It’s a toxic, moldy, summit – not a toxic, moldy mountain (yeeccch!); instead it’s the first online summit on mold (that I know of). If this is indeed the first online Toxic Mold Summit, it’s about time. Toxic mold is an issue that’s been terribly ignored by the medical profession, but the stories of people sickened by exposures to mold in their houses are rife.
The leader of the summit well knows the problems that mold can cause. Dr. Margaret Christiansen was an Ob-Gyn (obstetrics and gynecology) who began suffering from debilitating fatigue, cognitive problems, pain, insomnia, mood swings, tremors, sinusitis, etc. and had to close her practice.
As she made her way from doctor to doctor, she was apparently diagnosed with everything from chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) to fibromyalga (FM) to mood disorders to autoimmune issues.
Eight years later, she realized her water-damaged home was the source of her (and her family’s) health problems. She actually had a “biotoxin illness”.
Lissa’s Story
Lissa’s story, published on Health Rising a year and a half ago, presents another cautionary mold tale. First, she and her husband found a little bit of mold in their beautiful house, then a bit more, then more, and eventually so much mold as to render their house uninhabitable. When last heard from, they were searching for an attorney to get them some redress for unknowingly purchasing a home destined to make them sick. (Lissa’s mold story is ongoing – and she is working on an update to it.)
The fact that the largest investment you’ll ever make – your house – may be making you sick makes mold issues doubly problematic. Mold remediation can be very expensive and is not always effective. Plus, many doctors know nothing of mold and its effects. That leaves many people with possible mold issues out on their own – wondering how to tell if they do indeed have mold, what to do about it if they do, whom to trust, etc.
The Toxic Mold Summit
So here comes some advice in the form of the online Toxic Mold Summit beginning on Jan 28th and lasting for seven days. The talks are all free (if you watch them the day they’re given) and you can buy a package which allows you to download them and watch them anytime.
The talks are not all on mold. Irrespective of what the Summit is on (:)) some of the presenters (e.g. Tom O’Bryan) seem to show up frequently. With others are presenting on things like heavy metals, chemical sensitivities, parasites and Lyme disease, and subjects peripheral to mold, the mold field clearly has room to grow. Day five, though, begins with presentations on remediation and testing. Presentations on treating mold hypersensitivity or illness are found throughout.
If you’re interested in the nitty-gritty of mold health issues – lab tests, treatment programs, assessing mold levels, remediation, how to build a mold-resistant house – talks will be given on all these topics.
Some of the presentations include:
- Mark Hyman – Advanced Therapies for Mold Recovery
- Christine Schaffner – Biological Medicine and Detoxification
- Ann Shippy – Testing your home for mold
- Gail Clayton – Mold and Histamine
- Scott Richmond – When to Remediate: A Personal Journey
- Stephanie McCarter – MCS/EMFs and the Highly Sensitive Patient.
If you’re interested in exploring the alternative health approach to hypersensitivity issues and chronic illnesses, as well as mold, there’s quite a bit here.
You can find out more about and register for the free Summit here. (Besides giving you the ability to watch the talks, registering will also get you the “Got Mold, Now What?” Ebook by Dr. Christianson and permanent access to a few of the talks.)
(Health Rising is an affiliate of the Toxic Mold Summit and will receive a portion of sales from those buying the Toxic Mold Summit package.)
I remember on the TV show ‘Dr Phil’ he mentioned that a study found a certain mould toxin in the blood can interfere with a couple of medications in the brain. (from memory it could lead to a psychotic event) He didn’t say what the medicines were though. If anyone knows how to find that out I’d be interested to know.
Anyway is there any actual studies on mould and ME or fatigue? Not just anecdotes.
I live next to native bush (dense wet forest in New Zealand). And I assume mould that breaks down wood, leaves and twigs, is the same stuff on the wood inside damp houses (it smells similar) and if I’m living only meters away from the forest then could that toxic mould be coming into my home?
My (limited) understanding is that the toxic mold found in houses is, for some reason, worse than that found out in nature. I don’t know why that would be and it could be that I’m wrong.
Just a few papers have shown up
Dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome and vaccination as risk factors for chronic fatigue syndrome. Tuuminen T, Jääskeläinen T, Vaali K, Polo O. Autoimmun Rev. 2019 Jan;18(1):107-108. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2018.08.004. Epub 2018 Nov 5. No abstract available.
PMID: 30408578
8.
The Putative Role of Viruses, Bacteria, and Chronic Fungal Biotoxin Exposure in the Genesis of Intractable Fatigue Accompanied by Cognitive and Physical Disability.
