Mold toxicity in the body is an important topic to address since I have seen a significant rise in mold-related symptoms across the board with my patients. Symptoms can vary depending on the individual and their lifestyle, and mold is often a great pretender and instigator of dormant viruses or bacteria.

Unfortunately, the signs of mold toxicity are often unrecognized or misdiagnosed by traditional doctors. In fact, millions of people in the US have varying degrees of mold toxicity and don’t even realize it because they’ve never even heard about it as it’s a condition that’s not made its way to mainstream medicine. 

Mainstream traditional doctors will examine you, and without proper context they often fail to uncover the root cause of your health challenges. Mold illness goes predominately undiagnosed due to the inordinate lack of knowledge on environmental and toxicological diseases in the US.

This results in an enormous number of people left to advocate for themselves as they turn to the internet and Facebook groups to heal. Those can certainly be helpful, but this can backfire as it often directs people into improper treatment paths that can involve bad timing and/or bad protocols.

When you work with a functional doctor, we will review your habits and environment to piece together a complete picture of your lifestyle, while also making sure to run the correct labs throughout treatment while we get to the root cause and downstream effects of the mold toxicity in your body.

I’ve seen a significant increase in patients coming to me with an array of symptoms that usually surface in those who recently moved, started a new job or joined a new gym. As such, they are unaware of their new mold-harboring environment, and they can struggle for a long time without proper diagnosis and treatment. 

Mold can cause trigger inflammation, cause oxidative stress, impede immune function, cause itchy rashes and hives, result in brain fog, insomnia and headaches due to brain inflammation, and re-engage dormant issues like Lyme disease and other co-infections. Indoor mold is often invisible to the human eye and it’s highly dangerous, carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and potentially life threatening.

Mold is a type of fungus and it can found pretty much everywhere, with no consensus on the exact number of species, but according to the CDC, estimates range from tens to hundreds of thousands. Mold species reproduce with spores, which, when inhaled, can trigger allergic reactions.

Certain mold species also produce mycotoxins that trigger a series of adverse downstream side effects in humans. Mold spores prefer warm damp areas, which is why they are commonly found indoors, in rooms with high humidity like basements, kitchens and bathrooms.

However, don’t think it won’t find other areas as mold can appear in any damp place, including carpets, drywall, under wallpaper, on furniture and in the stuffing, inside leaky pipes, flooded areas, and more. It can be especially dangerous if a mold-harboring area is in your bedroom since it’s where you spend so many hours breathing deeply, or in a closet since all of your clothes will be exposed as a result.

Although your home is the first place you should inspect, other sites like your work can be causing the problem as well. Mold grows inside air vents and spreading around a home or office quickly, affecting the health of all coming in contact. Or maybe it’s the new not-so-clean gym, where it’s humid, a perfect environment for mold growth. Mold is also quite common in the foods we eat.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) it’s estimated that 25 percent of the world’s food crops are contaminated with mycotoxins. The biggest offenders are coffee, peanuts, spices (coriander, turmeric and ginger) and grains.

Mycotoxicosis /my·co·tox·i·co·sis/ (mi″ko-tok-sĭ-ko´sis): poisoning caused by exposure to mycotoxins. 

Toxic mold exposure is in essence, mycotoxicosis. For reference, a mycotoxin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by mold. Mycotoxicosis, is used synonymously with mold toxicity, or mold illness and it occurs when a person does not have antibodies to mycotoxins and mycotoxins have accumulated to high levels in their brain and body.

While, not all species of mold produce pathogens (disease causing elements), several species of fungi are known as pathogenic and produce toxic substances – mycotoxins being one of them.

Many of us are exposed to mold daily, however 75% of us are genetically able to fight off the toxicity. So what does that mean for the other 25%? Let’s find out. 

Mold Illness and Genetics 

The answer to ones genetic predisposition toward mold illness lies in the expression of their HLA-DR gene. Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) is the protein the HLA-DR gene expresses and is found on most cells in your body which signal to your immune system which cells are okay and which it should fight off.

When this protein is functioning properly the immune response is activated when foreign threats enter the body – such as biotoxins. Unfortunately, those with the ill-functioning HLA-DR gene have a misprocessing of antigens, which inhibit the immune system from reacting correctly to infection and toxins.

Without the production of antibodies that are needed for deactivating and removing mold toxins these mycotoxins are stored throughout the body. More of than not, they store in the fatty regions of the body, like the brain, and wreak havoc on one’s health. The body also begins to exhibit autoimmune symptoms and disease states ad the body loses its ability to correctly differentiate between foreign and owned cells. 

