The Toxic Effects of Fungal Exposure

Once you are tested and diagnosed with mycotoxicosis, then what? Try to assess the extent your the fungal infection and how impaired you are (if any). Learning as much as you can is exceptionally important, as most physicians are inexperienced in dealing with this mold illnesses.

Finding legitimate information will help you in understanding your symptoms, figuring out what to do about your moldy environment, and finding effective treatments and life-style changes. If you are suffering from mental fog or brain-related symptoms, ask a family member or friend to be your advocate. Communicating through email, discussion or Facebook groups will provide both information and support.

Fungi have long been known to affect human well being in various ways, including disease of essential crop plants, decay of stored foods with possible concomitant production of mycotoxins, superficial and systemic infection of human tissues, and disease associated with immune stimulation such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and toxic pneumonitis. The spores of a large number of important fungi are less than 5 µm aerodynamic diameter, and therefore are able to enter the lungs. They also may contain significant amounts of mycotoxins.  Diseases associated with inhalation of fungal spores can include toxic pneumonitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, tremors, chronic fatigue syndrome, kidney failure, and cancer.

Exposure to molds has become a significant health risk to an increasing number of workers in various occupations throughout the nations. Fungal antigens are able to cause occupational asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS).  In recent years, an increasing incidence of mold-induced diseases has been encountered in mold contaminated water-damaged buildings. This problem occurs in both homes and workplaces. Symptomatic persons occupying moisture problem buildings may develop asthma, rhinitis and ODTS.

Many allergists, often obsolete on today’s changing medicine and the new tests that are available to determine pathogenic mold and often mistake it for allergies since they are easily disguised to the unskilled eye.  There are, however, distinct initial differences due to inhalation of these mycotoxins can have such a profound shock on the body,  and mounting evidence to back up the fact that there is a direct correlation to other serious illnesses. The difference between a good physician and an inept one is one who will listen intently to what you are saying and ask questions, rather than write prescriptions for symptoms and not hear what you fully have say as far as what the underlying cause may be.

Mold Implicated in Diseases

When the World Health Organization recently convened, Dr. A.V. Costantini, head of the organization and an internist who modestly claims to be a “just a country doctor,” listed fourteen diseases wherein fungal (mold & Candida Albicans) forms of microorganisms that have been found implicated in atherosclerosis, cancer, AIDS, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, systemic lupus, erythematosus, gout, Crohn’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, hyperactivity syndrome, infertility, psoriasis, cirrhosis of the liver, Alzheimer’s disease, Scleroderma, Raynaud’s Disease, sarcoidosis, kidney stones, amyloidosis, vasculitis, and Cushing’s disease. Even most antifungals will not control most cases of Candida, as several unnamed species of Candida have recently been introduced from Africa and Asia, and antifungals and cholestyramine do not treat them effectively alone.

Dr. Costantini believes that the concept of  “auto-immune” diseases contains a fatal flaw, because no successful species can develop a system of defense which attacks itself. Antibodies that are measured in the blood stream and which imply an autoimmune condition are actually antibodies against ubiquitin, a substance that is present in many species including that of fungi.

According to Dr. Costantini, when antifungal and anti-mycoplasmic treatments are used to treat various so-called auto-immune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and lichen sclerosis, the disease can possibly be halted. However, many species have become so virulent that treatment may often have to be combined with diet, vitamin/enzymes, and other non-traditional treatments.  There have also been questions lately as to whether nano bacteria has been playing into the picture, as many patients have been having relapses due to a balance of fungi and bacteria in the body that existed before infection occurred.

Lovastatin, Griseofulvin, Ketoconazole, Neomycin, Fibrates, Tetracycline and others are traditional drugs that have also been effective against Lupus. However, these should all be administered by a health professional, with due consideration for their adverse effects, including that of killing off beneficial microbes, lactobacillus acidophilus, in the intestinal tract.

Mold and Food

Growth of commonly occurring filamentous fungi in foods may result in production of toxins known as mycotoxins, which can cause a variety of ill effects in humans from allergic responses to immuno-suppression and cancer. The most dangerous mycotoxins are aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, trichothecenes and zearalenone, a toxin known for causing infertility and endometriosis. Aflatoxins are potent carcinogens and, in association with hepatitis B virus, are responsible for many thousands of human deaths per annum, mostly in non-industrialized tropical countries.  Ochratoxin A is a carcinogen, and has caused urinary tract cancer and kidney damage in people from northern and eastern Europe.  Fumonisins appear to be the cause of esophageal cancer in southern Africa, parts of China and elsewhere. Trichothecenes are highly immunosuppressive and zearalenone causes estrogenic effects in animals and man (see hidden mold for more information).

The important thing is to study these after-effects of fungal exposure and understand the symptoms.  Furthermore, using a doctor (pharmadoc) unfamiliar with fungal infections can be very dangerous in your diagnosis and treatment. Finding a genuine (truly skilled, educated and unbiased) doctor with a whole array of healing options is very important. See medicine and doctors for further information regarding the insight of a medical degree and awareness of the drug industry influence on naive doctors.

Removing Mold is More Than a Good Cleaning!

One of the delusions in much of current medicine is that mold is merely fixed by general cleaning, cholestyramine, or antifungal. Some forget that in ancient times indoor mold was seen as very dangerous and not merely to be ignored, trivialized or painted over (Book of Leviticus). It is stunning to see so many neurologists, family doctors, internists, and psychiatrists that are unaware of how serious indoor mold can be. It is a profound source of diverse types of illnesses that can effect every organ.  But, always be aware of the pharmaceutical industry and their financial influence on physicians.

Many of the symptoms are due to enzyme, mineral, lipid, and vitamin suppression.  It is amazing what nutriceuticals can do to relieve these symptoms in their entirety.  This is the main reason Pharmadocs don’t understand this illness, nor know how to treat it.  This is another environmental illness that has exposed the drug companies for what they are; chemical producers who “temporarily treat” symptoms to retain patronage and not cure effectively. This is one reason that you should never trust a publication, medical paper, or website that has been “sponsored” by drug companies, as they are biased, untrustworthy, and prey on trust and ignorance.  Mold-Help will never sell out to these highly unethical organizations so we can publish the truth, without influence.

By Susan Lillard-Roberts

Author: Carolyn Willbanks