Diagnosis & Treatment of Mold and Mycotoxin illness
How Does Black Mold Affect the Body?
Black mold is a silent health threat that can easily be mistaken for other health conditions. The synergistic action between the mold and bacteria can exacerbate inflammatory conditions even more than just the mold itself.
When it comes time for treatment, it becomes difficult, because you aren’t just dealing with a fungal infection, but a bacterial one as well.
Another issue with black mold is the toxic substances produced by the mold itself, called mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are more toxic than heavy metals because they affect more biological systems in the body.
Mycotoxins are extremely potent and affect almost every organ system in our body. The central nervous system is often most heavily targeted by toxic mold spores and can produce cognitive and behavioral changes, ataxia, and convulsions. The reason for this is that mycotoxins have the ability to cross directly into your brain.
Symptoms and Tests for Black Mold Illness
If you suspect that you have been exposed to black mold and are now experiencing symptoms like those listed below, we offer testing to confirm and diagnose black mold and mycotoxin illness.
Symptoms
The first signs and symptoms of black mold toxicity can easily be mistaken for other health issues. Most of the symptoms are characterized by allergen-like reactions, people can easily mistake them for seasonal allergies.
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Itchy eyes
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Runny nose
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Sneezing
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Coughing
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Dermatitis and skin rashes
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Headaches
Long Term Impact
If left untreated, or if the source of the issue is not dealt with properly, mold will continue to build up inside your body.
Mold and fungus favor warm, moist conditions – so the mucous membranes of the lungs and respiratory tract (like the nose, mouth, and throat) will quickly become colonized.
Chronic Health Conditions
As mold builds up in the body, it can develop into more “mysterious” chronic health conditions such as the following:
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Chronic fatigue syndrome
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Chronic coughing
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Depression and anxiety
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Memory loss
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Autoimmune disease
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Nerve issues (like numbness in the hands and feet)
Common Treatments for Mold or Mycotoxin Illness
The supplements and therapies mentioned below help support the immune system, boost our detoxification systems, nourish the gut, reduce inflammation, and boost our mitochondria.
Ozone therapy can help recover mitochondrial function and clear out mold from the body.
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Activated charcoal can be taken as a supplement to assist in the removal of mold from the body. Because of the adsorbent properties of activated charcoal, it quite literally traps toxins (like mycotoxins) in the body, allowing them to be flushed out so that the body doesn’t reabsorb them.
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Probiotics: Our immune system starts in our gut, so if our gut isn’t properly supported, then our immune system will fail as a result. If your immune system is strong, mycotoxins will have a hard time colonizing the body.