With over 36 different diseases that can result from a HLA-DR carrier’s exposure to mold it’s no wonder that traditional medicine has trouble treating toxic mold symptoms. 

So if you have a gene mutations such as MTHFR and HLA – which one in four people do – your immune system is not able to produce some of the vital antibodies to mycotoxins. This means that at least a quarter of the population has a difficult time fighting off the mycotoxins that are so prevalent in our environment.

There are numerous ways in which mycotoxins enter your body: 

• Breathing – When inhaling, spores, and mycotoxins come in contact with our respiratory system.

• Eating – Ingestion is another common way of pathogens entering our body, especially if the food has been sitting on your counter for some time.

• Skin contact – Mycotoxins can enter our bodies even through dermal absorption, especially if there are cuts and wounds on the surface. 

Mycotoxins mostly enter our body when inhaling, and the mucous membrane in our nose is there to stop it. However, when the air concentration of these molecules is high, like in mold-infested rooms or a wet sauna, they can get past our mucus membrane and invade our upper respiratory tract and lungs, causing infections and irritations.

And once mycotoxins come in contact with your blood, they can travel anywhere. 

They have been detected in many tissues and organs, urine, cancerous breast tissue, breast milk, spinal fluid, lymph nodes, kidneys, and it looks like the sinuses are the primary mold harboring place. Molds can also be found in brain tissue, and will make an impact with an infection of the central nervous system.

It’s my experience that mold toxicity presents in a wide array of symptoms. Symptoms vary depending on length of exposure, the type of mold and mycotoxins, as well as the overall health status of the individual, genetics and lifestyle factors. 

Common symptoms associated mold toxicity include: 

• Allergy-like symptoms

• Hormone changes

• Gastrointestinal issues

• Mood changes

• Immune system dysregulation

• Energy

• Skin rashes

• Brain fog

• Visual impairment

• Neurological impairment

• Night sweats

• Tremors

• Vertigo

• Hair loss 

Numerous studies demonstrate that long-term exposure could also lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, impaired memory, decreased libido, and stomach pains. Research shows that our neurological, respiratory, and immune systems are most affected by water damage and mold. 

Because mold exposure symptoms are different between individuals and overlap with so many other conditions, general non-integrative physicians often do not even consider mold toxicity when making a diagnosis.

People often suspect conditions like Lyme disease, Fibromyalgia, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes. Often these conditions can overlap but in truth are a byproduct or re-engaged due to mycotoxins in the body. 

Now, let’s review some of the stages of mycotoxin exposure. 

Stage I 

The initial stage of mycotoxin exposure can cause changes in the respiratory and immune systems, brain, mucus membranes, and even the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of exposure may include burning sensations in the mouth, tongue, esophagus, throat, palate, and stomach.

Other symptoms include moist areas of your body like armpits, groin and belt line. Patients have also reported burning within the eyes, ears, and nose. These initial symptoms are very uncomfortable and/or painful for patients. As the exposure and poisoning continue toward the second stage, the sufferers can become accustomed to the presence of mycotoxins and have a period of dormancy in their symptoms.

Depending on the levels of exposure, the first stage may last anywhere from three to nine days. 

Stage II 

Stage two, often referred to as the latent stage or incubation period, often has the patient feeling apprehensive but still capable of normal activity. At this stage every organ in the body is affected by degeneration and necrosis with continued exposure to mold.

While the symptoms are not the same for everyone, some people may experience disturbances in their central and autonomic nervous systems resulting in headaches, anxiety, depression, loss of problem-solving abilities and short-term memory, fatigue, vertigo, loss of balance and speech, temperature control, and numbness to certain body areas.

If mycotoxin poisoning persists, spinal cord degeneration may also occur. 

Stage III 

In this third stage, when exposure to mycotoxins continue, the progression from stage two to three can be quite sudden and can often leave the patient’s resistance depleted. In this stage, vital organs and systems in the body can be damaged.

The first sign of this stage is brain failure, heart attack, and/or lung failure.

These severe symptoms can be accompanied by a petechial hemorrhage, a tiny pinpoint-sized red mark on the skin. The patient could also experience aneurysms; hemorrhages on the mucous membranes of the mouth, tongue, and tonsils; and interstitial thickening or scarring of the lungs.

Mold, especially toxic mold which isn’t always black mold, is exceedingly dangerous and needs to be located quickly. If you have suspicions that your home, office or car may be harboring mold, do not wait. It is important to act quickly to find it. 

Could You Be at Risk?

• Do you live, work, or go to school in a building that has water intrusion, leaks, damp basement, condensation on windows or humidity?

