Persistent Symptoms Of Mycotoxin Poisoning
Let me tell you about Jenny, one of the patients who came to see me in my clinic, Austin UltraHealth. Jenny had polymyositis, an autoimmune disease characterized by the breakdown of muscles. When Jenny came to see me, she had been to 10 different doctors. She was already taking three very strong medications: Cellcept , Prednisone , and Methotrexate . She also reported having recurring SIBO and Candida overgrowth.
I knew Jenny worked as a volleyball coach in a fairly old school building. She had also mentioned she and her husband were renovating their home. These working and living conditions immediately raised a red flag for me.
In fact, whenever I hear someone is struggling with symptoms that wont go away no matter how strict their diet or how healthy their lifestyle, I think about the third pillar of The Myers Way®, Tame the Toxins. Specifically, I suspect one particular toxin: mycotoxins produced by certain types of mold. Mycotoxin poisoning from toxic mold is a root cause that very few doctors even functional medicine practitioners know much about.
How Do You Get Rid Of Mold Spores In Your Lungs
Mold infection is referred to as aspergillosis, and there are different types.
One type is pulmonary aspergillosis, a respiratory issue caused by mold spores already growing inside the lung cavities.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, pulmonary aspergillosis can lead to more severe health issues.
It can cause tuberculosis or sarcoidosis if it doesnt get treated immediately.
The best step is to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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Detox With Diet & Nutritional Changes
Your diet, the nutrients you provide your body with, and what you eat throughout the day play a major role in how well your body performs. By eating a healthy diet, your body will have all the necessary nutrients it needs to work as intended including detoxifying the body from mold.
Make sure youre avoiding excessive sugar, processed foods, and mold-infested foods. Maintain a balanced diet consisting of enough but not too much protein, carbs, and healthy fats.
Mold and Your Genes
The answer to one genetic predisposition toward mold illness is in the HLA-DR gene. HLA is the protein the HLA-DR gene expresses, which communicate to the immune system which cells are good and which it should fight.
When this protein functions correctly, the immune response is activated when foreign threats enter the body such as biotoxins. But ill-functioning HLA-DR gene have a misprocessing of antigens, which inhibit the immune system from reacting correctly to infection and toxins.
So if you have gene mutations such as MTHFR and HLA which one in four people do your immune system cannot produce some of the vital antibodies to mycotoxins. This means that at least a quarter of the population has difficulty fighting off the mycotoxins that are so prevalent in our environment.
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How To Remove Mold From Rubber: 3 Best Cleaning Solutions
Mold is a type of fungus that will grow on any surface, including rubber. If you want to learn how to remove mold from rubber, keep reading to know more! Just remember to work outside your home, wear some safety gear, and rinse the rubber after being soaked in the solution.
We dont pay attention to it much, but we use rubber in our daily activities. We use it for kitchenware, bath necessities, and other home products! Even though rubber is water-resistant, mold can still grow on it if not treated early on.
This situation can be a headache. Fortunately, this article will help you get rid of mold from rubber and give you some tips on which solution you should use.
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Removing Mold In Your Home
In optimal conditions, mold can grow in your home within 24-48 hours.
Another high-risk area for being exposed to mold and mycotoxins is your home. The EPA estimates that 60% of all buildings have mold or other air quality hazards. Every room and outdoor space is susceptible to growing harmful strains.
Risk factors for developing mold in your home include:
- High humidity levels 11
- Water damage
- Poor ventilation
In reducing your mold exposure, prevention is key. This is especially true if your home has been hit by a major water event, such as flooding or a hurricane.12 Immediately cleaning up water damage, keeping humidity levels at < 50%, and ensuring proper ventilation are all great ways to prevent mold from growing in your home.
However, there are some exceptional strategies for removing mold from your home if growth has already occurred:
- A product called Homebiotics. Rather than using bleach when removing mold, this spray is a natural way to prevent and eliminate mold.
- Although HEPA air filters are a great way to keep your home free of allergens, having a photocatalytic air purifier goes steps further in removing mold. These air purifiers reduce mold by disinfecting the air .
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How Much Of A Priority Should I Make Cleansing My Home Of Mold
Theres no need to panic about small amounts of mold. Of course, if you recently had a flood or water damage, its worth contacting a mold inspector. Or, if youre in a high-risk immune category or have allergy and asthma symptoms that might be related to mold, you should definitely address it, Dr. Parikh says. Regular home inspections should be able to detect mold, though.
To prevent mold growth in your house to begin with, the ideal scenario is to use central air conditioning with a certified allergy and asthma-friendly filter, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
If you dont have access to A/C, try to use a dehumidifier, especially when its hazy and humid outside. When youre showering, turn on an exhaust fan or crack a window so mold doesnt appear over time. Cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room regularly with an anti-mildew cleaner is your best bet to zap mold in its tracks.
