Mold Illness Treatment Guide – The Basics
Think mold might be the reason you’re not feeling well? It is a common often invisible cause of everyday problems such as:
- Fatigue
- Headaches & migraines
- Weakness
- Cognitive decline & confusion
- Poor memory, difficult concentration
- Abnormal weight gain
- Aches, stiffness & pain syndromes
- Abnormal sensations like numbness, tingling, shocks
- Mood swings, depression, anxiety
- Tremors, neuropathies
- Bloodshot eyes, blurred vision, burning eyes
- Chronic sinus problems
- Abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea
- Onset of new food or chemical intolerances
#1 Avoid Exposure
First step is remove yourself from exposure to water-damaged buildings whether it be house, school, car, or porous materials that have been in a moldy environment. It’s estimated that 50% of homes have a mold problem from current or past water damage or intrusion.
#2 Test Home and Office
The ERMI (Mycometrics Dx https://www.mycometrics.com) is an excellent comprehensive test you can collect yourself with a swiffer dust cloth. It checks for 26 molds indicative of moisture issues or water damage and 10 index species of everywhere outdoor types of molds we expect to see in any environment. The ERMI score should be <2.0 for best health.
Professional inspection can also be performed, but realize it is only as good as the skill of the supposed professional doing the inspection. Make sure you get an excellent referral. Professional mold remediators will use spore trap testing (air gets pulled over a microscope slide for 1 minute then sealed and sent to a lab for mold spore counts) in several different areas of the home including an outdoor baseline. This testing can miss things if it is a dry day, if the HVAC isn’t running, if the barometric pressure isn’t fluctuating, etc.
#3 Test Your Body
Urine mycotoxin testing:
None of these tests is perfect. I recommend running all if possible.
For best results, sauna the day before sample collection and/or get an IV of Plaquex and Glutathione to pull the toxins out of the cells and into circulation.
These give you quantified levels of a number of different toxic molds that can be tracked as you detox these from the body.
Blood tests:
- TGFB-1, C3A, C4A, MMP-9, MSH, ADH and osmolality, VEGF, VIP and others including all hormones, which are often adversely affected.
- MyMycoLab
- Measures blood levels of both IgG and IgE antibodies to numerous toxins elaborated by toxic molds.Very sensitive for finding exposures to Black Mold and a few others that don’t show up reliably on the urine tests.
Visual contrast study:
Can be performed online here.
It is a very sensitive indicator of circulating neurotoxins (such as mold toxins, heavy metals, and bio-toxins from other infections such as Lyme disease and others)
#4 Clean Up the Building
- Isolate the contaminated area with use of containment and isolation barriers. Whenever possible, a decontamination chamber should be installed at the entrance to the containment / work area,
- Establish negative air pressure within the work area by installing HEPA filtered
negative air machines.
- Ideally install an EZBreathe in basement or crawl space (both negative pressure AND dehumidifier that keep the basement/crawl space properly dry and ventilate, preventing toxins from wafting or percolating up into living space.
- Remove all water damaged and/or mold impacted non-structural materials
(baseboards, trim, drywall, plaster, cabinetry, carpet, carpet pad, tack strips, underlayment, insulation, etc.).During remediation, removal of affected materials (mold impacted, actively wet and/or previously wet materials) should continue to 12” past the last visibly / known impacted area wherever feasible.
- All exposed insulation should be removed from the work area.
- All associated debris should be double bagged and bags wet wiped with an appropriate
anti-microbial solution such as ENZACARE®, hydrogen peroxide, Benefect, Concrobium or similar prior to removal from the containment.
- All water damaged and/or mold impacted structural materials should be properly HEPA (better yet ULPA) vacuumed, scrubbed/cleaned, wet wiped with an appropriate surfactant, and
then HEPA or ULPA vacuumed again,
- Physical scrubbing should be applied to all surfaces to stir up particulate within the
space and allow for air scrubbing.
