Quick announcement – I have created a brand new website dedicated to toxic mold awareness. It does not have any health related information so please continue reading this post on how to detox from mold exposure. However, it DOES have some of the most comprehensive information about mold from mold testing, to removing mold, to preventing mold, and everything in between. Check out Mold Help For You after you finish this post.
For years my health was a rollercoaster of unusual, maddening, saddening horribleness. Doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. I was truly on a downhill slide to my end-game. Little did I know that it was toxic mold and it’s horrific offspring – mycotoxins – that were slowly trying to kill me. Mold toxicity is no joke.
Fast forward from December 2014 and I have been on a long, winding journey of recovery from mycotoxmosis and mold related illness. My now 10-year-old sidekick has been along for the bumpy ride with me. Life after mold is complex and full of ups and downs. But there is hope and recovery (to varying degree) is possible.
I wanted to write a book about how to detox your body from mold based on my recovery. What I did, how I did it, what products I relied on, what I learned, etc… However, since I am not a medical professional it was a huge legal mess to actually get such a thing published and the risk to me was too great. As such, I am turning the protocol I used to detox from mold exposure into an article that I hope you all will share far and wide. I will continue to update this post as I am constantly learning about different options and trying additional avenues to support my health and continue my recovery.
I want to share my journey as a source of inspiration, NOT medical advice. Everything I share here is what I did to detox my body from mold exposure and what had worked or has been working for me. I am not guaranteeing anything for anyone else. Although I will go out on a limb and say that I would be shocked if some of the things I did to detox from mold don’t support your recovery from toxic mold exposure.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I am not going to discuss products I used or supplements I took that did not help me detox from mold. Why? Because they were a waste of my time and I don’t want that for anyone who might be using my suggestions as a baseline for what they should do. If they didn’t work well for me, why recommend them right? So I am only discussing things that worked for me.
Are you ready? Then let’s get right to the business of how to detox your body from mold.
How To Detox Your Body From Mold Exposure
There are numerous ways to detox your body from mold exposure and I took a multifaceted approach. I made lifestyle changes, took various supportive supplements, and used other products that are known for aiding in detoxing and recovery. Recovering from toxic mold exposure takes time. You won’t see results overnight. For some people, it can be a years long process (my mold doctor said at least 5 for the average person). But the MORE you can do to support your body in detoxing, the better your chances are of regaining your health sooner as opposed to later.
Today I am going to look at three areas of detox. I will share the specific Products that I used or am using, Supplements I took or am taking, and Lifestyle Adaptations I made. Let’s get to it!
Products I Used To Detox From Mold Exposure
EC 3 Air Purification Candles
As an EC3 Candle burns, the heat from the flame aerosolizes and disperses an all-natural, antifungal ingredient embedded in the soy wax into the air. In independent lab tests, EC3 Candles were able to reduce the mycotoxin count in a room by 90% in less than 3 hours. The candles have no added fragrance, so as not to aggravate other chemical sensitivities that are common in sinusitis sufferers.
The reason I used and continue to use these candles was to lesson any air born mold and mycotoxin exposures that I might be getting from simply living life. Mold spores creep in to our homes pretty easily and these candles absolutely helped keep any hitchhikers at bay.
Continued exposure to mold will make it more difficult for you to effectively detox your body from mold. What goes in must come out and you don’t want more spores coming in on a regular basis.
If you would like to learn more about the EC3 product line and WHY it works, please check out my EC3 product review post. Want to grab some candles now? You can find the EC3 candles here.
BEMER
The BEMER is designed to improve circulation thereby supporting the body’s natural self-regulatingprocesses. Blood is the body’s universal means of transportation. Oxygen, nutrients, chemical messengers(e.g., hormones) and immune cells are all transported through our blood. When ourbody’s cells, tissues and organs are adequately nourished and metabolic waste products are removed,our bodies maintain a healthy balance and function properly. The optimal regulation ofcirculation is a prerequisite for ensuring good levels of health and fitness.
When you are in the process of detoxing your body from mold, it is imperative that metabolic waste be excreted. If your microcirculation is not functioning optimally, your body cannot remove the metabolic waste being stored in the body’s cells, organs, and tissues. In a nutshell, mold related toxins are found in this metabolic waste which is why you want and need it out of your body in order to recover from mold.
I added the BEMER into my detox protocol in 2019 and can honestly say that FOR ME, it was the missing piece of my detox journey. I only wish I knew about this when I began detoxing my body from mold in early 2015. I personally believe that I would have regained my health faster.
