#so i found this bag and blanket at a resale shop

[snufkinsnogger]

"Hang your hat, hang your worries-

Pass the night with all your stories"

[starrybethany]

Clayton Keller: Part 7

Word count: 2077

Clayton and I spent the night catching up on all of the time we’ve been separated for the past week or so. When I wake up in the morning I’m utterly exhausted and my body is sore as hell yet I feel euphoric of a sort.

The arm wrapped around my waist feels familiar, even welcomed, and I lay with Clayton’s face buried in my neck with contempt. I’m staring up at the bare white ceiling as I feel him shift beside me, his grip tightening. He groans, the hot air touching my skin.

I don’t move my gaze from above me as he pulls back from my neck, his hand using my hip for support as he pushes himself halfway up to be able to look at me. The blanket falls down his chest a little bit, revealing his fit torso.

“Morning,” he greets me, his voice groggy from sleep.

“Good morning.”

He collapses back onto the mattress beside me, moving his head so that his head is touching mine. “What are you looking at?”

“Do you see that spider web in the corner?” I ask, lifting a hand lazily to point at it.

“Yeah.”

“I’m trying to figure out how to get it down. I bet you could get it for me,” I tease.

“So now I’m just here to do your manual labor?” He jokes.

“Come on, Clayton, just do it!” I whine. “You’re 5’10, you can reach.”

“I’m actually 5’11,” he corrects.

“That’s not what Google says.”

I turn my head at the feeling of his movements to find him glaring at me playfully, reaching over to tickle my sides. I giggle at the action, the giggles turning into screeches for him to stop because I can’t breathe.

“That should teach you to mess with me again,” he huffs, puffing out his chest proudly.

I roll my eyes. “Okay. Just as long as you pull that spiderweb down.”

We enjoy each other’s company silently, grateful for the rare morning where we just get to lie in bed beside one another. I can’t help but take this time to think about how my relationship with Clayton has evolved.

I still think that I’m too busy to be in a relationship- a relationship takes time and effort, too much time and effort for me to give right now. But there’s something interesting about Clayton.

Maybe it’s the way he makes me feel. He makes me feel giddy whenever he’s around, like I’m back in high school trying my best to act cool when my crush walks down the hallway I’m in. He makes me feel comfortable, like I can be myself when I’m around him and all he would do is cheer and support me.

Clayton makes me feel like no man has ever made me feel before.

But, at the end of the day that doesn’t matter. At the end of the day he’s the one signing my paycheck and we aren’t a couple, we’re actually in a contractually obligated agreement and life isn’t a Disney fairytale.

“Guess what?” Clayton whispers.

“What?” I whisper back. I don’t know why he or I am whispering. Maybe he’s afraid that if he speaks too loud, it’ll break whatever spell we’re both under.

“You let me stay over last night.”

“So?”

“Guess what else?” He continues.

“What?”

“That’s not allowed, according to our contract,” he points out.

I roll my eyes but my heart beats faster at his remark. I guess neither of us realized that last night after all of the strenuous activity that went down.

“Screw the contract,” I lamely respond, unsure and unconfident in other answers that I could give. I’m afraid of telling him that I liked spending the night with him, even if we’ve done it in his place it feels different doing it in mine.

It makes us feel like more of a couple, which we aren’t.

“Screw the contract?” He repeats, letting out a dramatic gasp. “But Y/N, that’s a legally binding document! I could tell my lawyer about this.”

“And your lawyer would say you’re just as much at fault, if not more,” I point out.

“Whatever,” he turns back to me, burying his face in my neck again. “He doesn’t need to know about this.”

The man begins to place light kisses up and down the column of my neck, slowly replacing them with stronger kisses, then begins to suck a hickey into the sensitive part of my neck.

I moan at the feeling, tilting my head to give him more room. My eyes flutter closed at the sensation. I know this is going to be a pain in the ass to cover up but it feels so good. Spending time with Clayton feels so good.

He moves until he’s gently straddling my body, brushing his hands up and down my sides lightly.

“Do you have anywhere to be today?” He asks quietly once he’s removed his lips from my skin.

“I have to meet my friends later, for lunch,” I breathe out.

“So we have all morning?” He inquires.

“We have all morning,” I confirm.

The grin on his face is one that I’ll never forget.

~

“Look at that smile, someone got laid,” Tyler jokes as I approach the table.

“And that new purse, holy shit,” Betsy adds, eyes widening at the sight of the Louis Vuitton bag on my arm.

“How can you afford that shit, I thought you were broke?” Tyler questions as I pull out the chair beside him, sitting down and resting my bag on the chair beside me. It’s too expensive to sit on the floor.

“You never told him, did you?” Betsy gasps.

“Oh man, I never did,” I groan, knowing that Tyler will dislike that he’s been left out of the loop.

“Never told me what? Y/N, are you withholding tea from me? You know that’s practically a crime, right?” He commands.

I roll my eyes at him. “So, I have a sugar daddy.”

“You what?” He exclaims, causing practically the whole restaurant to turn and stare at us.

“Quiet down,” I smack his arm, “Yeah, it’s been going on for like two months now. I can’t believe I forgot to tell you.”

“You forgot to tell me that you were getting laid and rich?” He raises his eyebrows, unimpressed.

The waitress drops by, an amused expression on our face, clearly overhearing our conversation. She takes our order before heading off to the back, allowing the conversation to resume.

“And look at that top, is it Gucci?” Betsy questions teasingly.

“You would know if it were Gucci, Betsy,” I respond. I’m not sure how to feel about all of the teasing. I like the nice things Clayton’s getting me, from the beautiful jewelry to the fashionable pieces of clothing, and even the money he’s giving me so that I can pay for school and rent.

But another part of me can’t help but worry about what other people are thinking. I wonder if anyone besides my friends have noticed my change from resale shop clothes to designer brands. And how they think that I got this money…

I’m not ashamed of having a sugar daddy. My body is made to make money and I’m doing just that, plus Clayton’s getting something out of this situation too, it’s not just me. But it’s definitely not something that I would tell my mom.

“So what kind of sugar daddy is he?” Tyler inquires.

“What do you mean?”

“Like does he need you to help him with his phone or change his bedpan or-”I scoff as Betsy bursts into laughter.

“He’s twenty two, Tyler.”

“Twenty two?” His eyes practically bulge out of his head. “What twenty two year old can afford to be a sugar daddy?”

“He’s an athlete,” the blonde informs him.

“An athlete? Is it a figure skater? Can you introduce me to Adam Rippon?” An excited smile shoots across his face.

“No, it’s not a figure skater, plus Adam Rippon has a boyfriend. He plays hockey for the Arizona Coyotes,” I explain.

“Arizona has a hockey team?” He sounds genuinely shocked.

“Why does everyone always ask me that?” I sigh.

“Well, that’s fun.” He gives me a supportive shove and I practically fall off of the chair. Sometimes he doesn't know his own strength.

The food arrives shortly after and we catch up with each other as we eat our meals. I find out that Betsy has a date in a couple of nights and we tease her about settling down and abandoning her wild years that she’s supposed to spend with us.

She gives us a “we’ll see how it goes” so we settle down.

“I’d love to meet your hot sugar daddy, if you’re up for showing him off,” Tyler tells me as we pay our bills and rise to leave the restaurant.

“We’ll see,” I respond vaguely. I’m not sure how I feel about Clayton meeting my friends. I’ve already met his friends and a couple of their partners, but that’s kind of bound to happen seeing as how he works with his friends.

And I go to a lot of his work events- the games- so I was going to meet his friends eventually. But to meet my friends, I’d have to plan a day where me, Clayton, and my friends will be at the same place for an extended period of time to get to know each other and chat.

He’s technically my employer, so that seems kind of inappropriate.

~

“I brought cookies, Christian.” I set the bag down on the counter, pulling out the package to proudly display the package of cookies I stopped by the store to buy.

“My trainer doesn’t allow me to eat cookies,” he states, staring longingly at the package in my hands.

“And do you listen to everything your trainer says?” I raise my eyebrows at him.

He hesitates but nods, causing Clayton to laugh. The brunette grabs my hand, tugging me towards his room. As we pass his roommate I lean closer to him and whisper, “Teacher’s pet.”

“Hey!” He shouts after me. I don’t have the chance to respond before Clayton closes his door, throwing himself onto his bed. I climb up beside him, curling up at the headboard.

“How was your day today?” He asks, voice muffled by the sheets he’s buried his head in.

“Good. How was your day?” I stare out his window at the beautiful desert sunset. Arizona really is a wonderful state.

“What did you do?”

“Um, I studied this morning after I left, then I went to lunch with Tyler and Betsy, then I studied some more and grocery shopping this afternoon,” I answer.

“You went to lunch with Tyler and Betsy?” He repeats, leaning up on his elbows.

“Yeah,” I begin to laugh, “I actually found out today that I never told Tyler about you.”

He gives me a toothy grin. “Really?”

“I guess I just never got the chance to tell him,” I confess.

“So you told him today?”

“Yep.” He moves up the bed until his head is in my lap. I absentmindedly twirl his chestnut strands through my fingers, watching as a car passes by.

“What are your friends like?” Clayton asks me.

“Didn’t you meet them at the bar the night we met?” I pause my movements, waiting for an answer.

“Maybe faintly? I barely remember that night,” he admits.

“Me neither,” I laugh. “But they’re basically just like me, except Tyler is gay and Betsy is prettier.”

“Not possible,” he mumbles.

I don’t respond, unsure of what would be an appropriate response.

“If you want to meet them, I’m having a party this weekend at my apartment. It’s a surprise birthday party for Tyler so everyone’s pretty much going to be wasted the whole night,” I say it before I realize that I’m inviting him.

It’s not that I’m worried that he won’t fit in, I know he will. He’s an attractive male in his twenties who has been to plenty of parties in his day. But I don’t know if he knows how truly wild my friends can get…

Plus, we would be crossing that boundary between sugar-daddy-and-sugar-baby and into, I don’t know, something more.

“I’d love to go to the party,” he accepts my invitation before I can overthink anything much longer.

We’ll just have to see how this goes.

[drlaurynlax]

How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials

    So you have mold illness or CIRS…now what?!

  Sure, Dr. Google and Facebook groups can be helpful, but face it…when it comes to mold illness and mold illness recovery, the information can be completely overwhelming!

  Do you have to get rid of all your stuff?

What supplements should you take?

Do you need to move to a dry climate like Arizona or Colorado?

Should you just live in a bubble?!

  Although there is NO one-size-fits-all approach to healing and mold illness recovery, there are several commonalities in helpful therapies, lifestyle changes and treatments that can help you kick mold illness to the curb (for good), including:

  Top 12 Mold Illness Treatments

  Remove yourself from mold exposure

Breathe deeply

Marie Kondo your life

Build a capsule wardrobe

Fog & guard your new environment wisely

Sweat daily

Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods

Love your gut microbiome & liver

Use the right detox binder

Add in anti-fungals (oral and nasal) to treat mold that may have colonized in your body

Purify your air

Surround yourself with positive energy

  Check ‘em out.

    Remove yourself from mold exposure

First things first, you’ve got to get out of there. Healing cannot fully begin until you’re removed from the environment.

  Whether that means going to stay with family, a friend, moving to a mold-free environment, or working remotely, you will not feel the full effects of your treatment protocol until you are free from the space.

  Even if you are remediating your home, a short-term hiatus from the mold free environment is essential.

  Breathe deeply

  Breath has the power to both calm and stimulate the HPA Axis (stress response system).

  What happens to your breath when you run fast or get scared OR come into contact with mycotoxins? Your breathing rate increases (hello shortness of breath, panting and gasping for air or common). On the flip-side, what happens to your breath when you’re calm and at peace? It’s steady, deep and calm as well. Many of us are breathing the wrong way, which sets you up for problems with metabolism, blood pH, core function, and how much blood is getting to your brain and muscles, which allows cortisol to stay elevated.

    Common signs of dysfunctional breathing include:

  Inhaling with your chest. If you notice your chest is the first thing to move when you take a breath, this is a sign you have shallow breath or you’re breathing from the upper chest.

  Your rib cage doesn’t expand. Place your hands on the sides of your rib cage and take note. Your hands should move to the side about one to two inches as your rib cage widens.

  Breathing with your mouth. Unless you have congestion, ideally you should be breathing through your nose. Breathing through your nose releases nitric oxide that is carried to your lungs and helps maintain homeostasis in the rest of the body.

  Tight shoulders and upper neck/chest muscles. Tension in these areas may be a sign of shallow or stressed breathing.

  Frequent yawning. Sighing and yawning is a sign your body is not receiving enough oxygen.

  High resting breath rate. Count the number of times you breathe in one minute. A normal resting breath rate should be no greater than 10-12 breaths per minute—and sometimes as low as 6 to 8 breaths if you are deep breathing. A resting breath rate over 12 is a sign of quick or shallow breathing.

  You are activating your diaphragm when you breathe.

  If you experience any of these signs of dysfunctional breathing, it’s imperative to first train your body to simply breathe correctly.  Given that CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) is highly connected to cortisol (stress hormone) imbalances, the art of breathing is your innate “stress response” fire extinguisher.

  How to Breathe Deeply

  Balloon Breathing

Train yourself how to start breathing correctly. You can do this by blowing up balloons, pursing your lips, taking deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth while doing planking exercises, contracting your abs as you breathe, sitting upright when you work and decreasing shoulder movement during breathing.

  Tempo Breathing (a.k.a “4-7-8 breathing”). Place tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue behind the upper front teeth. Quietly inhale through your nose then audibly exhale through the mouth, inhale for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of 7, and then exhale through your mouth, making an ocean-wave-like sound for a count of 8. Repeat this cycle three times.

