Is it Mental Illness or Mold Toxicity?

mold toxicity

By Mark Filidei, D.O.

One of my chief tasks as the Director of Integrative/Functional Medicine at Amen Clinics is to work up what we call a “toxic brain” as seen on brain SPECT imaging. Amen Clinics currently has the world’s largest database of brain SPECT scans—over 160,000 scans from patients in over 150 countries—and it affords us a unique view into the functions of the brain. When working up a toxic, or “encephalopathic,” SPECT scan finding, many etiologies need to be considered, including toxins, infections, allergies, medications, and head trauma. Near the top of my list of possible culprits of abnormal SPECT scans are infections and toxins, especially Lyme disease and toxic mold exposure.

Near the top of my list of possible culprits of abnormal SPECT scans are infections and toxins, especially Lyme disease and toxic mold exposure. —Mark Filidei, DO, Amen Clinics Director of Integrative/Functional Medicine Click To Tweet

Mold Could Thrive in Your Home

It is estimated that half of the buildings in the United States may be “WDB”, meaning water-damaged buildings. Construction techniques in the U.S. turn out to be a feast and buffet for mold and fungal organisms. Our homes here are often built of wood and drywall rather than stone or brick as in Europe. Mold and fungi thrive on drywall, wood, and other soft materials.

Mold thrives in dark and moist environments and doesn’t take much water to get the process going. A small drip from a leaky toilet, shower, or sink is all it takes. Small roof leaks are also common causes. If you see a stain on the ceiling or the wall there is very likely an associated hidden mold growth. This is not the type of mold that you see on the shower wall, but rather it is lurking behind the walls and in air ducts, crawl spaces, attics, and other areas.

Mold Exposure Symptoms

The toxin-producing “black mold” Stachybotrys, as well as other neurotoxic molds, including Aspergillus, Chaetonium, and Wallemia, can have a dramatic effect on the brain and behavior. There are 2 main effects of mold exposure: the physical airway irritating effects like allergies, cough, and fatigue, and the more concerning effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and the brain.

Mental and cognitive health symptoms can include:

Unfortunately, if you’re experiencing these symptoms and go to your primary care physician or a mental health professional, there is about a 99.9% chance that mold will not be considered as a possible cause. It is simply not on the radar screen of the vast majority of physicians. When was the last time your doctor asked you if your home had a water leak? Point made.

Issues in the home are not the only problem; many workplaces are also contaminated with mold, especially older buildings. Schools have been condemned because of mold contamination, office buildings, hotels, and industrial complexes can all be a source of the problem. Many of the government buildings in Washington, DC have been found to have significant mold contamination issues. Our lawmakers in Washington seem to have enough trouble getting things done; the last thing we need is for them to have poorly functioning brains due to toxic mold exposure! Almost everybody could benefit from a brain detox.

Retrace Your Past Experiences

A case in point is a young male patient who came to Amen Clinics with complaints of sleep disturbanceanxiety, and brain fog. He was initially seen by one of our psychiatrists and referred to me for further workup. A careful history-taking found that these symptoms all started when he moved back home from college into his parent’s basement apartment. The whole family seems to have forgotten that the basement flooded on several occasions. Mold diagnostic testing revealed the patient had high levels of mold toxins in his body.

The first step is always to remove oneself from the moldy environment, and then treatment can begin. Treatment for a “Toxic Brain” typically consists of binding agents and other medications, such as antifungals, and metabolic support supplements. This patient improved with proper treatment and remediation of the mold problem. Here was a patient who didn’t need any psychiatric medications; he simply needed the correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment. What would have been the outcome for this patient without the proper diagnosis? He almost certainly would have been misdiagnosed as having a mental illness and treated (unsuccessfully) with psychiatric medications.

The good news is that there are ways to determine if a patient has been exposed to toxic mold and that there are successful treatments available.

Dr. Richie Shoemaker is a pioneer in detecting and treating what he has termed Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome or CIRS. It is really a brilliant bit of work. He has found what I would term the “Rosetta Stone” of inflammatory conditions, brought on by not only mold exposure but also Lyme disease and other inflammatory processes. Dr. Dale Bredesen, an Alzheimer’s disease researcher at UCLA and the Buck Center for Aging has found that a significant number of purported dementia cases are actually caused by mold exposure, and not Alzheimer’s disease at all. He published a paper in a 2016 issue the journal Aging linking exposure to specific toxins and CIRS to Alzheimer’s disease. This is an incredibly important finding! Many patients with memory loss and dementia are actually simply toxic from mold, which is a reversible condition. The tragedy is missing the diagnosis and continuing to proceed with treating the patient for something they do not have and missing an effective treatment.

