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Registered dietitian, women’s health expert, and someone who’s seen both sides of the healthcare system.

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How to Detox from Toxic Indoor Mold: The Best of the Top Mold Doctor’s Protocols In the Right Order

So many downplay toxic indoor mold when they are not aware of the significant damage it can cause to the human body. I was not fully aware either, until it became personal and mold exposure turned out to be at the root of my son’s life threatening health issues, and my own health problems too.

Mycotoxins (what’s excreted from mold & can accumulate in the body) are potentially dangerous health hazards; below, I am going to provide a high level overview, awareness & general education on this deeply personal topic.

This is condensed blog but also consider my program: Healing from Mold for lots of details, studies, protocols – basically everything I wish I would have known when the devastating moment hit that we figured out it was mold rocking our world and we didn’t know who to call, who to trust, or what order we should be tackling our problems

What Is Mold?

Mold is a fungus that can grow both indoors and outdoors. Mold is found most where there is moisture and it can grow quickly indoors within 24 hours of water damage from a leak, moisture or too much humidity. People typically think of “water damage” as some catastrophic event (like a hurricane) for mold growth to happen in a home – but this is a rarity.

Toxic indoor mold is common in the majority of homes in harmful amounts

In reality, it’s not always freak events but rather a slow leak, lack of proper ventilation in attic or bathroom leading to moisture, a crawlspace that is not encapsulated, older homes no longer up to standard code, etc. Note that indoor mold is not always seen or well smelled; it can be sneaky and “hide” and why thorough testing is needing; what complicates things is not all mold inspection and remediation companies are quality establishments. Mold can grow in old and new homes – water/moisture damage does not discriminate based on age or geographic location.

Not sure if mold is in your home in health hazardous levels?

A simple and medically recognized test exists! Start with checking your home for clinically significant levels of toxic mold by ordering an ERMI dust kit #1 here and get results in about 5 days. Don’t mess around with petri dishes and other test kits sold at home depot; an ERMI is the only over the counter thing worth doing if you want to screen your home, or just go right to hiring a certified mold inspector. I will say though that getting this data will help you stop wondering; don’t complicate it! Order the test and if it’s around 5 or higher, you should be calling a certified mold inspector asap to find the WHERE and the WHY. (The ERMI tells us WHAT and “HOW MUCH only).

Listen to your body even if “labs are normal; everything is fine.”

It is often the smart human body that alerts us via symptoms to share “something is wrong” versus happenstance a person finding indoor mold out of the blue. Ongoing, unexplained symptoms lend itself to questioning and then peeling layers of an onion for answers.

Did you know that about 50-70% of homes have mold according to the International Center for Toxicology and Medicine? These are NOT small numbers. Additionally, the E.P.A. cautions that approximately 50% of the mold growth in homes is hidden.

According to the CDC, the most common indoor molds in homes are

  • Cladosporium
  • Penicillium
  • Aspergillus (*what was in our home had)
  • Alternaria
  • Stachybotrys chartarum (aka black mold)

“Mold is the gun; mycotoxin is the bullet.” – Andrew Campbell, MD

After being exposed to high levels of indoor mold (often unknowingly in the beginning), many will go to their healthcare provider with symptoms; and it sadly often gets misdiagnosed. That’s because circulating mycotoxins can “act like” many other conditions, and why many Functional & Integrative Medicine aligned practitioners strongly advocate for “root cause medicine.” (#testdontguess).

But unfortunately for many humans (including our family for years), mold bioaccumulation often gets labeled as something else or only the “downstream symptoms” are recognized, and then consequently the interventions that occur are surface level. This is like shutting off the check engine light and continuing to drive the car without actually lifting up the hood.

Mold wreaking havoc in your body CAN show up as the following (and in parathesis is at least one reason why the symptom occurs)

(note that family members all living in the same moldy home can have completely differently symptoms for many reasons- which is exactly what we experienced)

