Mold is a complex and often-overlooked piece of the puzzle with chronic illness. A careful look at both your health and home, including home mold testing, often uncovers this hidden root cause. But many people and even practitioners or professionals miss it!

And mold is even more important to consider when you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).

In the clinic, I see Mold Toxicity as a root contributor in over 95% of my clients! 

And you can detox your body, but if you are still being exposed to mold it can keep you from getting better!

Finding and removing environmental mold is one of the missed pieces I see that often keeps people stuck.

Mold Toxicity can be from past exposure or current exposure, though. And most people have no visible mold growth in their homes.

So, how do you know if there is mold in your house?

Home mold testing can be a good start. But it’s important to know:

• Where to look
• What tests to run
• What to do with the lab results

A good mold inspector can make home mold testing much easier.

I know finding a good Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) is not always as easy as calling anybody who says they do mold inspections, though!

I know when things have been difficult for me, it’s a struggle for many others, too.

So, I want to share some tips to help you get started.

In this post we’ll talk about: 

• Indoor mold and mycotoxins 
• Tips on finding a good Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) 
• More resources to help you get started 
• Detoxing your body from mold gently 

Keep reading to learn more. 

My Mold Toxicity Story

Mold is a big part of my health journey. I was very sick for years. I was tired all the time. My joints and muscles hurt.

I was barely functioning.  

I went to many doctors. I tried lots of treatments and supplements. And some of them made me feel worse.

I really struggled with my health until I learned about Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Histamine Intolerance.

And as I gradually started figuring things out, many of my symptoms started to get better.

As I worked on my health, I would get a little better and then need to figure out the next steps. Some of those steps were small and some of them were big, like learning about MCAS.

Realizing Mold Toxicity was one of my root causes was another huge step!

Learning about the health effects of mold and understanding how to detox mold gently made a big difference.

I started feeling so much better as I worked on mold detox for my body and my house!

Eventually, I moved into a mold-free home where I felt better than ever. Looking back, that was probably the first time I had been out of mold problems my whole life. 

My Home Mold Testing – A New Mold Exposure

I felt great in the new house at first. Then I started to feel sick again.

I couldn’t find the cause. But I knew I felt worse in certain areas of the house, and better when I left. And some areas smelled musty. A tell-tale sign that there is mold.

Even though I didn’t see any visible mold I decided to hire an IEP to do an indoor air quality and mold inspection. 

They asked questions. A lot of questions! And listened thoughtfully to how I felt. Then they made a careful visual inspection of the entire house.  

They also checked my air conditioning system, a commonly overlooked place for mold growth.

They did swabs and other mold samples for different types of mold in areas they suspected might be a problem. The test results confirmed their suspicion that there was mold present behind a basement wall and in my HVAC system.  

Mold remediation, having a knowledgeable company do the mold removal and clean up, in those areas improved my health again. 

As I mentioned earlier, nearly all of the clients I see have Mold Toxicity. If you are sensitive, too, there’s a good chance this often-overlooked toxin is part of your root cause. 

I know if can feel overwhelming. So, before we go any further, I want you to know I got my life back. And I see clients getting theirs back, too! It is possible. 

But many people still aren’t aware of the health risks of mold.

So, let’s look at some of the ways mold may affect you next. 

It’s important you know that this blog post is for informational and educational purposes. It’s not meant to treat any health condition or to be prescriptive for anyone.  If you have any medical condition, it is critical you work under the care and guidance of a licensed medical provider. 

The Health Effects of Toxic Indoor Mold

You read above that Mold Toxicity can be a current or past exposure. And that many people have symptoms but don’t realize it.

Mold exposure has been linked in studies to health issues like: 

• Insomnia
• Headaches or migraines 
• Pain in muscles, joints, or nerves    
• Brain fog 
• Dysautonomia/ POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)  
• Dizziness   
• Low blood pressure  
• Sensitivity to lights, sounds, or touch   
• Sensitivity to foods, medications, and supplements 
• Hives  
• Asthma   
• Sinus issues   
• Anaphylaxis   
• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome 
• Histamine Intolerance
• Internal Vibrations / Tremors
• And more 

As you can see, there are many possible symptoms from mold. And you may not know that you don’t have to see or smell mold for it to be a problem.  

Let’s take a look at that next. 

Understanding Indoor Mold Issues

Not all molds are toxic. And there are different types of mold all around us. But when toxic mold grows indoors, it is a problem.

There are two things you need to think about with toxic indoor molds. The first is mold spores or fragments and the second is mycotoxins. 

Mold spores are tiny. Many times smaller than the width of a single hair.