For more information on BEMER you can contact me directly or visit the BEMER product page.
Near Infrared Sauna
I discuss sweating further on in this post but in a nutshell while all sweating has a detoxifying effect, the sweat you produce as a result of using a near infrared sauna is the most detoxifying kind. Infrared’s deep penetrating heat is what most effectively stimulates metabolic activity, which in turn triggers the release of stored toxins through sweat, as well as through the liver and kidneys. I use a sauna for 20 minutes daily and have seen really amazing results system wide from using this.
Saunas can be expensive and they are definitely not all created equal. I now have a higher end sauna but this is the one I purchased initially and I was more than pleased with it. Make sure you purchase these bulbs and only these bulbs.
Rebounder
The rebounding motion stimulates all internal organs, moves the cerebral-spinal fluid, detoxifies fatty tissues, and is beneficial for the intestines. Many immune cells such as T-lymphocytes and macrophages are self-propelled through amebic action. These cells contain molecules identical to those in muscle tissue. All cells in the body become stronger in response to the increased “G force” during rebounding, and this cellular exercise results in the self-propelled immune cells being up to 5 times more active. These immune cells are responsible for eating viruses, bacteria and even mycotoxins, so it is good that they be active. Jumping on a rebounder directly strengthens the immune system, so it’s a big deal to do this!
I try to jump on my rebounder 3 times per week. Even doing this for 5 minutes per day makes a huge difference in your body’s ability to detox from mold exposure.
This is a great rebounder that really holds up!
Laundry Additive
Fabric and textiles, especially moisture-wicking athletic clothing, are great hiding places for mold and bacteria. That is NOT good for detoxification from toxic mold exposure. I used a great laundry additive product that tackles bacterial and fungal hitchhikers most laundry detergents fail to eliminate. It also neutralizes the musty and putrid smells that accompany mold, mildew, and bacteria problems. It is all natural, safe for all washing machines, and leaves clothes smelling clean!
Supplements I Took To Support My Body As I Detoxed From Mold Exposure
Sinus Rinse
While not exactly a supplement, this one is a BIG DEAL! You MUST rinse out your nose as part of any recovery process where sinuses have been impacted. Since mold spores and mycotoxins fly up one’s nose with ease, rinsing out your nasal passage is of utmost importance. I used this sinus rinse system twice daily for a year and then dropped down to every few days after that. My daughter still does sinus rinses daily and prefer this electric sinus rinse system.
It is important to note that you should never attempt to rinse your sinuses with just water. It burns like no other and your brain feels like it will explode. Always use the sinus rinse packets along with distilled water. I like to add Alkolol into the rinse as well. It really breaks up mucus for me.
Activated Charcoal
This is a huge one when exploring how to detox your body from mold! In order to get any sort of toxin out of your system, it is best to give it something to grab on to. Ideally, this is something that easily makes its way out of your system. By easily, I mean causes no disruption to your normal body operations.
Activated charcoal does an excellent job of grabbing mycotoxins and ushering them out of your cells. It isn’t instantaneous and takes a lot of diligence but this particular binding agent is well worth it. Basically, you likely won’t have much forward progress without a binder.
You can certainly use something like bentonite clay but I prefer the activated charcoal. If you do choose to use clay, that particular one is very convenient and doesn’t taste horrible.
When using a binder, it is crucial that you time it properly. It must be taken away from all food, beverages, and supplements/medications. 90 minutes before or after consuming anything is ideal. For the best absorption, take activated charcoal 90 minutes after a meal with lots of healthy fats.
In addition, you want to keep a steady stream of binders in your system. My doctor had me using activated charcoal three times per day, spaced as evenly as possible.
Not all activated charcoal is created equal. Just trust me on this one. That is an entire post in and of itself. These are the brands I recommended in order of what I used with the most success:
PhytoZon
This is a supplement the entire world should be taking. If you have been exposed to toxic mold, then this is a must-take. Yes, this has a funny name with plant-based ingredients from the Amazon rain forest but please trust me when I say this supplement is gold. It has the potential for most people to get into your DNA and repair your body on a cellular level. To date, there is no other supplement that has been scientifically proven to do this.
With Over 500 Hundred ingredient specific Research and Clinical Studies, PhytoZon was scientifically formulated to Enhance, Promote and Support:
- DNA Repair on a Cellular Level
- Cell Production of IGF-1 to Repair/Rebuild Cartilage
- Brain/Body Balance – Mental Clarity, Focus/Recall
- Mental Cognition and Concentration
- Energy, Vitality, Increased Strength, Well Being
- Joint Health, Flexibility, Mobility, Endurance
- Skeletal Health, Posture, Back and Neck
- Heart Health, Eye Health, So Much More…
This is great stuff to feed your body with. You can read the in-depth article one of my practitioner’s wrote about how Phytozon works for mold illness here.
