Mold Related Illness Support

Root cause medicine is the heart of naturopathic care. At Amber Wellness Group we aim to delve deep, get answers, and support you in every capacity that we can. In some cases, when we’ve done all the “right” things, but still see people struggling; then we have to dig deeper. One of these more common root causes is mold exposure and mycotoxins. This is a complex situation which requires skilled assessment and treatment. This webpage is laid out to assist you in digging in on this vast and complex process.

There are so many things to LOVE about the climate that we live in and the beauty of the nature around us here in the Pacific Northwest. We definitely have the rain and moisture to thank for all this amazing greenery we so appreciate every day. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of molds and fungi that thrive in this same moist environment. In a healthy and dynamic system (like in the forest) those fungi are an important part of maintaining a balanced ecosystem. But when there is mold or fungus thriving in your home or water damaged building that is your workplace, there is nothing to keep the mold in check. Without remediation, the mold will continue to grow and produce unhealthy levels of mycotoxins.When your body is out of balance, stressed, and having to process high levels of mycotoxins (mold toxins) in your living or work environment, many health-related issues can arise.

Some of the Common health conditions related to mycotoxins are

  • Seasonal allergies
  • Asthma
  • Eczema
  • Hives
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Insomnia
  • Digestive complaints

If mold is something you suspect to be a concern with your current health picture, let us help you determine if it needs to be addressed. You can start by taking our Mycotoxin quiz here.

One important step in determining your exposures to molds and mycotoxins are through testing. This includes testing yourself and your environment. You can start the process by doing some of this yourself, having a visit with one of the AWG providers to order the urine test, or you can have the amazing team at Kester Clear Environmental Solutions do the home testing for you.

The steps to testing include:

  • Visual contrast test – online screen for presence of environmental toxins
  • MycoTOX urine test – if you “fail” the VCS test above, this is the next step
  • ERMI (environmental relative moldy index) – settled dust testing
  • EMMA (environmental mold & mycotoxin assessment) – dust sample or filter sample testing
If you can see visible mold in your home, along window sills, under sinks, embedded in the bathroom tile, for example, then you definitely need to clean up and remove those spots. We’ve detailed some effective ways to lighten your moldy load below. Please remember that even if mold is not visible to the naked eye, it still can be present and causing problems.

Environment clean up:

  • For visible mold (please wear gloves and a mask):
    • 50/50 vinegar/water solution
    • Any natural product with thymol in it (like this one)
    • Ammonia 409
    • Do NOT use bleach
  • Keep humidity below 45-50% in areas of concern
    • A dehumidifier is one way to control humidity levels. This article compares and rates the top 3 of 2024.
  • If you’ve tested positive but have no visible exposures, it’s best to reach out to a professional. We recommend Kester Clear Environmental Solutions.
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