What Is Mold And How Is It Toxic To Me
Molds are fungi that grow both indoors and outdoors. They grow best in areas that are warm, damp and humid. There are tens of thousands of different species of mold. They spread and reproduce by releasing spores. Under damp conditions, mold grows rapidly and damages the surface it grows on, such as drywall, flooring under carpets, and much more. In areas where large mold growth occurs, the structural integrity of a building can be affected. In addition to the mold, areas of mold growth also contain bacteria, dust mites, breakdown products of bacteria and mold, and airborne chemicals, gases and particulate matter that is released as a result of the destructive mold.
Identifying Mold in Your Home or Office
If you find mold growth, you may notice a fuzzy growth of black, brown, pink, yellow, or green and will often experience a musty smell. Common mold species found in your home or office building include Aspergillus, Alternaria, Acremonium, Cladosporum, Dreschslera, Epicoccum, Penicillium, Stachybotrys, and Trichoderma.
Mold contributes to many different health ailments. The release of spores from certain molds can trigger allergies and worsen asthma symptoms. Some molds produce mycotoxins which are toxic to animals and humans and can cause a variety of different health issues. In addition to the mold, the dust mites, bacteria, and chemicals and gases released from the mold growth can also contribute to health issues and mold toxicity.
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The Journey From Outdoor Mold Spore To Indoor Mold Problem
Whether out enjoying a hike or inside examining the grocery stores produce section, we are constantly transporting and breathing in tiny mold spores. An open window, a family pet or even your sneakers can bring outdoor spores to a new homeyour home or workplace.
These mold spores can be harmless. However, problems arise if the spores come in contact with a moisture source. Moisture lets the spores grow into mold that could affect health.
S To Address Mold Toxins In Your Body
Thank you for the overwhelmingly positive response for my post on toxic burden!
I also got the message loud and clear that most of you are extremely interested in learning more about what you can do to lessen the assault on your body from environmental and manmade toxins. Todays post is going to address a small subset of that topic: mold.
Of course, right?
Most often on this blog, I address the physical mold in your environment, so what I am going to do here is to address mold toxins in the body. Before I begin, though, it is important that you understand that until you remove the inflammagen , and any mycotoxins from your environment, either by successful remediation or by physically leaving the environment permanently, you will not get well. You could literally do every single thing on this list and STILL be sick. That is not to say that some of these things wont help you by aiding your immune system and fighting the fungus, just that none will be able to heal you, if you are continuing to return to the scene of the crime, or the mold. You will continue inhaling new mold spores into your sinuses that will continue making you sick. I hope that makes sense.
Ready to learn more?
Here are 7 Steps you can take to tackle mold in your body:
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How To Get Rid Of Mold Spores In Your Lungs
If youve only begun to notice the mold growth in your house, then its possible most of the spores have already made their way into your airways!
That sounds like danger, but worry not.
Just like how you evicted those pesky particles from your home, there are a number of things you could do to generally cleanse your lungs.
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Mold And Multiple Sclerosis
One article that Pizzorno discusses looks at the possible connection between fungal toxins and multiple sclerosis. This 2010 abstract shows evidence that pathogenic fungi release toxins that target and destroy CNS astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. This, in turn, degrades the myelin sheath and triggers the onset of multiple sclerosis. As Pizzorno states, As is well known, the incidence of multiple sclerosis increases with distance from the equator, which also correlates with mold exposure and decreased vitamin D A critical nutrient for immune system modulation. He asks the question, Could MS be primarily due to the combination of mold exposure and vitamin D deficiency?
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How To Detoxify Mold And Mycotoxins
To effectively detoxify from mold and mycotoxins, you will need the help of binders and a few supplements. One of the best binders and detoxifying agents is modified citrus pectin as it will gently and safely remove mold and mycotoxins from your body. Activated charcoal and bentonite clay are effective binding agents as well. Cats claw is also helpful. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune boosting properties of the herb make it an excellent remedy for mold and mycotoxin exposure. And dont forget about a quality probiotic to support a healthy gut, which is often compromised in those with mold toxicity. To improve overall detoxification, liposomal glutathione is also important. As a master antioxidant, glutathione supports the body in combating toxins and free radicals, plus it helps other antioxidants to work better. When levels of this crucial antioxidant are depleted, it can make you more susceptible to cancer, diabetes, viral infections, autoimmunity, mold toxicity, and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome , otherwise known as environmental illness.
Sinus and mold toxicity specialist Donald Dennis, MD explains why glutathione is vital for those with mold exposure:
Always remember to drink plenty of water and herbal tea to help flush out toxins.
Can Mold Grow In Your Lungs
Unfortunately, this is a possibility with certain infections, especially aspergillosis. However, it is treatable in most cases with some oral medications and, less frequently, surgery.