- HEPA (better yet ULPA) vacuum all surfaces within the work area,
- Wet wipe all surfaces within the work area with an appropriate surfactant such as ENZACARE or Concrobium or Benefect,
- Exposed building materials and porous surfaces can be sealed to prevent repeat issues in spaces such as crawl spaces and basements.Call Montana Basement Solution for details.
- An appropriate non-mechanical air scrubbing solution (Ideally ENZACARE), should
be applied / fogged into the space. Follow the manufacturers recommendations for appropriate application, set
time and recommended procedures.
Generally, the fogged area should be allowed to settle 8-12 hours before the last steps.
- To mop up fungal debris and toxins, wet wipe all surfaces within the work area with an appropriate surfactant such as ENZACARE
- Dry wipe all surfaces within the work area with appropriate electrostatic cloths or ULPA vacuum.
- A finishing touch for destroying any remaining mycotoxins is a Chlorine Dioxide bomb, which should be placed and activated ONLYby a professional.This requires that all humans, animals and plants be evacuated from the premises for 24 hours.
#5 Clean up Your Body
Use Toxin Binders – these enhance the removal of mold toxins and many other dangerous classes of chemicals through the liver and bowels. Various mold toxins respond to different binders. The best binders are whatever you tolerate or what makes you feel better. My favorites include:
- Activated charcoal
- Bentonite clay
- GI Detox +
- Ultra Toxin Binder
- BioToxin Binder
- OptiFiber Lean (Propolmannan)
- PectaSol/Modified Citrus Pectin
- Chlorella (look for organic glass-grown to avoid cadmium contamination)
Enhance Detox Pathways with Supplements – different mold toxins are processed by different liver pathways. If you know which mold toxins you have, we can target treatment.
- Glutathione
- R-lipoic acid
- NAC
- Milk thistle
- Calcium d-glucarate
- Dandelion root extract
- Ellagic acid
- Astaxanthin
- Rosemary extract
- Pterostilbene (long-acting analog of resveratrol)
- Magnesium
- Vitamin B5
- Methylation supports (Folate, Methyl-B12, Riboflavin, B6, Betaine)
Biofilms – a popular topic, but presents a common pitfall too early in treatment. Mold spores, invasive fungal filaments, mycotoxins and many other microbes and toxins can be hidden in biofilms. I usually wait till later when binder tolerance is well-established before using biofilm busters such as:
- Phosphatidylcholine
- Interfase Plus
- Nattokinase
- Lumbrokinase
- EDTA
Anti-fungals
Sinus disinfection is paramount to success!
Natural options
- Silver nasal spray/drops
- Xlear with or without the addition of antimicrobial essential oils
- Iodine nasal spray (very strong)
Pharmaceutical options
- BEG/BEGI nasal sprays (antibiotic/antifungal mixes)
- Silver with EDTA and tea tree oil
- Numerous other antifungal drugs we can make into sprays and rinses.
Oral Anti-fungals
Many people become colonized by toxic molds and/or opportunistic yeast and need to clear these from their bodies.
Natural options
- Caprylic acid
- Undecenoic or undecylenic acids
- Propolis
- Essential oils of thyme, oregano, tea tree, cloves, lemon, etc.
- Garlic
- Grapefruit Seed Extract
- Berberine
Medications
- Nystatin
- Fluconazole
- Itraconazole
- Voriconazole
- Liposomal Amphotericin-B
#6 Reduce Inflammation
Many people develop Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and other chronic inflammatory patterns during and after exposure to mold.
Natural Options
- Low Histamine Diet
- Quercitin
- Resveratrol
- Luteolin/Neuroprotek
- Diamine Oxidase before meals
- Omega 3’s
- Perilla
Pharmaceuticals
- H1 blockers: Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra, Benadryl
- Hydroxyzine – very sedating
- Montelukast
- Cromolyn sodium
- Ketotifen
- H2 Blockers: Ranitidine, cimetidine, famotidine
- Benzodiazepines
- Low dose naltrexone
- Peptides – BPC-157, Thymosin-Beta 4, KPV, Cerebrolysin
#7 Laundry Recommendations
The following instructions are NOT intended for clothing, bedding, etc that has/had visible microbial growth in or on the item. These instructions are for items that have been exposed to or cross-contaminate by a moldy environment.