How to Test for Mold

The workup for CIRS includes tests that are widely available via LabCorp and Quest, although they are somewhat esoteric tests, including MMP–9, TGF beta 1, MSH, VEGF, and others. Urine testing for actual mold toxins circulating in the body can also be utilized, however, these results are questioned by some in the field of CIRS treatment.

Brain toxicity due to mold or other toxins and the psychiatric and cognitive health issues associated with it can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time.

At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.

60 Comments »

  1. I have been diagnosed with CIRS and every doctor I saw told me to get on an anti-depressant and seek therapy. Thousands of dollars in tests and dr appointments, and absolutely no answers except to be looked at like I was unstable and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. How do you cope if nobody believes you’re ill, and you’re in such a bad state that you can no longer function, let alone work? Thank goodness for the documentary MOLDY. It all became clear, in my fogged up brain, and I took action and sought out a FMD. The list of certified Shoemaker doctors is very short and most have wait lists, unfortunately. I’m finally able to say I’m not crazy, I’m physically sick.

    Comment by Steph — June 21, 2016 @ 3:52 PM

  2. Severe abuse in marriage led to divorce. With no family rescue and in need of shelter, my kids and I were shunted into subsidized (read: substandard and dangerous) housing in a volatile complex.

    Though grateful to receive the financially “affordable” housing, after two subsequent decades of flooding basements, leaking windows and ceilings, insect infestations, crumbling basements, faulty electrical wiring, uneven floors, yards sharply sloping toward the foundation and precipitous sidewalks and steps, we were relieved when we found better housing in the regular market. However, we were profoundly demoralized by the lack of will not only of our families but of our society to immediately, intelligently and effectively respond to any threat to the health and well-being of its members, especially when rendered most vulnerable after having suffered a catastrophe, albeit limited and personal in scope.

    Obviously, such buildings ought to be torn down and healthy, affordable ones built. The unnecessary price individuals and society pay for ignoring (or having to tolerate) such degradation is enormous over a lifetime in terms of loss of health, capacity, opportunities and potential. How can we be so intelligent and so stupid at the same time?

    Interestingly, we were relieved but not surprised to find the coughs, asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia we dragged ourselves through as we somehow finished our schooling and maintained jobs soon simply vanished after we had managed to move out. (However, the autoimmune conditions brought on by constant inflammation have not.) Another family was immediately moved in. The line-ups to exhange shelter for the health and safety of you and your children are long.

    Thank you, Dr Amen, for your part in drawing attention to this issue and beginning to educate the public through your writing.

    Comment by FreshNewLife — June 24, 2016 @ 4:38 PM

  3. It is a curious thing that although thousands of doctors and CFS researchers have seen Dr. Shoemakers books,
    not a single one of them responded to inquire about this incident.
    One would swear that CFS researchers never had any intention of solving the incident that started the CFS syndrome.

    Mold Warriors by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker

    Gateway Press 2005

    Chapt. 23

    Mold at Ground Zero for CFS

    The history of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) begins in Incline Village, Nevada
    in 1985. In the medical history of CFS, each of the concepts applies–failed
    theories and failed criticism.

    One victim, Erik Johnson, told everyone who would listen that mold was a cause
    of CFS. He came up with his theory at the wrong time in the politics of medical
    opinion, as a unknown viral cause was blamed instead. Johnson tried repeatedly
    to get the attention of leading CFS researchers then and now to look at what he
    knew about mold sensitivity. None of the heralded CFS researchers would listen.

    Comment by Erik Johnson — June 14, 2017 @ 12:49 PM

  4. I am curious about the autoimmune conditions that you referred to as I am very interested in autoimmune disease and why it is so common in so many today.

    Comment by Sharlyn Zimmerman-Tollefson — June 20, 2017 @ 6:33 AM

  5. where did you find this list, sincerely, James ( jamesbischoff61@gmail.com)

    Comment by James Bischoff — July 15, 2017 @ 7:24 AM

  6. Does the Amen Clinic do sleep studies and LPs for opening pressure as part of the workup for “toxic brain”.
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3899735/
    Are you aware that the VCS test is highly sensitive for papilledema?

    Comment by D W — October 15, 2017 @ 8:54 PM

  7. Yes, it is an excellent point. Mycoses and disseminated fungal infections are often misdiagnosed as autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.. TNF-alpha blockers and cortico-steroids that are often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis put an individual at greater risk for contracting a fungal infection… (see how this becomes a circular problem?) Recent studies in Europe show that a radical change in diet consisting of mostly raw vegetables can actually “reverse” diabetes (another so called autoimmune disease). Although, for those of you that have heard of Dr. Gerson and the Gerson diet, this is probably not new “news”. The Gerson diet has also been successful in treating many types of cancer even among patients in advanced stages. Which corroborates recent findings that the composition of our individual gut flora (microbes, bacteria, fungi, mycobacteria in our intestinal tract) relates to the risk and type of cancer an individual may develop.

