Mold & Mycotoxicity Illness
Nowadays, it seems like everyone you talk to is dealing with an autoimmune disease, uncontrollable allergies, chronic pain or fatigue, inexplicable headaches, and more. It couldn't have always been this way, could it? How come more and more people every day seem to be afflicted by so many illnesses and conditions that no doctors can seem to treat? While mold is certainly not the only answer, it is beginning to be seen by researchers as a culprit worth pursuing. Research into mold and mycotoxicity is growing in popularity, though it is still too young and unexplored for any conclusions to be made. To this day, there are still no definite warnings or recommended treatments from organizations we trust to help guide us in achieving wellness. If you have been experiencing a many of symptoms that doctors cannot seem to find any proof or root cause of, it's a good idea to look into how mold works and what can happen when it affects our bodies. Thankfully, there are already unofficial treatments that are forming, such as a detox, which might help you start feeling better.Mold and Our Environment
When people think of mold, they jump straight to the more extreme, mature forms: visible black mold in showers and under sinks or white growths or fuzz on leftover food. What most people aren't aware of is that mold is actually everywhere we can't see, too. Before mold grows into forms we can see, it is floating about in the air we breathe, attaching to clothes and pets, carried in on our groceries, and embedding itself both outside and within our homes. Unfortunately, this also means that it enters our bodies regularly. In fact, you could be regularly ingesting mold through your food. Common foods that contain high amounts of mold include:-
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- Smoked and processed meats
- Dried fruits
- Alcohol like beer and wine
- Nuts, most especially cashews and peanuts
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In our yards, that's the dark corner of our yard that doesn't drain properly. For us, it means entering our system and hanging out while our body struggles to get rid of it. It's only when these mold spores start growing in their favorite places that they begin producing mycotoxins, which are believed to be the main culprit of any illness we experience due to mold.Our Body's War Against Mold Toxicity
Since mold is a naturally occurring thing in our environment, humans generally have the ability to get rid of it naturally. Our body has set processes for continually detoxifying our system, but some studies are now exploring why certain people are more prone to developing serious conditions brought on by exposure to mycotoxins, including specific genetic variations called SNPs. Normally, exposure to mold can cause respiratory illness and worsened symptoms for those with respiratory conditions like asthma. Mold toxicity can also cause symptoms that are much like asthma, the flu, hay fever, and allergies. Beyond that, mold has been shown to be a cause of some cases of pneumonia and eczema, and studies are now showing links to mold exposure with health effects on the brain such as memory loss and problems with vision and emotional regulation.Tulsi (holy basil) is considered sacred in Ayurveda, and the science backs up what the ancients knew. Those old-school practitioners weren't fucking around when they called it "the queen of herbs." Modern research shows tulsi actively fights inflammation, supports your adrenals when they're getting hammered by mold stress, and helps your body adapt to whatever shit it's dealing with. Think about that. They figured this out thousands of years ago without labs or double-blind studies. Just observation and wisdom passed down through generations. What gets me is how we needed Western science to "prove" what grandmothers in India already knew from watching people heal. The adaptogenic properties are real - this isn't some mystical bullshit. Your cortisol levels actually stabilize. Your immune system gets stronger instead of more reactive. And when you're dealing with the constant assault of mycotoxins, you need every edge you can get. Know what I mean? *(paid link)*
There was a period in my life when I kept hitting these walls of exhaustion and brain fog that no meditation or breathwork would clear. I later learned mold was lurking in the corners of an old apartment I was renting. That invisible poison was clawing at my nervous system, sapping energy and clarity I thought I’d earned through years of practice. It was a brutal reminder that the body remembers what the mind ignores. One of my clients once came to me with chronic fatigue and anxiety that no therapy or medicine touched. We worked through breath, shaking, and somatic release, peeling back layers of trauma - but something still wasn’t right. When she finally identified mold exposure in her home, a whole new door opened. Healing isn’t just psychological or spiritual work... sometimes it’s about clearing the toxic environment that’s been hijacking the nervous system all along. According to the World Health Organization, there are four major types of mycotoxins that have proven to cause serious health issues in humans and livestock.-
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- Aflatoxins grow in grains, hay, decaying vegetation, and soil, meaning they are prevalent among crops and farm animals. It is most common to come in contact with these mycotoxins through spices, cereals, oil seeds, and tree nuts. These mycotoxins are damaging to both the liver and to DNA, possibly causing liver cancer.