More sensitive individuals with more severe reactions to mold and mold toxins will occasionally choose to repeat this entire process.
Step 1: Enzacare® Pre-Soak: This is the most important step in the process. Short-cutting this may significantly reduce results. Soak clothing in a large container (tote, large bucket, tub) filled with warmwater and Enzacare.
1. Enzacare should be mixed with reverse osmosis or distilled water at recommended rate (if using concentrate).
2. Mix solution with warm, not hot, water (75-90F) in clean container for soaking. Use 1 cup per gallon of water in the container. Do not mix anything else in solution, and ensure container/tub are clean of any chemical residues.
3. Fully submerge clothing in solution and allow to soak overnight.
4. When removing clothing to Step 2, remove excess solution from clothing for re-use on next load. You do not need to re-mix Enzacare Pre-Soak solution each time – it can be used several times effectively.
Step 2: Borax Detergent Wash: Place Enzacare soaked clothing in clean washing machine. Mix Borax with warm water, and once dissolved add to washer. Wash in warm water (if clothing allows) for a regular or heavy-duty cycle with pre-soak and extra rinse. Recommended option: Add a cup of white vinegar to this step. Be aware you may need to rinse twice after to remove any lingering odor of vinegar.
Step 3: Final Detergent & Ammonia Wash and Dry: Use a non-toxic, all-natural detergent for your laundry. Many clients with MCS, and mold illness react negatively to synthetic detergents with fragrances, softeners, etc. Add a normal amount of detergent to the load, and choose typical wash cycle for fabric. Add 1 cup laundry ammonia to the load once water is in (top loader), or add diluted ammonia (to avoid any color fast issues of pouring undiluted ammonia directly on clothes in front loader) to machine immediately before cycle start. Choose extra rinse cycle, if available. Dry clothes normally (no scented dryer sheets).
WARNING: Never mix bleach and ammonia!
This can create chlorine gas that is toxic and potentially deadly.
Enzacare soak, or entire process can be repeated as necessary, if desired. One cycle should provide results desired for most individuals.
#8 Post-Remediation Recommendations
Recommendations for Cleaning:
- DO vacuum with a HEPA filtration vacuum such as those made by Oreck or Soniclean.
- Ideally buy a Linevacer shoulder backpack ULPA vacuum and clean regularly with this ultra-fine filtration capable of capturing mycotoxins.
- Do NOT sweep or swiffer hard floor surfaces, always vacuum both hard floor surfaces and carpets with a Hepa filtration vacuum.
- DO use DAMP microfiber towels to dust all surfaces with an enzymatic cleaning product such as Enzacare.Wipe down walls, ceilings, tops of door lintels at least periodically.
- Do NOT dry dust – it just pushes and billows around any mold spores and mold food such as dead skin cells. Use damp microfiber towels with (Enzacare PEC) to dust all surfaces, including walls and ceilings.
- When opening windows or screen doors for the year in the spring, use damp microfiber towels with (Enzacare PEC) to dust screens and to clean thresholds/bases of windows where wet debris collects so mold spores growing here do not blow into your home.
- Clean CPAP, dehumidifier and air purifier filters and intake vents weekly. (Wash in sink with soap and water, reinstall when dry)
- Replace HVAC return air filter monthly.(Minimum of Filtration Rating FPR10)
- Place HVAC fan setting to “Run” to maintain constant air exchange and filtration.
Consider a free-standing air filter such as:
- Austin Air HealthMate PLUS
- IQ Air
- Bothe of these have both HEPA filtration a a large dense carbon filter that removes VOC’s, formaldehyde, mold spores, and some mold toxins.
Consider an air exchange and/or air disinfection system that is installed right inside the HVAC system such as:
