Could mould be causing your symptoms?

Following the floods and weeks of rain earlier this year, we were all on high alert for mould. There were news articles, TV segments and Facebook posts warning us of the risks, and white vinegar and clove oil products were sold out in many grocery stores!

Even though the media focus on mould seems to have calmed down, we want to still highlight the effects of mould on our bodies because it really can impact us in so many different ways. It may even be an underlying factor behind some of the symptoms you’re experiencing at the moment.

Mould is able to grow on almost any surface, especially if the environment is warm and wet. Certain moulds produce toxins – called mycotoxins – that are released into the environment. We are usually exposed to mycotoxins by eating them on food or when breathing them in.

Mycotoxins can cause many different types of health issues, from severe poisoning to long-term ailments, like immune deficiencies or even cancer.

What are these moulds and where are they found?

Some of the main moulds causing problems are:

• Citrinin: usually found in stored grain and other plant products

• Mycophenolic Acid: often found in indoor environments or different foods

• Sterigmatocystin: found in dust from damp carpets and many foods (grains, corn, bread, cheese, spices, coffee, soy, nuts, animal feed)

• Trichothecenes: found in water damaged buildings

• Zearalenone: found in water damaged buildings and some foods (usually grains)

• Aflatoxins: found in water damaged buildings and food stored in silos

• Ochratoxin A: found in water damaged buildings and some foods, like cereals

• Aspergillus

Essentially, moulds love to grow in any place that is warm and wet!

What can mycotoxins do to my body?

Mould toxins affect our body’s fat cells and the hypothalamus (a small but important area in the centre of the brain that plays an important role in hormone production). Mycotoxins can lead to chronic inflammation, decreased blood flow, or leptin receptor issues.

There are also links between mycotoxins and gut health. Our intestinal barrier in the gastrointestinal tract acts as a filter against harmful mycotoxins; however, mycotoxins can alter the normal intestinal function.

Some symptoms include:

• chronic fatigue;

• aches & pains;

• lung problems, such as asthma and bronchitis;

• cold and flu-like symptoms;

• hay fever;

• headaches;

• brain fog;

• anxiety and heart palpitations;

• insulin resistance/sensitivity;

• pituitary issues – sleep/wake cycle, adrenal, thyroid;

• and much more!

What can I do to get rid of mould?

The best form of mould prevention is addressing the underlying causes of mould, like poor ventilation, excessive condensation, flooding, or high humidity.

Once those causes have been resolved, you can clean existing mould using water, bicarb of soda, white vinegar and clove oil. Clove oil’s high levels of antifungal properties make it one of the best natural remedies for mould prevention.

Cleaning expert and co-author of Spotless, Shannon Lush, recommends oil of clove for cleaning mould from hard surfaces. She suggests you first clean the surfaces with a mixture of 4 litres of hot water, 1 tablespoon bicarb of soda and half a cup of vinegar. Then, mix a quarter teaspoon of clove oil per litre of water, put it in a spray bottle, lightly mist on mouldy surface. Leave for 20 minutes and wipe off. Spray again and leave. It will take between 24-48 hours for the mould spores to dry and drop off.

How to treat the effects of mycotoxins

To uncover any impact mould and mycotoxins may be having on your body, there are a few steps you can take:

• Book in for a Bioresonance session

• Take daily probiotics to help boost your get health as they fight mycotoxins in your gastrointestinal tract

• Add Chlorella powder into your diet

• Use an air disinfectant unit – make sure it’s rated for mould spores (HEPA rating for 0.01 microns or less) with UV light to destroy mould.

Please consult a medical professional before taking any supplements.

For more information or to be tested for mould, please contact the clinic today!

*Source: MTHFR Support Australia