Mold illness

There are several ways to approach a diagnosis of mold illness. We can assess a possible mold illness based on history of exposure, symptoms, and ruling out other possible diagnoses. We can also assess using objective testing such as a mold swab, visual contrast sensitivity test, urine mold toxin test, among others.

1) Environment testing: Many home based tests involve collecting dust and possible mold spores from a surface and growing it for a time on an agar plate. If colonies grow, they can be sent away to be analyzed to assess what type of mold is present. Certain molds, those that produce mycotoxins, present more of an problem in terms of our health than others.

2) Mold nasal swab: We can apply the same technology as the Environment Testing to provide insight into how the body may be colonizing mold itself. In this way we can assess the possible types of mold that may be harboured within a person’s sinuses. This can sound quite shocking, however it’s important to note that we all have symbiotic microorganisms, including some molds that are typically found in and around our bodies that may not directly cause illness.

3) Visual Contrast Sensitivity test: This test has been used to assess people who have possible mold illness. The research indicates that it has a high correlation with mold illness. You may have a positive test (meaning that you failed the test) if you have other central nervous system pathologies including accumulation of heavy metals such as mercury, chronic infection with a microbe that can affect the brain (e.g. neuroborreliosis), or dementia. This is a helpful tool that can be used to assess if a patient will likely respond to certain treatments and to track the response to treatment over time. This test can be completed online in the comfort of your own home through the SurvivingMold.com website.

4) Urine mycotoxin ("mold toxin") test: Mold produces mycotoxins, which are responsible for causing the symptoms we see in mold illness. Whether these mycotoxins are inhaled from the environment, or they are being generated by mold colonies in the sinuses, the body works to eliminate them as best it can. One route of elimination is through the kidneys, hence they can be detected in a specialized urine test. We often run this test through Great Plains Laboratory.

5) Other testing: Additional testing can provide information as to why and how the body is affected by mold. Genetic testing, organic acids testing and blood tests may be helpful. Genetic testing can provide understanding as to whether a gene mutation may be one of the factors in a decreased detoxification function. Organic acids testing can provide insight into the function of the mitochondria. Mitochondria can be significantly affected by mold mycotoxins. Additional biomarkers that can be assessed through blood tests such as hormones, antibodies, and cytokines can provide additional information about immune and hormone status. With knowledge of the body’s state we can more specifically target treatment.

• Our treatments may include nutritional recommendations, detoxification protocols, targeted herbal therapy, nutritional supplements, IV therapies, nasal sprays, and lifestyle changes.
• Nutrition: A basic nutritional approach minimizes high inflammatory foods. Some patients may find that low histamine diets are required, or possibly a low starch-based diet. These recommendations address the degree of inflammation in the body, the state of the immune function, and additional illnesses that may be involved.
• Detoxification protocols: In detoxification protocols we want to open the pathways for the body to process and eliminate toxins. This requires us to support all the aspects of detoxification which include methylation pathways, the liver and biliary system, excretion of toxins into the intestines, and elimination of toxins (e.g., via bowels, urination, sweating, breathing etc). We can support detoxification through nutritional supplementation, ensuring clear bowels and bladder, specific dry skin brushing regimes, saunas, and breathing techniques.

            - Herbal therapy: Herbs can come in various forms. We can target different aspects of a mold infection. We can use herbs to: 

            - Support the body’s ability to detoxify

            - Kill infection

            - Retrain the immune system to work properly

            - Heal damaged organs, glands and tissues (muscles, nerves, etc.)

            - Address symptoms to bring patients relief while waiting for the infection to resolve

• Nutritional supplementation: Supplements provide the body with required building blocks for cellular detoxification and energy production.
• IV therapy: In many cases in our experience, IV therapy acts as a “kick starter” of the therapeutic protocol. We regularly see faster rates of improvement in patients who can utilize them.
• Addressing biofilms: Biofilms are a protein-sugar coating that can form on the lining of the intestines, blood vessels, sinuses and other areas of the body are effectively act as hiding places for persistent infectious microbes. Biofilms create a protective layer around the microorganisms to hide them from our immune system. While hiding behind this protective layer they can still multiply and produce toxins that can continue to make people sick. This is why we often need treatments that eliminate mold and biofilms.
• Reducing EMF exposure: EMFs (electromagnetic fields) can significantly aggravate symptoms of infection in some patients, especially brain fog and insomnia. Reducing exposure during sleep can be crucial .
• Support throughout treatment : In our experience, patients who are actively killing mold may begin to have other symptoms. Additional toxins can be released as mold is killed off, or sometimes a patient may start actively clearing heavy metals (indicated by developing headaches, a metallic taste in the mouth, aggravation by strong scents/chemicals, etc.) or start clearing past emotional issues. Sometimes old symptoms from years before come to the surface again. As different symptoms arise they must be dealt with to help eliminate the current infection.