• Is it an old building? Overcrowded? Does it lack central heating? Flat roofs? Leaky roofs? Leaky pipes?

• Do you live in areas that flood? Warm humid climates where humidity is more than 70%? Damaged after a fire?

• Hobbies at risk: historic restorations, bread maker, cheese connoisseur, rare book collector, thrift shop worker, hoarder?

• Do you see peeling paint, floor covering or peeling wallpaper? Stains on walls, ceiling, carpets or furnishing?

• Have you have pest infestations (rodents, cockroaches, termites)?

• Did you develop this illness after you changed, moved to a new home, got a new job, attended a new church, school or a new car?

• Do you experience shortness of breath? Or recurrent sinus infections?

• Do you experience recurrent respiratory infections or coughing? Asthma attacks? Chronic sinusitis?

• Do you have frequent flu like symptoms? Or if exposed to mold?• Do your symptoms worsen on rainy days?

• Do you have frequent headaches, sharp light-headedness, or vertigo? Confusion or disorientation? Irritability, depression, anger, brain fog?

• Do you experience chronic or excessive fatigue?

• Do you have histamine intolerance? Do you have memory problems?

• Do you have sensitivity to bright lights? Blurry vision?

• Do you have joint pains, muscle cramps or muscle pains?

• Do you have tics, seizures, tingling of hands and feet, vibrating sensations?

• Do you suffer from multiple environmental sensitivities?

In the past, when identifying mold exposure as a health issue, the main tests used looked only for antibodies and general inflammation markers. This test in and of itself did not actually identify true toxicity, nor was it specific. Additionally, if one’s immune system is not functioning properly there was a risk of a false negative.

The current tests are much more advanced and specific. 

From acute or chronic exposure, mold can cause systemic effects on the body. The well-known mold doctor, Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, is someone who understands that well. He is also a pioneer in understanding how low-dose biotoxin exposure, to include toxic mold and algae, ravages our health and contributes to disease-states. His website, SurvivingMold.com, is coveted in the biotoxin-impacted community. 

Dr. Shoemaker’s thought is that people who are more prone to illness have a genetic makeup that prevents them from getting rid of all toxins. When a foreign particle enters our body, it binds with white cell receptors and is noticed by our immune system. That leads to the beginning of antibody response, which typically results in the elimination of foreign substances if they have been recognized as dangerous. 

Dr. Shoemaker also highlights the importance of reviewing one’s genetics, immune system responses and tests together. 

Tests Run for Mold Toxicity Exposure:

We offer mold testing that can determine if you have a fungus, or mold-related illness from a contaminated environment such as your home, place of employment or school. This can be done in-office or shipped to your location. 

• Traditional Lab Testing: I look at VEGF, Transforming Growth Factor Beta -1, VIP, HLA-DR, C4a, Alpha-MSH, cortisol, Leptin, ADH, DHEA-S, and Testosterone. I also look at MMP9 blood level, as it is a good indicator of biotoxin-related inflammation.

• VCS Test: I use the Visual Contrast Sensitivity Test as a screening test to see if you could be suffering from mold exposure.

• Mosaic Diagnostics Labs or Real-Time Labs: Both are invaluable tools to assess mold exposure.

• Genetic Test: The gene I look out for is “major histocompatibility complex, class II, DR beta 1.”

The official symbol is HLA-DRB1. This gene provides instructions for making a protein that plays a critical role in the immune system. The HLA complex helps the immune system distinguish the body’s own proteins from proteins made by foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria. I look at both HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DRB5 genes.

At the NATURAL HEALING CENTER we have treated hundreds, if not thousands, for mold toxicity. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there with many so-called experts recommending handfuls of supplements and strict diets. But the reality is, we just don’t know for sure if these are the right treatment approach for each individual. 

You might be surprised to see that “killing the mold” is only one out of five steps. And personally I don’t focus on ‘killing’ mold since most symptoms are due to the immune response, not the mold itself. Instead, I begin with simple lifestyle steps and utilizes non-pill practices to achieve a state of better immune health , including:

Eliminate Exposure

Eliminate the sources of the mold from the environment plus eliminate common dietary sources of mold, including grains, coffee, and peanut butter. This will help reduce the overall mold burden on the body. 

Address sinus health

As molds can colonize the sinuses, I like to collaborate with ear-nose-throat doctors. You can also take steps to improve sinus health at home to include healing the gut since 70 to 80 percent of our immune system is located there.

