None of us want to see this in our homes but many of us do.  It has nothing to do with how clean our homes are.  It can be hidden behind walls, under the carpet, in the corner of the ceiling or in the basement behind fixtures.  Ridding the home of this menace is best left to professionals.  Ridding the body of the exposure to the toxins can be done also.

Molds are fungi that grow best in warm, damp and humid conditions. They can spread and reproduce by making spores. These spores can survive very harsh environmental conditions. Some of the common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria and Aspergillus.

Some people can be very sensitive to the molds in their environment. They may experience nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing or skin irritations. Those who have serious allergies to molds may have more severe symptoms such as fever or shortness of breath, severe fatigue has also been noted. Some believe that their chronic lung disease may be related to a mold infection in their lungs.

Once the mold has taken up residence in the body, it can be difficult to detox from it’s effects.  Of course, keeping our immune system in top condition is primary. Start with a good diet of fruits and vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables which are full of calcium.

Fruits which are high in liquids can help wash out the toxins, they are high in antioxidants and are generally easy to digest.  Citrus Fruits such as lemons, limes and oranges can jump-start the digestion with enzymes that aid the liver in the cleansing process. Start each morning with a glass of lemon water to increase detoxification.

Green foods can give the body a chlorophyll boost to the digestive tract.  Chlorophyll rids the body of harmful toxins that are found in the environment. Some of these are from toxic metals, herbicides, cleaning products and pesticides.  Some of the best green foods are kale, spinach, barley, wheatgrass, alfalfa, spirulina, blue-green algae , arugula, and broccoli sprouts which are even more effective than the fully grown vegetable.

Additionally, garlic is a pungent bulb that is one of the best detoxifying foods available.  This superfood can help stimulate the liver to produce enzymes that may filter toxic residues from the system. Adding a bit of raw garlic to your diet each day is preferable if you can tolerate it but even cooked garlic is beneficial.

Other beneficial cleansing foods are: Green Tea– high in catechines  which are know to increase liver function;  Mung Beans are used in Ayurvedic Medicine as they are known to absorb toxic residues from the intestinal walls.  Most raw vegetables contain sulfur and glutathione, also assisting with detoxification; some of the best are onions, beets, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, artichokes, turmeric and oregano.  Some seeds and nuts, such as flax seed, chia seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds and walnuts contain Omega- 3 Oils that can lubricate the intestinal walls allowing the body to eliminate the toxins that are absorbed by the oils.

Coconut Oil is also quite beneficial.  “Oil-pulling”, also known as “kavala” or “gundusha” is an ancient Ayurvedic dental technique;  by swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil (or sesame or sunflower oil) in the mouth several times a week on an empty stomach for 20 minutes then spitting it out into the trash can actually draw out toxins from the body.

There is quite a list of OTC supplements some of us use for increasing our health thus aiding in eliminating toxins from the bodily system. Lauricidin is a potent anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal which has broad-spectrum effects against many infections. It is generally well tolerated but some people do experience a reaction called a “die-off effect”.  This effect is also called a Herxheimer Reaction which occurs when yeast and other pathogens are killed by the monolaurin.  As the pathogens die, they can release toxins that may result in flu-like, acne-like, allergy-like symptoms such as: fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headache and skin erruptions.  Try starting with a low-dose and slowly increasing the dose over weeks to months.  Drinking plenty of water while using Lauricidin can greatly decrease the severity of this effect.

One of my favorite supplements is Colloidal/Ionic Silver.  I use this each and every time I have any kind of infection.  Taking a teaspoon 3-4 times a day usually does the trick in about 2 days. I have even put drops of silver into my eye when I had Conjunctivitis (pink-eye).  It cleared up by the next day.  If one has access to a nebulizer, silver can be put into the nebulizer and inhaled directly into the lungs.  This is particularly helpful for those who have a mold or fungal infection in the lungs.  Silver is a very potent killer of any infectious substance it touches.  It is very safe to use at recommended dosages; only those who take extremely high amounts of silver over a very long period of time might experience what is called “Argyria” which causes a bluish color to the skin.  This is very rare.

Other excellent supplements used for detoxing are: Brown Seaweed Extract, Olive Leaf Extract, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Quercitin, Lysine, Magnesium Citrate, Vit C, Vit D,  Vit B Complex and Niacinamide.  Dandelion tea or extract supports the liver during detoxing.

In conclusion, detoxing from mold exposure or other toxins in the body can be difficult but not impossible.  Working some or all of these suggestions into your daily diet, avoiding sugar as much as possible and avoiding further exposure to molds and fungus can greatly decrease the toxic effects and increase energy, health and general wellness.

As always, be sure to discuss with your Personal Healthcare Provider any supplements you may want to take as there are some that may not be compatible with some  medications you may be taking.  Although your Healthcare Provider may not feel these supplements are worth taking, it may be that he/she is just not educated on treatments other than medications.  There are many valid studies done in Europe, particularly Germany, for many of the supplements one can take for health improvement.  These studies are readily available for research on the World Wide Web.

Biotoxin Mold Illness Panel