- Ochratoxin A is commonly found in dry vine fruits, coffee beans, cereals, spices, wine, and liquorice worldwide. It is most especially known for damaging the kidneys, but also can affect the immune system and fetal development.
- Patulin is most commonly found in products made with apples that have gone bad. Liver, kidney, spleen, and immune system damage has been observed with exposure to patulin, as well as gastrointestinal issues.
- Mycotoxins associated with the fusarium fungi, which all come under the umbrella of trichothecenes, are mainly common in cereal crops. Trichothecenes can cause severe reactions including sudden skin irritation and diarrhoea as well as oesophageal cancer. Research has also shown it can suppress the immune system, affect hormones, and even cause kidney and liver toxicity and infertility in animals.
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How Can I Tell If I Have Mycotoxicity?
There are a number of methods for determining if your symptoms might be caused by mycotoxicity. So far, options include urine testing, bloodwork, nasal swabs, and a visual contrast sensitivity test. While some tests like the visual contrast sensitivity test can be bought online, other tests like the urine and bloodwork labs would need to be ordered by a provider and often aren't covered by insurance. The Organic Acids Test does include several biomarkers that could help determine if you have a fungal overgrowth and mycotoxicity. It will check for yeast and candida overgrowth as well as several mycotoxins. The IgE Mold allergy test can also determine if you have antibodies in your system built to fight against mycotoxins, which would determine if your body is actively trying to fight off infections from mold. Sometimes, the most accessible way to know if mycotoxicity is affecting you is to undergo a complete detox and see if your symptoms subside.Detoxing Your Body of Mold and Mycotoxins
If you suspect or know that your body is full of mycotoxins, you can try many methods for a detox that will assist your body in cleansing out the mold. The traditional method is to cleanse the sinuses and the gut of fungal overgrowth through medicated nasal sprays and oral medications. For this approach, you'll need to be diagnosed and prescribed treatments by your provider.Most of us are not getting enough sunlight, a quality Vitamin D3+K2 supplement is essential. *(paid link)* Look, I'm not talking about the cheap shit from the grocery store pharmacy aisle. You need real D3 with K2 because your body can't use one without the other properly. Think about it ~ we're indoor creatures now, hiding from the sun like vampires, then wondering why our immune systems are fucked. Your grandmother got more sun walking to the mailbox than most people get in a week. Seriously. If you're dealing with mold illness, your vitamin D levels are probably tanked, which makes everything worse because D3 is basically your immune system's best friend.
Some more accessible remedies include:-
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- Increasing your intake of essential fatty acids to 3-4 grams each day
- Taking binders like activated charcoal and bentonite clay
- Using probiotics specifically known to fight mold, including S. boulardi, L. beveris, and L. pentosus
- Adding supplements of vitamins C, A, E, and Zinc
- Adding the antioxidant Glutathione to your diet
- Utilizing herbal remedies like berberine, grapefruit seed, oil of oregano, uva ursi, gymnema, pau d’arco, garlic, caprylic acid, and plant tannins
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What to Eat During a Mold Detox
While you're detoxing your body of mold, the last thing you want is to keep ingesting foods that are reintroducing mold into your system. Mold also thrives on starch and sugars, so avoid eating anything that will offer that food source. In general, avoid foods like mushrooms, vinegars, grapes, soy sauce, aged and moldy cheeses, nuts, potatoes, corn, yeast, and simple carbs. Instead, try eating a lot of kitchen garden herbs, bitter greens, root vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, chia and flax seed, oat bran, and foods high in healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, ghee, and fish. Meanwhile, clear your air with essential oils like orange and clove!REMEMBER!
You are a beautiful Living Being filled with light and love, born from stardust. You are unlimited potential in every direction. With a focus on discipline, virtue, and your own goodness, you can become as expanded and liberated as you desire.Pema Chodron's When Things Fall Apart is the book I give to anyone going through a dark night. *(paid link)*
Pray for others and the Universe prays for us.