    Now, what’s important to realize is that mold, fungi and bacteria are not the sole cause of what seems to be a dramatic increase of these diseases.. because they have always been around. It is a combination of factors that include nutrition, genetics, environment, drugs and chemicals that is causing an imbalance and weakening our immune system’s natural ability to defend itself.

    As a matter of fact, stachybotrys the infamous “toxic black mold” is not toxic when cultured in a petri dish or when outside in a natural environment and actually looks quite beautiful.. nothing like the horrific pictures you will see of mold infested houses. It only becomes toxic when indoors because of the environment and what it is eating.. yes the mold is feeding on the wet drywall and chemical laden building materials and therefore becomes a toxic product of it’s toxic environment.. but hey, don’t take my word for it, I’m no one of consequence. I have been battling a known mold issue in my house for several years now and I’m used to everyone treating me like I have a mental illness.. including my own family (parents and siblings who do not live with me) and I just keep telling them. “well, you know I’m living with toxic mold, so if I seem a little bit crazy, it may be because I am a little bit crazy”.. lol. I have to laugh about it because otherwise I’d cry.

    Comment by James Leonard — October 19, 2017 @ 8:42 PM

  8. You bring up some interesting points. Unfortunately, mold is probably not the only cause of CFS, which is just a generic catch all term, kind of like IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome).
    Actually the western medical way of thinking, with their one size fits all approach to treating illness and trying to just lump everything into neat categories with generic catch all terms is probably one of the bigger issues to begin with. But also, mold doesn’t effect everyone the same so it is often dismissed because some people may get CFS from mold in Nevada, while some will be fine and others will be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when its really a disseminated fungal infection.

    I live in Las Vegas and most people don’t realize that the desert creates the perfect environment for mold to thrive in the soil. We have fungi that is only found in a few specific regions of the world and can cause valley fever and fungal meningitis.. If you are Caucasian and from the area like I am, you’ll probably be fine but if you’re from Asia, like my wife and then move to Las Vegas, you are at a much higher risk of developing a fungal infection and then having it misdiagnosed and given drugs that only exacerbates the problem.

    Comment by James Leonard — October 19, 2017 @ 9:22 PM

  9. I too am from Vegas (40 yrs ) and have seen the daily humidity rates go from 10% humidity ( upon arrival in Aug. 1978 ) meant it would rain hard . Now it has 10-23 % humidity , without a cloud in the sky , and it isn’t Monsoon Season . 17.5 yrs. in swamp coolers , complicated by a water damaged building that the landlords refused to re mediate , where my Pet Business was located . Mushrooms growing inside was nothing new . 4 yrs. post removal ( complete loss of business , wages , retirement and health ) I now have Moderate Diffuse Encephalopathy , RA , Celiac , Total grain , seed or any food stuff stored in grain silos reinfects a body with mold all over again . Even Organic food , washed in a vinegar bath . Found 3 tumors in my chest inside , 2 outside . 2 in my left leg on top of the shin bone , multiple in left breast and left armpit . Just got diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the skin , where its spores entered thru the biggest organ we have : the skin . My eyes have Glaucoma and Cataracts now , medical records prove i had none of this prior to the Black Mold / CO / and Asbestos exposure I endured in that one same damaged building . Mental illness : PTSD , Depression , anxiety are rampant . I see an anger management PHD ( cannot write a script ) to combat the symptoms . More than 120 Dr.s since 2013 , when I was too sick to work , couldn’t even talk without uncontrollable coughing …… Most came right out and told me that it was all in my head . In Henderson , there is a wonderful Functional Medicine Dr. , named DR. Robert DeMartino , who saved my life . I saw him 3x a week , for 7.5 months . He did Heavy Metal Detox and infrared light treatments as well , Acupressure with his hands . The man saved my life . HIS PHONE NUMBER IS ( 702 ) 643-9900 . Tell him that the Dog Groomer sent you and he will know who I am . I was paying out of pocket ( $100 mo. ) , until the time I had paid the total of $2000 , the cost of the complete Detox , restarting my Thyroid again and 3 of Dr. Shoemaker’s Protocols . Sure did the trick … for quite a while . When my blood test from Lab Corp came back positive for Mesothelin Peptides in my Blood Stream , He was very honest with me and said ” I am not qualified to treat you for that ” , and my payments stopped and we parted ways . That was 4-5 yrs. ago . Reinfection continues because of mold in our food sources . Even Organic food !!! Check it out for yourself : Google … ” what food gets moldy after harvest ? ” You may find an answer right straight from God , as I just did , last night . Best of all things to all of you feeling what I have for 6.5 yrs now . Please feel free to respond .

