The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates that 47% of homes in the United States have visible mold or mold odor. Water damage is the leading cause of mold in buildings. 85% of commercial office buildings have experienced water damage in the past and 45% have current leakage problems. More people are being exposed to mold than they even realize. On top of that, almost 30% of people are genetically susceptible to health problems related to mold exposure.
Unfortunately, doctors are often not aware of this insidious problem or how to treat it effectively. Many patients are misdiagnosed with other diseases when in fact, it is a mold infection. The danger of molds comes from their spores and the mycotoxins they produce. Exposure to high levels of mold spores and/or mycotoxins through inhalation, ingestion or skin contact, can lead to a wide variety of very serious health problems.
Read this post to learn all about mold and what to do to protect yourself.
WHAT IS MOLD AND WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
Molds are fungi that thrive in damp, dark and humid environments. They reproduce through tiny spores that float in the air. Mold spores are everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. They become a problem indoors when they land on surfaces with excess moisture and begin to grow. Any organic material such as drywall, wood, carpet, insulation and even dust can serve as a source of food for mold to grow. Some foods can also be contaminated with mold toxins including peanuts, coffee, wine, beans, spices, grains, fruits and vegetables.
MYCOTOXIN PRODUCING MOLDS
Many molds produce mycotoxins. These toxins are very damaging to the body and many are carcinogenic. The most common molds that produce mycotoxins are the following.
ASPERGILLUS
Certain aspergillus species produce aflatoxins, which are potent carcinogens. Aflatoxins are most commonly found in contaminated grains (corn, wheat, barley, rye and oats), nuts (peanuts and tree nuts) and spices (especially red pepper, black pepper and cumin). Aspergillus can also produce ochratoxin A, which is another known carcinogen. Ochratoxin A is found in grains as well as coffee, grapes and wine.
PENICILLIUM
Penicillium mold can produce ochratoxin A and other toxins. Penicillium species contaminate cereal grains, fruits, nuts and spices. Along with aspergillus, it produces patulin, a mycotoxin commonly found in apples and apple cider. Penicillium is often traceable in the air and dust inside the home and can grow on building materials in water-damaged areas.
FUSARIUM
This mold is common in soil and can produce a wide range of mycotoxins. Fusarium primarily contaminates cereal crops like wheat, corn and barley. Some of the toxins are carcinogenic. One mycotoxin of fusarium is zearalenone (ZEA), which is a mycoestrogen. It is known to cause hyperestrogenism. ZEA and its metabolites can cause the proliferation of tumor cells and the development of gynecologic cancers. Read More
STACHYBOTRYS
This is also called “black mold”. Stachybotrys is often associated with “sick building syndrome.” Frequently found in water-damaged buildings, it grows on cellulose-rich materials like drywall, insulation and wallpaper. Outdoors it can be found in decaying plant matter including hay, straw and leaves. Stachybotrys grows in homes where moisture is present and has significant effects on indoor air quality. It is commonly associated with respiratory problems.
ALTERNARIA
Alternaria can be found on drywall, wood, carpets and textiles. Heating and air conditioning systems can also harbor this mold. It is common in soil and on decaying vegetation and the spores can become airborne, especially during warm, dry seasons. Contaminated foods include grains, nuts, sunflower seeds, fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes, apples, olives and citrus fruits.
RISK FACTORS FOR MOLD IN YOUR HOME
An old home
Older homes have often had water damage in the past. They can have a build up of hidden mold behind the walls and ceilings, in ductwork and fixtures. Old homes may have poor ventilation and no air conditioning, leading to a humid environment with no place for water vapor to escape.
Leaks
Roof leaks, plumbing leaks and water leaking into walls or foundations through cracks.
Flooding
Whether from natural disasters or household accidents, after a flood, many homes will develop a mold problem.
High Humidity
This is especially problematic in damp, poorly ventilated areas like bathrooms and basements.
Condensation
This occurs on cold surfaces like windows and pipes when the air inside the home is warm.
Poor Ventilation
Ventilation is necessary for water vapor to escape. Mold cannot thrive in well aerated, sunny, dry environments.
RISK FACTORS FOR MOLD IN YOUR BODY
Genetics
One of the major genetic risk factors for mold susceptibility is the human leukocyte antigen (HLA). This is a family of genes crucial for the immune system’s ability to distinguish between the body’s own cells and foreign invaders like mold and mycotoxins. Certain variations in HLA-DR and HLA-DQ are linked to an increased risk of mold sensitivity and chronic inflammatory response syndrome.
Compromised Immune System
Cancer patients are often immunosuppressed, whether from the cancer itself or the treatments. This makes us more susceptible to mold infections.