  Belly Breathe. Take a deep breath and focus on expanding your belly, rather than your chest. Watch your belly fill up as you breathe in and flatten as you breathe out.

  Breath Walk: Synchronize your breathing with walking steps and focused attention.

  Box Breathe: Close your mouth and slowly breathe in through your nose for four counts. Hold your breath for four seconds. Then slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of four. Hold the exhale for another four counts. Aim to repeat for four minutes.

  Yogi Breathing

This tactic is particularly useful as an “in the moment” tool when HPA Axis symptoms or stress arise.

How to Do It:

Lay on your back, completely flat

Inhale through your right nostril for 10 counts, while closing your left nostril with your finger

Exhale through your left nostril for 10 counts, while closing your right nostril with your finger

Keep your mouth closed, or lips pursed

Repeat for 5-6 cycles

    Marie Kondo your life

Get rid of (most) of it. Make Marie Kondo, author of the “Magic Art of Tidying Up” proud.

  If it doesn’t “spark joy”, toss it.

  And, chances are, if you are truly struggling with mold illness, many of your things will NOT “spark joy.”

  Sometimes the best bet for at least the current situation is to “leave it behind.” While it may seem or feel extreme (like a fire happened), to help calm your body and mind for the immediate healing period, a break from not only your environment but also the items that smell like that environment can be a healing part of your process.

  In my own experience, I found that the more I kept or tried to hold on to, the more I realized how much those things impacted my symptoms. Starting fresh (see point 4) was difficult to swallow at first, but the more I focused on rebuilding my life slowly, the less overwhelm and attachment I had to my stuff.

  Initially, I did a huge closet sweep—throwing most of my clothes into trash sacks and taking them to a local Goodwill and resale shop where individually, the items would not be as strong. I also left my furniture behind and bags—my suitcases, purses, backpack—things that had been living and breathing mycotoxins in my home.

  I tried to salvage the little things, however, of the things I did keep, it didn’t take long for me to decide the majority of it, I wanted to give away.

  From my leather Kate Spade purse with the tags still on it, to my yoga mat, my makeup and makeup bag, my occupational therapy grad school books, my hair dryer and my Benji (my stuffed dog I had had since I was 4 years old)—all of it smelled like mold and must. Once I was removed from my home, all I wanted was my health and breath back.

  Yes, I thought it sounded extreme too, but holding on to old stuff only weighed me down more. I found, as I gradually let even these things go, the more freedom I felt and ability to start new—from the inside out.

    Items to Toss or Store (for a long time)

Some of the “top” most-contaminated items include porous or “soft” items to not think too hard about:

  Books (especially opened books)

Clothing (primarily items that are dry clean only, and those items that have been hanging in your closet unworn or collecting dust for a long time)—other clothing may be redeemable, however, not optimal

Backpacks, purses, suitcases—things exposed to mycotoxins in the environment (they will most likely smell like the home as you leave)

Opened makeup and makeup bags

Vented items (your hairdryer, fans)

Upholstery (couches, curtains, rugs)

Chairs with cloth or padding

Linens, towels, pillows & blankets

Wood furniture

Papers (if needed: Store them loosely in plastic bins until a decision can be made at a later date)

Appliances (Refrigerators, washers, and dryers harbor dust in their coils and fans and are difficult to clean. Spores and spore fragments easily attach to washing machine parts)

Laptop computers (the fans in the computer can pick up mycotoxins; *if ridding of your this is not easy, look into selling back your machine or trading it in to the store, or using it outside of your new, clean environment to avoid cross-contamination)

  Given the fibers in these materials, they have a tendency to “soak up” the mycotoxins in the environment.

  Items to Possibly “Save”

Some items can be salvaged—particularly the hard-surfaced items that get a good fogging (point 5), including:

  Some clothing (see clothing exceptions below)

Sentimental stuffed animals (if laundered like your clothing)

Leather (furniture, bags, shoes) (Use quaternary cleaners on leather)

Lamps (not the shades)

Kitchenware (non bamboo)—plates, pans, pots, silverware, etc.

Non-porous surfaces (able to clean well)—such as that plastic waste bin or desk

Anything made of ceramic, glass or metal

Your car (yes some folks get rid of their’s; Hybridrasta Mama has a great post https://hybridrastamama.com/how-to-remove-mold-in-cars/ about mold remediation in your car).

    “But it sounds so extreme…”

  Just breathe. No one is holding a gun to your head to get rid of everything, and little official long term research has been conducted either way revealing whether or not mold contaminated items can make you ill again upon preexposure after healing.

  Ultimately, you may have to find out for yourself what you can and cannot tolerate, and perhaps, more than anything, time away from your contaminated items can help you strengthen your body from the inside out—and also realize…it’s all just stuff. Stuff is helpful for doing some things in life, but we come into this world bald, curled up and naked, and leave it bald, curled up and naked…and we take nothing with us. In other words: It can be replaced.

  If the idea of tossing everything out is devastating, recruit a cleaning company, family member or friend to box things up for you, or wear protective clothing (here) and a nose and mouth mask to put things into bins, large plastic bags or trash sacks to store away while you remove yourself to heal. This also may mean renting a storage facility for a period or storing your items in a family member’s garage. If you’re going to the trouble of moving away from a toxic environment, don’t apologize for being “extreme.” Do what you need to do to break free, allow for healing to occur and then decide what to keep or toss (chances are, you may realize you can live without it).

    Clothing Exceptions

You can clean some things—particularly the machine washable items that have been regular circulators in your clothing rotation (not the items that have been hanging in your closet for a year).

  Use EC3 Laundry Additive on these items, and wash through 2 to 3 cycles, dry and also place in the sun (natural ozone helps kill off mycotoxins). Homemade Hack: You can also use a combination of Borax and white vinegar as your “detergent”.

  What about other items I may keep…Do I literally have to clean everything in my house (i.e. plastic storage containers, books, toiletries, candles, knickknacks, canned food etc) or just the major things like clothing and furniture?

  Yes, everything. I love the whole EC3 line—their concentrate, spray, laundry additive and candles.

  Build a capsule wardrobe

Speaking of Marie Kondo, no time like the present to simplify your wardrobe! Out with the old, in with the new. A capsule wardrobe is a “minimalist’s dream”—filled with only the essentials needed to make dressing easy, classy and vogue.

  Most minimalist fashionistas advise you build your wardrobe on no more than 30 to 40 “staple” pieces (or less) for every 3 months of the year (seasons)— including clothes, jewelry, accessories and shoes. (This excludes underwear, loungewear, and workout wear).

  A capsule wardrobe may entail:

5-7 basic tops

Simple v-neck white tee

Simple black tee

Button up Chambray

5-7 trendy fun tops

5-7 bottoms

1-2 pairs of denim jeans

1 pair white pants

1 pair black pants

1-2 skirts

1-2 dresses

3 Jackets

Classy blazer

Bomber jacket

Hoodie

Shoes (seasonal)

Sneakers

Gold strappy sandals

Flats

Brown boots

Booties

Jewelry & Accessories

Pair stud earrings & hoops

Gold necklace

Bracelet

Sunglasses

Watch

Classic Tote

  How to Start Your Capsule Wardrobe

Pare down your closet to no more than 50 items (ideally: 35-40; excluding underwear, workout wear and lounge wear)

Wear only those 35-50 items for three months.

Don’t go shopping during the season until…

During the last two weeks of the season, plan and shop for your next capsule.

The amount you buy for the next capsule is up to you (you can recycle some from the previous capsule).

Remember: less is more.

  Fog & guard your new environment wisely

As you transition into your new environment, it’s uber important to prevent cross contamination from your old place.

  No, you cannot live in a bubble, but “proper” transition practices can keep your new place (and you) mycotoxin free. This was a huge mistake I made when moving out of my home initially. Although I left most of my things behind, I did trek in my daily use items that I did not think twice about including:

  My backpack

Purse

Tenni shoes I wore daily

My pillow

A sweatshirt

Makeup bag

Hairdryer

  The “little stuff” can add up if you are super sensitive and it’s best to quarantine most all items from the old place into a separate plastic bin or large trash sacks (closed tightly) and store them in a place like a garage in order to mindfully discard contaminated items.

  You can try salvaging some things with an at home fogging machine, as well as use your fogging machine with EC3 solution concentrate in it to spray and disinfect your new place.

  I recommend the Longray Basic ULV Fogger with Adjustable Flow & Flex-Hose and EC3 solution. All you have to do is pour the desired amount of EC3 solution + distilled water (see back of the bottle to measure) into the fogger, then turn the fogger on the medium pressure intensity and spray every nook, cranny, and item you have to make them (more) “mold free”.

  Sweat daily

Sweat helps detox and push impurities out of the body. Some options include:

  Infrared sauna (3-4 times per week for 15 minutes)

Heated yoga

Fresh air & sunshine

Energizing workouts (not chronic cardio; the “just right” challenge for 30-45 minutes, doing something you enjoy)

Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods

Let food be thy medicine. Optimize your detoxification pathways and energy levels by focusing on the foundations, while avoiding foods that leave you (and your gut health) down.

  Eat

Organic pastured proteins: chicken, beef, eggs, bison, wild-caught fish

Dark leafy greens

Fungal fighting foods, including:

Prebiotic Fibers: Carrots, Rutabaga, Onions, Garlic, Raidsh

Spices & herbs: Cayenne, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger Root, Clove, Goldenseal, Olive leaf, Tea trea

Lemon & Lime

Manuka raw honey

Coconut oil (caprylic acid)

Papya seeds

Teas: Green tea, dandelion tea, Pau d’Arco

Other colorful, low starch veggies: broccoli, spinach, summer squash, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, arugula, chard, cucumber, bell peppers, tomato (fresh only), leeks, asparagus, artichokes, seaweed

Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, coconut milk, ghee, avocado, organic butter, pumpkin seeds, flax

Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, coconut kefir/yogurt, fermented pickled veggies (Contrary to popular belief, eating fermented foods regularly can support the immune system and prevent the invasion and spread of yeasts or fungal infection. Consume 1-2 medicinal doses daily if tolerated).

Apple cider vinegar

Bone & meat broth. Bone broth is a rich source of collagen, which supports the integrity of the gut lining.

Pastured organ meats. Liver, heart, tongue, kidney; Or, quality grass-fed supplement (like this one by Ancestral Supplements).

Filtered water

Other beverages: Herbal teas, mineral water, fresh veggie juice, coconut milk

  The bottom line: Eat fresh foods as much as possible. (Hint: Buy the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and foods and buy in smaller quantities vs. having items in your refrigerator for weeks)

  Avoid

Molds thrive on sugar and anything that is not fresh or aged. Mold-loving foods including:

Cheese

High mold nuts: peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, brazil nuts

High amounts of high starch vegetables and legumes: sweet corn, potatoes, beans and peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, turnips, parsnips (stick to 1-2 servings per day)

Dried fruits

Alcohol

Instant coffee & non-organic, conventional coffees (i.e. Starbucks, Folgers)

Sugar & artificial sweeteners

Corn

Wheat

Seed oils: cottonseed, grapeseed, canola

Processed and smoked meats: sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, pastrami, smoked fish, ham, bacon.

Packaged & processed foods

Canned beans, soups & ready-made sauces

5+ day old produce

Edible fungi: including all types of mushrooms and truffles (cordyceps & reishi supplements ok)

Leftovers beyond 2-3 days. While some molds you can see (like the fuzzy green mold on breads), others are not so noticeable. A good rule of thumb for leftovers is a two-day rule (one is better).

    Love your gut microbiome & liver

Your gut is the gateway to health, and your liver is your body’s “master” detoxifier. If one or both of these two systems are down, then you (and your immune system) are more susceptible to molds and the effects of mycotoxins on your health.

  Although many mold sufferers will tell you that 25% of the population has a specific gene (the HLA-DR gene) that makes them more susceptible to mold illness, this is only part of the story.

  Genes load the gun, but environment, lifestyle and your gut microbiome pull the trigger. Disease genes cannot be turned on unless these other factors are at play.

  Given the fact that mycotoxin exposure can wreak havoc on your total health—particularly your gut health— by eliminating beneficial bacteria, by focusing on optimizing your gut health you will give those mycotoxins a run for their money. Research shows the gut microbiota is capable of eliminating mycotoxin from the host naturally, provided that the host is healthy with a balance gut microbiota (1).

  A few essentials for optimizing gut and liver health include:

  Perform at-home gut testing (Figure out what’s going on in your gut with a comprehensive gut test)

  Take a quality probiotic (like this one) and prebiotic fiber (1 tsp.) (like this one)

  Boost stomach acid & digestive enzymes (add 1 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar to 2-4 oz. of water and 1-2 capsules digestive enzymes with meals)

  Eat 1-2 fermented foods daily and 1-2 servings of prebiotic fiber in your diet

Working with a practitioner to safely and effectively cleanse your gut with anti-microbial, anti-fungal herbs if you find a gut “issue” present

  Use the right anti-fungal and binder for your mold illness

  Using anti-fungal herbs and medicines are a common approach for treating a person with mold illness or mold-related issues (like candida) to directly kill molds, candida and yeast in your body. Conventional doctors may prescribe pharmaceuticals like Nystatin or Diflucan, and holistic practitioners may integrate herbs via supplements and foods.

  However there are a few of catches:

  #1. Anti-fungal treatment must be customized

You must know which molds you have so you can be on the right anti-fungals to treat them—this may entail either prescription medications by a medical doctor or herbal anti-fungals via supplements and foods. It’s important to work with a skilled practitioner who understands mycotoxin illness, CIRS and detoxification in order to implement the right approach for your body.