    Comment by Patsy A Burrows — October 30, 2017 @ 7:32 PM

  10. I would like suggestion on how to address eliminating the mold.

    Comment by sondra fondren — December 11, 2017 @ 7:39 AM

  11. Hi there, thank you for the great information. I did have a question though I think you might be able to help me with.
    I was wondering, Is “Vitamin” B17 a hoax or is there some kernel of truth
    to its efficacy in curing/reducing cancer?
    Would you be able to speak from personal experience on that?
    If you could provide a little insight I would greatly appreciate it!

    Comment by Cancer Treatment — December 13, 2017 @ 12:33 AM

  12. Hello,
    Does anyone happen to know of any good forums to discuss toxic black mold syndrome?
    If you do, I appreciate the lead – I have a serious case I’d like to discuss.
    Thank you very much in advance,
    Cara

    Comment by Cara Domings — December 17, 2017 @ 8:51 AM

  13. Does Dr. Amen treat Mold exposure? If so, what is the process.

    Thanks

    Comment by Pamela — February 16, 2018 @ 3:02 PM

  14. Hello Pamela, yes at Amen Clinics we have specialists in the areas of functional and integrative medicine that treat toxic exposure, which includes mold. To inquire about a consultation or evaluation, please call our Care Coordinators at 888-288-9834 or fill out this form on our website – https://amenclinics.com/schedule-visit/.

    Comment by Amen Clinics — February 16, 2018 @ 3:09 PM

  15. I so need help; I’m in terrible shape mentally and cognitively-have no finances…I was in graduate school when I became ill…I’m a single mom and losing hope.

    Comment by Kim Smith — March 11, 2018 @ 11:59 AM

  16. If there are studies I could be a part, I am so in need. I’ve been sick now for two years and getting progressively worse mentally and cognitively…I can’t take care of myself. I am a single mother cared for by my 80 year old mother..I am desperate for help

    Comment by Kim Smith — March 11, 2018 @ 12:00 PM

  17. I have no doubt I have mold toxicity. I have black mold in my basement and I have a container to catch the rain in on my kitchen sink. Mold spores grow on my windows and mirrors, so no, I don’t need to be tested. I can barely afford to pay attention let alone buy any supplements, be tested, or even pay for my broken furnace. I will try to patch the roof again when the weather breaks (I’m 60 and alone), scrub the basement walls again, but as for the furnace, well, so much for that. I am not looking forward to climbing on the roof again.

    I am trying food remedies that are high in the ingredients found in the supplements but I have Ulcerative Colitis, am gluten intolerant, and ADD, so I am on this mega roller coaster. I was doing Kombucha but that molded 🙁 Moving along to Kefir next. I even thought of buying the probiotics and some Viili and experimenting on my own strain of bacteria that I could do at home because I can’t afford ANYTHING.

    It is so depressing to be poor and I can’t help but think of all the poor folk living in mold with no hope and no real answers. And yes, the life expectancy goes way down when you are poor. I do work and have a job but I go further in the hole every year 🙁 I am just a few dollars above any assistance soooo… an answer for mold toxicity sups would be really helpful. Thanks for reading.

    Comment by Carol Krutz — March 18, 2018 @ 3:09 PM

  18. First: Remove the source of water, leaks, etc. 2. reduce the humidity below 50% Use dry air, be careful with heat, as mold loves warm and humid. 3. That will stop the growth. Then you will have to search everywhere throughout your house to find it, including hvac. If you can’t see it, your can do air or ermi (cloth) testing. You will need to do research, this is a new field of science, as far as treating humans for mold exposure.

    Comment by Brian Sumpter — March 26, 2018 @ 4:44 PM

  19. So sorry to hear. Bleach kills mold well, and what is important is to stop the growth by cutting off the water supply and lowering humidity with good ventilation. Move if you can.

    Comment by Brian Sumpter — March 26, 2018 @ 4:59 PM

  20. Brian,
    Sorry to say this but bleach doesn’t kill mold.
    Bleach just turns the mold that you can see, white.

    Comment by Heidi Buckland Mintz — April 16, 2018 @ 10:38 AM

  21. Steph, have you gotten help for this yet?
    I believe this is what I have and I’m seeing an Integrative practice who specializes in biotoxin poisoning. I just don’t want to go the Antifungal “drug” route. Another wonderful source of help is on YouTube. Her Channel is called Enliven Wellness” Her name is Tessa Gurley and she is recovering from CIRS and getting her masters in Integrative Medicine. I love her. Excellent source of information and she is very responsive.
    Best of health to you!!
    Shawn