  • Fatigue (low MSH)
  • Elevated cholesterol in bloodwork (can inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and contribute to sludgy bile)
  • Reoccurring yeast infections (oral, nasal, vaginal- mold in immunosuppresive)
  • Excess thirst and consequently excess urination (suppressed ADH)
  • Coughing or wheezing (lung irritant and extra histamine produced)
  • Congestion, red eyes (often undiagnosed MARCoNS)
  • Difficulty conceiving (low MSH, low progesterone, testosterone, oxidative stress, low VEGF)
  • Miscarriages (mycotoxins can cross the placenta and affect fetal development)
  • Shortness of breath (increased TGFBETA1, low VEGF)
  • Headaches (low ADH, neurotoxicity)
  • Hair loss or excess hair shedding (low MSH, low VEGF, low progesterone, low glutathione)
  • Joint pain (low MSH, cytokines)
  • Memory problems or “brain fog” (from brain inflammation, elevated C4a, atrophy of the caudate nucleus)
  • Dizziness (low ADH, low iron)
  • Sinus infections, often reoccurring (low MSH, MARCoNS positive in nose)
  • Sensitivity to light or scents/fragrances (positive VCS test; mold detected by optic nerve)
  • Skin rashes or eczema (excess histamine produced, low MSH, high AGA)
  • Mast cell issues (mold upsets mast cells to release extra histamine, allows candida overgrowth)
  • Digestive problems – bloating, constipation (low MSH, candida and/or SIBO overgrowth, high AGA)
  • Unintentional weight gain (elevated leptin from mycotoxins junking up receptors)
  • Inflamed or edematous – (basically every CIRS lab)

If you have multiple of these signs or symptoms, do the free VCS test as a screening tool. If you have a positive test coupled with lots of symptoms above, the likelihood of CIRS (typically from mold) is high.

One of the main reasons mold toxins can cause so many different symptoms is it first can negatively impact the immune system, and this systemically can cascade to various problems in the body; if diagnostic criteria is met, a patient may be diagnosed by a mold literate Physician with CIRS: chronic inflammatory response syndrome. There are over 1700 scientific articles on CIRS which are real and valid even if Western Medicine continues turn a blind eye.

What is CIRS?:

In the susceptible population (about 25% of people), the innate immune system recognizes the biotoxins like mold sending signals to the adaptive immune system to respond. Unfortunately in CIRS, the adaptive immune system does not recognize the biotoxins or mold. Without the help of the adaptive immune system, the innate system is constantly triggered (upregulated) creating high levels of inflammation. This incites a multi-system, multi-symptom illness known as CIRS. Please note that CIRS is just one thing that can happen from mold exposure and some providers hyperfixate on CIRS and not the whole person.

Common misses of mold toxicity can result in downstream only labels (and consequently symptom management only care) like:

  • Depression and/or Anxiety
  • ADD or ADHD
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Asthma
  • Infertility
  • Overweight or obese
  • POTS or dysautonomia
  • Sinus infections
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome

Why will some family members “get sick” and others are “fine.”

Everyone has a different threshold for mold & about 25% of the population has a genetic predisposition where they cannot properly excrete mycotoxins (& toxins in general or other VOCs) from their body and this usualy leads to CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome). Find out if you have specific HLA-DR Haplotypes specific to mold illness (HLA DR/DQ 1,3,4,5) as you can self order this bloodwork on yourself without a Physician order.

Other factors that vary from person to person include if a mold allergy is present (or not), if the MTHRF gene mutation is present (or not), nutritional status, presence of other comorbidities (or not), how much and how long exposed. So you can see there is lot that influences a person’s propensity to “be sick” while others “feel fine.” Not all will develop full on CIRS when exposed to a biotoxin like mold, but can still have lots of health implications.

So what should you do (in regards to your home) if you suspect or find mold?

*Get this [nonexhaustive] checklist emailed to you here to help you stay organized and not miss any major steps:

  • Ideally you LEAVE the toxic moldy environment; however for most this is not financially possible. So everything below is next best steps:
  • Long term goal is fix the root issue at hand! (I.e.: leak, ventilation, etc)
  • Immediate short term goal is get rid of the moisture, water damage or excess humidity. Get a dehumidifer going
  • If water damage is involved, deal with it immediately and call a restoration company but note this is not synonymous with a quality mold inspection company. This deal with the initial water damage but dont always check for microbial growth or remediate
    • Backstory: We first called 2 other companies in a 2 year time span as we suspected mold, but they never found mold with their piss poor flashlight inspection (which I didn’t know any better at the time; I trusted their evaluation). My mama bear gut kept telling me there was mold. We finally got referred to a third company and had an excellent experience. They actually found it, did thorough testing (3 hours of assessment), remediated what was found, fogged the whole home & helped us correct the source of the problems which involved contractors and roofers. I also really like Greg Bowen (#847-220-4161) with Healthy Home Medics who services the Midwest when it comes to quality mold inspection.
  • Get quality & heavy duty air purifiers immediately
  • Launder all cloth items in your home using special products that can rinse spores from clothing, blankets, towels, etc.

Addressing the mold environment is crucial; Rupa Health says it best:

“To think of this simply, it’s like emptying a bathtub. Two components must be addressed: the faucet (i.e., mold exposure) & the drain (i.e., detox/elimination pathways). Without turning off the faucet, it will be very difficult to empty the tub. Once the faucet has been turned off, opening & unclogging the drain will allow you to drain the tub completely.”

