Mold &
Mycotoxin Illness
Mold or Mycotoxin Illness is often overlooked and poorly understood by the conventional medical community. Still, certain mold species and their myco-toxins have known detrimental effects on various bodily systems.
At Zimmermann Modern Wellness, we recognize the severity and complexity of mold based illness.
What is Mold
Illness?
Mold or Mycotoxin illness typically occurs when an individual is continuously exposed usually through indoor air to various species of mold. Mold illness can vary in severity based on: the type of mold, the amount of mold spores, the person’s ability to detox mold toxins, amongst others.
What are
Mycotoxins?
Certain species of mold produce biotoxins called myco-toxins. These toxins may accumulate in and damage bodily tissues and organs. Because these toxins are very tiny, they can easily pass through walls and floor boards. These toxins are ultimately responsible for the adverse health effects experienced with mold exposure.
Mycotoxin Illness:
Symptoms
Due to its broad range of symptoms, mold or mycotoxin illness is often overlooked when diagnoses are being considered.
coughing &
Wheezing
nasal
congestion
migraines
FATigue
muscular weakness
skin rashes
eye
irritation/
photophobia
frequent
urination
anxiety/ depression
Mold & Sick
Building Syndrome
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over 25% of buildings in the United States have some degree of water damage. Common sources of mold in buildings occur where there are leaks or excess moisture, such as:
- faulty plumbing
- roof and window leaks
- condensation on cold surfaces
- improper drain pans
- wet foundations
- water vapor from poorly ventilated bathrooms and kitchens
Do All Species of Mold Cause Illness?
While there are no beneficial species of mold, certain species of mold produce more harmful myco-toxins than others. Common species of mold identified in mold or mycotoxin illness are: Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys.
Why are Some People Not Affected by Mold?
You may be wondering why some people never develop symptoms when exposed to the same mold that makes others so sick. About 25% of the population carry the HLA-DR gene, which makes detoxing myco-toxins more difficult. In these individuals, myco-toxins build up in the body and wreak havoc. Additionally, immunocompromised individuals are more vulnerable to mold and myco-toxins in general.
CIRS & Other Complications
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) develops when there is a heightened inflammatory response throughout the body in response to mycotoxins or other biotoxins. This typically occurs when the body is unable to properly detox the mycotoxins efficiently. In this state, the body’s alarm system is set on high alert, attacking all possible intruders. Systemic inflammation and immune system imbalance follow. This is where we see symptoms becoming more severe and complications developing.
These complications can include:
- Neurological Issues
- Chronic Pain/ Fibromyalgia
- Cognitive Impairment
- Memory Loss
- Static Shocks
- Autoimmune Conditions
- Chemical Sensitivity
- Anxiety/ Depression
- Immune Suppression
Diagnosing Mold:
Testing
During the initial intake, we ask about our patients’ history with either living in or working in water damaged buildings. However, it isn’t always simple as many water damaged buildings never show visible signs of water damage nor mold growth. Thus, we often rely on key mycotoxin illness symptoms to determine if mold testing is required. When ordering mold and mycotoxin testing, we utilize various forms of tests such as: urine panels that detect numerous types of mycotoxins, nasal swabs to detect mold colonization in the sinuses, and blood panels that examine inflammatory biomarkers.
At Zimmermann Modern Wellness, we utilize the latest and most accurate Mycotoxin labs to ensure proper diagnosis for our patients. Some of these labs include:
- Vibrant America (Mycotoxin Urine Testing)
- CIRS Blood Panel (Inflammatory Biomarkers)
- Great Plains Lab (Mycotoxin Urine Testing)
- Marcons Nasal Swab (Mold Colonization)
- Referrals for Home/Work Mold Inspection
- Bioresonance Testing
Treating Mold Illness:
The ZMW Protocol
1. Remove & Avoid Mold Exposures.
The first step in any mold protocol is to remove the mold exposure from the patient’s daily environment. We realize this can be challenging as it may require: mold remediation, relocating, working from home, etc. However, without first removing the daily source of mold and mycotoxins, treatment is often ineffective. Treating mold while living or working in mold is like trying to drain an overflowing bathtub with the faucet still turned on!
2. Open Drainage Pathways.
Oftentimes with mold illness, detox pathways become congested. When this happens, the body cannot efficiently remove mycotoxins through the liver or kidneys. Thus, the second step is to open drainage pathways with detox IV’s, medical grade homeopathy, herbs, and supplements.
3. Bind & Eliminate Mycotoxins.
Once drainage pathways are open and ready to clear mycotoxins, prescription or herbal binders are given. Binders are substances that bind to the circulating mycotoxins and prep them for removal out of the body. Binders come in many forms: oral, IV, or nasal sprays. This step effectively removes the mycotoxins that are plaguing the body’s systems.
4. Repair & Rebalance the Immune System.
Last but not least, once mycotoxin levels are low, repair work can be done. As mycotoxins often damage various tissues, restorative IV’s are given to repair and regenerate cell membranes and tissues. If autoimmunity is present, immune system modulating IV’s are recommended to recalibrate the body’s alarm system.
Our Treatment Superstars
Ozone therapy infuses potent oxygen into the bloodstream. This staple treatment: deactivates mycotoxins, modulates the immune system, facilitates detox, and rejuvenates damaged cells and tissues. Typically, we combine it with ultraviolet blood irradiation (UBI) which enhances its ability to rebalance the immune system.
Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is a vital substance that composes cell membranes. By infusing phosphatidylcholine into the bloodstream, the body has extra resources to repair damaged cells. IV PC also promotes detoxification by assisting the liver.
Oftentimes, natural glutathione levels are depleted with mold illness. IV glutathione delivers this potent antioxidant into the bloodstream where it detoxes mycotoxins, reduces inflammation, and balances the immune system.
Medical grade herbal and prescription binders are given to bind to and eliminate mycotoxins from the body’s terrain. This is a critical component of all mold illness protocols. Activated charcoal, zeolite, apple pectin, humic and fulvic acids - all are key binders that have incredible binding capacities.
Medical grade compounded nasal sprays are recommended when there is bacterial and/or mold colonization within the sinuses. This is essential in these cases as oral and IV treatments do not effectively penetrate the sinus cavities.
To open detox drainage pathways, we utilize medical grade homeopathic remedies. These oral drops target the detox pathways of the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system to ensure bound mycotoxins have an open exit route.
Are you ready to begin your journey to wellness and feel your best?
Reach out to our team at Zimmermann Modern Wellness to get your personalized treatment plan today.