(Some reminders are worth repeating so I am running this reminder about where mold hides in our lives.)
Mold Detox Can Be Challenging
Caring for patients with mold toxicity can be a challenging task, faced with not just body-problems but problems in their environments. In caring for their bodies and the symptoms they are experiencing, we have to turn down inflammation, remove toxins, restore function that has been lost, and more. These steps take time and expertise and patience for all involved, but all of this work can be thwarted by inattention to the details of removing mold from the patient’s environment.
Another challenge is that I’m not a remediator and won’t be directly involved in the work to remediate my patient’s home. I won’t be coming to inspect a home. I won’t be ripping out drywall. I won’t be testing suspected areas for mold. I won’t be putting drywall back up. Those are not my areas of specialty, and I will leave that work to those who are certified and trained.
From A Doctor’s Viewpoint
However, in caring for hundreds of patients with mold toxicity and interacting with their stories of mold exposure, I can provide an experienced viewpoint on how to make a living environment safe for recovery from mold toxicity. From a medical doctor’s viewpoint, I can advise patients on where to look for mold in all the right places. Sometimes, I have little to add, as a remediator clearly has the situation under control. Other times, I encourage patients to press their remediator for a little more poking around, a little more caution and a little more diligence to be sure the mold is gone.
Here are a few of the primary locations our patients have found mold growing in large enough amounts to affect their health:
Big Picture (Obvious but worth double-checking):
- Crawlspaces
- Basements
- Attics
- Under sinks
Factors to Remember:
- Poor yard sloping that brings water into crawlspaces
- Poor drainage system around landscaping
- Poorly sealed water lines or other lines coming into basement or crawlspace
- Inadequately sealed exterior of foundation
- Inadequately conditioned crawlspaces which allow moisture to accumulate and prevent dehumidification
- Improper ventilation of room vents into attic rather than through roof
- Improperly installed plumbing for sinks, bathrooms, laundry, and dishwashers
- Improper clothes dryer ventilation with lint and moisture buildup
- Upright clothes washer with mold growing inside
- Accidental plumbing leaks from nails and screws through walls into pipes
- Moisture condensation on cool surfaces of vents or other surfaces
- Improper ventilation and insulation that allows condensation of water behind walls
- Inadequate caulking around windows or flashing
- Storm damage for roofs or around chimneys
- Excessive water splashing in bathrooms around tubs or showers
- Poorly installed shower tiles or inserts
- Animal intrusions into HVACs and crawlspaces
- Improperly sized HVAC units which accumulate moisture and dust
- Not keeping HVAC ducts clean with filters and annual inspections
Other Random Places:
- Vehicles
- Workplaces
- Church
- Schools
- Big Box Stores
- Old books or water damaged books
Conclusions
In helping our patients think through and follow through on removing mold from their environments, walking through these possibilities is critical for their future healthier, more abundant life.
Other Mold Articles:
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
Dr. Eric Potter graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and then went on to specialize in internal medicine (adult) and pediatric care, spending significant time and effort in growing his medical understanding while caring for patients from all walks of life.