  Natural anti-fungals may include one or a blend of the following:

Lauricidin (monolaurin)

Pau D’Arco Extract (bark)

Cat’s Claw

Caprylic Acid

Uva Ursi

Grapefruit seed extract

Garlic (Allicin)

Tea tree

Oregano

Dill

Cloves

Black walnut

Oregon grape

  #2. Anti-fungals are BEST used orally and nasally (sinus spray)

To effectively treat mold illness, you also must treat every single place that mold can be settled in and growing. Since molds grow in moist, warm cavities (think mouth, nose/sinus and gut), using both oral and nasal antifungals yields the best results.

  One of my favorite anti-fungals is the CitriDrops by Microbalance. You can also make your own nasal anti-fungal wash at home using garlic cloves and probiotics.

  Homemade Nasal Anti-fungal Wash for Mold Illness Recovery

  [RHEA: CAN YOU MAKE THIS A TEXT BOX/GRAPHIC IN THE MIDDLE?)

Ingredients & supplies

A neti pot.

Non-iodized sea salt.

Filtered water (not tap water).

A clove of fresh garlic.

A strainer.

2 probiotic capsules

  Directions

Get used to the Netipot. Use the neti pot as usual for a few days. (Instructions should come with the pot). Dissolve the correct amount of salt into lukewarm filtered water (not tap water), and then pour the solution through one nostril while tilting your head.  When done correctly, the water will flow up into the sinuses, and then down and out the other nostril.

Add in garlic + probiotics. Chop the clove of garlic & place the garlic in a strainer. Make sure that NONE of the garlic pieces can fit through the holes in the strainer (you don’t want bits of garlic in your sinuses).  Pour filtered boiling water over the garlic (through the strainer) and into a cup. Let the mix cool until it is lukewarm. Add your 2 probiotic capsules and stir into the water, then pour the lukewarm infusion into your neti pot. Add salt as usual (make sure to use the correct amount), and follow the standard method for using a neti pot. The only difference is that the water has been infused with garlic and probiotics.

  #3. Anti-fungals are useless without a binder or bio-film disruptor

When mold starts to die during the treatment, your body needs to eliminate the dead molds, yeast and released toxins. If the amount of toxins released by the dying candida is more than what your body can safely handle, you may experience a healing crisis (also known as a “herx”, “healing” or “die off” reaction). Common symptoms may include GI or other ill-feeling symptoms, such as nausea, fever, joint and muscle aches, skin breakouts and headaches. A “herx” reaction typically means your body’s usual rhythms are being recalibrated, and last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

  For this reason, a quality detoxification binder and biofilm disruptor (along with emphasis on optimizing gut health and liver function in point 8) is recommended to assist in elimination pathways.

  Binder 101

A binder is a compound that helps grab the mold and pull it out of your body. Commonly used binders include:

  Coconut Charcoal

Benedite Clay

Chlorella

Modified Citrus Pectin

Pyrophyllite clay

Cholestyramine (CSM, a prescription)

  Not all binders are created equal, and it’s most beneficial to know the type of mold you have in your body (using a test like the Great Plains Mycotoxin Test) to choose the best binder for you, since certain species are more susceptible to some more than others. Results from the test will also show which binders are most appropriate for you.

  If you are not sure of your particular mold species, I find that a broad spectrum binder like GI Detox by Biocidin or Chlorella tablets are gentle but effective (without too much constipation).

  Note: If you tend towards constipation, binders—particularly charcoal—can make you feel more constipated. Constipation busting “hacks” include: digestive bitters (like Iberogast), Liposomal Vitamin C and Magnesium Citrate like Natural Calm.

  Biofilm Disruptor 101

Biofilm disruptors help ensure both your anti-fungals and binders can work in the first place. Molds often create a glue-like matrix around themselves to protect themselves. Sure, you can take anti-fungals and binders to treat them, but if you can’t “break” into the molds, than you won’t get them out.  Biofilm disruptors  hack through the goo and allow the anti-fungals to reach the fungi and kill the mold.

Recommendation:

Interfase Plus (2-3, in between meals, 2 times per day) –OR–

Biocidin Drops (2-3, 2 times per day)

  Stress (your brain) less

With soooo many steps, therapies and treatments, mold illness recovery can be overwhelming. Not only was living in mold stressful on your health (mentally and physically), but so is recovery!

  That said, the name of the game of winning victory over mold illness is actively and intentionally seeking to stress less—physically and mentally. Since inflammatory cytokines are the key drivers of mold illness symptoms, then stress management is essential for recovery including:

  Quality sleep (7-9 hours)

Natural fresh air (daily)

Daily movement

Eating a nutrient-dense whole foods diet

Drinking clean filtered water

Minimizing screen and light exposure at night

Rewiring your brain and limbic system

  Limbic System 101

There’s a theory in the CIRS and mold illness world that the limbic system—your body’s “stress” system intertwined with memories—is hyper functioning.

  After mold illness, your body stores deep rooted memories of smells, environments, circumstances and can easily sound the “alarm” for the body to react in a myriad of ways when any similar or familiar memory is aroused—such as the smell of must in a different environment.

  In my own recovery, I personally struggled with sleeping in a bed again—I had “PTSD” like symptoms after my experience of waking up at 2 a.m. feeling like I was having a heart attack due to the chronic mold exposure and the asthma-like symptoms it gave me. I spent the next 3 months without a home, couch surfing from friend’s home to friend’s home, and not feeling comfortable back in a bed—where my previous two years of living in that environment came to a head.

  I literally had to tell my body, “It’s ok,” and my body had to tell me back, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Limbic system “retraining” involves actively retraining neural pathways to think, act and believe differently. It is inspired by a woman named Annie Hopper who recovered herself from her own chronic mystery illness, similar to CIRS and mold illness.

  Purify your air

Air quality matters—especially in your new environment. Air purifiers with HEPA and charcoal filters can help keep mycotoxins at bay and keep you breathing clean air as you “start over.” Like most things in the health and wellness world, not all air purifiers are created equal.

Don’t waste your money at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond. Most models on their sales floors are not the quality grade you (and your home) need—similar to how that $10 probiotic at Target is not the same as a quality probiotic that actually delivers the ingredients on the label to your gut.

  My top recommendations for a quality air filter include:

  Austin Air: The Bedroom Machine

Austin Air: Healthmate Junior Plus

Air Doctor

  I keep a big guy (like the Bedroom Machine) in the home to filter the whole house, and smaller units—like the Healthmate Junior or Air Doctor—in my bedroom.

  In addition, if you want to take things to the next level, an Air Ozone Generator can aid in ozonating your space for cleaner, fresher and disinfected air.

  You don’t have to go overboard, but investing in a couple units can help you breathe easier indoors—since we spend the majority of our time (about 22-23 hours daily) inside!

  Surround yourself with positive energy

Last, but definitely not least…mold recovery can not only be stressful, but also draining and sometimes, negative.

  If you’ve ever found yourself on an endless Facebook group for CIRS or mold illness recovery survivors, you know what I mean.

  One thing can lead to another, and before you realize it, you believe you have cancer or you’ll never recover.

  No matter what beliefs you have right now about your personal illness and recovery, know this:

  When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.

  Repeat: When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.

  You will recover. Speak truth into your body. Lean in. Seek to nourish your mind, body and soul. And believe freedom and healing is possible.

  There was a time you were not ill, and there will be a time again.

  I believe it, do you? If not, let me help you.

  Liew WP, Mohd-Redzwan S. Mycotoxin: Its Impact on Gut Health and Microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Feb 26;8:60. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00060. PubMed PMID: 29535978; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5834427.

The post How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials appeared first on Meet Dr. Lauryn.

Source/Repost=> https://drlauryn.com/wellness-knowledge/how-to-treat-get-rid-of-cirs/ ** Dr. Lauryn Lax __Nutrition. Therapy. Functional Medicine ** https://drlauryn.com/

[brian-cdates]

How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials

So you have mold illness or CIRS…now what?!

Sure, Dr. Google and Facebook groups can be helpful, but face it…when it comes to mold illness and mold illness recovery, the information can be completely overwhelming!

Do you have to get rid of all your stuff?

What supplements should you take?

Do you need to move to a dry climate like Arizona or Colorado?

Should you just live in a bubble?!

Although there is NO one-size-fits-all approach to healing and mold illness recovery, there are several commonalities in helpful therapies, lifestyle changes and treatments that can help you kick mold illness to the curb (for good), including:

Top 12 Mold Illness Treatments

Remove yourself from mold exposure

Breathe deeply

Marie Kondo your life

Build a capsule wardrobe

Fog & guard your new environment wisely

Sweat daily

Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods

Love your gut microbiome & liver

Use the right detox binder

Add in anti-fungals (oral and nasal) to treat mold that may have colonized in your body

Purify your air

Surround yourself with positive energy

  Check ‘em out.

  Remove yourself from mold exposure

First things first, you’ve got to get out of there. Healing cannot fully begin until you’re removed from the environment.

Whether that means going to stay with family, a friend, moving to a mold-free environment, or working remotely, you will not feel the full effects of your treatment protocol until you are free from the space.

Even if you are remediating your home, a short-term hiatus from the mold free environment is essential.

Breathe deeply

  Breath has the power to both calm and stimulate the HPA Axis (stress response system).

What happens to your breath when you run fast or get scared OR come into contact with mycotoxins? Your breathing rate increases (hello shortness of breath, panting and gasping for air or common). On the flip-side, what happens to your breath when you’re calm and at peace? It’s steady, deep and calm as well. Many of us are breathing the wrong way, which sets you up for problems with metabolism, blood pH, core function, and how much blood is getting to your brain and muscles, which allows cortisol to stay elevated.

  Common signs of dysfunctional breathing include:

Inhaling with your chest. If you notice your chest is the first thing to move when you take a breath, this is a sign you have shallow breath or you’re breathing from the upper chest.

  Your rib cage doesn’t expand. Place your hands on the sides of your rib cage and take note. Your hands should move to the side about one to two inches as your rib cage widens.

Breathing with your mouth. Unless you have congestion, ideally you should be breathing through your nose. Breathing through your nose releases nitric oxide that is carried to your lungs and helps maintain homeostasis in the rest of the body.

  Tight shoulders and upper neck/chest muscles. Tension in these areas may be a sign of shallow or stressed breathing.

Frequent yawning. Sighing and yawning is a sign your body is not receiving enough oxygen.

  High resting breath rate. Count the number of times you breathe in one minute. A normal resting breath rate should be no greater than 10-12 breaths per minute—and sometimes as low as 6 to 8 breaths if you are deep breathing. A resting breath rate over 12 is a sign of quick or shallow breathing.

You are activating your diaphragm when you breathe.

  If you experience any of these signs of dysfunctional breathing, it’s imperative to first train your body to simply breathe correctly.  Given that CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) is highly connected to cortisol (stress hormone) imbalances, the art of breathing is your innate “stress response” fire extinguisher.

How to Breathe Deeply

Balloon Breathing

Train yourself how to start breathing correctly. You can do this by blowing up balloons, pursing your lips, taking deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth while doing planking exercises, contracting your abs as you breathe, sitting upright when you work and decreasing shoulder movement during breathing.

Tempo Breathing (a.k.a “4-7-8 breathing”). Place tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue behind the upper front teeth. Quietly inhale through your nose then audibly exhale through the mouth, inhale for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of 7, and then exhale through your mouth, making an ocean-wave-like sound for a count of 8. Repeat this cycle three times.

Belly Breathe. Take a deep breath and focus on expanding your belly, rather than your chest. Watch your belly fill up as you breathe in and flatten as you breathe out.

Breath Walk: Synchronize your breathing with walking steps and focused attention.

Box Breathe: Close your mouth and slowly breathe in through your nose for four counts. Hold your breath for four seconds. Then slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of four. Hold the exhale for another four counts. Aim to repeat for four minutes.

Yogi Breathing

This tactic is particularly useful as an “in the moment” tool when HPA Axis symptoms or stress arise.

How to Do It:

Lay on your back, completely flat

Inhale through your right nostril for 10 counts, while closing your left nostril with your finger

Exhale through your left nostril for 10 counts, while closing your right nostril with your finger

Keep your mouth closed, or lips pursed

Repeat for 5-6 cycles

  Marie Kondo your life

Get rid of (most) of it. Make Marie Kondo, author of the “Magic Art of Tidying Up” proud.

If it doesn’t “spark joy”, toss it.

And, chances are, if you are truly struggling with mold illness, many of your things will NOT “spark joy.”

Sometimes the best bet for at least the current situation is to “leave it behind.” While it may seem or feel extreme (like a fire happened), to help calm your body and mind for the immediate healing period, a break from not only your environment but also the items that smell like that environment can be a healing part of your process.

In my own experience, I found that the more I kept or tried to hold on to, the more I realized how much those things impacted my symptoms. Starting fresh (see point 4) was difficult to swallow at first, but the more I focused on rebuilding my life slowly, the less overwhelm and attachment I had to my stuff.

Initially, I did a huge closet sweep—throwing most of my clothes into trash sacks and taking them to a local Goodwill and resale shop where individually, the items would not be as strong. I also left my furniture behind and bags—my suitcases, purses, backpack—things that had been living and breathing mycotoxins in my home.

I tried to salvage the little things, however, of the things I did keep, it didn’t take long for me to decide the majority of it, I wanted to give away.

From my leather Kate Spade purse with the tags still on it, to my yoga mat, my makeup and makeup bag, my occupational therapy grad school books, my hair dryer and my Benji (my stuffed dog I had had since I was 4 years old)—all of it smelled like mold and must. Once I was removed from my home, all I wanted was my health and breath back.

Yes, I thought it sounded extreme too, but holding on to old stuff only weighed me down more. I found, as I gradually let even these things go, the more freedom I felt and ability to start new—from the inside out.

