal, here is my official list:
- I had my physical symptoms to deal with. For me, the most acute issues that came with mold toxicity were my sinuses , my digestion , hormones , and viruses/parasites.
- I also had psychological symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
- Relationally, I had a shaken and tumultuous marriage to deal with.
- Finally, I had a home to take apart, remediate and put back together, including belongings to sort through and dispose of, clean, or store.
That was MY listalthough I am sure there is something I am leaving out. That was my list of the things that I had to address for true healing to take place.
Detox Mold From Your Body
Home > Blog > Biotoxin Illness | September 4, 2020
Mold is a fungus that grows in damp environments. It can be found indoors and outdoors. When certain types of mold begin to grow inside your home, you may develop mold related illness. Most people have heard of black mold however, there are many other types of toxic molds found indoors, including Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Wallemia. Molds produce two different types of toxins mycotoxins and microbial volatile organic compounds. Both of these types of mold toxins can be inhaled or swallowed. When this occurs, mold can begin to form colonies inside the body. Mold induced toxicity is very misunderstood. Mold produces poisons that can cause long-term problems. CIRS or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome is caused by exposure to mold and other biotoxin producers. You are at increased risk if you are suffering with allergies, asthma, respiratory issues or with a weakened immune system. It is essential to detox mold from the body to start feeling better.
Question 2 Of : What Should I Do If I Think Mold Is Making Me Sick
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Reducing The Risk Of Mold Exposure And Removing Mold In The Home
The best way to avoid mold toxicity is to reduce your risk of exposure and this starts at home. There are many ways to reduce the possibility of mold in your home. They include:
- First, address any potential water leaks. This includes plumbing problems or leaky roofs. Second, fix leaking pipes and make roof repairs. In addition, let any areas that receive water damage from the leaks dry completely. Use fans if possible.
- Increase the airflow in your home. For example, open windows and allow fresh air to come in. Above all, ensure that air can circulate throughout the entire home. This may mean moving furniture away from the walls, allowing for full air circulation.
- Install or repair broken exhaust fans in the bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room. This helps reduce increased moisture levels.
- Check that you have adequate insulation and ventilation in your attic and crawl spaces.
- Clean and dry carpets, bedding, and furniture within 24 to 48 hours of exposure to water damage.
- Vacuum and dust on a regular basis to help remove mold spores from carpeting and furniture.
- Check all your windows for signs of water droplets or condensation. Immediately dry the water and check the window seals. Finally, repair as necessary.
- If you live in a humid climate, consider a dehumidifier to reduce humidity levels.
Dr Sponaugles Own Personal Mold Toxicity Story
In 2006, after leaving a fifth-floor Chief of Anesthesiology office for a much larger office on the ground level of a Tampa Bay Hospital, I started to suffer greatly, said Dr. Sponaugle. Hidden behind the wall of the ground floor office was a massive infestation of Stachybotrys Black mold.
Like most patients suffering from mold exposure, I was sick from the Trichothecene toxins releasing gases from behind the wall. I attempted my black mold exposure treatment with oral detox regimens and Charcoal-based products, but I found them ineffective. For this reason, I have worked diligently over the years to design and continuously advance intravenous therapy for treating mold toxicity.
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What Are The Most Common Mold Toxicity Symptoms
In my experience, a wide array of symptoms can manifest if youve been exposed to mold spores. Symptoms will vary depending on how long someone has been in a moldy environment, what type of mold and mycotoxins are detected, as well as the overall health status of the individual, genetics and lifestyle factors.
Some patients ask me: What are the symptoms of toxic black mold exposure? and the truth is that symptoms vary because the variations of mold toxicity is extremely vast. That is why it is essential to work progressively and systematically with a health practitioner who can help you detox your body of the toxins, byproducts and address potential co-conditions.
Aspergilloma of the lung and close-up view of Aspergillus fungi, 3D illustration. Also known as mycetoma, or fungus ball, a lesion produced by fungi Aspergillus in immunocompromised patients
Common symptoms associated with toxic mold exposure include:
- Allergy-like symptoms
Multiple studies demonstrated that long-term exposure could also lead to feelings of chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, impaired memory, decreased libido, and stomach pains. Research shows that our neurological, respiratory, and immune systems are most affected by water damage and mold. A study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology showed that mold exposure in early childhood led to an increase in asthma prevalence in children at the age of 7.