Long-Term Exposure
Many women may not realize they are being exposed to mold long-term. Over time, this can cause significant inflammation and damage to cells, tissues and organs. Mold infection is often misdiagnosed as other conditions and goes undetected.
Chronic Lung Diseases
Smoking, emphysema, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung problems can increase susceptibility to mold.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE MOLD?
Visible mold can appear as black, green, brown, orange or other colored patches on walls, ceilings, floors and other surfaces. It can look fuzzy, slimy or powdery. The problem is mold often grows in invisible areas behind walls, under floors or in ventilation systems making it difficult to spot. It also grows on foods.
A better indicator of mold is with your sense of smell. Mold produces a characteristic musty, earthy smell. If you notice a persistently musty odor, especially in damp areas or older homes, it could indicate hidden mold growth. I had this happen to me when I moved into an old home. For several years I was being exposed to mold, not realizing how dangerous it was. Even though I could never see it I could smell it and my dog and I kept getting sick.
If you are noticing health symptoms like a persistent cough, sinus and nasal congestion, allergies or rashes, headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and brain fog, these could indicate you are being exposed to mold. Some women experience sluggishness, bloating and gastrointestinal symptoms. A white coating on the tongue or frequent yeast infections is another indicator. Pets can become sick as well so watch for this.
TESTING YOUR HOME
Visual inspection
Look for visible mold growth in your home.
Air Sampling
This involves collecting air samples to identify the types and concentrations of mold spores present. Examples include spore traps and culture plates that you set out around your home and send in for testing.
Surface Sampling
This test uses swabs, tape lifts or bulk samples (carpet, drywall) from areas where mold is suspected, to identify the type of mold present.
Professional Mold Inspection
If you think you have > 10 square feet of affected space or hidden mold, you should consider getting professional help. Certified mold inspectors conduct thorough evaluations to identify hidden mold, assess moisture issues and recommend appropriate testing and remediation strategies.
TESTING YOUR BODY
Several laboratories offer mycotoxin urine tests. While these tests are expensive, they may reveal a major cause of disease. Here are some links to different labs that do this testing. The price varies so see what works for you.
True Health Labs
THE DANGERS OF MOLD
Mold can be a very insidious cause of disease and lead to a whole host of problems.
Mold suppresses the immune system. In fact, some mycotoxins have been turned into drugs to suppress the immune system for transplant patients and autoimmune conditions.
Respiratory issues are frequent. Mold spores can trigger respiratory problems, especially in people with allergies or asthma. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and nasal congestion. According to the Mayo clinic, 95% of people with chronic sinus infections got them as a result of mold exposure.
Mold can induce allergic reactions in sensitive people, leading to sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes and skin rashes.
Mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, throat and lungs causing inflammation and discomfort.
For women with pre-existing conditions, especially respiratory or immune system issues, exposure to mold can make symptoms worse.
In some cases, molds and their mycotoxins can lead to severe health effects such as fatigue, headaches, cognitive decline and chronic inflammatory response syndrome.
CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYNDROME (CIRS)
CIRS is a multi-system illness with multiple symptoms that can affect up to 25% of the population. According to the study referenced below, 52.1 million Americans may develop CIRS from exposure to mold in water-damaged buildings. Both alive and dead mold fragments have the capability of triggering massive inflammation throughout the body and the brain for those with CIRS. Unfortunately, CIRS is rarely recognized or diagnosed by doctors.
CIRS is a dysregulation of the immune system. The innate immune system (rapid, non-specific response) sounds the alarm when mycotoxins enter the body. The adaptive immune system (specific, slow, antibody response) doesn’t hear the signal and clear the mycotoxins. The toxins remain in the body so the innate system ramps up its signal. The continuing presence of the toxins spreading throughout the body and the dysfunction of the immune response create systemic inflammation and damage to multiple areas causing a variety of symptoms.
It is often confused with autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, autoimmunity is common for those with CIRS so some people have both. Understanding the differences between the two conditions is crucial for effective management and avoiding treatments that may benefit one condition, but exacerbate the other. Read More
MISDIAGNOSES
Mold symptoms can be vague and generalized. They may come and go. This makes it difficult to diagnose. For these reasons, mold infection and toxicity are often misdiagnosed as the following conditions:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Lyme disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Fibromyalgia and other joint and muscle pain disorders
- Autoimmune diseases
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
- Allergies
- Sinus infections
- Psoriasis
- Asthma
5 STEPS TO MOLD REMEDIATION
- TEST YOUR HOME AND BODY FOR MOLD
If you suspect a mold problem, make sure to get tested. Some home mold test kits may not be very accurate, so keep this in mind. It may be better to get a professional to do an evaluation of your home. Although it’s expensive, think about doing the mycotoxin urine test. It can give you a lot of important information you can share with your doctors.