    Comment by Shawn Chapman — April 21, 2018 @ 7:09 AM

  22. Hi Brian,
    Heidi is correct about “killing mold with bleach (it’s also very bad for you to breathe that chemical in). Purchase a spray top and screw it on to a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Spray your countertops, bathroom, shower, etc. Its safe, effective, and affordable. Apple cider vinegar is also a helpful cleaning agent. Run your washer machine with a cup of vinegar and then leave washer door open to provide ventilation in order dry before proceeding with a load of laundry. One last tip is buy a diffuser and a couple of essential oils such as Thieves oil to diffuse your common areas in your home (Young Living is the most popular brand). Hope this helps! Feel better! 🙂

    Comment by Apryl — May 18, 2018 @ 5:23 AM

  23. So true…it saddens me…

    Comment by Denise — August 5, 2018 @ 11:14 PM

  24. I tell my husband repeatedly that bleach only turns the mold white where he’s sprayed it. Upon a closer look, the raised (powdery) spots are still there. He does this regularly in his work on “removing” mold or for mold-ridden structural damage. And in our own home, as well. With so much written about mold and mildew, I can’t decide upon just a few resources to present my case to him and to my doctors. I’ve been affected by those environmental problems for years! We need help.

    Comment by Diane Petykowski — September 21, 2018 @ 4:56 PM

  25. Kim, look up ways to rid your body of toxic mold naturally if you can’t afford to see a doctor or take Rx. Things like charcoal, bentonite clay, and others are diagnosed by doctors but are over the counter.

    Comment by Theresa Charleston — October 14, 2018 @ 10:35 PM

  26. I am so sorry to hear what you have been through. I hope life is improving. I completely agree with your opinion on dangerous and unhealthy public housing. Unfortunately people get sick from mold while living in “nice” housing, too.

    I became sick and exhausted just a few months after moving into a water damaged condo. Landlord was aware as his son lived in the condo at the time of the water damage. Landlord didn’t want to spend the money to properly remove water damaged drywall. My life, health, energy, employment, finances, relationships-everything was ripped from me starting less than 6 months after moving in. Years of seeing regular doctors in St Louis brought no diagnosis or improvement. I found an out of state, integral medicine doctor and four years later and every penny I had I got the toxic mold diagnosis. Landlord was my father.

    I am glad that there is much more information available now for toxic mold syndrome. I wish someone, anyone, would have done the math 13 years ago. I will never get those 13 years back. I haven’t regained my energy. Disgusted. Disappointed. Furious.

    Comment by Linda Brandon — December 12, 2018 @ 9:12 PM

  27. If you have mold in your body mold spores what can you do to get rid of them if you can’t go to the doctor to be tested

    Comment by Donna — February 4, 2019 @ 2:48 PM

  28. There is help, -money-grants to fix your home. 1. Call your city ask for the person that handles, “community developement block grants “ provide by HUD (gov.). 2. N.I.P. – neighborhood impact project 3. Call the “area on aging “ in your county 3. Call your local and state officials to find out all the help that is available to fix your home. Some grants are free, others will be free if you remain in your home for 3, 4, 5 Years depending which grant. These are no interest , no payments they just reduce reduce each year as long as you remain in the home they fix. Your county air quality, environmental dept. may be of some help also. If possible your doctor can write a letter for Contractors to use no or low VOC products during renovation or just ask whoever is helping you to try to use non-toxic, no or low VOC’s. Also depending what type of work will be done ask if they use , I believe it’s called , “negative air pressure “ for air quality during renovation. Work with them the best you can to come up with positive healthy results. Best wishes for a healthier and happy life!

    Comment by Maria — April 1, 2019 @ 4:16 AM

  29. My husband killed the black mold under a leaky sink by drying it out then using apple cider vinegar & deodorizer. Check you tube. I feel 100% better

    Comment by allison — April 1, 2019 @ 5:49 AM

  30. “Many of the government buildings in Washington, DC have been found to have significant mold contamination issues. Our lawmakers in Washington seem to have enough trouble getting things done; the last thing we need is for them to have poorly functioning brains due to toxic mold exposure!”—-Well that explains a lot.

    probably a lot of Water damage in the Trump Tower as well.

    Comment by Raven — April 1, 2019 @ 8:13 AM

  31. After moving in a rental house. I started having mood swings. Was put on anxiety meds. Yes we had toxic black mold. I thought I was going crazy. I felt that way. Still feel like have some permanent effects from this exposure. We moved out of course. It’s been 19 yes ago.