AND ANOTHER CRUCIAL ASPECT FOR YOUR WELLBEING….

How do you detox/care for your body once you have found mold?

These are some general pointers below in the proper order to help you navigate this traumatic blow to your body (especially for those with certain HLA-DR Haplotypes). Note this is below is not the 12 Step Shoemaker protocol; not everyone exposed to mold will need this, can tolerate it, and there is research to support other effective approaches to mold bioaccumulation. There are other angles outside of the Shoemaker protocol to consider such as stabilizing mast cells and work on gastrointestinal health. All of the top Mold Literate Physicians’ work and literature needs to be considered:

  1. SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT. Schedule with a qualified practitioner that can help you care for your body post mold exposure. I would recommend seeing a mold literate provider. I can order within my scope of practice multiple tests as a part of nutrition evaluation and monitoring. I typically first recommend VCS testing and urine testing and/or CIRS testing – all can be self ordered here as getting a baseline is important. The purpose of this is to see the type of mycotoxin – which will typically line up with the mold found in air and/or dust sampling. Addressing mycotoxins is something that is outpatient managed as it can take months and years to heal from mycotoxin damage and sequelae from mold, especially if the patient developed CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome). ***If life threatening symptoms are ever experienced, go to the ER immediately, but note that the majority of mycotoxin impacted people will be outpatient managed as this is usually a chronic problem.
  2. GET OUT OF TOXIC INDOOR MOLD ENVIRONMENT. As stated, you need to ideally move out of the moldy situation. If not logistically or financially possible, you can still start caring for your body & you can start to make changes to your home as listed above but note your body cannot fully heal in the environment that harmed it. Dr. Shoemake recommends getting the score to a 2 or less but there are a few nuances to this.
  3. SUPPORT YOUR BODY’S NORMAL METABOLIC DETOXIFICATION PATHWAYS. First and foremost, getting the drainage pathways open is CRUCIAL- the mycotoxins need an exit strategy! Ideally 1-3 soft yet formed bowel movements per day (anything less is degrees of constipation). Achieving proper bowel regularity is often augmented via adequate hydration, taking magnesium citrate (~ 300mg at bedtime) if not contradindicated, and eating well. Magnesium is just a mineral humans need to survive & in proper doses it helps pull fluid into the colon to soften the stool. If feces stay in the colon for a long period of time, it is easier for toxins to reabsorb via the intestine walls and then recirculate. Mycotoxins can be eliminated via the stool (and also sweat and urine).
  4. BILE FLOW SUPPORT. Bile (made in the liver and stored/concentrated in the gallbladder) is the superstar of detoxification, especially when it comes to clearing out the mycotoxins to the intestines to then be voided – but regularity is important to establish first. Then, focus on optimizing bile flow as it carries away fat-soluble toxins from the liver to the gallbladder, and next into the intestines. Excess toxins and mycotoxins however can contribute to “sludgy bile” and increase risk of gallstones. Milk thistle and phosphatidylcholine are nutraceuticals can help support this innate process the mold can alter. Supporting stomach acid for proper digestion, which can also get too low from mold exposure, also encourages healthy bile flow. ACV gummies before meals can help. Stagnation can breed dysfunction – proper drainage is key.
  5. MAST CELL STABILIZATION if needed to decrease the mast cells from releasing too much histamine and other chemical mediators. When histamine symptoms are overbearing, it is hard to move on to other aspects of detoxing. There are prescription options for severe cases but over the counter options exist too. Stinging nettle, Quercetin, pepcid, controlling stress, red light therapy– all can be helpful tools.
  6. ADDRESS GUT DYSBIOSIS/SIBO/SIFO (IF PRESENT). And speaking of the Gastrointestinal tract, it is common for those with mold exposure to develop gut dysbiosis, intestinal bacterial overgrowth and/or fungal overgrowth (parasites are more likely to set up shop too in a person who has a hit on their immune system). If this is the case, you will also need to address these opportunistic pathogens. I highly recommend a GIMAP test and/or SIBO breath testing. If gut dysbiosis is present, this link in the chain needs dealt with for various reasons. Gut dysbiosis can cause nutrients to not be absorbed well (which is a barrier to liver detoxification – see how so much is connected) and be a hindrance to bowel regularity (which is a barrier to mold detoxing), and contribute to further damage to the gut lining or intestinal permeability (aka leaky gut) and potential for autoimmune conditions to develop. Dr. Shoemaker’s protocol doesn’t address gut health, but I do think it is something CIRS patients and non-CIRS patients need to look at because so many cannot tolerate binders if there is significant intestinal pathogenic overgrowth. Overgrown pathogens need found & eradicated before moving on and tolerating next steps.