Morris G, Berk M, Walder K, Maes M.
Mol Neurobiol. 2016 May;53(4):2550-71. doi: 10.1007/s12035-015-9262-7. Epub 2015 Jun 17. Review.
Chronic illness associated with mold and mycotoxins: is naso-sinus fungal biofilm the culprit? Brewer JH, Thrasher JD, Hooper D.
Toxins (Basel). 2013 Dec 24;6(1):66-80. doi: 10.3390/toxins6010066. Review.
Detection of mycotoxins in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Brewer JH, Thrasher JD, Straus DC, Madison RA, Hooper D. Toxins (Basel). 2013 Apr 11;5(4):605-17. doi: 10.3390/toxins5040605.
Sick building syndrome (SBS) and exposure to water-damaged buildings: time series study, clinical trial and mechanisms.Shoemaker RC, House DE.Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2006 Sep-Oct;28(5):573-88. Epub 2006 Aug 7.
The full text of the first article Cort cited can be found here:
“Dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome and vaccination as risk factors for chronic fatigue syndrome.”: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568997218302660?via%3Dihub
I just found black mold in the corners of my bedroom after removing some acoustic panels.
Oh mercy! I’m afraid to even learn all the mold info. My partner spent most of his savings paying off his now older mobile home before I ever moved up here. I’ve lived here almost 11 years. In spite of having the roof repaired twice, we still have leaks that show up as large stains on the ceiling. I go around spraying a product (Concrobium Mold Control; maybe bought on Amazon or Lowe’s) that’s non-toxic and works by breaking the cells permanently; a coating remains over the mold . The only place I can actually SEE mold is a small amount under the sink area, which I’ve sprayed, but who knows what lurks above the ceiling stains!? Nothing we can really do financially. My CFS/ME/FMS symptoms have not changed since moving up here, certainly haven’t worsened due to ability to rest when necessary because we’re retired on Social Security. In some ways I’m better, for which I’m grateful.
I am glad they are presenting this mold summit. Thanks, Cort, for making us aware and providing registration link!
I signed up for the listen free Mold Summit a month ago. I have received many promo emails but have not received an email giving me access now that it is on. I’m frustrated because I havemissed the monday talk. Please help thank you. Lydia MacLear 561-972-7744
Heartfelt thank you for posting and offering this! This Summit is necessary and should be part of all doctors,researchers, ect.. and the public to be aware of educational wise! Onwards in health all!
Toxic Mold mania still exists? I am not sick from toxic mold, though it was in my house. I have a mast cell disorder, eds, pots and etc. The mold may have triggered but my doctor thinks pregnancy probably triggered an autoimmune proclivity. More than likely my brain coupled (brain) and coupled and coupled because that is what it does. Why is Neil Nathan and other mold doctors finding brain retraining to be so helpful? Due to so much autoimmune activity, I will hopefully start sub-q IG. Toxic Mold mania created more trauma for me and ramped up my nervous system causing way more damage probably from ramped up sympathetic nervous system, low toned vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system and out of control limbic system. I needed to get out of it but I didn’t need to become part of a community feeding trauma. I am now settled in a dry western US state, glad I made the move and really really for not just sanity but for physical health need to avoid mold avoidance, groups, summits.
http://www.survivingmold.com/
Mold Warriors by Dr Ritchie Shoemaker
Gateway Press 2005
Chapt. 23
Mold at Ground Zero for CFS
History Doesn’t Remember the Names of the Critics
The history of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) begins in Incline Village, Nevada in 1985. In the medical history of CFS, each of the concepts applies–failed theories and failed criticism.
One victim, Erik Johnson, told everyone who would listen that mold was a cause of CFS. He came up with his theory at the wrong time in the politics of medical opinion, as a unknown viral cause was blamed instead. Johnson tried repeatedly to get the attention of leading CFS researchers then and now to look at what he knew about mold sensitivity. None of the heralded CFS researchers would listen.
Twenty years passed before Erik’s mold opinions were vindicated. I wasn’t in Incline Village; I have no idea what really happened there.
I don’t see any proof that anyone recorded a biotoxin history. Was mold the problem? One part of the problem? Did the virus of Incline Village unveil mold susceptibility? No one can say now.
Erik remains upset that his ideas weren’t respected. I haven’t heard the Incline Village story from the side of the docs involved. From what I’ve seen, physicians like Dr Peterson and Dr Cheney remained true to a standard of high-quality, compassionate, ethical care.
Erik raises some important points, however. There’s never any time that we can afford to ignore insights from those who have a valid experiential basis for their opinion.