IV detoxification & nutrients support a mold treatment protocol
How To Stop Mold From Growing
While mold cant be eradicated, it can be contained and prevented from spreading. You can stop future mold growth by installing proper ventilation and controlling the humidity levels in every room of your home and fixing any pipe, roof, or window leaks immediately. If any flooding has occurred, clean and dry the area thoroughly.
Home> Blog> Biotoxin Illness | September 4, 2020
Mold is a fungus that grows in damp environments. It can be found indoors and outdoors. When certain types of mold begin to grow inside your home, you may develop mold related illness. Most people have heard of black mold however, there are many other types of toxic molds found indoors, including Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Wallemia. Molds produce two different types of toxins mycotoxins and microbial volatile organic compounds. Both of these types of mold toxins can be inhaled or swallowed. When this occurs, mold can begin to form colonies inside the body. Mold induced toxicity is very misunderstood. Mold produces poisons that can cause long-term problems. CIRS or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome is caused by exposure to mold and other biotoxin producers. You are at increased risk if you are suffering with allergies, asthma, respiratory issues or with a weakened immune system. It is essential to detox mold from the body to start feeling better.
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Important Questions To Answer Before Reading Further
Because this post is going to focus on healing my body, I think it is important to give you a list of questions to ask yourself to help you better determine the pieces of your own healing puzzle. Asking these questions can lead you to the pieces of what I did to heal that could be worth exploring or speaking to your practitioner about for your own healing:
Holistic Treatment For Toxic Black Mold & Biotoxin Illness
Mold Toxicity, also known as Mold Sickness or Mold Poisoning, is an emerging illness that has become much more prevalent in the last 50 years. It wasnt until the 1970s that we began producing more air-tight, energy-efficient homes, and office buildings. The advent of drywall and the production of energy-efficient homes has caused a rapid rise in the number of Americans suffering from black mold symptoms and black mold health effects.
The Federal Government recently released a report suggesting that 50 percent of Americas buildings are sick buildings. The toxic gases produced by indoor mold spores often outgas from molds that are hidden behind water damaged walls, behind shower tiles, and above ceilings where condensation from air conditioning units has occurred. This is driving an increase in mold symptoms like never before.
God gave us logs and stone mold grows slowly on wood and stone, but it flourishes on wet drywall, which is essentially pressed paper. Prior to 1970, the majority of our walls were made from plaster and plywood.
When buildings suffer water damage, molds grow quickly on cellulose material like drywall. Billions of toxin-producing mold colonies can become trillions of colonies in just days. Two phenomena, the advent of drywall and the production of energy-efficient homes, have caused a rapid rise in the number of Americans suffering from mold toxicity.
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How Much Mold Exposure Is Harmful
Molds are a type of fungi, which can flourish both indoors and outside. There are millions of mold species.
Mold is important for the planets ecosystem, because it helps break down waste products and organic matter, such as leaves, dead trees, and garbage.
Some people get sick from exposure to mold. Others have no symptoms and dont experience ill effects of any kind.
In this article, well talk about the potential dangers of mold exposure, identify whos most vulnerable, and provide solutions for keeping your environment mold-proof.
Seek Social Support Restorative Resources And Adjunct Therapies
Recovering from illness caused by mold exposure can be exhausting, isolating and incredibly stressful. Social support is essential for your overall wellbeing and for a return to optimal health. Additionally, specific tools may also be beneficial in bringing your body back into balance after an overactive stress response.
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What Causes Toxic Mold
One of the reasons mold illness is on the rise in our country is because we make our houses out of materials perfect for mold growth. Wood and drywall are basically paper and when they get wet, they dont dry easily. This creates an ideal petri dish for mold proliferation.
When I was watching the news this past hurricane season, I couldnt help but think of all those flooded homes and their potential for mold growth. But your home doesnt necessarily need to flood for it to be susceptible to mold growth. Areas under your sinks, crawl spaces, attics, and basements are all susceptible to mold.
Mold and its mycotoxin byproducts can be found in homes, offices, and schools here exposure is usually through inhalation of airborne particles. But you can also be exposed to mycotoxins through food.
Start A Neural Retraining Program
Certain areas of the body are more vulnerable to mycotoxins, and the brain is one of them. Certain areas of the brain can end up in a chronic fight or flight response and according to McElroy, No pill can fully stop this response, so we have to retrain certain neural pathways to put the response into a heal and rest state. She often recommends Annie Hoppers Dynamic Neural Retraining System. This is essential for full recovery, says McElroy.