  Items to Toss or Store (for a long time)

Some of the “top” most-contaminated items include porous or “soft” items to not think too hard about:

Books (especially opened books)

Clothing (primarily items that are dry clean only, and those items that have been hanging in your closet unworn or collecting dust for a long time)—other clothing may be redeemable, however, not optimal

Backpacks, purses, suitcases—things exposed to mycotoxins in the environment (they will most likely smell like the home as you leave)

Opened makeup and makeup bags

Vented items (your hairdryer, fans)

Upholstery (couches, curtains, rugs)

Chairs with cloth or padding

Linens, towels, pillows & blankets

Wood furniture

Papers (if needed: Store them loosely in plastic bins until a decision can be made at a later date)

Appliances (Refrigerators, washers, and dryers harbor dust in their coils and fans and are difficult to clean. Spores and spore fragments easily attach to washing machine parts)

Laptop computers (the fans in the computer can pick up mycotoxins; *if ridding of your this is not easy, look into selling back your machine or trading it in to the store, or using it outside of your new, clean environment to avoid cross-contamination)

  Given the fibers in these materials, they have a tendency to “soak up” the mycotoxins in the environment.

Items to Possibly “Save”

Some items can be salvaged—particularly the hard-surfaced items that get a good fogging (point 5), including:

Some clothing (see clothing exceptions below)

Sentimental stuffed animals (if laundered like your clothing)

Leather (furniture, bags, shoes) (Use quaternary cleaners on leather)

Lamps (not the shades)

Kitchenware (non bamboo)—plates, pans, pots, silverware, etc.

Non-porous surfaces (able to clean well)—such as that plastic waste bin or desk

Anything made of ceramic, glass or metal

Your car (yes some folks get rid of their’s; Hybridrasta Mama has a great post https://hybridrastamama.com/how-to-remove-mold-in-cars/ about mold remediation in your car).

  “But it sounds so extreme…”

Just breathe. No one is holding a gun to your head to get rid of everything, and little official long term research has been conducted either way revealing whether or not mold contaminated items can make you ill again upon preexposure after healing.

Ultimately, you may have to find out for yourself what you can and cannot tolerate, and perhaps, more than anything, time away from your contaminated items can help you strengthen your body from the inside out—and also realize…it’s all just stuff. Stuff is helpful for doing some things in life, but we come into this world bald, curled up and naked, and leave it bald, curled up and naked…and we take nothing with us. In other words: It can be replaced.

If the idea of tossing everything out is devastating, recruit a cleaning company, family member or friend to box things up for you, or wear protective clothing (here) and a nose and mouth mask to put things into bins, large plastic bags or trash sacks to store away while you remove yourself to heal. This also may mean renting a storage facility for a period or storing your items in a family member’s garage. If you’re going to the trouble of moving away from a toxic environment, don’t apologize for being “extreme.” Do what you need to do to break free, allow for healing to occur and then decide what to keep or toss (chances are, you may realize you can live without it).

  Clothing Exceptions

You can clean some things—particularly the machine washable items that have been regular circulators in your clothing rotation (not the items that have been hanging in your closet for a year).

Use EC3 Laundry Additive on these items, and wash through 2 to 3 cycles, dry and also place in the sun (natural ozone helps kill off mycotoxins). Homemade Hack: You can also use a combination of Borax and white vinegar as your “detergent”.

What about other items I may keep…Do I literally have to clean everything in my house (i.e. plastic storage containers, books, toiletries, candles, knickknacks, canned food etc) or just the major things like clothing and furniture?

Yes, everything. I love the whole EC3 line—their concentrate, spray, laundry additive and candles.

Build a capsule wardrobe

Speaking of Marie Kondo, no time like the present to simplify your wardrobe! Out with the old, in with the new. A capsule wardrobe is a “minimalist’s dream”—filled with only the essentials needed to make dressing easy, classy and vogue.

Most minimalist fashionistas advise you build your wardrobe on no more than 30 to 40 “staple” pieces (or less) for every 3 months of the year (seasons)— including clothes, jewelry, accessories and shoes. (This excludes underwear, loungewear, and workout wear).

A capsule wardrobe may entail:

5-7 basic tops

Simple v-neck white tee

Simple black tee

Button up Chambray

5-7 trendy fun tops

5-7 bottoms

1-2 pairs of denim jeans

1 pair white pants

1 pair black pants

1-2 skirts

1-2 dresses

3 Jackets

Classy blazer

Bomber jacket

Hoodie

Shoes (seasonal)

Sneakers

Gold strappy sandals

Flats

Brown boots

Booties

Jewelry & Accessories

Pair stud earrings & hoops

Gold necklace

Bracelet

Sunglasses

Watch

Classic Tote

How to Start Your Capsule Wardrobe

Pare down your closet to no more than 50 items (ideally: 35-40; excluding underwear, workout wear and lounge wear)

Wear only those 35-50 items for three months.

Don’t go shopping during the season until…

During the last two weeks of the season, plan and shop for your next capsule.

The amount you buy for the next capsule is up to you (you can recycle some from the previous capsule).

Remember: less is more.

Fog & guard your new environment wisely

As you transition into your new environment, it’s uber important to prevent cross contamination from your old place.

No, you cannot live in a bubble, but “proper” transition practices can keep your new place (and you) mycotoxin free. This was a huge mistake I made when moving out of my home initially. Although I left most of my things behind, I did trek in my daily use items that I did not think twice about including:

My backpack

Purse

Tenni shoes I wore daily

My pillow

A sweatshirt

Makeup bag

Hairdryer

  The “little stuff” can add up if you are super sensitive and it’s best to quarantine most all items from the old place into a separate plastic bin or large trash sacks (closed tightly) and store them in a place like a garage in order to mindfully discard contaminated items.

You can try salvaging some things with an at home fogging machine, as well as use your fogging machine with EC3 solution concentrate in it to spray and disinfect your new place.

I recommend the Longray Basic ULV Fogger with Adjustable Flow & Flex-Hose and EC3 solution. All you have to do is pour the desired amount of EC3 solution + distilled water (see back of the bottle to measure) into the fogger, then turn the fogger on the medium pressure intensity and spray every nook, cranny, and item you have to make them (more) “mold free”.

Sweat daily

Sweat helps detox and push impurities out of the body. Some options include:

Infrared sauna (3-4 times per week for 15 minutes)

Heated yoga

Fresh air & sunshine

Energizing workouts (not chronic cardio; the “just right” challenge for 30-45 minutes, doing something you enjoy)

Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods

Let food be thy medicine. Optimize your detoxification pathways and energy levels by focusing on the foundations, while avoiding foods that leave you (and your gut health) down.

Eat

Organic pastured proteins: chicken, beef, eggs, bison, wild-caught fish

Dark leafy greens

Fungal fighting foods, including:

Prebiotic Fibers: Carrots, Rutabaga, Onions, Garlic, Raidsh

Spices & herbs: Cayenne, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger Root, Clove, Goldenseal, Olive leaf, Tea trea

Lemon & Lime

Manuka raw honey

Coconut oil (caprylic acid)

Papya seeds

Teas: Green tea, dandelion tea, Pau d’Arco

Other colorful, low starch veggies: broccoli, spinach, summer squash, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, arugula, chard, cucumber, bell peppers, tomato (fresh only), leeks, asparagus, artichokes, seaweed

Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, coconut milk, ghee, avocado, organic butter, pumpkin seeds, flax

Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, coconut kefir/yogurt, fermented pickled veggies (Contrary to popular belief, eating fermented foods regularly can support the immune system and prevent the invasion and spread of yeasts or fungal infection. Consume 1-2 medicinal doses daily if tolerated).

Apple cider vinegar

Bone & meat broth. Bone broth is a rich source of collagen, which supports the integrity of the gut lining.

Pastured organ meats. Liver, heart, tongue, kidney; Or, quality grass-fed supplement (like this one by Ancestral Supplements).

Filtered water

Other beverages: Herbal teas, mineral water, fresh veggie juice, coconut milk

The bottom line: Eat fresh foods as much as possible. (Hint: Buy the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and foods and buy in smaller quantities vs. having items in your refrigerator for weeks)

Avoid

Molds thrive on sugar and anything that is not fresh or aged. Mold-loving foods including:

Cheese

High mold nuts: peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, brazil nuts

High amounts of high starch vegetables and legumes: sweet corn, potatoes, beans and peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, turnips, parsnips (stick to 1-2 servings per day)

Dried fruits

Alcohol

Instant coffee & non-organic, conventional coffees (i.e. Starbucks, Folgers)

Sugar & artificial sweeteners

Corn

Wheat

Seed oils: cottonseed, grapeseed, canola

Processed and smoked meats: sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, pastrami, smoked fish, ham, bacon.

Packaged & processed foods

Canned beans, soups & ready-made sauces

5+ day old produce

Edible fungi: including all types of mushrooms and truffles (cordyceps & reishi supplements ok)

Leftovers beyond 2-3 days. While some molds you can see (like the fuzzy green mold on breads), others are not so noticeable. A good rule of thumb for leftovers is a two-day rule (one is better).

Love your gut microbiome & liver

Your gut is the gateway to health, and your liver is your body’s “master” detoxifier. If one or both of these two systems are down, then you (and your immune system) are more susceptible to molds and the effects of mycotoxins on your health.

Although many mold sufferers will tell you that 25% of the population has a specific gene (the HLA-DR gene) that makes them more susceptible to mold illness, this is only part of the story.

Genes load the gun, but environment, lifestyle and your gut microbiome pull the trigger. Disease genes cannot be turned on unless these other factors are at play.

Given the fact that mycotoxin exposure can wreak havoc on your total health—particularly your gut health— by eliminating beneficial bacteria, by focusing on optimizing your gut health you will give those mycotoxins a run for their money. Research shows the gut microbiota is capable of eliminating mycotoxin from the host naturally, provided that the host is healthy with a balance gut microbiota (1).

A few essentials for optimizing gut and liver health include:

Perform at-home gut testing (Figure out what’s going on in your gut with a comprehensive gut test)

  Take a quality probiotic (like this one) and prebiotic fiber (1 tsp.) (like this one)

Boost stomach acid & digestive enzymes (add 1 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar to 2-4 oz. of water and 1-2 capsules digestive enzymes with meals)

  Eat 1-2 fermented foods daily and 1-2 servings of prebiotic fiber in your diet

Working with a practitioner to safely and effectively cleanse your gut with anti-microbial, anti-fungal herbs if you find a gut “issue” present

Use the right anti-fungal and binder for your mold illness

Using anti-fungal herbs and medicines are a common approach for treating a person with mold illness or mold-related issues (like candida) to directly kill molds, candida and yeast in your body. Conventional doctors may prescribe pharmaceuticals like Nystatin or Diflucan, and holistic practitioners may integrate herbs via supplements and foods.

However there are a few of catches:

#1. Anti-fungal treatment must be customized

You must know which molds you have so you can be on the right anti-fungals to treat them—this may entail either prescription medications by a medical doctor or herbal anti-fungals via supplements and foods. It’s important to work with a skilled practitioner who understands mycotoxin illness, CIRS and detoxification in order to implement the right approach for your body.

Natural anti-fungals may include one or a blend of the following:

Lauricidin (monolaurin)

Pau D’Arco Extract (bark)

Cat’s Claw

Caprylic Acid

Uva Ursi

Grapefruit seed extract

Garlic (Allicin)

Tea tree

Oregano

Dill

Cloves

Black walnut

Oregon grape

#2. Anti-fungals are BEST used orally and nasally (sinus spray)

To effectively treat mold illness, you also must treat every single place that mold can be settled in and growing. Since molds grow in moist, warm cavities (think mouth, nose/sinus and gut), using both oral and nasal antifungals yields the best results.

One of my favorite anti-fungals is the CitriDrops by Microbalance. You can also make your own nasal anti-fungal wash at home using garlic cloves and probiotics.

Homemade Nasal Anti-fungal Wash for Mold Illness Recovery

[RHEA: CAN YOU MAKE THIS A TEXT BOX/GRAPHIC IN THE MIDDLE?)

Ingredients & supplies

A neti pot.

Non-iodized sea salt.

Filtered water (not tap water).

A clove of fresh garlic.

A strainer.

2 probiotic capsules

Directions

Get used to the Netipot. Use the neti pot as usual for a few days. (Instructions should come with the pot). Dissolve the correct amount of salt into lukewarm filtered water (not tap water), and then pour the solution through one nostril while tilting your head.  When done correctly, the water will flow up into the sinuses, and then down and out the other nostril.

Add in garlic + probiotics. Chop the clove of garlic & place the garlic in a strainer. Make sure that NONE of the garlic pieces can fit through the holes in the strainer (you don’t want bits of garlic in your sinuses).  Pour filtered boiling water over the garlic (through the strainer) and into a cup. Let the mix cool until it is lukewarm. Add your 2 probiotic capsules and stir into the water, then pour the lukewarm infusion into your neti pot. Add salt as usual (make sure to use the correct amount), and follow the standard method for using a neti pot. The only difference is that the water has been infused with garlic and probiotics.

#3. Anti-fungals are useless without a binder or bio-film disruptor

When mold starts to die during the treatment, your body needs to eliminate the dead molds, yeast and released toxins. If the amount of toxins released by the dying candida is more than what your body can safely handle, you may experience a healing crisis (also known as a “herx”, “healing” or “die off” reaction). Common symptoms may include GI or other ill-feeling symptoms, such as nausea, fever, joint and muscle aches, skin breakouts and headaches. A “herx” reaction typically means your body’s usual rhythms are being recalibrated, and last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

For this reason, a quality detoxification binder and biofilm disruptor (along with emphasis on optimizing gut health and liver function in point 8) is recommended to assist in elimination pathways.

