A Stealth, Mystery Illness
Mold toxicity is one of those illnesses that is difficult to recognize because it can mimic so many other conditions. It is frequently missed completely or misdiagnosed. However, it is shockingly common and individuals are often unaware that mold exposure is causing their mystery symptoms. Black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum and Stachybotrys atra) especially can cause serious health issues. Due to modern building practices of creating air-tight, energy-efficient spaces using high cellulose content like wood, fiberboard, and gypsum board, mold easily flourishes and spreads throughout our environments, particularly if we live in an area that is damp, warm, and humid. Regions prone to flooding are also at risk. Once we have addressed the environmental mold problem in our home or business, the next step is to detoxify from mold exposure and subsequent mycotoxins.
Symptoms of Mold Toxicity
Indicators of mold toxicity have a wide range of symptoms and are often misdiagnosed as arthritis, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and autoimmune conditions. The most common symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Chronic fatigue
- Rashes
- Chronic coughing
- Night sweats
- Shortness of breath
- Joint pain
- Sensitivity to light
- Dizziness
- Poor memory and concentration
- Brain fog
- Sinus infections
- Mood swings
- Vertigo
- Blurred vision
What makes mold toxicity so problematic is that it can suppress and damage your immune system, making you more prone to other illnesses. Mold also produces mycotoxins like aflatoxin and ochratoxin, which can encourage significant health problems from lung issues to cancer. Mycotoxins, unlike mold, can enter into your bloodstream, taking over your immune system and causing severe illness. If you are already immune compromised, mycotoxins will often go hand-in-hand with diseases such as fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
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 (MCP) as it will gently and safely remove mold and mycotoxins from your body. Activated charcoal and bentonite clay are effective binding agents as well. Cat’s 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 don’t 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 (CIRS), otherwise known as environmental illness.
Sinus and mold toxicity specialist Donald Dennis, MD explains why glutathione is vital for those with mold exposure:
“The liver and kidneys are key in removing mycotoxins. People with mycotoxicosis usually have lower glutathione levels in their kidneys, liver, and red blood cells, thus they cannot get rid of the mold toxins as well as normal people. So, providing supplemental GSH is essential to assisting the liver and kidneys in removing the mycotoxins (and other toxins such as heavy metals when present) from the body.”
Diet can also help your mold detoxification efforts. Focus on colorful vegetables and leafy greens; starchy vegetables like corn and sweet potatoes; low-sugar fruits such as berries, apples, and avocados; onions and garlic; fresh herbs that include basil, thyme, cilantro, oregano, and sage; spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric; coconut oil and extra-virgin olive oil; wild-caught fish, free-range beef, and organic, free-range poultry; eggs and legumes.
Always remember to drink plenty of water and herbal tea to help flush out toxins.
Herbal Support
My Balanced Gut Blend Tincture is formulated to help with leaky gut and the inflammation that is so common with mold toxicity. It contains a powerfully blend of medicinal herbs, including: reishi, turkey tail, and lion’s mane mushrooms, plantain, slippery elm, and marshmallow.
What’s more, medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, turkey tail, and lion’s mane help to optimize and modulate the immune system, which is crucial for those dealing with mycotoxins and mold exposure. Additionally, lion’s mane helps to support cognitive function, while reishi and turkey tail are considered adaptogens, which assist in alleviating chronic fatigue.
Before using any medicinal mushroom, it is important to establish that it is double-extracted and only uses the fruiting body for the highest potency, like the tinctures found in my apothecary. To learn more about the impressive health benefits of these medicinal mushrooms and tinctures, visit the apothecary today!
Nicole Apelian