You know what else it does? Repairs damage to your cells from EMF exposure. It also acts as a shield to prevent more damage from occurring. I saw the power of PhytoZon in action through muscle testing. Click on that EMF link above to learn more about how I know that this supplement works.
If you would like to purchase PhytoZon you can do so here.
Glutathione
Glutathione is another important supplement you can put into your system. Glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant and primary antioxidant for detoxification. It’s found in nearly every human cell, and medical experts say that lifespan is directly equivalent to the amount of Glutathione in your body. With its ability to protect and detoxify, it also provides crucial immune system support. It’s also worth noting that glutathione is incredibly well researched. In fact, thousands of clinical studies have been conducted on this powerful antioxidant.
Glutathione is a tricky substance however. You can’t just pop a pill and call it good. It has to get into your system in a very specific manner. Liposomal glutathione is one option but it has to be special ordered through a practitioner and it contains a couple of ingredients that I am not thrilled about. It needs stabilizers and I just prefer not to put anything extra into my system when there is a totally pure and effective means of delivery available.
While I did use liposomal glutathione for a bit, I made the switch to the Life Wave Glutathione Phototherapy patches. Let me tell you…best decision ever! I have had my glutathione levels tested at regular intervals and they are stellar! This is great news for my body’s ability to detox.
I could regurgitate all kinds of info on phototherapy science and how the patches work but instead, I will send you here to learn more.
In order to ensure that other people had access to these patches, I created an account with the Life Wave company. If you decide to place an order, you will need to give them my customer account #. That is 890946.
Brain Support
Mold and mycotoxins wreak havoc on your brain. While you need to detox your body from mold you also need to detox your brain from mold. You may or may not realize the impact initially but believe you me…things are going awry in your brain.
I noticed some pretty serious neurological effects and I certainly wanted them reversed. I used a couple of different products to help support my brain health and after two years of use, I really did notice that a lot of healing had taken place. I still have some difficulty with comprehension at times but it is only when someone is speaking to me. It takes me a few extra moments to really digest what they are saying. Beyond that, I am just as sharp as I was before.
Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a naturally occurring phospholipid in the brain that has an important impact on specific neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. Numerous clinical studies have indicated that 300mg of PS taken daily demonstrated positive support on attention, concentration, focus and memory. I absolutely believe that PS played a huge role in my brain detoxing. My doctor was adamant that there was only one brand worth its weight. I tend to agree. MRM PS 100 is the only brand I trust and use.
The other product I used was the Prevagen Mineral Supplement. This is a unique product as it contains apoaequorin, a vital ingredient for brain health. Apoaequorin was originally discovered in jellyfish of all things. It has a loyal following and I tend to believe that it really does help with memory issues specifically. PS is a more well rounded brain support product and Prevagen is specific to memory. They make a great combination!
Antifungal Nasal Spray
When it comes to your sinuses, the bottom line is that you HAVE to get the mold spores out of our nose. Your entire immune system is compromised until you do. Many antifungal nasal sprays are harsh. The ones my doctor initially prescribed were brutal and my daughter would go into fits at the sight of the bottle. We powered through for far too long. It wasn’t until 2016 that I discovered a more natural option that works!
CitriDrop Nasal Spray is an effective tool for combating bacterial and fungal infections in the nose. This homeopathic nasal spray relieves sinus congestion and inflammation caused by mold and does so very gently. My daughter loves this stuff!
We use the CitriDrops Nasal Spray daily to combat the everyday mold we are exposed to from going outside, shopping, and the like.
For 12 months, we used CitriDrop Nasal Spray in conjunction with Sinus Defense Nasal Spray. Sinus Defense is a homeopathic colostrum-based Transfer Factor. Discovered in 1954, Transfer Factor was discovered to transfer immunity from one person to another (example: mother/ child via breastfeeding). Sinus Defense boosts the immune system’s ability to better identify, remove, and remember foreign antigens. This enables the bodies T-cells, the core of our body’s adaptive immunity to allergens, to effectively remove the foreign antigens.
I still use the Sinus Defense Nasal Spray as needed. I have found it helpful during “sick season” as well.