Mold spores spread through the air any time youre around a mold colony, youre breathing in some of those mold spores and introducing them to the sensitive tissue inside your trachea and lungs. The longer you breathe them in, the longer the spores have a chance to find an open cavity in your lungs to settle down and colonize. For most people with healthy lungs, there really isnt any open space inside, meaning the risk of this happening is relatively low. For individuals who have had recent surgeries or other diseases that can cause open cavities in the lungs , the risk is much higher.
Fortunately, your doctor can prescribe you oral corticosteroids to help bring down the inflammation and reduce symptoms. For more invasive cases of this disease, an oral antifungal may be prescribed. Especially severe cases may require surgery to physically remove mold from the lungs, though this is less common and typically only done if side effects become dangerous .
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Clean Black Mold And Get Rid Of It For Good
Once you know how bad your mold problem is , its time to get rid of the problem.
- Clean mold yourself. If your mold problem is small and visible, like caulking around your bathtub, you can get rid of it yourself. You just want to make sure you use the right cleaning solution. Bleach wont kill mold entirely, and as the chlorine in bleach dissipates, the bleach turns into water, which creates the perfect environment for new mold to grow. Cleaning vinegar will kill mold, as will industrial chemicals like Moldex. Always wear a P100 respirator so you dont inhale mold spores while you clean. Goggles are a good idea too, and a full body suit for larger mold infestations.
- Get rid of mold-contaminated items. Clothing, carpet, drapes, caulking, and paper goods like books and files will all absorb mold spores and can cause new mold growth. If theyve been in an area with black mold, get rid of them, or in the case of cloth goods, get them professionally dry-cleaned. Throwing out belongings is a bummer, but its better to be safe than to have to deal with a new mold problem all over again.
- Professional mold remediation. If you have water damage or major mold contamination in hard-to-reach places, hiring a professional is your best bet. Mold remediation can be expensive, but professionals have the tools to find and eliminate all the mold in your entire home.
Removing Mold From The Inside Of Your Body
Use antihistamine or inhalers to treat the mold. Your doctor can prescribe the correct medication for your specific needs.
Take herbs that can cleanse your intestinal tract, bowels and stomach. Those areas are the ones that mycotoxins have the most effect on. Use goldenseal, psyllium and cascara sagrada to help rid your body of the toxins.
Add garlic to your diet. Garlic has natural antifungal properties and will help rid your body of mycotoxins 2. Along with garlic, incorporate dandelion and licorice root into your recipes.
Drink plenty of water. Water is an important part of the detox treatment because the water will flush the toxins out of your body.
Tips
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How Do Mold Spores Enter The Home
It is not uncommon to find mold at home.
Any space exposed to moisture often is sure to have a bit of mold growth.
Mold can thrive anywhere from your homes ceilings to underneath your floors .
Our homes are also filled with materials that hold water well, including paper, cardboard, wood, fabric, and carpets, just to name a few.
So, how did those spores end up inside your home when they werent there the day before?
First, it can be challenging to determine whether there wasnt any mold activity there, to begin with.
Mold spores are really tiny that they cant be seen through the naked eye.
Second, if there really wasnt any mold activity there originally, mold spores can easily enter your home through the air via open doors and windows.
They can even attach themselves to your clothing or your pets fur.
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Ways To Boost Mold Detox
August 17, 2021 By Michael Schoenwalder
When you think of mold, what comes to mind?
Maybe you picture furry leftovers forgotten in the back of the fridge. Or a black-spotted window sill that leaks every time it rains. Perhaps you remember a white fuzzy growth in your garden. Mold is everywhere. Indoors and outdoors. In fact, scientists have identified more than 100,000 species of mold, including about 80 species that are considered harmful to humans.For many people, mold is a mystery: Where does it come from? Whats the best way to get rid of it? How is mold affecting my health?
Its easy to misinterpret symptoms of mold exposure, because they mimic so many other conditions. Thats why people with mold allergies and mold-related illnesses often have no idea mold is causing harm.
Supporting your bodys natural detoxification system can be helpful, regardless of your health status. In this article, youll learn 6 practical tips to help you overcome the effects of mold toxins by detoxing your body and home.
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Mold Testing And Remediation Recommendations
If there is any chance your home or workplace may be moldy the first thing I recommend is to have the building tested by a great environmental testing company. They are not all created equal and I recommend or . The primary factor in treating any environmental illness is to identify the toxin and eliminate it. In my clinical experience, patients who are still exposed to the offending mycotoxins will not fully recover until they either move or fully remediate their homes.
Moving and remediating moldy homes can feel very overwhelming, especially when you arent feeling well because of the mold! I recommending talking to or about which of your belongings can be cleaned versus which ones need to be thrown out.