2. CLEAN YOUR AIR AND ENVIRONMENT
You can’t recover from mold if you keep getting exposed. Did you know there is an entire protocol for clearing out mold in the Bible? (Leviticus 14:33-45) God knew this was bad for your health. In biblical times, leprosy referred to a broad range of skin ailments including psoriasis and mold. It wasn’t just leprosy caused by a mycobacterium as we know it today. In this passage, God gave explicit instructions to the Israelites on what to do if a home had “the plague” (aka mold).
- Keep humidity levels in your home low <50%. An air conditioner or dehumidifier can help with this.
- Make sure there is good ventilation. Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom that vent to the outside. Open windows on dry days to let fresh air in.
- Let the sunshine in. It helps kill the mold and keeps the home dry.
- Fix any leaks as soon as possible and clean up and dry out your home fully within 24-48 hours after a flood.
- Use an air purifier in your home that kills mold. Here are some reputable brands: Air Doctor, Jaspr, Therapure.
- Add mold inhibitors to paints before painting.
- Clean bathrooms and other surfaces with a mold killing solution. Avoid bleach. It is not good for your health. An excellent natural fungicide is tea tree oil. Here is a simple recipe: 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil, 1 cup of water and 1/4-1/2 cup of vinegar. Mix well and use in a spray bottle.
- Remove or replace carpets, area rugs or upholstery that have been soaked and cannot be dried effectively. Discard anything that may be contaminated with mold.
- If you are cleaning up mold, wear an N95 mask and gloves to protect yourself.
3. EAT A HEALTHY DIET
- Believe it or not, molds thrive on carbohydrates and sugar. When I started on my healing path, I mistakenly started eating a plant based diet and juicing carrots, all super high in carbohydrates and sugars. I wound up with a severe candida infection. Candida is a fungus, although it is often referred to as a yeast. It is a natural microbe in our gastrointestinal tract, but when it overgrows, it creates problems.
- It is best to eat a low-carbohydrate diet if you suspect mold. Not only does it starve the mold, it starves cancer cells as well. Some doctors even recommend the carnivore diet to treat mold.
- Avoid foods that are often contaminated and not good for uterine cancer patients including grains, beans, peanuts and high sugar fruits like apples. Even coffee can be contaminated with aflatoxins, so look for mold-free, organic coffee and check expiration dates. Keep dry goods stored in a cool, dry place in sealed containers and discard expired items, even spices.
- Make sure your produce is fresh and organic if possible. Wash it thoroughly before eating. Washing in a dilute vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) can help remove mold. Avoid eating anything that appears to be spoiling or has mold growth on it.
- Raw garlic is an excellent fungicide and anti-cancer, so adding this to your foods is very beneficial.
4. SUPPLEMENTS AND ESSENTIAL OILS
These supplements and essential oils are known to have anti-fungal properties.
- Oil of oregano
- Grapefruit seed extract
- Curcumin
- Green tea
- Cloves
- Licorice root
- Pau d’ Arco
- Berberine
- Binders like charcoal, bentonite clay and zeolite can bind and clear mold toxins
- Tea tree oil (topical use)
- Neem oil (topical use)
Make sure to take vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants and probiotics as outlined in other blog posts to support your immune system and gut health.
As a side note, Itraconazole is a prescription medication that is used to treat mold infections and is also an off-label drug for uterine cancer. If you have a mold infection, you may want to ask your doctor about it. I was treated with this and it helped tremendously.
5. THERAPIES
- Sauna use is an excellent way to detoxify from mold. Set the temperature to 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit if using an infrared sauna. In a traditional dry sauna, the temperature should be 160-180 degrees. Sit in the sauna 3-4 times per week for 30 minutes. Any time you can devote to this will really help you sweat out the toxins.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an excellent way to clear infections from the body. If you can afford to do this and have it available in your area, just one time per month can make a big difference.
- Intravenous ozone therapy is another excellent treatment. It not only helps clear mold, but it helps with cancer treatments. If possible do this therapy 1-3 times per week until you are better.
IN CONCLUSION
Mold is a very real and serious health concern, especially for cancer patients. If you are having vague symptoms, not feeling well or are not responding to treatments for cancer, I highly recommend you check to make sure mold isn’t the reason behind it. It may take days, weeks or even months to completely clear mold from your body and your environment, but it is definitely worth it.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ~Jesus
Matthew 11:28