For those not aware of our Mold Symptom Therapy Guide website, let this “Rewriting Mold” series serve as a reminder of both what we offer our patients and what we offer the general public in terms of understanding mold toxicity illness. Over the coming weeks, I will be reviewing and reposting sections of our Mold Symptoms Therapy website one or two at a time. It has been over 3 years since I first wrote this 30 plus page guide and posted it online. A few things have changed since 2020 (yes, an understatement), but the basic principles emphasized in 2020 continue with minimal change.
As this provides me an opportunity to update any advancements, it also offers the opportunity for you to ask questions and even contribute to edition number 2 of the Mold Guide. By leaving comments and questions, I can identify areas where I can offer even more to patients and the public in terms of education and empowerment over mold. Please take 2-3 minutes to be a part of helping others restore healthier more abundant lives with your questions and feedback. You can leave comments on Facebook or our website not only for each week’s section, but any section off the website which I have not addressed yet.
This Week: Mold and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
Many mold toxic patients suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS), although mold toxins aren’t the only trigger. In this condition, a wide variety of normally benign environmental substances trigger excessive symptoms. This may include inhaled substances, ingested substances, or skin absorbed substances. Foods, essential oils, fragrances, and more may trigger a huge variety of symptoms.
People suffering from MCS report a wide range of symptoms. Sometimes it can be sinus/respiratory symptoms that feel like allergies. Sometimes it can be a headache, either migraine or sinus type headache. Sometimes, it can be a rash or hives. At other times, it can be much more debilitating symptoms like syncope, dizziness, panic attacks, or just about any other symptom. Initially, the symptom responses may not be with every single exposure to that trigger, but over time, the frequency and severity usually increase.
The number of possible triggers often grows over time. When this includes various foods, even eating can be nerve-racking. When this includes inhaled chemicals, a trip to a grocery store or any retail store can leave one in fear. In the worst cases, the triggers can also be unpredictable from day to day. That really leaves the person hypervigilant to not get exposed once again.
This condition can be debilitating as it often prevents patients from leaving their home or entering buildings with high fragrance loads such as shopping areas. A full consideration is beyond the scope of this guide but is at least partially related to mast cell activation syndrome/disorder (MCAS/MCAD). In MCAD, the immune cell called the mast cell overresponds to various stimuli resulting in inflammatory or allergic symptoms. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity may work through this or other mechanisms.
TAKE HOME POINTS
Mold toxicity can trigger Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
A wide variety of other chemicals in the environment can trigger a variety of symptoms
Sinus/respiratory
Neurologic
Pain
Rash or Hives
More severe symptoms
Sometimes debilitating
Number of triggers often grows over time
Can be related and cross over with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome/Disease (MCAS or MCAD)
Full MCAS explanation beyond scope of this article
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.
