The Mystery of Mold & Mycotoxins
Do you or someone you know struggle with a constellation of mysterious symptoms of which you have been told…”it’s all in your head” by multiple Providers?
Chronic fatigue, brain fog, persistent cough or sore throat, unresolving sinus symptoms, unexplained muscle aches or joint pain, anxiety, depresion, long-standing skin manifestations, headaches - all of these symptoms could be a sign of biotoxin illness in the form of mold toxicity.
What is Mold & Mycotoxin Syndrome?
The “science” of the diagnosis and treatment of mold toxicity is really in its infancy. This post is an attempt to synthesize the current information and approaches that are available at present.
Usually someone who has mold toxicity isn’t just dealing with toxic mold. Oftentimes, that person is dealing with other co-infections: mast cell activation, methylation dysfunction (an issue with detoxification), reactivation of viral, bacterial, and/or parasitic infections, limbic system dysfunction, and/or vagal nerve dysfunction.
Many patients are unaware that their home or workplace could be the breeding ground of their symptoms. In fact, it’s estimated that indoor pollutants, including toxic mold, are at a concentration of 2 to 5 times higher than that of the pollutants found outdoors and contribute to more than 50% of illnesses!
Signs & Symptoms of Mold Exposure
fatigue, muscle weakness
muscle aches and cramps
joint pain, tendonitis, morning stiffness
cognitive impairment: difficulties with memory, brain fog, concerns with word finding and articulation
skin sensitivity to light touch
headaches
sensivitiy to bright light, blurred vision
chronic sinus congestion
cough, chest pain, shortness of breath
abdominal pain, gastrointestinal distress
depression, anxiety
mood swings, appetite swings, night sweats, temperature dysregulation
numbess and tingling, vertigo, dizziness
hormonal dysfunction (which can result in heavy periods)
If you’re someone who already has chronic or seasonal allergies, or suffers from a respiratory condition such as asthma or COPD, your allergic reaction to mold may be much more significant. These worsened allergic symptoms can cause: persistent coughing
frequent chest colds
headaches
difficulty breathing
sinus inflammation
fatigue and lethargy
In cases of long-term toxic mold exposure, this may lead to more serious symptoms such as:
poor memory and confusion
sensitivity to light
tingling and numbness in your hands and feet
appetite swings and weight gain
increased thirst
hair loss
metallic taste in your mouth
abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea
muscle cramps
joint pain
anxiety
lightheadedness
difficulty concentrating
Fibromyalgia
chronic fatigue syndrome
chronic sinusitis
increased sensitivity to everything
Mold spores, which tend to be harmless on their own, float in the air and occur naturally both indoors and outdoors. We are always breathing them in! The mold spores we encounter each day outside can attach themselves to us by landing on our clothes, bags, and shoes. They’ll even hitch a ride on our pets! This gives the mold spores convenient access to our homes and workspaces when we go inside.
For these spores to grow into the mold we see in our homes, they need to land on moisture. A few examples of where mold may be encouraged to grow are:
ceiling tiles
walls
carpet
Wet cellulose products (such as paper, wood, and fiberboard)
What are Mycotoxins?
Mycotoxins are substances produced by mold. There is currently no upper limit of a safe amount of mycotoxins the body can handle as it is an evolving field. Mycotoxins are often stored in fat cells and fatty tissue and are known to be neurotoxic, immunosuppressant, cause immune dysregulation, can affect reproduction, can be carcinogenic, hepatotoxic (liver toxic) and nephrotoxic (kidney toxic). They can cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and placenta. If not bound, mycotoxins can be reabsorbed back into circulation and cause all the problems listed previously.
Why doesn’t everyone have chronic mold issues?
Only about 25% of the human population has a genetic SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) that impedes them from eradicating mold efficiently out of the body.
Types of Mycotoxins:
Aflatoxin: from Aspergillus fungus, can be carcinogenic and toxic to the liver. It can cause abdominal pain, depression, and headaches. It is found in contaminated foods like grains, nuts, vine ripened fruits, coffee, wine and animal feed.
Ochratoxin A: from Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi, it is the most common myotoxin found in urine. It is usually found in contaminated food and water-damaged buildings. It is nephrotoxic (i.e. toxic to the kidneys), can cause immune compromise, can be carcinogenic, and can cause neurological symptoms. It can lead to kidney disease and adverse neurological effects. Studies have shown that OTA can lead to significant oxidative damage to multiple brain regions. Dopamine levels in the brain of mice have been shown to be decreased after exposure to OTA. Some studies have hypothesized that OTA may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Gliotoxin: from Aspergillus fungus, causes immunosuppression and can impair T cell activation.
