Environmentally acquired illnesses (EAI) are often not recognized by conventional medicine. Patients run from one doctor to another and no one can help them. The usual lab studies often reveal nothing treatable because their health care providers are not testing for the right things. When all the studies come back normal, a patient may be told that her somatic concerns are an expression of her anxiety or depression, and that she should see a psychiatrist.
Since learning about environmentally acquired illness, I test almost every patient in my practice for urine mycotoxins. Most show evidence of mold toxicity. In some ways this should not be so surprising, as mold toxins commonly cause depression, anxiety and multiple other psychiatric symptoms. In vulnerable individuals, exposure to mold causes chronic systemic inflammation. This wreaks havoc on the immune system as well as other organ systems of the body. Exposure to toxins is cumulative and is often the cause of debilitating chronic illness and can eventually even result in death. The treatment approach is to reduce exposure to mold and to help the body to expel the toxins through detoxification.
The list of symptoms that can result from mold toxicity is extensive. It includes:
- Brain fog, memory problems, loss of mental sharpness, trouble organizing tasks or getting things done
- Headaches, light/sound/touch sensitivity
- Neuropathy, numbness, tingling, loss of coordination, paralysis, seizures
- Fainting, dizziness or lightheadedness, vertigo
- Insomnia, poor sleep, sleep apnea
- Anxiety, depression, irritability, emotional outbursts, mood swings, suicide
- Fatigue, problems recovering from exercise or even daily activities
- Muscle weakness, cramping and aching
- Low blood pressure, elevated blood pressure, palpitations, fast heart rate
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Wheezing, allergy symptoms, shortness of breath, air hunger
- Joint aches and stiffness
- Swelling of lips and face, nosebleeds
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Nausea and vomiting, stomach upset
- Frequent urination and increased thirst
- Rashes, itching, prickling skin, blotching and redness
- Heavy periods, irregular periods, PMS symptoms, difficult menopause, miscarriages
- Significant weight gain or weight loss
- Young children are likely to develop fatigue, headaches, and abdominal complaints
Conditions that are thought to be caused or exacerbated by a person’s exposure to environmental toxins include:
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Epilepsy and other seizure disorders
- Dysautonomias such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Autistic spectrum disorders
- Depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cancer
- Diabetes (Type 2) and metabolic syndrome
- Obesity
- Cardiovascular disease
- Celiac disease, and other food sensitivities
- Leaky gut syndrome (LGS) and dysbiosis
- Asthma and allergies
- Pneumonia and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Psoriasis and eczema
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Mast Cell Activation Disorder
- Persistent Lyme Disease
The current approach in my practice is to treat environmentally acquired illness with a multi-modal approach including:
- following an appropriate whole foods diet and specific supplementation
- adequate movement and sleep
- addressing childhood trauma
- attending to the quality of an individual’s work and love life
- attending to the need for belonging and community
- attending to he need for satisfying creative expression
- attending to the need for spiritual connection and a sense of purpose and meaning
- attending to the need for time spent in the sunshine and fresh air and connection with the natural world
- attending the need for sufficient rest, relaxation and play
Holistic healing is a huge commitment and takes a great deal of time and effort but it is very effective. Given the overwhelming toxicity of our environment and existential stress, it is more important than ever to create resilience during this time of ecological crisis on our planet.