    Comment by Cynthia Clanton — April 1, 2019 @ 9:00 AM

  32. It’s interesting that you say WDB can cause all these symptoms yet for my son who has mold toxicity, the urine tests have saved us in knowing the cause. Shoemaker tests can also be helpful. They both validate the same thing. When it shows up in urine in high amounts you say it’s caused from food, which I think is ironic considering this article. Not once have you suggested the Shoemaker tests to us to verify the mold from WDB is the cause of the elevated mycotoxins in the urine tests. Which I know that’s where they come from, no food is going to cause the high levels of mold mycotoxins in my son’s urine. Yet you have done little to help us.

    I think there is too much fear in certain professionals in worrying if the professional is “right” instead of just dealing with the affected person’s problem of mold exposure. Food has little, in essence, to do with long term exposure to WDB and mycotoxins. In other words I would stop worrying about food and just deal with the mycotoxins from the WDB exposure if that’s what the person was exposed to. What does food, which you just ingest and eliminate, have to do with WDB exposure? Answer: Nothing

    Comment by A reader — April 2, 2019 @ 9:30 AM

  33. No Kiddng!!!!!!

    Comment by Kira — May 2, 2019 @ 9:54 PM

  34. Please help……I was put in an apartment where the vents and chutes were full of mold…..I have many awful mold related
    issues on my body and it is difficult to find help.

    Sharon

    Comment by sharon Labine — August 6, 2019 @ 11:24 AM

  35. My urine is dark gold same with feces. I have never had this symtom before. Also very tired constantly.. Hard to focus, etc. I have been out of mold infected apartment for a month. I eat garlic. Diffficult to remember info.

    Sharon LaBine

    Comment by sharon LaBine — September 3, 2019 @ 10:10 AM

  36. Freshnewlife,

    Congratulations on surviving all that you have endured! I am hoping that you are a writer ot in a field which involves communication. Your “essay” is so beautifully written. I am still healing from toxicity.
    I find that it like climbing outbif a tunnel. One foot firward, and a sudden fall back. If I return to the sick house, in which I am still moving stuff out of, symptoms return- especially the neurological and depression/irritability. It is not an emotional response. I am positive it is physical. It can last for a week or more.

    Comment by Heather Adams — October 18, 2019 @ 5:55 AM

  37. That’s Amazing! So after getting proper treatment you recovered?

    Comment by Sandra — November 25, 2019 @ 4:03 AM

  38. Molds can cause allergies, respiratory problems, and irritations. I think the best way is to get rid of the molds and after that, you have to get yourself checked as well. Sensitive people can’t tolerate their exposure to molds which can cause discomforts. Well, thanks for sharing this to us.

    Comment by Angel — December 17, 2019 @ 12:12 AM

  39. Don’t get overwhelmed and lose hope if you are sick and can’t afford to get professional company to get rid of the mold. Most houses have the same problem which is there when the house was constructed and got wet. Mold will be dormant if you drop humidity below 50%. Oil of oregano for you and your home. Tea tree oil too. Very powerful a drop will burn your skin and a bottle can be fatal. Dangerous around pets, kids, elderly but also mold and fungus. If you don’t have respiratory symptoms that isn’t abnormal. You don’t need to get rid of it. Drop humidity below 50%. Detoxify yourself. Then reassess after learning what not to do. .

    Comment by Shane Hartley — December 21, 2019 @ 2:35 AM

  40. Also, look into possible Copper toxicity with those 2 symptoms.

    Comment by cc — January 4, 2020 @ 2:08 PM

  41. I was exposed to stachybotris aspergillus penicillium cladosporium as a Federal Ranger due to a faulty AC unit, black mold formed and I was exposed long term. I suffered tachycardia heart attack, kidney carcinoma, kidney removal, hair loss vomiting nose bleeds metallic taste fatigue seizure symptoms, an air quality report stated no one should enter the building without a respirator an protective gear. Workmancomp keeps denying My claim despite having solid proof of air quality poisoning. I have lost my job promotion opportunities and retirement opportunities. Medical bills exceed $300,000, legal bills exceed thousands of dollars, who do government employees turn for protection? WORKMAN comp surely isn’t it. I very nearly died, I felt very close to death.

    Comment by Jeanne Phin — January 24, 2020 @ 10:00 PM

  42. Hi
    Are you under treatment ?
    Has symtom got any better?

    Comment by Jennie Parm — March 8, 2020 @ 1:34 PM

  43. My mom works with landlord an is not home very much.. Brother an I are home alot an over past 2 years we both have become just about every symptom in the book an now it seems to be movin on to him.. Paranoia confusion at first it made me feel like everyone was out tomget me but now he saying thing like i once felt… The landlord i think has failed in every area an also my mom is lacking logical thinking being scared it her boss or just doesnt know the. Dangers. The home does not have inspection before us moving in a double wide trailer with water damage showing maybe even lead paint…

    Comment by Daniel cheek — May 20, 2020 @ 5:13 AM

  44. Yeah, you trusted your gut instinct, well done to get out. No point dwelling on mold issue, we just have to move. I’m trying move house at the moment. 9 years too long in my current. Lol