  7. CORRECT NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES if needed. It is crucial to screen for these bloodwork and correct with targeted micronutrient supplementation (it is unrealistic to achieve via diet alone if true deficiencies exist – like dropping pennies in the bucket). Many micronutrients are cofactors in phase 1 and phase 2 liver detoxification. Common nutrient deficiencies that mold can induce are coq10, glutathione, vitamin D, b vitamins.
  8. GLUTEN FREE DIET. Straight forward: gluten is recommended to be omitted from the diet for at least 3 months to help decrease zonulin and correct elevated levels of antigliadin IgA; Also, an emphasis on including 5-9 cups of veggies and fruits of all colors to help reduce oxidative damage caused by mycotoxins. If you are in survival mode and not tolerating much, deal with more pressing aspects first and work on healthy diet in the long run.
  9. BINDERS. Binders are often needed when dealing with mold (especially if CIRS exists). Binders help by “binding” to toxins to move them out with the stool. Some backstory: Toxins in circulation get sent to the liver, and bile (made in the liver) take the toxins out into the GI tract for final excretion via a bowel movement. Binders (prescription and over the counter) help bind to some degree to the mycotoxins in the bowel so it doesn’t get reabsorbed via entero-hepatic circulation. I love and used TRS which is well tolerated by children as its a tasteless spray. Mold literate practitioners often start with binders as the first bodily intervention and this is usually consumed for multiple months as binding is not a one and done process. Mycobind and modified citrus pectin are other popular, effective binders. If binding is not well tolerated, go back to earlier steps in my list of things to do as dealing with mold often takes a broader approach than just a CIRS protocol. Prescription binders are other great options too if you have access to a provider who can prescribe; make sure you address constipation if it happens and be careful with mineral depletion which are reasons people often pick other binders.
  10. ADDRESS SINUS CAVITY. Figure out if you have MARCON’s or candida overgrowth in your sinuses, and if so you must address your sinus cavity (route that mold is most likely entering your body). You DON’T have to have sinus symptoms to have MARCoNS. Options to explore include specific intranasal sprays at 2 sprays in each nostril 3x per day for 2 month minimum; some need to take 6 to 12 months to eradicate the colonization. Most can start a nasal spray safely but talk with your doctor first. Many exposed to mold will not fully get better if MARCoNS is not eradicated as it can keep the MSH hormone low and inflammation raging on.
  11. GLUTATHIONE SUPPORT. An antioxidant loaded diet is good for starters with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, but enter in the mother of antioxidants = glutathione. Mold drastically depletes glutathione (which is somewhat found in foods) but we can boost the amount consumed using liposomal glutathione or NAC (a precursor to glutathione). This can be checked on an OAT test and in serum labwork.
  12. FIGHT INFLAMMATION: Focusing on anti-inflammatory efforts is key. High dose fish oil & can help modulate receptors in the brain that get “excited” by mold; these supplements in therapeutic doses can help. Dr. Shoemaker’s research speaks to the importance of DHA/EPA supplementation (in amounts not achieveable via diet alone).
  13. ANTIFUNGALS. If systemic candida overgrowth is present, herbal anti-fungals are an option too for less invasive cases. (This intervention may or may not need to occur for all – depends on if present). Side note: I personaly took 25 ROUNDS of prescription antifungals over ~2 years for reoccuring yeast infections! I was super disappointed in my conventional healthcare team at that time as no doctor ever asked why candida kept coming back. I had to keep begging for testing to rule out other potential culprits that I knew could cause candida overgrowth, and when everything kept coming back normal, I kept questioning mold. All of this personal experience was another driver behind me reaching out for a 3rd opinion on our home for mold evaluation. Once the mold was found & remediated, I stopped getting candida infections… And over time, on a professional level this whole experience is another reason for my strong and important stance on “testing and not guessing.” It has made me a fierce patient advocate in my private practice. Candida is something that Dr. Shoemaker does not discuss in his protocol, but it is something that Dr. Jill Crista and Dr. Neil Nathan do speak to. Remember – not any one Doctor’s protocol is “better than the others;” they all have good talking points and research. It really boils down to what the patients needs for their unique situation.
  14. CoQ10 SUPPORT. CoQ10 (an antioxidant) can be particularly beneficial for individuals facing challenges such as mold exposure, as it aids in neutralizing toxins in the body, provides protection to cells against harmful substances, and supports antioxidant activity in lymph and blood cells, contributing to overall well-being in the face of environmental stressors.
  15. ANTIOXIDANTS AND MITOCHONDRIAL SUPPORT. There are multiple studied antioxidants that help reduce oxidative stress: resveratrol (grapes, blueberries, cranberries), L-carnitine, creatine, Phosphatidylcholine, Acemannan and ALA. All of these support mitochondrial health – which can be damaged from mold. Red light therapy multiple times a week is also helpful!