Binder 101

A binder is a compound that helps grab the mold and pull it out of your body. Commonly used binders include:

Coconut Charcoal

Benedite Clay

Chlorella

Modified Citrus Pectin

Pyrophyllite clay

Cholestyramine (CSM, a prescription)

  Not all binders are created equal, and it’s most beneficial to know the type of mold you have in your body (using a test like the Great Plains Mycotoxin Test) to choose the best binder for you, since certain species are more susceptible to some more than others. Results from the test will also show which binders are most appropriate for you.

If you are not sure of your particular mold species, I find that a broad spectrum binder like GI Detox by Biocidin or Chlorella tablets are gentle but effective (without too much constipation).

Note: If you tend towards constipation, binders—particularly charcoal—can make you feel more constipated. Constipation busting “hacks” include: digestive bitters (like Iberogast), Liposomal Vitamin C and Magnesium Citrate like Natural Calm.

Biofilm Disruptor 101

Biofilm disruptors help ensure both your anti-fungals and binders can work in the first place. Molds often create a glue-like matrix around themselves to protect themselves. Sure, you can take anti-fungals and binders to treat them, but if you can’t “break” into the molds, than you won’t get them out.  Biofilm disruptors  hack through the goo and allow the anti-fungals to reach the fungi and kill the mold.

Recommendation:

Interfase Plus (2-3, in between meals, 2 times per day) –OR–

Biocidin Drops (2-3, 2 times per day)

Stress (your brain) less

With soooo many steps, therapies and treatments, mold illness recovery can be overwhelming. Not only was living in mold stressful on your health (mentally and physically), but so is recovery!

That said, the name of the game of winning victory over mold illness is actively and intentionally seeking to stress less—physically and mentally. Since inflammatory cytokines are the key drivers of mold illness symptoms, then stress management is essential for recovery including:

Quality sleep (7-9 hours)

Natural fresh air (daily)

Daily movement

Eating a nutrient-dense whole foods diet

Drinking clean filtered water

Minimizing screen and light exposure at night

Rewiring your brain and limbic system

  Limbic System 101

There’s a theory in the CIRS and mold illness world that the limbic system—your body’s “stress” system intertwined with memories—is hyper functioning.

After mold illness, your body stores deep rooted memories of smells, environments, circumstances and can easily sound the “alarm” for the body to react in a myriad of ways when any similar or familiar memory is aroused—such as the smell of must in a different environment.

In my own recovery, I personally struggled with sleeping in a bed again—I had “PTSD” like symptoms after my experience of waking up at 2 a.m. feeling like I was having a heart attack due to the chronic mold exposure and the asthma-like symptoms it gave me. I spent the next 3 months without a home, couch surfing from friend’s home to friend’s home, and not feeling comfortable back in a bed—where my previous two years of living in that environment came to a head.

I literally had to tell my body, “It’s ok,” and my body had to tell me back, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Limbic system “retraining” involves actively retraining neural pathways to think, act and believe differently. It is inspired by a woman named Annie Hopper who recovered herself from her own chronic mystery illness, similar to CIRS and mold illness.

Purify your air

Air quality matters—especially in your new environment. Air purifiers with HEPA and charcoal filters can help keep mycotoxins at bay and keep you breathing clean air as you “start over.” Like most things in the health and wellness world, not all air purifiers are created equal.

Don’t waste your money at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond. Most models on their sales floors are not the quality grade you (and your home) need—similar to how that $10 probiotic at Target is not the same as a quality probiotic that actually delivers the ingredients on the label to your gut.

My top recommendations for a quality air filter include:

Austin Air: The Bedroom Machine

Austin Air: Healthmate Junior Plus

Air Doctor

  I keep a big guy (like the Bedroom Machine) in the home to filter the whole house, and smaller units—like the Healthmate Junior or Air Doctor—in my bedroom.

In addition, if you want to take things to the next level, an Air Ozone Generator can aid in ozonating your space for cleaner, fresher and disinfected air.

You don’t have to go overboard, but investing in a couple units can help you breathe easier indoors—since we spend the majority of our time (about 22-23 hours daily) inside!

Surround yourself with positive energy

Last, but definitely not least…mold recovery can not only be stressful, but also draining and sometimes, negative.

If you’ve ever found yourself on an endless Facebook group for CIRS or mold illness recovery survivors, you know what I mean.

One thing can lead to another, and before you realize it, you believe you have cancer or you’ll never recover.

No matter what beliefs you have right now about your personal illness and recovery, know this:

When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.

Repeat: When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.

You will recover. Speak truth into your body. Lean in. Seek to nourish your mind, body and soul. And believe freedom and healing is possible.

There was a time you were not ill, and there will be a time again.

I believe it, do you? If not, let me help you.

Liew WP, Mohd-Redzwan S. Mycotoxin: Its Impact on Gut Health and Microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Feb 26;8:60. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00060. PubMed PMID: 29535978; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5834427.

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How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials

  So you have mold illness or CIRS…now what?!

 Sure, Dr. Google and Facebook groups can be helpful, but face it…when it comes to mold illness and mold illness recovery, the information can be completely overwhelming!

 Do you have to get rid of all your stuff?

What supplements should you take?

Do you need to move to a dry climate like Arizona or Colorado?

Should you just live in a bubble?!

 Although there is NO one-size-fits-all approach to healing and mold illness recovery, there are several commonalities in helpful therapies, lifestyle changes and treatments that can help you kick mold illness to the curb (for good), including:

 Top 12 Mold Illness Treatments

 Remove yourself from mold exposure

Breathe deeply

Marie Kondo your life

Build a capsule wardrobe

Fog & guard your new environment wisely

Sweat daily

Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods

Love your gut microbiome & liver

Use the right detox binder

Add in anti-fungals (oral and nasal) to treat mold that may have colonized in your body

Purify your air

Surround yourself with positive energy

 Check ‘em out.

  Remove yourself from mold exposure

First things first, you’ve got to get out of there. Healing cannot fully begin until you’re removed from the environment.

 Whether that means going to stay with family, a friend, moving to a mold-free environment, or working remotely, you will not feel the full effects of your treatment protocol until you are free from the space.

 Even if you are remediating your home, a short-term hiatus from the mold free environment is essential.

 Breathe deeply

 Breath has the power to both calm and stimulate the HPA Axis (stress response system).

 What happens to your breath when you run fast or get scared OR come into contact with mycotoxins? Your breathing rate increases (hello shortness of breath, panting and gasping for air or common). On the flip-side, what happens to your breath when you’re calm and at peace? It’s steady, deep and calm as well. Many of us are breathing the wrong way, which sets you up for problems with metabolism, blood pH, core function, and how much blood is getting to your brain and muscles, which allows cortisol to stay elevated.

  Common signs of dysfunctional breathing include:

 Inhaling with your chest. If you notice your chest is the first thing to move when you take a breath, this is a sign you have shallow breath or you’re breathing from the upper chest.

 Your rib cage doesn’t expand. Place your hands on the sides of your rib cage and take note. Your hands should move to the side about one to two inches as your rib cage widens.

 Breathing with your mouth. Unless you have congestion, ideally you should be breathing through your nose. Breathing through your nose releases nitric oxide that is carried to your lungs and helps maintain homeostasis in the rest of the body.

 Tight shoulders and upper neck/chest muscles. Tension in these areas may be a sign of shallow or stressed breathing.

 Frequent yawning. Sighing and yawning is a sign your body is not receiving enough oxygen.

 High resting breath rate. Count the number of times you breathe in one minute. A normal resting breath rate should be no greater than 10-12 breaths per minute—and sometimes as low as 6 to 8 breaths if you are deep breathing. A resting breath rate over 12 is a sign of quick or shallow breathing.

 You are activating your diaphragm when you breathe.

 If you experience any of these signs of dysfunctional breathing, it’s imperative to first train your body to simply breathe correctly.  Given that CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) is highly connected to cortisol (stress hormone) imbalances, the art of breathing is your innate “stress response” fire extinguisher.

 How to Breathe Deeply

 Balloon Breathing

Train yourself how to start breathing correctly. You can do this by blowing up balloons, pursing your lips, taking deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth while doing planking exercises, contracting your abs as you breathe, sitting upright when you work and decreasing shoulder movement during breathing.

 Tempo Breathing (a.k.a “4-7-8 breathing”). Place tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue behind the upper front teeth. Quietly inhale through your nose then audibly exhale through the mouth, inhale for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of 7, and then exhale through your mouth, making an ocean-wave-like sound for a count of 8. Repeat this cycle three times.

 Belly Breathe. Take a deep breath and focus on expanding your belly, rather than your chest. Watch your belly fill up as you breathe in and flatten as you breathe out.

 Breath Walk: Synchronize your breathing with walking steps and focused attention.

 Box Breathe: Close your mouth and slowly breathe in through your nose for four counts. Hold your breath for four seconds. Then slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of four. Hold the exhale for another four counts. Aim to repeat for four minutes.

 Yogi Breathing

This tactic is particularly useful as an “in the moment” tool when HPA Axis symptoms or stress arise.

How to Do It:

Lay on your back, completely flat

Inhale through your right nostril for 10 counts, while closing your left nostril with your finger

Exhale through your left nostril for 10 counts, while closing your right nostril with your finger

Keep your mouth closed, or lips pursed

Repeat for 5-6 cycles

  Marie Kondo your life

Get rid of (most) of it. Make Marie Kondo, author of the “Magic Art of Tidying Up” proud.

 If it doesn’t “spark joy”, toss it.

 And, chances are, if you are truly struggling with mold illness, many of your things will NOT “spark joy.”

 Sometimes the best bet for at least the current situation is to “leave it behind.” While it may seem or feel extreme (like a fire happened), to help calm your body and mind for the immediate healing period, a break from not only your environment but also the items that smell like that environment can be a healing part of your process.

 In my own experience, I found that the more I kept or tried to hold on to, the more I realized how much those things impacted my symptoms. Starting fresh (see point 4) was difficult to swallow at first, but the more I focused on rebuilding my life slowly, the less overwhelm and attachment I had to my stuff.

 Initially, I did a huge closet sweep—throwing most of my clothes into trash sacks and taking them to a local Goodwill and resale shop where individually, the items would not be as strong. I also left my furniture behind and bags—my suitcases, purses, backpack—things that had been living and breathing mycotoxins in my home.

 I tried to salvage the little things, however, of the things I did keep, it didn’t take long for me to decide the majority of it, I wanted to give away.

 From my leather Kate Spade purse with the tags still on it, to my yoga mat, my makeup and makeup bag, my occupational therapy grad school books, my hair dryer and my Benji (my stuffed dog I had had since I was 4 years old)—all of it smelled like mold and must. Once I was removed from my home, all I wanted was my health and breath back.

 Yes, I thought it sounded extreme too, but holding on to old stuff only weighed me down more. I found, as I gradually let even these things go, the more freedom I felt and ability to start new—from the inside out.

  Items to Toss or Store (for a long time)

Some of the “top” most-contaminated items include porous or “soft” items to not think too hard about:

 Books (especially opened books)

Clothing (primarily items that are dry clean only, and those items that have been hanging in your closet unworn or collecting dust for a long time)—other clothing may be redeemable, however, not optimal

Backpacks, purses, suitcases—things exposed to mycotoxins in the environment (they will most likely smell like the home as you leave)

Opened makeup and makeup bags

Vented items (your hairdryer, fans)

Upholstery (couches, curtains, rugs)

Chairs with cloth or padding

Linens, towels, pillows & blankets

Wood furniture

Papers (if needed: Store them loosely in plastic bins until a decision can be made at a later date)

Appliances (Refrigerators, washers, and dryers harbor dust in their coils and fans and are difficult to clean. Spores and spore fragments easily attach to washing machine parts)

Laptop computers (the fans in the computer can pick up mycotoxins; *if ridding of your this is not easy, look into selling back your machine or trading it in to the store, or using it outside of your new, clean environment to avoid cross-contamination)

 Given the fibers in these materials, they have a tendency to “soak up” the mycotoxins in the environment.

 Items to Possibly “Save”

Some items can be salvaged—particularly the hard-surfaced items that get a good fogging (point 5), including:

 Some clothing (see clothing exceptions below)

Sentimental stuffed animals (if laundered like your clothing)

Leather (furniture, bags, shoes) (Use quaternary cleaners on leather)

Lamps (not the shades)

Kitchenware (non bamboo)—plates, pans, pots, silverware, etc.

Non-porous surfaces (able to clean well)—such as that plastic waste bin or desk

Anything made of ceramic, glass or metal

Your car (yes some folks get rid of their’s; Hybridrasta Mama has a great post https://hybridrastamama.com/how-to-remove-mold-in-cars/ about mold remediation in your car).

  “But it sounds so extreme…”

 Just breathe. No one is holding a gun to your head to get rid of everything, and little official long term research has been conducted either way revealing whether or not mold contaminated items can make you ill again upon preexposure after healing.

 Ultimately, you may have to find out for yourself what you can and cannot tolerate, and perhaps, more than anything, time away from your contaminated items can help you strengthen your body from the inside out—and also realize…it’s all just stuff. Stuff is helpful for doing some things in life, but we come into this world bald, curled up and naked, and leave it bald, curled up and naked…and we take nothing with us. In other words: It can be replaced.

 If the idea of tossing everything out is devastating, recruit a cleaning company, family member or friend to box things up for you, or wear protective clothing (here) and a nose and mouth mask to put things into bins, large plastic bags or trash sacks to store away while you remove yourself to heal. This also may mean renting a storage facility for a period or storing your items in a family member’s garage. If you’re going to the trouble of moving away from a toxic environment, don’t apologize for being “extreme.” Do what you need to do to break free, allow for healing to occur and then decide what to keep or toss (chances are, you may realize you can live without it).