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So Is Mold Toxicity A Real Thing
Mold toxicitythe idea that mold can produce harmful substances called mycotoxins that can contribute to autoimmune conditions and other chronic diseaseis a bit controversial. Thats because there isnt any kind of test for it or scientific evidence that any kind of disease exists solely because of mold exposure. Keep in mind that theres a lot of misinformation out there, both about the toxicity of mold and the treatment options.
Theres clear, validated proof that breathing in enough mold in your home over a period of time can cause or exacerbate both allergies and asthma, Dr. Parikh says. It can even cause an invasive respiratory infection, she adds, but any chronic health condition resulting from mold hasnt yet been proven to exist.
Starving Mold Out Of Your Body
Starving mold out of your body is the second most important step after fixing the mold issue in your environment. Luckily, there is a way to starve pathogenic yeasts and fungi inside the body and that is by not feeding it the sugar and carbohydrates they need to survive!
See my extensive list of foods that help starve out mold in your body as well as foods that feed and contribute to fungal overgrowth.
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Reduce Your Exposure To Mold In Your Home
After a hurricane or major flood, you may have to live in a home with mold in it. This could last for weeks, if you have nowhere else to go, or even months, if your whole community was affected. If you have to stay in a moldy home, you need to take steps to reduce your exposure to mold.
If you have asthma, COPD, or if you are immune-compromised you should not stay in a moldy home, or even be there while it is being cleaned.
Toxic Mold Symptoms: How To Know If Mold Is Making You Sick
Because there are many symptoms, mold toxicity varies from person to person. Practitioners have observed that people living or working in the same water-damaged building may have different symptoms. And some people may not be noticeably affected by the mold.
Some factors that may affect your susceptibility to mold include your health status, length of exposure, and toxin load. Genetics can also make a difference.
Twenty-four percent of people from normal populations have a certain HLA gene called HLA DR. This means that about one in four people are more genetically susceptible to mold toxicity. If you have these genetics, your immune system doesnt readily tag mold toxins to get rid of them. They may build up and make you sick.
Still, this doesnt mean the rest of the population can tolerate excessive mold exposure. A severe mold problem can also affect healthy people. But only sensitive people with certain genetics may be affected by smaller amounts of mycotoxins. So, in a sense, no one is safe.
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Eliminate The Source Of Mold
Studies have shown that approximately 50 percent of homes and places of business have water damage. Those suffering from chronic respiratory issues, including asthma and recurrent bronchitis may be experiencing the symptoms of mold toxicity.
Once you have been diagnosed with biotoxin illness, you will need to ensure your home is free of mold. Inspect your home, looking for signs of dampness. Look at your roof. Are there any missing or loose shingles? Look at your plumbing pipes for any dampness or leaks. Look in your basement or crawlspace for any standing water or dampness.
If you find traces of mold or dampness, you need to scrub the area with a mixture of bleach and water. Then, place fans in the area to dry the dampness. It can take 24 to 48 hours to properly ventilate and dry the area. If you suspect mold in your HVAC system, turn off your heating and cooling system and contact an HVAC professional immediately.
Detoxify To Remove Mold Toxins
Mold doctors can help you detoxify by using a combination of binders to help remove toxins from your body. Some of the common binders used to help remove mold are:
- Activated Charcoal Activated charcoal must be carefully administered because it will bind to everything, including toxins, vitamins, minerals, and other medications. If activated charcoal is used, your integrative physician will need to carefully monitor your nutrition, and supplementation may be required. Because of the mechanisms of activated charcoal, it is best used for an acute situation.
- Bentonite Clay Bentonite clay comes from volcano ash and has been used around the world for many years to help detoxify the body. Bentonite clay absorbs heavy metals, toxins, and other harmful materials. It also provides the body with a variety of minerals, including magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, and sodium. Bentonite clay provides the body with some antibacterial and antiviral properties.
- Chlorella Chlorella is an alga that does a great job of detoxifying the body. Chlorella binds to toxins and heavy metals in the digestive tract and helps transport it out of the body. Unlike other types of binders , chlorella does not remove minerals and nutrients from the body. In fact, chlorella can help boost immunity naturally. Because there is no risk of nutritional deficiencies with long term use, it is a popular binder used by integrative practitioners.
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