Detoxification & Recovery: A Functional Medicine Approach to Mold Toxicity
Overcoming mold toxicity requires a sophisticated medical approach that can identify your exposure, support your body’s detoxification pathways, and repair cellular damage. At SouthPark Functional Medicine, Dr. Mahtani conducts a deep investigation into the root causes of your symptoms, creating a strategic path toward reducing your toxic burden and restoring your health.
What is Mold Toxicity?
Mold toxicity occurs when excess exposure to mold spores and mycotoxins causes a wide range of symptoms and health problems. Mycotoxins are poisonous, naturally occurring toxins produced by mold and fungi that have the potential to cause disease and serious health complications. Addressing mold toxicity is essential to achieving greater overall health and reducing chronic conditions, including allergies and asthma.
A mold specialist doctor in Charlotte, NC, can work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that helps you safely and effectively recover from mold toxicity and mycotoxin exposure. This approach often includes targeted detoxification, nutritional support, and specific mycotoxins treatment protocols to restore balance and strengthen the immune system.
Dr. Mahtani’s methodology for mold toxicity focuses on a multi-step process: identifying and removing the source of exposure, supporting the body’s ability to bind and eliminate mycotoxins, and healing the gut and nervous system from inflammation. Her goal is a comprehensive plan for lasting recovery.
If you are ready to invest in your long-term health, we invite you to take the next step.
What Are The Symptoms of Mold Toxicity?
Brain Fog
Certain mycotoxins may cause inflammation in the hippocampus and inhibit the production of brain cells to cause a wide range of cognitive problems. Poor memory, brain fog, and slow reaction time are some of many cognitive deficits that may occur with mold toxicity.
Changes in Weight
Prolonged exposure to mycotoxins may interfere with metabolic processes to cause unexplained weight gain or weight loss. It may also lead to hormonal fluctuations that contribute to weight changes.
Numbness and Tingling
Mycotoxins may damage nerves in the extremities to cause peripheral neuropathy. Numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hands, legs, and/or feet are common signs of this nerve condition.
Digestive Problems
Mold toxicity can cause inflammation in the lining of the stomach and upset the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut to cause a wide range of gastrointestinal symptoms. Nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, and food intolerances are digestive issues that may occur with mycotoxin exposure.
Mood Changes
Inflammation in the brain caused by excess mold toxicity may contribute to mental health disorders and mood changes including irritability, depression, and anxiety. Mood changes that seem to occur for no reason may indicate the need for mold treatment.
Excessive Thirst
Mycotoxin exposure may damage the kidneys, causing problems with fluid regulation and balance. Excessive thirst, increased urination, and dehydration are related symptoms that may be caused by mold toxicity and exposure.
Metallic Taste
Some mycotoxins can affect taste receptors on the tongue, causing a metallic taste in the mouth. They may also increase the risk for Candida yeast overgrowth, which can cause an unpleasant taste.
Allergies
Mold spores are a common allergen that can trigger a reaction in those prone to allergies. Cough, itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and rash are common signs of a mold allergy.
Asthma
Exposure to certain mycotoxins can trigger severe asthma attacks or respiratory distress in some individuals. Difficulty breathing, wheezing, and shortness of breath are common asthmatic symptoms that may occur due to mold problems.
MYCOTOXINS Explained
- Mycotoxins are toxic compounds that are naturally produced by specific types of fungi.
- They are commonly found on foods including nuts, spices, dried fruits, and grain crops—including coffee.
- Excess or prolonged exposure to mycotoxins can lead to serious health problems that can greatly affect your quality of life and increase the risk for chronic conditions. Mold treatment from a mold specialist doctor in Charlotte, NC, can help resolve these problems and lead to improved overall health and wellness. Treatments given by a mold expert are personalized based on your symptoms, history, and overall health condition.
Mold toxicity treatment can address the root cause of all your symptoms if you have been exposed to high amounts of mold and harmful mycotoxins. A medical doctor specializing in mold treatment can talk to you more about your options.
- Mold toxicity treatment can reduce inflammation in the brain and lead to gradual improvements in memory and cognition. Symptoms like brain fog and difficulty thinking may be resolved over time with functional medicine treatment.