  Clothing Exceptions

You can clean some things—particularly the machine washable items that have been regular circulators in your clothing rotation (not the items that have been hanging in your closet for a year).

 Use EC3 Laundry Additive on these items, and wash through 2 to 3 cycles, dry and also place in the sun (natural ozone helps kill off mycotoxins). Homemade Hack: You can also use a combination of Borax and white vinegar as your “detergent”.

 What about other items I may keep…Do I literally have to clean everything in my house (i.e. plastic storage containers, books, toiletries, candles, knickknacks, canned food etc) or just the major things like clothing and furniture?

 Yes, everything. I love the whole EC3 line—their concentrate, spray, laundry additive and candles.

 Build a capsule wardrobe

Speaking of Marie Kondo, no time like the present to simplify your wardrobe! Out with the old, in with the new. A capsule wardrobe is a “minimalist’s dream”—filled with only the essentials needed to make dressing easy, classy and vogue.

 Most minimalist fashionistas advise you build your wardrobe on no more than 30 to 40 “staple” pieces (or less) for every 3 months of the year (seasons)— including clothes, jewelry, accessories and shoes. (This excludes underwear, loungewear, and workout wear).

 A capsule wardrobe may entail:

5-7 basic tops

Simple v-neck white tee

Simple black tee

Button up Chambray

5-7 trendy fun tops

5-7 bottoms

1-2 pairs of denim jeans

1 pair white pants

1 pair black pants

1-2 skirts

1-2 dresses

3 Jackets

Classy blazer

Bomber jacket

Hoodie

Shoes (seasonal)

Sneakers

Gold strappy sandals

Flats

Brown boots

Booties

Jewelry & Accessories

Pair stud earrings & hoops

Gold necklace

Bracelet

Sunglasses

Watch

Classic Tote

 How to Start Your Capsule Wardrobe

Pare down your closet to no more than 50 items (ideally: 35-40; excluding underwear, workout wear and lounge wear)

Wear only those 35-50 items for three months.

Don’t go shopping during the season until…

During the last two weeks of the season, plan and shop for your next capsule.

The amount you buy for the next capsule is up to you (you can recycle some from the previous capsule).

Remember: less is more.

 Fog & guard your new environment wisely

As you transition into your new environment, it’s uber important to prevent cross contamination from your old place.

 No, you cannot live in a bubble, but “proper” transition practices can keep your new place (and you) mycotoxin free. This was a huge mistake I made when moving out of my home initially. Although I left most of my things behind, I did trek in my daily use items that I did not think twice about including:

 My backpack

Purse

Tenni shoes I wore daily

My pillow

A sweatshirt

Makeup bag

Hairdryer

 The “little stuff” can add up if you are super sensitive and it’s best to quarantine most all items from the old place into a separate plastic bin or large trash sacks (closed tightly) and store them in a place like a garage in order to mindfully discard contaminated items.

 You can try salvaging some things with an at home fogging machine, as well as use your fogging machine with EC3 solution concentrate in it to spray and disinfect your new place.

 I recommend the Longray Basic ULV Fogger with Adjustable Flow & Flex-Hose and EC3 solution. All you have to do is pour the desired amount of EC3 solution + distilled water (see back of the bottle to measure) into the fogger, then turn the fogger on the medium pressure intensity and spray every nook, cranny, and item you have to make them (more) “mold free”.

 Sweat daily

Sweat helps detox and push impurities out of the body. Some options include:

 Infrared sauna (3-4 times per week for 15 minutes)

Heated yoga

Fresh air & sunshine

Energizing workouts (not chronic cardio; the “just right” challenge for 30-45 minutes, doing something you enjoy)

Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods

Let food be thy medicine. Optimize your detoxification pathways and energy levels by focusing on the foundations, while avoiding foods that leave you (and your gut health) down.

 Eat

Organic pastured proteins: chicken, beef, eggs, bison, wild-caught fish

Dark leafy greens

Fungal fighting foods, including:

Prebiotic Fibers: Carrots, Rutabaga, Onions, Garlic, Raidsh

Spices & herbs: Cayenne, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger Root, Clove, Goldenseal, Olive leaf, Tea trea

Lemon & Lime

Manuka raw honey

Coconut oil (caprylic acid)

Papya seeds

Teas: Green tea, dandelion tea, Pau d’Arco

Other colorful, low starch veggies: broccoli, spinach, summer squash, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, arugula, chard, cucumber, bell peppers, tomato (fresh only), leeks, asparagus, artichokes, seaweed

Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, coconut milk, ghee, avocado, organic butter, pumpkin seeds, flax

Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, coconut kefir/yogurt, fermented pickled veggies (Contrary to popular belief, eating fermented foods regularly can support the immune system and prevent the invasion and spread of yeasts or fungal infection. Consume 1-2 medicinal doses daily if tolerated).

Apple cider vinegar

Bone & meat broth. Bone broth is a rich source of collagen, which supports the integrity of the gut lining.

Pastured organ meats. Liver, heart, tongue, kidney; Or, quality grass-fed supplement (like this one by Ancestral Supplements).

Filtered water

Other beverages: Herbal teas, mineral water, fresh veggie juice, coconut milk

 The bottom line: Eat fresh foods as much as possible. (Hint: Buy the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and foods and buy in smaller quantities vs. having items in your refrigerator for weeks)

 Avoid

Molds thrive on sugar and anything that is not fresh or aged. Mold-loving foods including:

Cheese

High mold nuts: peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, brazil nuts

High amounts of high starch vegetables and legumes: sweet corn, potatoes, beans and peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, turnips, parsnips (stick to 1-2 servings per day)

Dried fruits

Alcohol

Instant coffee & non-organic, conventional coffees (i.e. Starbucks, Folgers)

Sugar & artificial sweeteners

Corn

Wheat

Seed oils: cottonseed, grapeseed, canola

Processed and smoked meats: sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, pastrami, smoked fish, ham, bacon.

Packaged & processed foods

Canned beans, soups & ready-made sauces

5+ day old produce

Edible fungi: including all types of mushrooms and truffles (cordyceps & reishi supplements ok)

Leftovers beyond 2-3 days. While some molds you can see (like the fuzzy green mold on breads), others are not so noticeable. A good rule of thumb for leftovers is a two-day rule (one is better).

  Love your gut microbiome & liver

Your gut is the gateway to health, and your liver is your body’s “master” detoxifier. If one or both of these two systems are down, then you (and your immune system) are more susceptible to molds and the effects of mycotoxins on your health.

 Although many mold sufferers will tell you that 25% of the population has a specific gene (the HLA-DR gene) that makes them more susceptible to mold illness, this is only part of the story.

 Genes load the gun, but environment, lifestyle and your gut microbiome pull the trigger. Disease genes cannot be turned on unless these other factors are at play.

 Given the fact that mycotoxin exposure can wreak havoc on your total health—particularly your gut health— by eliminating beneficial bacteria, by focusing on optimizing your gut health you will give those mycotoxins a run for their money. Research shows the gut microbiota is capable of eliminating mycotoxin from the host naturally, provided that the host is healthy with a balance gut microbiota (1).

 A few essentials for optimizing gut and liver health include:

 Perform at-home gut testing (Figure out what’s going on in your gut with a comprehensive gut test)

 Take a quality probiotic (like this one) and prebiotic fiber (1 tsp.) (like this one)

 Boost stomach acid & digestive enzymes (add 1 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar to 2-4 oz. of water and 1-2 capsules digestive enzymes with meals)

 Eat 1-2 fermented foods daily and 1-2 servings of prebiotic fiber in your diet

Working with a practitioner to safely and effectively cleanse your gut with anti-microbial, anti-fungal herbs if you find a gut “issue” present

 Use the right anti-fungal and binder for your mold illness

 Using anti-fungal herbs and medicines are a common approach for treating a person with mold illness or mold-related issues (like candida) to directly kill molds, candida and yeast in your body. Conventional doctors may prescribe pharmaceuticals like Nystatin or Diflucan, and holistic practitioners may integrate herbs via supplements and foods.

 However there are a few of catches:

 #1. Anti-fungal treatment must be customized

You must know which molds you have so you can be on the right anti-fungals to treat them—this may entail either prescription medications by a medical doctor or herbal anti-fungals via supplements and foods. It’s important to work with a skilled practitioner who understands mycotoxin illness, CIRS and detoxification in order to implement the right approach for your body.

 Natural anti-fungals may include one or a blend of the following:

Lauricidin (monolaurin)

Pau D’Arco Extract (bark)

Cat’s Claw

Caprylic Acid

Uva Ursi

Grapefruit seed extract

Garlic (Allicin)

Tea tree

Oregano

Dill

Cloves

Black walnut

Oregon grape

 #2. Anti-fungals are BEST used orally and nasally (sinus spray)

To effectively treat mold illness, you also must treat every single place that mold can be settled in and growing. Since molds grow in moist, warm cavities (think mouth, nose/sinus and gut), using both oral and nasal antifungals yields the best results.

 One of my favorite anti-fungals is the CitriDrops by Microbalance. You can also make your own nasal anti-fungal wash at home using garlic cloves and probiotics.

 Homemade Nasal Anti-fungal Wash for Mold Illness Recovery

 [RHEA: CAN YOU MAKE THIS A TEXT BOX/GRAPHIC IN THE MIDDLE?)

Ingredients & supplies

A neti pot.

Non-iodized sea salt.

Filtered water (not tap water).

A clove of fresh garlic.

A strainer.

2 probiotic capsules

 Directions

Get used to the Netipot. Use the neti pot as usual for a few days. (Instructions should come with the pot). Dissolve the correct amount of salt into lukewarm filtered water (not tap water), and then pour the solution through one nostril while tilting your head.  When done correctly, the water will flow up into the sinuses, and then down and out the other nostril.

Add in garlic + probiotics. Chop the clove of garlic & place the garlic in a strainer. Make sure that NONE of the garlic pieces can fit through the holes in the strainer (you don’t want bits of garlic in your sinuses).  Pour filtered boiling water over the garlic (through the strainer) and into a cup. Let the mix cool until it is lukewarm. Add your 2 probiotic capsules and stir into the water, then pour the lukewarm infusion into your neti pot. Add salt as usual (make sure to use the correct amount), and follow the standard method for using a neti pot. The only difference is that the water has been infused with garlic and probiotics.

 #3. Anti-fungals are useless without a binder or bio-film disruptor

When mold starts to die during the treatment, your body needs to eliminate the dead molds, yeast and released toxins. If the amount of toxins released by the dying candida is more than what your body can safely handle, you may experience a healing crisis (also known as a “herx”, “healing” or “die off” reaction). Common symptoms may include GI or other ill-feeling symptoms, such as nausea, fever, joint and muscle aches, skin breakouts and headaches. A “herx” reaction typically means your body’s usual rhythms are being recalibrated, and last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

 For this reason, a quality detoxification binder and biofilm disruptor (along with emphasis on optimizing gut health and liver function in point 8) is recommended to assist in elimination pathways.

 Binder 101

A binder is a compound that helps grab the mold and pull it out of your body. Commonly used binders include:

 Coconut Charcoal

Benedite Clay

Chlorella

Modified Citrus Pectin

Pyrophyllite clay

Cholestyramine (CSM, a prescription)

 Not all binders are created equal, and it’s most beneficial to know the type of mold you have in your body (using a test like the Great Plains Mycotoxin Test) to choose the best binder for you, since certain species are more susceptible to some more than others. Results from the test will also show which binders are most appropriate for you.

 If you are not sure of your particular mold species, I find that a broad spectrum binder like GI Detox by Biocidin or Chlorella tablets are gentle but effective (without too much constipation).

 Note: If you tend towards constipation, binders—particularly charcoal—can make you feel more constipated. Constipation busting “hacks” include: digestive bitters (like Iberogast), Liposomal Vitamin C and Magnesium Citrate like Natural Calm.

 Biofilm Disruptor 101

Biofilm disruptors help ensure both your anti-fungals and binders can work in the first place. Molds often create a glue-like matrix around themselves to protect themselves. Sure, you can take anti-fungals and binders to treat them, but if you can’t “break” into the molds, than you won’t get them out.  Biofilm disruptors  hack through the goo and allow the anti-fungals to reach the fungi and kill the mold.

Recommendation:

Interfase Plus (2-3, in between meals, 2 times per day) –OR–

Biocidin Drops (2-3, 2 times per day)

 Stress (your brain) less

With soooo many steps, therapies and treatments, mold illness recovery can be overwhelming. Not only was living in mold stressful on your health (mentally and physically), but so is recovery!

 That said, the name of the game of winning victory over mold illness is actively and intentionally seeking to stress less—physically and mentally. Since inflammatory cytokines are the key drivers of mold illness symptoms, then stress management is essential for recovery including:

 Quality sleep (7-9 hours)

Natural fresh air (daily)

Daily movement

Eating a nutrient-dense whole foods diet

Drinking clean filtered water

Minimizing screen and light exposure at night

Rewiring your brain and limbic system

 Limbic System 101

There’s a theory in the CIRS and mold illness world that the limbic system—your body’s “stress” system intertwined with memories—is hyper functioning.

 After mold illness, your body stores deep rooted memories of smells, environments, circumstances and can easily sound the “alarm” for the body to react in a myriad of ways when any similar or familiar memory is aroused—such as the smell of must in a different environment.

 In my own recovery, I personally struggled with sleeping in a bed again—I had “PTSD” like symptoms after my experience of waking up at 2 a.m. feeling like I was having a heart attack due to the chronic mold exposure and the asthma-like symptoms it gave me. I spent the next 3 months without a home, couch surfing from friend’s home to friend’s home, and not feeling comfortable back in a bed—where my previous two years of living in that environment came to a head.