Roridin E and Verrucarin A: mycotoxins produced by Stachybotrys, commonly known as “black mold” and need constant moisture to grow. They typically grow on materials like paper, fiberboard, and gypsum board. These mycotoxins are often associated with causing bone marrow suppression, GI distress, nervous system disorders, cardiovascular distress, and immunotoxicity. THESE MYCOTOXINS HAVE BEEN USED IN BIOLOGICAL WARFARE. This form can cause hemorrhage and death.
Zearalenone: from Fusarium fungus, it is a food contaminant found in animal feed, grains, corn. It can impair fertility and affect fertility epigentically (for future generations), can cause thymus atrophy (where T cells mature and develop), and cause immunosuppression. It is estrogenic (can cause estrogen dominance or poor estrogen metabolism). It is a reproductive toxin.
Enniatin-Cyclic Peptides: is a food contaminant (even in dog food! Another reason to feed your dog real human grade food!), can cause fatigue, liver disease, impairs mitochondrial function, and can alter bone remodeling.
Mycophenolic Acid: is an antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral mycotoxin acid. It is produced by the Penicillium fungus. MPA is an immunosuppressant which inhibits the proliferation of B and T cells. MPA exposure can increase the risk of opportunistic infections such as clostridia and Candida. MPA is also associated with miscarriage and congenital malformations when a woman is exposed in pregnancy. It is an ingredient of bleu cheese (which provides its characteristic blue color).
Chaetoglobosin A: produced by the mold Chaetomium globosum (CG). CG is commonly found in homes that have experienced water damage. Up to 49% of water-damaged buildings have been found to have CG. CHA is highly toxic, even at minimal doses. It disrupts cellular division and movement. Most exposure to CG is through the mycotoxins because the spores tend not to aerosolize. Exposure to CHA has bee linked to neuronal damage, peritonitis, and cutaneous lesions. It can also cause male infertility and respiratory distress.
Are All Molds Toxic?
We are exposed to hundreds of mold species in the outdoors, but when indoor molds are able to grow without competition from their natural environment, they can cause something called Sick Building Syndrome.
Mold Toxicity Makes Everything Worse
This means it makes other co-infections worse: lyme, viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, food allergies, gastrointestinal dysfunction, autoimmune disease, multiple chemical sensitivities...and the list goes on.
New Models of Response to Mycotoxins to help understand its complexity (for reference if you want to dive deeper):
The Cell Danger Response
Dr. Richard Horowitz’s 16 Point Differential Diagnosis Map
Dr. Bredeson’s 36 Point ReCODE program
Dr. Shoemaker’s Biotoxin Pathway
Where can mold be found?
Home/Office/School: start with your home but do not rule out other areas of life where time is spent
Car: A/C Units can become contaminated with mold
Food: common foods include grains, vine fruits, coffee, and wine
Remediation or removal of exposure is the first step to recovering from mold toxicity. Remove the obstacle first! No amount of detox will reach its full potential if you’re still living in exposure.
Ways to Test for Mold
Mycotoxin urine testing with liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry (current standard). I use the Great Plains Mycotoxin Urine Test (around $300, must be ordered by a Provider).
Visual contrast sensitivity testing: this is a very reasonal test under $50 that can give you an idea of potential biotoxin load. www.vcstest.com.
Lab testing of biochemical markers: TGF beta-1, c4a, MSH, VEGF, VIP, MMP9 (these are hard to get covered by insurance sometimes and are not available at all labs).
MARCON testing (nasal swab): this can be helpful for identifying possible fungal or bacterial overgrowth (especially bacterial resistance) in the sinus cavity. Fungal overgrowth often coincides with mold toxicity and is usually the next step in treatment after binders are up and running successfully.
If you know you’ve been exposed to mold, I recommend the following steps:
Remove yourself from the environment where there is contamination.
Avoid being near porous items from the exposed area.
Clothes, paper, wood, etc.
Use binders to bind internal mycotoxins in your body. Use magnesium citrate or buffered C powder to keep your bowels functioning normally while on binders. Constipation can prevent detoxification!
Test and be treated for candida overgrowth.
Common signs include yeast infections, oral thrush, and digestive symptoms.
Get treated for colonizations of molds/fungi and bacterial infections in your body.
The most affected areas are sinuses, bladder, gut, lungs, and vagina.
Enhance your detoxification (with supplements listed next).
Infrared sauna therapy. Sweating is one of the best ways to remove unwanted metabolites, including mold!