Begin a Neural Retraining Program

Mycotoxins impact certain areas of the body more than others, and the brain is one of them. Parts of brain can end up in a chronic fight or flight response an no supplement can fully stop that response. So we have to ‘retrain’ certain neural pathways to put the response into a ‘heal and rest’ state. This is essential for full recovery. My recommendations are Primal Trust or Dynamic Neural Retraining System. 

Lower Inflammation

The overactive immune response must be dealt with to bring balance an lower inflammation. This entails an anti-inflammatory diet and a commitment to daily stress management habits.

To heal from mycotoxin exposure, it’s key to support the body’s ability to bind and eliminate toxins. This is where supplementation comes into play.

Some of the specifics I like include antioxidants like glutathione and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and bitter greens, and charcoal to support the liver. It’s important to work with a practitioner experienced in mold illness, who can recommend the right supplements and doses of each. 

Moving toxins out is also important through sweating and activity that gets the blood pumping. Infrared saunas can help get rid of mycotoxins faster as it helps mobilize big soluble particles. Sweating is also an effective way to flush out any heavy metals, which allows binders to be a whole lot more productive and allows your body to detox quicker.

Overall, toxic mold exposure can be a financially, emotionally, and physically draining experience and there is no cut and dried diagnosis and treatment. It can be difficult to recognize and diagnose and often times patients are pushed aside by practitioners and loved ones.

There are many symptoms that are associated with mycotoxin-induced illness.

The following are taken from a combination of resources, including the work of Dr. Jill Carnahan, Dr. NeilNathan, Dr. Richie Shoemaker, and more. This list is intended to guide practitioners ontreatment considerations and is not intended nor does it serve to diagnose. Any diagnosismust be determined and pursued by a qualified practitioner. 

Please answer the symptom question and indicate the severity:

0 = none/never or not applicable

1 = occasionally (for example, 2x per month)

2 = frequently (for example, > 2x per week)

3 = almost daily

**If you don’t know understand a question, include an unusual or similar symptom next to thequestion and rate the prevalence of that symptom. 

Fatigue and/or increasing muscle weakness 0 1 2 3

Headaches / Migraines 0 1 2 3

Poor memory or memory loss 0 1 2 3

Unusual skin sensations or rashes 0 1 2 3

Tingling/numbness 0 1 2 3

Unusual shortness of breath 0 1 2 3

Recurrent respiratory illnesses, including sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis 0 1 2 3

Blurred vision, changes in vision, or persistent eye irritation 0 1 2 3

Mood changes, in particular depression, anxiety, or mania 0 1 2 3

Abdominal pain 0 1 2 3Sudden sensitivity to foods and/or chemicals 0 1 2 3

Ringing in ears or hearing loss 0 1 2 3

Static shocks 0 1 2 3

Vertigo/feeling lightheaded or dizzy 0 1 2 3

Unusual weight gain or loss 0 1 2 3

Sudden changes in sleep, particularly insomnia 0 1 2 3 

SCORING:

0 to 16: Low likelihood of mycotoxin-illness

17 to 32: Moderate likelihood of mycotoxin-illness

33 to 48: High likelihood of mycotoxin-illness 

Symptoms not included in the questionnaires above, that correlate with possible mycotoxin-induced illness, include but are not limited to:

• Light sensitivity

• Word finding difficulty

• Loss of balance

• Difficulty concentrating

• Morning stiffness

• Joint pain

• Sinus congestion (*also seen in mold allergies, which is a distinct entity and does not necessarily indicate mycotoxin-illness)

• Chronic cough with no apparent cause (*also seen in mold allergies, which is a distinct entity and does not necessarily indicate mycotoxin-illness)

• Appetite swings

• Body temperature regulation• Increased urinary frequency’

• Red eyes (*also seen in mold allergies, which is a distinct entity and does not necessarily indicate mycotoxin-illness)

• Sweats

• Sharp pains

• Changes in bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation)

• Bloating

• Tearing

• Disorientation

• Metallic taste in your mouth

• Frequent flu-like symptoms 

Illnesses linked to mycotoxin illness include:

• Cancer

• Heart disease

• Asthma (*also seen in mold allergies, which is a distinct entity and does not necessarily indicate mycotoxin-illness)

• Chronic sinusitis (*also seen in mold allergies, which is a distinct entity and does not necessarily indicate mycotoxin-illness)

• ADHD

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Bipolar

• Chronic fatigue

• Alzheimer’s Disease

• Liver disease

Hormonal imbalances 

People with the following may be more susceptible to mycotoxin/biotoxin-illness:

• Lyme disease

• Fibromyalgia

• Chronic fatigue syndrome