 I literally had to tell my body, “It’s ok,” and my body had to tell me back, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

 Limbic system “retraining” involves actively retraining neural pathways to think, act and believe differently. It is inspired by a woman named Annie Hopper who recovered herself from her own chronic mystery illness, similar to CIRS and mold illness.

 Purify your air

Air quality matters—especially in your new environment. Air purifiers with HEPA and charcoal filters can help keep mycotoxins at bay and keep you breathing clean air as you “start over.” Like most things in the health and wellness world, not all air purifiers are created equal.

Don’t waste your money at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond. Most models on their sales floors are not the quality grade you (and your home) need—similar to how that $10 probiotic at Target is not the same as a quality probiotic that actually delivers the ingredients on the label to your gut.

 My top recommendations for a quality air filter include:

 Austin Air: The Bedroom Machine

Austin Air: Healthmate Junior Plus

Air Doctor

 I keep a big guy (like the Bedroom Machine) in the home to filter the whole house, and smaller units—like the Healthmate Junior or Air Doctor—in my bedroom.

 In addition, if you want to take things to the next level, an Air Ozone Generator can aid in ozonating your space for cleaner, fresher and disinfected air.

 You don’t have to go overboard, but investing in a couple units can help you breathe easier indoors—since we spend the majority of our time (about 22-23 hours daily) inside!

 Surround yourself with positive energy

Last, but definitely not least…mold recovery can not only be stressful, but also draining and sometimes, negative.

 If you’ve ever found yourself on an endless Facebook group for CIRS or mold illness recovery survivors, you know what I mean.

 One thing can lead to another, and before you realize it, you believe you have cancer or you’ll never recover.

 No matter what beliefs you have right now about your personal illness and recovery, know this:

 When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.

 Repeat: When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.

 You will recover. Speak truth into your body. Lean in. Seek to nourish your mind, body and soul. And believe freedom and healing is possible.

 There was a time you were not ill, and there will be a time again.

 I believe it, do you? If not, let me help you.

 Liew WP, Mohd-Redzwan S. Mycotoxin: Its Impact on Gut Health and Microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Feb 26;8:60. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00060. PubMed PMID: 29535978; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5834427.

The post How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials appeared first on Meet Dr. Lauryn.

Source/Repost=> https://drlauryn.com/wellness-knowledge/how-to-treat-get-rid-of-cirs/ ** Dr. Lauryn Lax __Nutrition. Therapy. Functional Medicine ** https://drlauryn.com/ How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials via https://drlaurynlax.blogspot.com/

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How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS 12 Essentials

  So you have mold illness or CIRS…now what?!

 Sure, Dr. Google and Facebook groups can be helpful, but face it…when it comes to mold illness and mold illness recovery, the information can be completely overwhelming!

 Do you have to get rid of all your stuff?

What supplements should you take?

Do you need to move to a dry climate like Arizona or Colorado?

Should you just live in a bubble?!

 Although there is NO one-size-fits-all approach to healing and mold illness recovery, there are several commonalities in helpful therapies, lifestyle changes and treatments that can help you kick mold illness to the curb (for good), including:

 Top 12 Mold Illness Treatments

 Remove yourself from mold exposure

Breathe deeply

Marie Kondo your life

Build a capsule wardrobe

Fog & guard your new environment wisely

Sweat daily

Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods

Love your gut microbiome & liver

Use the right detox binder

Add in anti-fungals (oral and nasal) to treat mold that may have colonized in your body

Purify your air

Surround yourself with positive energy

 Check ‘em out.

  Remove yourself from mold exposure

First things first, you’ve got to get out of there. Healing cannot fully begin until you’re removed from the environment.

 Whether that means going to stay with family, a friend, moving to a mold-free environment, or working remotely, you will not feel the full effects of your treatment protocol until you are free from the space.

 Even if you are remediating your home, a short-term hiatus from the mold free environment is essential.

 Breathe deeply

 Breath has the power to both calm and stimulate the HPA Axis (stress response system).

 What happens to your breath when you run fast or get scared OR come into contact with mycotoxins? Your breathing rate increases (hello shortness of breath, panting and gasping for air or common). On the flip-side, what happens to your breath when you’re calm and at peace? It’s steady, deep and calm as well. Many of us are breathing the wrong way, which sets you up for problems with metabolism, blood pH, core function, and how much blood is getting to your brain and muscles, which allows cortisol to stay elevated.

  Common signs of dysfunctional breathing include:

 Inhaling with your chest. If you notice your chest is the first thing to move when you take a breath, this is a sign you have shallow breath or you’re breathing from the upper chest.

 Your rib cage doesn’t expand. Place your hands on the sides of your rib cage and take note. Your hands should move to the side about one to two inches as your rib cage widens.

 Breathing with your mouth. Unless you have congestion, ideally you should be breathing through your nose. Breathing through your nose releases nitric oxide that is carried to your lungs and helps maintain homeostasis in the rest of the body.

 Tight shoulders and upper neck/chest muscles. Tension in these areas may be a sign of shallow or stressed breathing.

 Frequent yawning. Sighing and yawning is a sign your body is not receiving enough oxygen.

 High resting breath rate. Count the number of times you breathe in one minute. A normal resting breath rate should be no greater than 10-12 breaths per minute—and sometimes as low as 6 to 8 breaths if you are deep breathing. A resting breath rate over 12 is a sign of quick or shallow breathing.

 You are activating your diaphragm when you breathe.

 If you experience any of these signs of dysfunctional breathing, it’s imperative to first train your body to simply breathe correctly.  Given that CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) is highly connected to cortisol (stress hormone) imbalances, the art of breathing is your innate “stress response” fire extinguisher.

 How to Breathe Deeply

 Balloon Breathing

Train yourself how to start breathing correctly. You can do this by blowing up balloons, pursing your lips, taking deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth while doing planking exercises, contracting your abs as you breathe, sitting upright when you work and decreasing shoulder movement during breathing.

 Tempo Breathing (a.k.a “4-7-8 breathing”). Place tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue behind the upper front teeth. Quietly inhale through your nose then audibly exhale through the mouth, inhale for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of 7, and then exhale through your mouth, making an ocean-wave-like sound for a count of 8. Repeat this cycle three times.

 Belly Breathe. Take a deep breath and focus on expanding your belly, rather than your chest. Watch your belly fill up as you breathe in and flatten as you breathe out.

 Breath Walk: Synchronize your breathing with walking steps and focused attention.

 Box Breathe: Close your mouth and slowly breathe in through your nose for four counts. Hold your breath for four seconds. Then slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of four. Hold the exhale for another four counts. Aim to repeat for four minutes.

 Yogi Breathing

This tactic is particularly useful as an “in the moment” tool when HPA Axis symptoms or stress arise.

How to Do It:

Lay on your back, completely flat

Inhale through your right nostril for 10 counts, while closing your left nostril with your finger

Exhale through your left nostril for 10 counts, while closing your right nostril with your finger

Keep your mouth closed, or lips pursed

Repeat for 5-6 cycles

  Marie Kondo your life

Get rid of (most) of it. Make Marie Kondo, author of the “Magic Art of Tidying Up” proud.

 If it doesn’t “spark joy”, toss it.

 And, chances are, if you are truly struggling with mold illness, many of your things will NOT “spark joy.”

 Sometimes the best bet for at least the current situation is to “leave it behind.” While it may seem or feel extreme (like a fire happened), to help calm your body and mind for the immediate healing period, a break from not only your environment but also the items that smell like that environment can be a healing part of your process.

 In my own experience, I found that the more I kept or tried to hold on to, the more I realized how much those things impacted my symptoms. Starting fresh (see point 4) was difficult to swallow at first, but the more I focused on rebuilding my life slowly, the less overwhelm and attachment I had to my stuff.

 Initially, I did a huge closet sweep—throwing most of my clothes into trash sacks and taking them to a local Goodwill and resale shop where individually, the items would not be as strong. I also left my furniture behind and bags—my suitcases, purses, backpack—things that had been living and breathing mycotoxins in my home.

 I tried to salvage the little things, however, of the things I did keep, it didn’t take long for me to decide the majority of it, I wanted to give away.

 From my leather Kate Spade purse with the tags still on it, to my yoga mat, my makeup and makeup bag, my occupational therapy grad school books, my hair dryer and my Benji (my stuffed dog I had had since I was 4 years old)—all of it smelled like mold and must. Once I was removed from my home, all I wanted was my health and breath back.

 Yes, I thought it sounded extreme too, but holding on to old stuff only weighed me down more. I found, as I gradually let even these things go, the more freedom I felt and ability to start new—from the inside out.

  Items to Toss or Store (for a long time)

Some of the “top” most-contaminated items include porous or “soft” items to not think too hard about:

 Books (especially opened books)

Clothing (primarily items that are dry clean only, and those items that have been hanging in your closet unworn or collecting dust for a long time)—other clothing may be redeemable, however, not optimal

Backpacks, purses, suitcases—things exposed to mycotoxins in the environment (they will most likely smell like the home as you leave)

Opened makeup and makeup bags

Vented items (your hairdryer, fans)

Upholstery (couches, curtains, rugs)

Chairs with cloth or padding

Linens, towels, pillows & blankets

Wood furniture

Papers (if needed: Store them loosely in plastic bins until a decision can be made at a later date)

Appliances (Refrigerators, washers, and dryers harbor dust in their coils and fans and are difficult to clean. Spores and spore fragments easily attach to washing machine parts)

Laptop computers (the fans in the computer can pick up mycotoxins; *if ridding of your this is not easy, look into selling back your machine or trading it in to the store, or using it outside of your new, clean environment to avoid cross-contamination)

 Given the fibers in these materials, they have a tendency to “soak up” the mycotoxins in the environment.

 Items to Possibly “Save”

Some items can be salvaged—particularly the hard-surfaced items that get a good fogging (point 5), including:

 Some clothing (see clothing exceptions below)

Sentimental stuffed animals (if laundered like your clothing)

Leather (furniture, bags, shoes) (Use quaternary cleaners on leather)

Lamps (not the shades)

Kitchenware (non bamboo)—plates, pans, pots, silverware, etc.

Non-porous surfaces (able to clean well)—such as that plastic waste bin or desk

Anything made of ceramic, glass or metal

Your car (yes some folks get rid of their’s; Hybridrasta Mama has a great post https://hybridrastamama.com/how-to-remove-mold-in-cars/ about mold remediation in your car).

  “But it sounds so extreme…”

 Just breathe. No one is holding a gun to your head to get rid of everything, and little official long term research has been conducted either way revealing whether or not mold contaminated items can make you ill again upon preexposure after healing.

 Ultimately, you may have to find out for yourself what you can and cannot tolerate, and perhaps, more than anything, time away from your contaminated items can help you strengthen your body from the inside out—and also realize…it’s all just stuff. Stuff is helpful for doing some things in life, but we come into this world bald, curled up and naked, and leave it bald, curled up and naked…and we take nothing with us. In other words: It can be replaced.

 If the idea of tossing everything out is devastating, recruit a cleaning company, family member or friend to box things up for you, or wear protective clothing (here) and a nose and mouth mask to put things into bins, large plastic bags or trash sacks to store away while you remove yourself to heal. This also may mean renting a storage facility for a period or storing your items in a family member’s garage. If you’re going to the trouble of moving away from a toxic environment, don’t apologize for being “extreme.” Do what you need to do to break free, allow for healing to occur and then decide what to keep or toss (chances are, you may realize you can live without it).

  Clothing Exceptions

You can clean some things—particularly the machine washable items that have been regular circulators in your clothing rotation (not the items that have been hanging in your closet for a year).

 Use EC3 Laundry Additive on these items, and wash through 2 to 3 cycles, dry and also place in the sun (natural ozone helps kill off mycotoxins). Homemade Hack: You can also use a combination of Borax and white vinegar as your “detergent”.

 What about other items I may keep…Do I literally have to clean everything in my house (i.e. plastic storage containers, books, toiletries, candles, knickknacks, canned food etc) or just the major things like clothing and furniture?

 Yes, everything. I love the whole EC3 line—their concentrate, spray, laundry additive and candles.

 Build a capsule wardrobe

Speaking of Marie Kondo, no time like the present to simplify your wardrobe! Out with the old, in with the new. A capsule wardrobe is a “minimalist’s dream”—filled with only the essentials needed to make dressing easy, classy and vogue.

 Most minimalist fashionistas advise you build your wardrobe on no more than 30 to 40 “staple” pieces (or less) for every 3 months of the year (seasons)— including clothes, jewelry, accessories and shoes. (This excludes underwear, loungewear, and workout wear).

 A capsule wardrobe may entail:

5-7 basic tops

Simple v-neck white tee

Simple black tee

Button up Chambray

5-7 trendy fun tops

5-7 bottoms

1-2 pairs of denim jeans

1 pair white pants

1 pair black pants

1-2 skirts

1-2 dresses

3 Jackets

Classy blazer

Bomber jacket

Hoodie

Shoes (seasonal)

Sneakers

Gold strappy sandals

Flats

Brown boots

Booties

Jewelry & Accessories

Pair stud earrings & hoops

Gold necklace

Bracelet

Sunglasses

Watch

Classic Tote

 How to Start Your Capsule Wardrobe

Pare down your closet to no more than 50 items (ideally: 35-40; excluding underwear, workout wear and lounge wear)

Wear only those 35-50 items for three months.

Don’t go shopping during the season until…

During the last two weeks of the season, plan and shop for your next capsule.

The amount you buy for the next capsule is up to you (you can recycle some from the previous capsule).

Remember: less is more.