Immunoglobulins (IgG/IgA).
Invest in a high-quality air filter for your home and office.
I like the following HEPA filters:
Healthmate Plus model from Austin Air, Swiss IQ AIR and Blue Air.
Take antifungal medications and herbs (listed below).
Avoid common foods that contain mycotoxins.
A few of these include corn, barley, wheat, peanuts, rye, cottonseed, chiles, spices, dried fruit, cocoa, bread, black pepper, and alcoholic beverages.
Treatment of Mycotoxins
Remove the source of environmental contamination or contaminated foods. This may require hiring a company who specializes in mold evaluation and eradication.
Binders (i.e. adsorbents): cholestyramine (prescription), bentonite or zeolite clay, activated charcoal, chlorella.
Antifungal drugs (nystatin, itraconazole) and/or supplements (oil of oregano, caprylic acid).
Biofilm breaking agents.
Oral glutathione or NAC (N Acetyl Cysteine).
Probiotics that help bind and eradicate mold (S. boulardi, L pentosus, L. beveris).
Vitamins A,C, E, and Zinc.
Ensuring bowel motility is optimal (you need have a bowel movement every day). If you’re treating mold, but not eliminating, this is not good for detoxification!
Sweating (to enhance excretion): Infrared sauna therapy at least 2-3 times per week (with electrolytes after).
Foods To AVOID During Mold Treatment
coffee (there are some brands that spend the extra money to eliminate mycotoxins), sugar, dried fruits, yeast, simple carbs, baked goods, mushrooms, corn, potatoes, vinegars, soy sauce, grapes, aged cheeses, moldy cheeses, nuts
Foods To ADD During Mold Treatmentbeets, artichoke, asparagus, radishes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, cabbage, celery, cucumber, bitter greens (arugula, broccoli rabe, endive, watercress, kale, dandelion greens), avocados, olives, olive oil, fresh seeds and fruit, eggs, fish, ghee, garlic, onions, scallions, chives, leeks, clove, cumin, rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, basil, bay leaf, green tea, flaxseed, chia seed, oat bran, psyllium husk
Essential Oils to use in Mold Treatment
Try adding a few drops of clove and orange essential oil to your diffuser next time you want to clean the air and kill airborne mold spores.
How do you test for mold in your home?
Mold Pour/Agar Plates: Petri dishes that you can place in your home. Here is an example of a reputable company: https://immunolytics.com/ (with immunolytics you can get specialized agar plates for your car, and you can swab your pets, many options).
ERMI testing (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index): uses PCR technology (polyermase chain reaction), and creates an ERMI Score which is an algorithm used to calculate the ratio of water damage-related species to common indoor molds. The ERMI value is typically between -10 and 20 (5 or above is positive exposure). High quality companies that do ERMI testing: Eurofin, Envirobiomics, and Mycometrics.
Create Your Health Home. https://createyourhealthyhome.com/
Get an independent environmental evaluation in your home (I like Jason Kester at Kester Clear Environmental Solutions).
It’s nearly impossible to prevent all mold growth since spores are always floating in the air. However, there are some steps you can take to discourage future growth:
Control the moisture by investing in a dehumidifier and keep humidity levels under 60%.
Dry wet spots quickly.
Keep areas prone to mold growth cleaned, disinfected, and dry.
Drain and unclog HVAC units regularly.
Fix leaks immediately.
Improve air flow by opening doors and moving furniture away from walls.
Keep your basement ventilated.
Leave your bathroom fan on for 30 minutes after showering.
Dry your bathtub or shower with a squeegee.
Clean shower curtains, towels, rugs, and loofahs regularly.
Open a window or turn on a fan while cooking.
Below is a link to a great documentary, called “Moldy Movie,” produced by Dave Asprey (who suffered from mold illness), that does a good job shedding light to mold toxicity, which we are seeing even more prevalently in our world.
Mold Killing All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
Ingredients:
8 ounces of Water
4 ounces of White Vinegar*
3 ounces of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol
1 teaspoon of Dr. Bronner Liquid Castile Soap
10 drops of clove oil
10 drops of orange oil
5 drops of cinnamon bark oil
Glass spray bottle
Instructions:
Add your essential oil to the isopropyl alcohol. Slowly add the vinegar.
Mix your castile soap into the distilled water and gently add this to the alcohol, essential oil, and vinegar mixture. Mix gently, but well.
Spray kitchen counters with your homemade cleaner and wipe down.