Don’t want to try to piece together all that info above on your own?

It can be a lot to process. I a step by step general pre protocol and then the actual protocol to help simplify an action plan all in my Healing from Mold Online Program. I have both Pediatric (age 4+) and Adult general protocols with general dosing guidelines and 2 months of gluten free/lower histamine meal plans with grocery list and prep instructions.

*Always talk to your healthcare team before starting anything new in regards to dietary plan and/or supplementation; this is a general education course – not medical advice. Seek a mold literate Physician for medical advice.

How long does a mold protocol last?

Months to years (for some) and pivoting as needed – discuss with your own healthcare team based on your labwork. With patients, I will retest various measurements from month to month. I understand there are many nuances to direct testing and indirect testing for mycotoxins and when working with patients we go over options.

Releasing stored mycotoxins is a process, but worth it and important for physical and mental health. Mold can contribute to other “downstream effects” so make sure you are working with a physician for medical management and evaluation especially if you question CIRS. I provide medical nutrition therapy not medical evaluation & management.

SOME mold ill patients will need additional medications such as below and this will ultimately be at the discretion of your CIRS Doctor.

  • CSM or Welchol
  • EDTA or BEG nasal spray
  • VIP nasal spray
  • DHEA if androgens are low
  • Desmopression if abnormal ADH and osmolality
  • High dose statin temporarily if C3a remains elevated
  • Losartan if TgF-Beta 1 remains high
  • If Lyme is also coexisting, antibiotics may be needed too

What else can you do to soothe your body while detoxifying from mold?

  • Drinking filtered water that is not stored in plastic. Avoiding heavy metals found in tap water are something that candida and parasites love, which is not good and we don’t want to contribute to the fungal burden in the body)
  • Infrared sauna: sweating helps remove toxins. Aim for pulsed sessions (3-5x a week for shorter sessions at about 15-30 minutes versus long, infrequent sessions). If you are sensitive to heat or it contributes to histamine overload, then stop. Saunas are not a replacement for binders; many more toxins leave via stool
  • Red Light therapy to support mitochondrial health
  • Dry brushing – link to a good dry brush
  • Massage therapy – specifically manual lympathic drainage and jumping on a trampoline
  • Access seeing a therapist to start to unpack any trauma as mold exposure is a devastating and overwhelming experience.

Ask for help – lean into family members or close friends who should and will want to support you on this life altering journey.

My safety due diligence talk:

The above recommendations may need individualized, which is again why I stress working with a mold literate practitioner who can look at your “big picture” and vet if there are any contraindications or if there are additional considerations. Some of the above may be contraindicated with certain medical conditions and/or with certain prescriptions. As with any supplement, I am required to say talk to your doctor or healthcare team before starting.

I hope this blog gives you a thorough high level overview to finding answers and a plan that are not just bandaiding your symptoms; let’s get you better and healing – seriously consider my comprehensive, but concisely written Online Program: Healing from Mold. It is literally everything I wish I would have known, and in the right order that would have saved us tens of thousands, years of insanity, and physically getting better, faster.

Wishing you well on your journey of looking upstream when it comes to addressing your health!

STUDIES & REFERENCES:

*This blog on the Dietetics with Driessens LLC website is maintained by Katie Driessens, Owner. All opinions are her own and for general educational purposes. Advertising, affiliate links or other forms of compensation are within this website and a small commission is earned for sales made through these links (with no extra cost to you) that help cover costs of running a small business. Products and services listed are prior carefully created and/or evaluated to ensure that they are accurate and supported by scientific evidence. Items or programs that are endorsed are based on Katie’s professional experience and expertise & are worthy of such endorsement. Dietetics with Driessens LLC assumes no responsibility or liability for damage or injury to persons arising from any use of any product, information, or opinion contained in the information of this blog, none of which is to be considered personal medical advice. By viewing, using, and shopping from this website, you agree to release Dietetics with Driessens LLC from full responsibility to the fullest extent allowed by law. Products & Services sold are not intended to diagnose or cure any disease. Consult your physician before beginning any exercise, supplement, meal plan or program. Thank you!

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