And fragments are even smaller pieces of spores. So, they can easily travel through the air and settle on surfaces.  

When you breathe, drink, or eat mold spores, they can start causing problems like those listed above. Or even sometimes start growing inside you, called Mold Colonization. 

The other problem is mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are gasses that some molds release. You can breathe, drink, eat, or even absorb mycotoxins through your skin.  

Mycotoxins can end up in tissues all through your body. And they are strong mast cell triggers! 

In both cases, you don’t have to see or smell mold or mycotoxins for them to create issues. 

Mold often grows in damp areas like basements, crawlspaces, and under sinks. It can lurk in attics, behind walls, and inside air conditioning systems. 

Stachybotrys, black mold, is the one most people have heard about. But there are many different mold types that can cause problems, like Aspergillus.  

And it doesn’t need to be a big area. Sometimes, just small mold growths are enough to make someone feel sick.  

So, if it’s often hidden how do you find the mold?  Keep reading for some ideas on getting started.

Mold Detox for a Healthier Home

A lot of people think about detoxing their bodies. But you may need to detox your house, too! Or your work, or school, or church, or wherever the exposure is coming from. Or at least figure out where it’s coming from and limit your exposure.

To find mold, you can start with a do-it-yourself (DIY) mold test kit. Not all DIY mold test kits are the same, though. Some miss most or all of the mold.

Related Post: Home Mold Testing and Mistakes

In the clinic, I suggest mold testing with an ERMI and Immunolytics mold plates.

These can help tell you what kinds of mold you may have. But they don’t tell you exactly where mold is or if it’s the problem. And no mold test is perfect.

That’s where an IEP comes in. 

Indoor Environmental Professionals (IEPs) are like practitioners for buildings.

They can help find hidden problems in your home or help you figure out if it is something else causing the problem.

But, just like practitioners, not all IEPs are the right ones for the job. Especially when it comes to those with sensitivities or chronic illness like MCAS.

I know it can feel hard and overwhelming. So, I sat down with Michael Schrantz, an IEP I know, to talk about home mold testing and how to find a good IEP! He’s one of the best I’ve met.  

Watch this video to learn: 

• Tips for discouraging indoor mold growth 
• Tips on looking for mold and where it’s often missed 
• What a good IEP will and won’t do 
• What you can do if you can’t move or remediate right away 
• More resources 

In short, an IEP tries to help make your home a healthier place to live. And a knowledgeable one can make the job easier.

So, what are your first steps? 

First Steps for Home Mold Testing and Mold Detox

If you have ongoing health issues, mold is something to look into. Especially if you have Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.  

So, what are your first steps? 

1. Watch the video above 
2. Check out the mold resources from my 2023 Summit here (some of them are mentioned in our discussion): Mold Resources for MCAS  
3. Consider a gentle mold detox. But only once your mast cells are stable enough! The right order is important. Click here to watch a video on the MC360™ Method

I know figuring out Mold Toxicity feels like a lot. And that’s why I’ve tried to help give you some information to get started. Remember, you only need to take one step at a time.  

As I figured all of this out, I made many mistakes. But I got there. And now I’ve been able to use that information to help clients get better, too!  

I know not everyone can work with the clinic. So, I put all of those steps and information into my MC360™️ Precision Mold Master Class.

If other mold detox protocols made you feel worse, if you’re sensitive, if you know you’ve been exposed to mold—this course was created with you in mind.  

It also includes tips on home testing and what to do when you can’t remediate or move right away.

You can find my MC360™️ Precision Mold Master Class here:

Have you done home mold testing before? Let me know what your experience was in the comments below!

More on Mold and MCAS

• Mold Toxicity Symptoms
• Mold Allergy vs Mold Toxicity vs Mold Colonization
• How to Gently Detox Your Body from Mold and Mycotoxins
• My Air Doctor Air Purifier Review
• The Air You Breathe – HypoAir Review

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References

Conti, P., et al. (2018). Impact of Fungi on Immune Responses. Clinical Therapeutics, 40(6), 885–888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2018.04.010 

Empting, L. D. (2009). Neurologic and neuropsychiatric syndrome features of mold and mycotoxin exposure. Toxicology and Industrial Health, 25(9-10), 577-581. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19854819/  

Fisk, W. J., Lei-Gomez, Q., & Mendell, M. J. (2007). Meta-analyses of the associations of respiratory health effects with dampness and mold in homes. Indoor air, 17(4), 284–296. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2007.00475.x 

Lewis, P. R., et al. (2005). Tremor syndrome associated with a fungal toxin: sequelae of food contamination. The Medical Journal of Australia, 182(11), 582-584.