Notes:
Take out the vinegar if you have granite countertops as it can cause etching or pitting. Replace with distilled water. It’s recommended to make new cleaner each week if you can. You may be able to get up to a month out of this recipe. Be sure to check your cleaner for bacterial and fungal growth before each use. Keep in cold storage if you can.
What is your Home Microbiome?
You probably already know that a balanced gut microbiome is crucial for your health. You might even know that your skin and mouth have their own microbiomes. But what about your environment?
Surprisingly, we have a very limited understanding of the microbial composition and diversity found within our homes and how they can affect our health.
In one pilot study, researchers found an average of 2,253 distinct types of microbes per home. They also found that the diversity of microbes in the homes they studied were highly variable and affected by factors such as:
Indoor habitat structure
Number of occupants of the home
Gender of occupants
Presence of pets (especially dogs)
Frequency of cleaning
Ventilation rates
Chemical exposure
Climate
Geography
From these findings, it’s clear that our home microbiome develops in response to our activities. And since we spend a majority of our time now indoors, we are interacting with this microbiome every day, leading researchers to believe that our home microbiome can influence our health, both positively and negatively.
5 Ways to Improve Your Home Microbiome
When looking to improve our digestive and overall health, we use probiotic supplements to crowd out bad pathogens and strengthen our immune system. Using this concept, here are 5 actions you can take today to diversify your home microbiome.
1. Spend Time Outside
Americans spend too much time indoors. In fact, researchers estimate that we spend up to 90% of our time inside. This is not only bad for our weight, it can also limit the diversity of microorganisms that enter our homes.
When we spend so much time inside bacteria-poor environments, it can make our immune system overreact to harmless substances. Train your immune system by spending some time outside doing activities like gardening or hiking. If you have children, play with them outside and don’t be afraid to get dirty. Of course, you’ll want to practice common sense and wash your hands regularly after spending time outside.
2. Adopt a Pet
Dogs are cute, furry, and loveable, but can they be good for our health, too? For years, scientists thought that the release of oxytocin was the only benefit of pet ownership. However, that may no longer be true. Many dogs spend significant amounts of time outdoors and then track countless “germs” into their homes. And scientists are saying that could be a good thing for our home microbiome.
If you’ve owned dogs, you’ve probably been told at least once that children who grow up with animals are less likely to develop allergies. But until scientists started looking at the home microbiome, it wasn’t exactly clear why. In one study, dog and cat ownership significantly increased the levels of 56 and 24 different bacterial genera in the indoor environment, respectively. Another study showed that pre- and postnatal pet exposure raised the abundance of gut bacteria that could prevent childhood metabolic and atopic diseases. These findings indicate that the increased diversity in the environmental microbiome due to pet ownership may have a positive impact on our health.
3. Adopt Houseplants
Houseplants are not just for décor; they are also great for boosting the diversity of our home microbiome. Plants and soil come with their own bacteria and viruses, a vast majority of which are benign to humans. Our exposure to these microbes can help further develop a healthy immune system. Here are some great air-purifying plants you can add to your home today;
Spider plant
Dracaena
Ficus/Weeping Fig
English ivy
Bamboo
Chinese evergreen
Peace lilies
Aloe vera
4. Get an Air Purifier
A high quality air purifier uses fans to remove potential air toxin sources, including mold spores. If you have a mold problem at home, you’ll want to invest in an air purifier that has a HEPA filter. Mold spores are also tiny – between 1 to 30 microns in size – so you’ll want to look for an air purifier that can capture particles of those sizes or smaller.
5. Add Probiotics to Your Environment
Probiotic-based cleaners have been gaining popularity for their effectiveness and safety advantages over conventional chemical products. In studies examining methods to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs), researchers found that probiotics prevented the growth of pathogens and were completely safe for all patients, including those at high risk of opportunistic infections. One particular probiotic spray that I currently like is called Homebiotic, which harnesses the power of probiotics to fight mold spores and harmful bacteria in our homes.
Unfortunately, we’re seeing an increase in the number of mold illnesses because new homes, with their air-tight sealing and better insulation, have become ideal breeding grounds for mold. But as discussed, there’s a lot you can do to support your immune and microbiome health inside and out!
PMIDs:
17195275, 16293235, 27521635, 22069626, 24792326, 22253638, 16140385, 2467220, 16844142, 19148691, 22069658, 16019795, 18286403, 15781206, 11439224, 17092826, 32710148, 2857779
https://austinair.com/indoor-air-quality-explained/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323419.php
https://www.healthline.com/health/black-mold-exposure#symptoms
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/candida-symptoms-treatment#section4
https://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm#Q1