    Comment by Darren — June 17, 2020 @ 5:13 PM

  45. Well said, just try and move to another house etc. I feel loads better, when I’m in another house.

    Comment by Darren — June 17, 2020 @ 5:16 PM

  46. I think I have mold spores growing on my scalp. Is this even possible & will it enter my intestines? Do you have any photos of the same condition or could I send you some pictures of what my head & scalp? Can these spores get under the top layer of skin? I’ve seen 3 doctors about this in the past month & not even one of them could help me.
    I sure hope you can because I’m at the end of my rope & feel totally defeated!! Please help me if you can as I’m
    scared to death.

    Comment by Annie Girvan — June 19, 2020 @ 6:38 AM

  47. What about outdoor molds? I get extreme anxiety on days when high molds are reported (way too often!) along with the pollen counts. We can’t control those. Is there anything we can take?

    Comment by Michelle — August 3, 2020 @ 2:00 PM

  48. I saw many patients with acute Mold symptoms from Toxic Mold exposure in the USA. It is difficult for patients to understand that their home could make them so ill. Mold exposure and Mold illness is real and misunderstood by many physicians. Dr. Amen and Dr. Shoemaker have been instrumental to bring this important information to us and they have helped many patients suffering this debilitating illness. Mold illness can ruin your life and it is important to see a doctor who understands and knows how to help patients who suffer from Mold Illness. I live and practice in Switzerland now and have not seen any Mold Illness because homes here are build the right way.

    Comment by Dr. Vera Renate — January 7, 2022 @ 4:55 AM

  49. Thank you for a great article.

    Comment by Timothy Lee — January 7, 2022 @ 6:27 AM

  50. I’ve been sick for 2 years and we do have mold under our sinks we live in a mobile home 30 years old home ! We have well water and our washer leaks also ! My son has nose bleeds all the time can someone tell me how I can test for mold myself ? Doctors cannot find anything wrong at all but I have lots of hair falling out kidneys and back hurt colon or intestines bladder nervous system problems ! Doctors act like I’m a hyprocondriact and it’s starting to really upset me I have picture of my stool and hands ful of hair over the past 2 years but worse past 6 months no one will listen and I am trying to do my own research and came across this on my email ! Nothing is coninisedental ! Is there any advise anyone at all can give me or help me with and can I do or buy my own mold test and do it myself or do I have to hire someone ! Thank you for your time and my prayers are with you all! Amanda

    Comment by Amanda Marie Frick — January 13, 2022 @ 9:55 PM

  51. Hello Amanda, I am not a professional mold expert or doctor; but I am on the ‘freedom trail’ from ‘off the charts’ mold toxicity. Please take solace in knowing there is a path out of chronic pain and sickness. First of all, I can say with certainty that it is essential to have the mold removed from where you live [& done safely so that more is not stirred up & spreading spores into the atmosphere]. [By the way, 20% of people in US are genetically susceptible to mold}. In my case, I contacted a functional medicine doctor and got tested for mold; and I also hired an expert to test my place [and asked -in writing – the landlord to pay for // I did not sue]. I got rid of my sofa and tons of soft things [pillows, comforters,etc] and it was a difficult move. For 4 months I actually got worse with fatigue and migraines; until I then discovered a lot of mold in the kitchen sink of the new place. I got that cleaned up and 3 weeks later there was finally a breakthrough of 2 months with only 4 migraine days (from a stressor). During this whole time I did the vitamin & detox regimen per the functional medicine doctor. I am continuiing to heal and expect it may take many months or even a year to fully recover. I am also starting to do some brain Amygdala Retraining to train myself out of the pain cycle. All of this is not for the faint of heart; but SO worth it! ps: my main doctor doesn’t ‘believe’ in mold, doesn’t want to see the mold results on paper, and suggested I get psychotherapy. I’m working on forgiveness for his very opposite perspective; and I do appreciate his prescription of the triptan pain med that was absolutely necessary for so many years. I wish you all the best. The road can be rocky … but you can do it!!

    Comment by Tina — January 29, 2022 @ 11:31 AM

  52. Doctors aren’t educated in mold illness or toxicity. Ive been told they have 6 jrs of environmental health in med school. Big pharma doesn’t want mold education nor treatment. They make billions ofg the many ailments caused from mold and misdiagnosis. They would ho out of biz if people were healthy. Hladr is a gene that 25- 30 % of population has that makra us unable to rid mold out of our body like others. Mold. Stores primarily in the fatty organs of body and the brain being the largest. Multiple sclerosis I believe as well as many other autoimmune disease is caused from mold .

