Mold Illness: Why It Makes Some People Sick, and What Recovery Involves
Mold illness is what happens when the toxins from mold in a damp building build up faster than your body can clear them. Not everyone in the building is affected. In my experience the difference is usually in the gut, and in how well the body’s routes for clearing toxins are working.
How I think about mold illness
Mold was one of my own root causes, and it is the one I see most often in the people I coach. It rarely arrives alone. It tends to come with histamine reactions, SIBO that keeps returning and fatigue.
Getting away from the source comes first. After that the body has to deal with what it has stored, which is why people often feel worse before they feel better. I work on digestion and bile before any detox, because that is how most toxins leave. If you are still living in mold, or you have severe symptoms, involve your doctor and deal with the building.
Articles on mold illness
- Mold Illness
Why Does Mold Make Some People Sick and Not Others?
The part your gut microbiome plays in coping with mold, and how I rebuild it.
Read the article - Mold Illness
Feeling Worse After Leaving Mold? What Happens When You Move Out
The three phases I see after people move out, and why symptoms can return.
Read the article - Mold Illness
Mold and SIBO: Why Mold Exposure Can Keep SIBO Coming Back
Mold toxins act like antibiotics and leave through the gut. What that means for SIBO.
Read the article
- Why Detox Makes You Feel Worse, and Why It Starts in the Gut
Four reasons digestion comes first, and the step to take before any detox.
- How I Healed MCAS: Finding What Was Irritating My Mast Cells
What my mast cells were reacting to, and how I helped my body clear it.
Questions I am often asked
Why does mold make some people ill and not others?
In my experience the difference is usually in the gut. A healthy microbiome and good bile flow help the body deal with mold toxins. When they are compromised, the toxins build up.
Is it normal to feel worse after leaving a moldy home?
It is common. Once the exposure stops, the body starts to release what it has stored, and symptoms can return for a while.
Where do I start with mold recovery?
With the source: you need to be out of the exposure. Then I work on digestion and bile, so that the body can clear what it has stored.
Before any detox, check how your digestion is working.
Most toxins leave the body through the gut. The free Gut Health Quiz shows which part of yours needs support. If you want help with your own situation, book a consultation.
I’m a coach, not a medical doctor. This page shares my experience and what I see with the clients I coach. It is for education only and is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Speak to your doctor before changing medication or if your symptoms are severe or new.