Mould Toxicity
Unfortunately, exposure to toxic moulds from water damaged buildings is very common and completely underdiagnosed.
At least 50% of homes and 60% of commercial buildings have had water issues—churches, schools, university or school dorms as well as office buildings, and don’t forget your car!
With at least 20% of the population being susceptible to mycotoxin illness, no wonder there’s an epidemic of chronic mystery illnesses occurring!
These toxic moulds aren’t the same kinds found in outdoor environments; these feed on paper, wood and organic materials. They like humid, moist air and dark, warm places (such as behind water heaters, in air conditioning ducts, under refrigerators and sinks).
Because of “tight” building construction, the overuse of fungicides and electro-smog EMFs from wireless devices, we are seeing more toxic mould species producing mycotoxins.
Even high humidity (>50%) environments can create mould growth in 48-72 hours.
Symptoms and Illnesses Caused by Toxic Mould Exposure:
Mould/Biotoxin illness may present in many ways, often with some kind of pain or inflammation, in almost any area of your body:
• Chronic recurrent sinus and upper respiratory infections
• Chronic headaches or migraines
• Severe chronic fatigue or ongoing flu-like symptoms
• Fibromyalgia (tender, sore muscles)
• Neurological issues (tremors, neuropathy, brain fog, ADD, learning issues, etc.)
• Neuro-degenerative diseases (Parkinson’s, MS, ALS, Alzheimer’s and other dementias)
• Severe gut symptoms (IBS, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, SIBO/SIFO)
• Autoimmune disorders (Hashimoto’s, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, hives)
• Multiple chemical sensitivities and histamine intolerance (rashes and hives)
• Night sweats (common in men of all ages, as well as women)
• Psychiatric symptoms (anxiety, depression, panic attacks, bipolar symptoms, psychosis)
• Severe sleep disturbances
• Recurrent interstitial cystitis, bladder infections and frequent urination
• Hormonal imbalances (adrenal and thyroid hormones)
• Infertility, heavy periods and cramps, endometriosis, PMS, PCOS
• Cardiovascular disease
• Lyme and co-infections, including viral infections like EBV, HHV6,
• Cancer (especially hormonal, leukemias/lymphomas and bladder/kidney)
• Children (chronic ear, throat and upper respiratory infections, asthma, allergies, ADD/ADHD, sleep, irritability, bedwetting)
Who Gets Sick? How badly you and your family members are affected depends on your genetics, total toxic load, timing and length of exposures. Often, several family members are affected in different ways, with some having no symptoms. Women and children can be more susceptible. In groups of people—like at work, school, or church—there may be a number of people sick with different complaints. Biotoxin illness can be very overwhelming, yet it can be conquered!
Mould, Biotoxins and Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome [SIRS] Symptoms can be caused from these 4 major reasons:
1. Allergic response to the mould itself triggers the immune system to create inflammatory cascades and imbalances
2. Toxic response from mycotoxins produced by moulds can damage cell membranes and mitochondria thus interfering with cell function and poisoning energy production.
3. Additional toxins from other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that toxic moulds and bacterial biofilms produce disrupt detoxification mechanisms in cells, liver, kidneys and gut.
4. Immune system suppression has a direct toxic effect on many forms of white blood cells, thus leading to chronic recurrent bacterial infections and biofilm formation.
Total Toxic Load
Mould is only one of the many biotoxins found in water-damaged buildings. The illness caused by exposure to these toxins is much more complex than most practitioners and patients assume. Because mycotoxins and biotoxins can suppress the immune system, you often end up on multiple rounds of antibiotics, which diminishes the immune protective effect of healthy gut flora. This can cause overgrowth of Candida, another type of fungus that produces its own mycotoxins.
Mycotoxins are tiny and fat soluble, so they get into cell membranes and the mitochondria, disrupting your ability to produce energy and often causing chronic fatigue, as well as the disruption of hormonal and immune functions of cells. This fatigue can be worse after intense exertion.
Many foods have mycotoxins in them (so a low mould diet is definately helpful).
Mycotoxins can stay present in fat cells and cell membranes for many years after exposure, even after you address the mouldy situation itself. In other words, a previous exposure, such as growing up in a damp home with a or a dorm in school or university, may precede your sickness later in life. Exposure to other toxins through air, water, personal care and cleaning products along with a diet full of processed food chemicals, pesticides, GMOs, as well lacking nutrients, may present you with a total toxic load that overwhelms your capacity to detoxify.
Wi-Fi and EMFs (electromagnetic fields) may also be hindering detoxification.
Stress and trauma—some of the most common and detrimental toxins out there—from your past or present, including stressors passed generationally, can impact your genetic expression (i.e., epigenetics) and ability to detoxify. Just being chronically sick without being able to find a solution can cause PTSD and chronic limbic system activation of the fight or flight response, making recovery even more difficult.
Co-infections and Other Toxins: Due to immune system suppression by mycotoxins, underlying bacterial and viral infections such as mono virus (EBV), CMV, Parvovirus and others, may be reactivated, as well as activation or reactivation of tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme and its co-infections (Babesia, Erlichia, Bartonella)
In addition, heavy metal toxicity, such as mercury and lead, may also need to be evaluated.
Summary
1. Over 50% of houses have had water damage issues, causing the growth of harmful mould.
2. Mould can affect the body physically and mentally, causing re-occurring infections, anxiety, and even depression.
3. Mycotoxins are the types of mould that grow inside water-damaged buildings and can be very harmful to humans.
4. Because mycotoxins are fat soluble, they can travel in the body to the brain and into the membranes that are in your cells.
5. Mycotoxins both suppress the immune system significantly, as well as trigger autoimmune and histamine issues.
6. When the mould mycotoxins begin colonizing the body, the immune system becomes suppressed, leaving you more susceptible to other infections including those that are lying dormant like EBV
7. The use of antibiotics can actually cause the body to be more susceptible to fungal growth, which produces mycotoxins.
8. As a herbalist, my preference is to combine ant-fungal herbs with herbs to support your immune system, reduce the histamine response and reduce inflammation.
9. Three great ways to test for mycotoxins in the body are urine mycotoxins testing, Organic acid test and visual contrast sensitivity testing.
10. It is extremely important to retrain the limbic system, stopping the brain from sympathetic fight or flight, which will keep you in reactivity, which will prevent your body from healing itself.
11. One of the best ways to remove mould toxins from the body is by working on your gut health; using glutamine, colostrum, and phosphatidylcholine to mobilise the liver and get the bile flowing.
12. Using binders, infrared saunas, coffee enemas, and sweating in general are also great ways to remove these toxins
13. I also use specific probiotics and enzymes that feed on and reduce mycotoxins reducing your toxic load.
14. This process does require practitioner monitoring and support to ensure there is a balance of killing off mycotoxin, binding die off, supporting the immune system to ensure inflammation is under control.
Diet and Nutrients for Recovery
These may vary depending on your symptoms.
The fundamentals of recovery:
• Eat organic, non-GMO, primarily plant-based with high quality range-fed and/or wild-caught proteins and good fats (olive oils, avocados, ghee/clarified butter, coconut oil)
• No wheat (gluten), corn, soy
• No sugar
• Nothing processed
• No alcohol or soft drinks.
• Depending on your symptoms, you may need a more targeted approach.
• Autoimmune issues: AIP Paleo Diet and gut-repair protocol .