Additional Supplements
While there are many additional supplements I take, they are tailored to my own individual needs. There are also other products I use and love but in reality, they just provide additional support and are not “critical” to detoxing from mold like the ones mentioned above.
Lifestyle Adaptations I Made
I steered clear of ALL inflammatory foods and foods known to be contaminated with mycotoxins. Your body cannot properly recover if it is being bombarded by inflammatory foods. You need to keep our system as calm as possible. The common inflammatory foods include:
- Sugar
- Gluten
- Dairy (cow)
- Corn
- Alcohol
- Processed Foods
- Synthetic Sweeteners
- Food Additives
- Peanuts
As for foods that are known for being moldy or contaminated with mycotoxins? I wrote an entire post about it. Check out Mycotoxins In The Food You Eat.
I exercised daily and tried to break a sweat. Exercising seems like a no-brainer but really it is the sweating part that is more difficult than it seems. I would make sure to dance (this is my favorite dance workout), take vigorous walks, hike, and rebound darn near daily but I didn’t always break a sweat. Sweating releases toxins and while any exercise is beneficial, the most healing kind involves sweat. So try to exercise for a good 45 minutes daily making sure you get a good sweat going.
I ran air purifiers in every room. You can’t expect to detox your body from mold if you are taking on rogue mold spores from the environment. You need to filter those invaders out before they invade you. Mold comes in from the outside due to daily living. And of course, it can happen if you have a mold event occur in your home. To mitigate any setbacks in recovery, air purifiers are key.
There are a lot of air purifier options and not all are created equal. The five I use and trust are:
- Germ Guardian (an affordable option but not as powerful as the next four)
- EnviroKlenz
- Austin Air
- Blue Air
- IQ Air
A Few Other Important Things Worth Mentioning
Labs and Other Testing
I do keep track of my health through regular labwork and some pretty cool “gut” tests. Twice a year I make sure to have the good old basic blood work done alone with a C4A test. I personally feel that the C4A lab is pretty important.
C4a has become the inflammatory marker of greatest significance looking at innate immune responses in those with exposure to Water Damaged Buildings. The complement system (C4A) is a group of proteins that move freely through your bloodstream. The proteins work with your immune system and play a role in the development of inflammation. Each complement activates inflammatory responses, with spillover of effect from the innate immune response to acquired immune response and hematologic parameters. These short-lived products are re-manufactured rapidly, such that an initial rise of plasma levels is seen within 12 hours of exposure to biotoxins, and sustained elevation is seen until definitive therapy is initiated. It is good to keep track of changes in your C4A levels.
If your doctor cannot or will not order the C4A test, you can order it yourself through Life Extension. Search for “Complement C4” to order. The test runs about $85.
GI mapping and the gut explorer test are two stool based tests that have been instrumental in my recovery. Both tests look at different things going on in your gut. They can identify damage from mold, bacterial imbalances, and so much more. I have been blown away at the level of information both these tests have given me.
It is amazing how much damage mold reaps on your GI tract. It is also amazing how much healing can happen when you know what is going on in there.
If you are interested in learning more about one or both of these “gut” tests, please reach out to me via email and I will connect you with my practitioner Elizabeth who can offer you a free consultation. (Please note that I DO NOT receive any sort of incentive for referring you. Elizabeth is one of the trusted professionals I have received care from and in my opinion she truly is a gut health expert.)
If you are interested in seeing what mycotoxins you are excreting, you can do so with a Mycotoxin urine test. You can order this yourself through Great Plains Lab. This test may or may not be useful to you but it definitely can give you some additional information about your detox progress.
Life Extension offers a Biotoxin Mold Illness Panel that can be useful when you are in the early stages of figuring out IF you have been exposed to mold and/or how much damage it has caused. Click this link and then search for Biotoxin to learn more about this test. You can order this test yourself.
The Right Practitioner
I encourage anyone who has been a victim of toxic mold exposure to find a practitioner who can help you from a “functional” perspective. Simply put, you want someone to take a holistic look at your health history, lifestyle, toxin and chemical exposure, etc…
While lab tests can be beneficial, there is so much more to health than what a test results says. From the foods consumed to the amount of water you drink, every little thing that goes into your body plays an important role in healing. So do find a practitioner you can trust. If you would like to know who I used with success, feel free to contact me. All the practitioners I have seen work with patients remotely. You can also check out my list of “mold doctors” here.
Sources for mold related information include but are not limited to:
- https://www.drthrasher.org/Publications
- https://iseai.org/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=Janette+Hope
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27441918
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24437201
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23833705
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21951023
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24021601
