CLEANING UP THE HOME FROM MOULD
Mould biotoxin illness (also known as CIRS - Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) is a major health issue. Public awareness of the problem has increased in recent months following the tragic case of the death of a two year old from prolonged mould exposure in a Rochdale flat.The medical literature on mould illness suggests that a quarter of the population may have a genetic flaw that prevents them from fully clearing mould biotoxins from the body. That is a sizeable portion of the population.
Remove ongoing mould exposure: Many people are familiar with the pioneering research of Dr Ritchie Shoemaker, and his 12 step protocol for recovery from mould. Whatever programme you follow (and there is more than one) the first step should always be to remove the ongoing mould exposure. This means that the exposure must first be identified. Usually it is in the home, but may also be at work or in the car. Although mould accounts for 80% of biotoxin exposure, it is important to realise that potential exposures can include toxic byproducts from infections like Lyme, Actinomyces (in dental infections) and others. If the person remains in a mouldy environment, inflammation will continue to be triggered by an immune system under threat.
Plug the leak: A common source of mould issues in the home is water damage to a building. Mould growing in visible or hidden areas means there is some form of uncontrolled water intrusion in the structure. Whether it is a leak, soil infiltration, condensation from different temperatures, or poor ventilation, mould growth signals some sort of water damage. Uncontrolled moisture interacting with building materials produces viruses, bacteria, fungus, dust mites, and toxins which are harmful to human health. The first step is to contact a builder to identify and stop ongoing water damage and carry out the necessary remedial work.
Mould testing: A test commonly referred to as an ERMI (Environmental Relative Mouldiness Index) is the optimal test for this.A positive ERMI score for someone with a diagnosis of CIRS or genetic susceptibility to mould, is defined as above 2. Specialist mould testing firms in the UK include: Building Forensics and Moldscope.
Home cleaning strategies: Selling up and leaving a water damaged home is simply not an option for most people.Therefore, affordable ways to clean up a home from mould are essential. The list of mould busters below has been compiled with the help of a knowledgeable and enterprising patient who has done a lot of research into how to reduce mould in the home following remedial work.
EC3 Mould Solution Concentrate
*They also do a spray so you don't have to dilute!!
From my own research, I would add:
Propolair diffuser (Ki Science or IP-Roco) - use for 24 hours in each room in the house. Hoover floor after use.
After you have gotten mould in the home under control, the next step is to remove mould from your body. This is particularly important if you are genetically predisposed to mould biotoxins or suffering from chronic infections like Lyme, Epstein Barr Virus, Coxsackievirus and other stealth infections. A new very useful blood test (the ToxiPlex Test) will soon be available from Armin Labs to test directly for the presence of five common mycotoxins.
If you feel that mould could be making you sick, please contact the Good Health Clinic on goodhealthclinic@outlook.com to request a free 30 minute Enquiry Call or book an initial appointment.