- Fluctuations in weight that may occur with mycotoxicity will gradually resolve with functional medicine treatment. Addressing mold toxicity can also help rebalance hormones and contribute to healthy weight management.
- Exposure to harmful toxins can increase free radicals throughout the body and affect your immune system health. Mycotoxin treatment can help boost your immunity and reduce the risk of illness and disease—including cancer and respiratory illnesses.
- Symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and depression may gradually go away as brain inflammation and poor gut health resolve with mycotoxin treatment. These mood disorders may also improve in tandem with your quality of life as mold toxicity symptoms are addressed.
- Breathing in an excess amount of mold spores and toxins can lead to a range of respiratory problems, including asthma. Functional medicine treatment for mold issues can lead to improved breathing and a reduction in the severity of respiratory illnesses.
Why Choose SouthPark Functional Medicine?
Because a complex condition like mold toxicity requires a sophisticated expert. Dr. Sarita Mahtani’s unique dual expertise as a board-certified MD and an IFM Certified Practitioner allows her to move beyond symptom management. She utilizes a precise, evidence-based methodology to identify the complex root causes of the toxic burden and immune dysregulation caused by mycotoxin exposure and creates a personalized plan for lasting results.
Choose expertise. Choose a true partner. Choose a new standard of care.
Dr. Sarita Mahtani is committed to caring for and healing patients through customized treatments.
Take the initial step towards your optimal well-being through integrative medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Contact us today at 980-414-4600
Mycotoxins – Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Difference Between Mold And Mycotoxins?
Mold is the actual organism, while mycotoxins are the toxic chemicals that some molds produce. These mycotoxins can cause a range of health problems in humans, even if you don’t see visible mold. So, while mold itself can be an issue, it’s the invisible mycotoxins that are often the main culprits behind many health complaints.
What Causes Mycotoxins?
Mold toxicity is typically caused by frequent and/or excess exposure to mold and mycotoxins. Fungi tend to grow in environments with high moisture and humidity levels, such as basements, roofs, and soil. Spending ample time in environments where mold thrives or eating foods that contain mycotoxins are behaviors that may lead to mold toxicity.
How To Detox From Mold Toxicity?
Our body detoxes from toxins via 3 main mechanisms: sweating, urination, and defecation.. Most important to healing is to reduce any further exposure of mold. Your functional medicine physician will then work with you to activate all the detox pathways. Further treatment includes binders and anti-fungals.
How Common Are Mycotoxins?
Mycotoxins are more common than many people realize and we find it in a significant number of our patients. It’s estimated that 25% of the world’s crops are affected by mycotoxins, meaning they can be present in a variety of foods we consume (like grains, coffee, and even wine). It’s most commonly seen through inhalation in water-damaged buildings or homes with mold growth, making them a significant environmental concern as well.
How Do You Test For Mycotoxins?
Your functional medicine physician will guide you through this, but it is most often a urine test looking for mycotoxins.
What Are The Symptoms Of Mycotoxins?
Symptoms of mycotoxins can be fatigue, brain fog, a metallic taste in mouth, ringing in the ears, tingling, numbness, sinus symptoms, insomnia, anxiety, depression, digestive issues, skin issues, or even hormone changes.
What Kills Mycotoxins In The Body?
Our bodies naturally detoxify from toxins, including mycotoxins, through three primary mechanisms: sweating, urination, and defecation. However, reducing further exposure to mold is crucial for healing.
A functional medicine physician can help activate the body’s detoxification pathways and may recommend additional treatments like binders and anti-fungals.
How To Remove Mycotoxins From Your Body?
The body’s natural detoxification processes can help eliminate mycotoxins. To enhance this process and minimize further exposure, it’s essential to reduce mold exposure. A functional medicine physician can provide tailored advice and consider using binders and anti-fungal treatments as part of a comprehensive detoxification plan.
How Long Do Mycotoxins Stay In The Body?
Mycotoxins can persist in the body for months or even years in some individuals, depending on the effectiveness of their detoxification pathways. It’s also crucial to determine whether someone is still being exposed to the source of mycotoxins or if it has been eliminated.