    Comment by Carol A Cuffari — March 10, 2022 @ 7:08 AM

  53. I am responding to “comment by A reader”. Please don’t sound like the many doctors that won’t even diagnose mold toxicity. I have mold toxins in my system. When I touch, smell, or eat a product containing mold I vomit and have severe diarrhea all at the same time for two days. I no longer live in a mold home. So most of my symptoms come about from foods containing mold. It could be anything from grains, a coffee pot containing mold, to a fast food place that doesn’t control the mold on their food. I have eaten corn with mold, broccoli, bread, coffee beans, wheat, and so much more. Grains from the farmers fields contain mold. Grain is fed to animals. Sometimes the grain fed meat I eat makes me ill. I could go on and on. But you need to read about foods that contain mold. I still live with the effects of mold. And I have not lived in the mold infested home for 10 years.

    Comment by Christina Bruno — June 2, 2022 @ 5:47 PM

  54. Need information on mold and Cirs. Ty

    Comment by Suzette Lampman — December 15, 2022 @ 7:09 PM

  55. Horrible! Sorry 😞 to all… please know experience testimonials are very helpful to myself my family and others I hope this blesses you and promotes healing as you forgive those people whom you need too

    Comment by Faith — January 2, 2023 @ 4:23 AM

  56. Hello Suzette, thank you for reaching out. For more information about SPECT scans and our services, please contact our Care Coordinators: https://www.amenclinics.com/schedule-visit/.

    Comment by Amen Clinics — January 9, 2023 @ 10:37 AM

  57. Unfortunately, I experienced similar . I moved into apartment filled with white stuff in the furnace when I went to change the filter. Upon inspecting the closet that held the furnace, I saw mold growing up from the baseboards all up the wall. Did an air test and it was penicillin mold. I was losing my mind over there. Moved in a hurry to another location and noticed significant changes but it did take time to recover. Unfortunately the condensation line in the Hvac got backed up over here and caused havoc with mold all in the furnace . Unbelievable. The symptoms are back but not as bad as the other spot. The complex cleaned the vents after much pressure. It helped a little but one room I still can’t enter without issues. You read my statements and see the brain fog. Thanks for all of your testaments. I’ll pray for us all to find relief from this horrible reaction that we have towards mold. It’s expensive to move but medical bills are too so I have to do what I have to do

    Comment by olatunji — January 27, 2023 @ 5:15 PM

  58. I am retired, but still keep up with the medical literature. I also have gardened most of my life and to grow medicinal plants.I had gotten all my fingernails infected with fungus, from gardening or the nail salon when I was still working.Tea tree oil had cured 8/10 nails, but two just wouldn’t heal up. I read that Manuka honey and or Manuka oil (New Zealand) was 33 times stronger anti fungal than tea tree oil. It’s not cheap, but I bought what I could affordAfter two nights, the entire fungus fell off my nail. The other one appears to be healing as well.
    It tasted so good, I ate the entire 8.8 oz of the jar, all in one day.(not a normal habit).Since then (3 days) I feel amazing with increased energy, better mood, etc. I am allergic to black mold and had to live in a heavily infected house for 3 months.I was reading about black mold for a friend who is still ill 10years after a nightmare of black mold.i just wondered if eating the entire jar of honey had gotten rid of fungus lingering in my body. I never eat an entire jar like that.Since Manucka honey/oil is 33 times stronger an antifungal than tea trea oil and some people eat twoteaspoons per day and reportoverall health benefits, I was just curious if Manucka honey helps systemic black mold?

    Comment by Christa Hines, MD — February 24, 2023 @ 1:47 PM

  59. I suffered with strange symptoms including brain fog , severe memory loss, pain in my joints, stomach issues, anxiety, depression, scabs in my scalp, tingling in my ears , nose , and on my face, metal taste in my mouth, insomnia, weakness and a few more. I saw several doctors in Florida who said they couldn’t find anything medically wrong and that I should seek treatment from a psychiatrist. I did and glad because she referred me to a Dr who tested me for mold toxins. I was on the highest level of 4 different molds. After moving , and a complete diet change ( it was a cellular regeneration diet) I finally feel better. I am still suffering with the memory loss and I’m extremely sensitive to any mold if it’s near me , but the best thing about this experience is knowing that I’m not crazy! If traditional Dr. Would have had their way , I would have ended up on who knows how many medications, and diagnosed with mental illness. There is help out there, it takes a lot of doing your own homework to see what works for you , but don’t give up. My best to everyone else out there who suffers.

    Comment by Kelly — October 17, 2023 @ 12:00 PM

  60. I like the valuable info you provide in your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I'm quite certain I’ll learn a lot of new stuff right here! Good luck for the next!

    Comment by zoritoler imol — November 14, 2023 @ 4:00 AM

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