 Fog & guard your new environment wisely

As you transition into your new environment, it’s uber important to prevent cross contamination from your old place.

 No, you cannot live in a bubble, but “proper” transition practices can keep your new place (and you) mycotoxin free. This was a huge mistake I made when moving out of my home initially. Although I left most of my things behind, I did trek in my daily use items that I did not think twice about including:

 My backpack

Purse

Tenni shoes I wore daily

My pillow

A sweatshirt

Makeup bag

Hairdryer

 The “little stuff” can add up if you are super sensitive and it’s best to quarantine most all items from the old place into a separate plastic bin or large trash sacks (closed tightly) and store them in a place like a garage in order to mindfully discard contaminated items.

 You can try salvaging some things with an at home fogging machine, as well as use your fogging machine with EC3 solution concentrate in it to spray and disinfect your new place.

 I recommend the Longray Basic ULV Fogger with Adjustable Flow & Flex-Hose and EC3 solution. All you have to do is pour the desired amount of EC3 solution + distilled water (see back of the bottle to measure) into the fogger, then turn the fogger on the medium pressure intensity and spray every nook, cranny, and item you have to make them (more) “mold free”.

 Sweat daily

Sweat helps detox and push impurities out of the body. Some options include:

 Infrared sauna (3-4 times per week for 15 minutes)

Heated yoga

Fresh air & sunshine

Energizing workouts (not chronic cardio; the “just right” challenge for 30-45 minutes, doing something you enjoy)

Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods

Let food be thy medicine. Optimize your detoxification pathways and energy levels by focusing on the foundations, while avoiding foods that leave you (and your gut health) down.

 Eat

Organic pastured proteins: chicken, beef, eggs, bison, wild-caught fish

Dark leafy greens

Fungal fighting foods, including:

Prebiotic Fibers: Carrots, Rutabaga, Onions, Garlic, Raidsh

Spices & herbs: Cayenne, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger Root, Clove, Goldenseal, Olive leaf, Tea trea

Lemon & Lime

Manuka raw honey

Coconut oil (caprylic acid)

Papya seeds

Teas: Green tea, dandelion tea, Pau d’Arco

Other colorful, low starch veggies: broccoli, spinach, summer squash, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, arugula, chard, cucumber, bell peppers, tomato (fresh only), leeks, asparagus, artichokes, seaweed

Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, coconut milk, ghee, avocado, organic butter, pumpkin seeds, flax

Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, coconut kefir/yogurt, fermented pickled veggies (Contrary to popular belief, eating fermented foods regularly can support the immune system and prevent the invasion and spread of yeasts or fungal infection. Consume 1-2 medicinal doses daily if tolerated).

Apple cider vinegar

Bone & meat broth. Bone broth is a rich source of collagen, which supports the integrity of the gut lining.

Pastured organ meats. Liver, heart, tongue, kidney; Or, quality grass-fed supplement (like this one by Ancestral Supplements).

Filtered water

Other beverages: Herbal teas, mineral water, fresh veggie juice, coconut milk

 The bottom line: Eat fresh foods as much as possible. (Hint: Buy the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and foods and buy in smaller quantities vs. having items in your refrigerator for weeks)

 Avoid

Molds thrive on sugar and anything that is not fresh or aged. Mold-loving foods including:

Cheese

High mold nuts: peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, brazil nuts

High amounts of high starch vegetables and legumes: sweet corn, potatoes, beans and peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, turnips, parsnips (stick to 1-2 servings per day)

Dried fruits

Alcohol

Instant coffee & non-organic, conventional coffees (i.e. Starbucks, Folgers)

Sugar & artificial sweeteners

Corn

Wheat

Seed oils: cottonseed, grapeseed, canola

Processed and smoked meats: sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, pastrami, smoked fish, ham, bacon.

Packaged & processed foods

Canned beans, soups & ready-made sauces

5+ day old produce

Edible fungi: including all types of mushrooms and truffles (cordyceps & reishi supplements ok)

Leftovers beyond 2-3 days. While some molds you can see (like the fuzzy green mold on breads), others are not so noticeable. A good rule of thumb for leftovers is a two-day rule (one is better).

  Love your gut microbiome & liver

Your gut is the gateway to health, and your liver is your body’s “master” detoxifier. If one or both of these two systems are down, then you (and your immune system) are more susceptible to molds and the effects of mycotoxins on your health.

 Although many mold sufferers will tell you that 25% of the population has a specific gene (the HLA-DR gene) that makes them more susceptible to mold illness, this is only part of the story.

 Genes load the gun, but environment, lifestyle and your gut microbiome pull the trigger. Disease genes cannot be turned on unless these other factors are at play.

 Given the fact that mycotoxin exposure can wreak havoc on your total health—particularly your gut health— by eliminating beneficial bacteria, by focusing on optimizing your gut health you will give those mycotoxins a run for their money. Research shows the gut microbiota is capable of eliminating mycotoxin from the host naturally, provided that the host is healthy with a balance gut microbiota (1).

 A few essentials for optimizing gut and liver health include:

 Perform at-home gut testing (Figure out what’s going on in your gut with a comprehensive gut test)

 Take a quality probiotic (like this one) and prebiotic fiber (1 tsp.) (like this one)

 Boost stomach acid & digestive enzymes (add 1 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar to 2-4 oz. of water and 1-2 capsules digestive enzymes with meals)

 Eat 1-2 fermented foods daily and 1-2 servings of prebiotic fiber in your diet

Working with a practitioner to safely and effectively cleanse your gut with anti-microbial, anti-fungal herbs if you find a gut “issue” present

 Use the right anti-fungal and binder for your mold illness

 Using anti-fungal herbs and medicines are a common approach for treating a person with mold illness or mold-related issues (like candida) to directly kill molds, candida and yeast in your body. Conventional doctors may prescribe pharmaceuticals like Nystatin or Diflucan, and holistic practitioners may integrate herbs via supplements and foods.

 However there are a few of catches:

 #1. Anti-fungal treatment must be customized

You must know which molds you have so you can be on the right anti-fungals to treat them—this may entail either prescription medications by a medical doctor or herbal anti-fungals via supplements and foods. It’s important to work with a skilled practitioner who understands mycotoxin illness, CIRS and detoxification in order to implement the right approach for your body.

 Natural anti-fungals may include one or a blend of the following:

Lauricidin (monolaurin)

Pau D’Arco Extract (bark)

Cat’s Claw

Caprylic Acid

Uva Ursi

Grapefruit seed extract

Garlic (Allicin)

Tea tree

Oregano

Dill

Cloves

Black walnut

Oregon grape

 #2. Anti-fungals are BEST used orally and nasally (sinus spray)

To effectively treat mold illness, you also must treat every single place that mold can be settled in and growing. Since molds grow in moist, warm cavities (think mouth, nose/sinus and gut), using both oral and nasal antifungals yields the best results.

 One of my favorite anti-fungals is the CitriDrops by Microbalance. You can also make your own nasal anti-fungal wash at home using garlic cloves and probiotics.

 Homemade Nasal Anti-fungal Wash for Mold Illness Recovery

 [RHEA: CAN YOU MAKE THIS A TEXT BOX/GRAPHIC IN THE MIDDLE?)

Ingredients & supplies

A neti pot.

Non-iodized sea salt.

Filtered water (not tap water).

A clove of fresh garlic.

A strainer.

2 probiotic capsules

 Directions

Get used to the Netipot. Use the neti pot as usual for a few days. (Instructions should come with the pot). Dissolve the correct amount of salt into lukewarm filtered water (not tap water), and then pour the solution through one nostril while tilting your head.  When done correctly, the water will flow up into the sinuses, and then down and out the other nostril.

Add in garlic + probiotics. Chop the clove of garlic & place the garlic in a strainer. Make sure that NONE of the garlic pieces can fit through the holes in the strainer (you don’t want bits of garlic in your sinuses).  Pour filtered boiling water over the garlic (through the strainer) and into a cup. Let the mix cool until it is lukewarm. Add your 2 probiotic capsules and stir into the water, then pour the lukewarm infusion into your neti pot. Add salt as usual (make sure to use the correct amount), and follow the standard method for using a neti pot. The only difference is that the water has been infused with garlic and probiotics.

 #3. Anti-fungals are useless without a binder or bio-film disruptor

When mold starts to die during the treatment, your body needs to eliminate the dead molds, yeast and released toxins. If the amount of toxins released by the dying candida is more than what your body can safely handle, you may experience a healing crisis (also known as a “herx”, “healing” or “die off” reaction). Common symptoms may include GI or other ill-feeling symptoms, such as nausea, fever, joint and muscle aches, skin breakouts and headaches. A “herx” reaction typically means your body’s usual rhythms are being recalibrated, and last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

 For this reason, a quality detoxification binder and biofilm disruptor (along with emphasis on optimizing gut health and liver function in point 8) is recommended to assist in elimination pathways.

 Binder 101

A binder is a compound that helps grab the mold and pull it out of your body. Commonly used binders include:

 Coconut Charcoal

Benedite Clay

Chlorella

Modified Citrus Pectin

Pyrophyllite clay

Cholestyramine (CSM, a prescription)

 Not all binders are created equal, and it’s most beneficial to know the type of mold you have in your body (using a test like the Great Plains Mycotoxin Test) to choose the best binder for you, since certain species are more susceptible to some more than others. Results from the test will also show which binders are most appropriate for you.

 If you are not sure of your particular mold species, I find that a broad spectrum binder like GI Detox by Biocidin or Chlorella tablets are gentle but effective (without too much constipation).

 Note: If you tend towards constipation, binders—particularly charcoal—can make you feel more constipated. Constipation busting “hacks” include: digestive bitters (like Iberogast), Liposomal Vitamin C and Magnesium Citrate like Natural Calm.

 Biofilm Disruptor 101

Biofilm disruptors help ensure both your anti-fungals and binders can work in the first place. Molds often create a glue-like matrix around themselves to protect themselves. Sure, you can take anti-fungals and binders to treat them, but if you can’t “break” into the molds, than you won’t get them out.  Biofilm disruptors  hack through the goo and allow the anti-fungals to reach the fungi and kill the mold.

Recommendation:

Interfase Plus (2-3, in between meals, 2 times per day) –OR–

Biocidin Drops (2-3, 2 times per day)

 Stress (your brain) less

With soooo many steps, therapies and treatments, mold illness recovery can be overwhelming. Not only was living in mold stressful on your health (mentally and physically), but so is recovery!

 That said, the name of the game of winning victory over mold illness is actively and intentionally seeking to stress less—physically and mentally. Since inflammatory cytokines are the key drivers of mold illness symptoms, then stress management is essential for recovery including:

 Quality sleep (7-9 hours)

Natural fresh air (daily)

Daily movement

Eating a nutrient-dense whole foods diet

Drinking clean filtered water

Minimizing screen and light exposure at night

Rewiring your brain and limbic system

 Limbic System 101

There’s a theory in the CIRS and mold illness world that the limbic system—your body’s “stress” system intertwined with memories—is hyper functioning.

 After mold illness, your body stores deep rooted memories of smells, environments, circumstances and can easily sound the “alarm” for the body to react in a myriad of ways when any similar or familiar memory is aroused—such as the smell of must in a different environment.

 In my own recovery, I personally struggled with sleeping in a bed again—I had “PTSD” like symptoms after my experience of waking up at 2 a.m. feeling like I was having a heart attack due to the chronic mold exposure and the asthma-like symptoms it gave me. I spent the next 3 months without a home, couch surfing from friend’s home to friend’s home, and not feeling comfortable back in a bed—where my previous two years of living in that environment came to a head.

 I literally had to tell my body, “It’s ok,” and my body had to tell me back, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

 Limbic system “retraining” involves actively retraining neural pathways to think, act and believe differently. It is inspired by a woman named Annie Hopper who recovered herself from her own chronic mystery illness, similar to CIRS and mold illness.

 Purify your air

Air quality matters—especially in your new environment. Air purifiers with HEPA and charcoal filters can help keep mycotoxins at bay and keep you breathing clean air as you “start over.” Like most things in the health and wellness world, not all air purifiers are created equal.

Don’t waste your money at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond. Most models on their sales floors are not the quality grade you (and your home) need—similar to how that $10 probiotic at Target is not the same as a quality probiotic that actually delivers the ingredients on the label to your gut.

 My top recommendations for a quality air filter include:

 Austin Air: The Bedroom Machine

Austin Air: Healthmate Junior Plus

Air Doctor

 I keep a big guy (like the Bedroom Machine) in the home to filter the whole house, and smaller units—like the Healthmate Junior or Air Doctor—in my bedroom.

 In addition, if you want to take things to the next level, an Air Ozone Generator can aid in ozonating your space for cleaner, fresher and disinfected air.

 You don’t have to go overboard, but investing in a couple units can help you breathe easier indoors—since we spend the majority of our time (about 22-23 hours daily) inside!

 Surround yourself with positive energy

Last, but definitely not least…mold recovery can not only be stressful, but also draining and sometimes, negative.

 If you’ve ever found yourself on an endless Facebook group for CIRS or mold illness recovery survivors, you know what I mean.

 One thing can lead to another, and before you realize it, you believe you have cancer or you’ll never recover.

 No matter what beliefs you have right now about your personal illness and recovery, know this:

 When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.

 Repeat: When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.

 You will recover. Speak truth into your body. Lean in. Seek to nourish your mind, body and soul. And believe freedom and healing is possible.

 There was a time you were not ill, and there will be a time again.

 I believe it, do you? If not, let me help you.

 Liew WP, Mohd-Redzwan S. Mycotoxin: Its Impact on Gut Health and Microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Feb 26;8:60. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00060. PubMed PMID: 29535978; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5834427.

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