Mycotoxins 101: Testing and Treating Mold Toxicity Naturally

What Mold Might Be Doing to Your Body—and How to Get It Out

When most people think about mold, they imagine a patch on the wall or a smell in a damp basement. But for many, the issue runs much deeper—into the immune system, nervous system, hormones, and even brain function. This is where mycotoxins, the toxic byproducts of mold, come in.

In functional medicine, we often find mold toxicity—especially from hidden water damage—to be a root cause of chronic symptoms that conventional medicine struggles to explain. The fatigue, headaches, anxiety, or gut issues you’ve been dealing with for years may not be “just stress”—they may be your immune system responding to a biotoxin overload.

What Are Mycotoxins?

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds released by mold species like Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Stachybotrys (often called black mold). These toxins are incredibly small, fat-soluble, and easily absorbed through the lungs, skin, or digestive tract.

Common sources of exposure include:

• Water-damaged homes or buildings (especially after leaks, floods, or poor ventilation)

• HVAC systems, carpets, and drywall that trap moisture

• Contaminated foods such as grains, coffee, and dried fruit

Once inside the body, mycotoxins can trigger inflammation, suppress immune function, disrupt hormones, and impair cellular energy. Because of their small size and chemical makeup, they tend to linger and accumulate—especially in people who have trouble detoxing efficiently.

The Potential Disease Load: A Hidden Epidemic

According to data from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), nearly 50% of buildings in the United States have some form of water damage. Additionally, around 25% of the population has a genetic susceptibility to biotoxin accumulation—including mycotoxins, bacterial endotoxins, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by molds and other microbes.

If 25% of people have the genetic risk, and 50% of buildings provide exposure, mold toxicity and chronic biotoxin illness could represent an unrecognized public health crisis.

These environmental toxins can trigger a condition known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)—a complex, multi-system illness marked by ongoing immune system activation. Over time, this chronic inflammation can spill over into the adaptive immune system, increasing the risk of autoimmune diseases such as:

• Hypothyroidism (especially Hashimoto’s)

• Gluten-related disorders (including Celiac disease)

• Lupus

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

While large-scale population studies are still lacking, the clinical burden is significant—and growing.

What’s So Bad About a Little Mold?

Mold itself isn’t the only issue—it’s what comes with it. Just 48 hours after a water leak, buildings with modern materials like drywall and composite wood begin to grow more than just mold: bacteria, VOCs, microbial fragments, and submicroscopic toxins are released into the air, forming a biotoxin cloud.

This cloud can include:

• Mycotoxins

• Microbial VOCs (volatile organic compounds)

• Mold spores and hyphal fragments

• Bacterial endotoxins

• Cell wall components like beta-glucans and mannans

• Nano-sized particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs

These particles are incredibly small—some less than 0.4 microns—and weigh as little as 40–1000 Daltons. To put this in perspective, their size and behavior in air is comparable to cigarette smoke. Like smoke, this toxic cloud can linger in buildings long after the source has been removed, and can invisibly activate the innate immune system, driving widespread inflammation.

Symptoms of Mold Toxicity

Because mold and mycotoxins affect so many systems in the body, symptoms are often misdiagnosed or dismissed.

Common symptoms include:

• Fatigue that is persistent and unrelieved by rest

• Brain fog, poor memory, and difficulty concentrating

• Headaches, migraines, or facial pressure

• Sinus congestion or post-nasal drip

• Skin rashes, eczema, hives, or itching

• Hormonal imbalances and menstrual irregularities

• Anxiety, mood swings, or unexplained irritability

• Sensitivity to smells, lights, or chemicals

• Dizziness or vertigo

• Frequent urination and excessive thirst

• Cold hands and feet, temperature intolerance

• Feeling worse in certain buildings or damp weather

These symptoms often appear together, fluctuate, and can mimic conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, histamine intolerance, mast cell activation, or autoimmune disease.

Testing for Mold and Mycotoxins

Functional medicine uses a combination of targeted lab testing and symptom mapping to identify mold-related illness.

1. Urine Mycotoxin Testing
Detects specific mycotoxins being excreted in urine.
Popular labs include: Mosaic Diagnostics (Great Plains), Vibrant Wellness, and RealTime Labs.

2. Organic Acids Test (OAT)
Evaluates fungal overgrowth in the gut, mitochondrial function, detox markers, and related nutrient deficiencies.

3. Blood Markers for Chronic Inflammation
Includes TGF-beta1, MMP-9, VEGF, C4a, and C3a. These can help assess immune system dysregulation, but are not mold-specific.

4. Environmental Testing (ERMI, HERTSMI-2)
Dust and air testing in the home can confirm whether you are still being exposed to harmful mold species.

Treating Mold Toxicity Naturally: A Phased Functional Medicine Approach

Step 1: Remove Ongoing Exposure
The first and most important step is getting out of the exposure. This may involve:

• Moving out or professionally remediating the building

• Using HEPA and activated carbon air filters

• Reducing indoor humidity below 50%

• Sealing off contaminated areas

Step 2: Open Drainage and Detox Pathways
Before introducing detox agents, the body’s elimination pathways must be supported.

• Support liver and bile flow with bitter herbs

• Ensure daily bowel movements

• Use castor oil packs, dry brushing, and sauna for lymphatic support

Step 3: Introduce Targeted Binders
Binders trap toxins in the GI tract to prevent reabsorption.
Examples include:

• Activated charcoal

• Bentonite clay

• Zeolite

• Chlorella

• Modified citrus pectin

Step 4: Support Mitochondria and Immune Function
Mycotoxins impair energy production and immune regulation.
Key supports may include:

• Glutathione or NAC

• CoQ10, magnesium, and B-complex

• Omega-3 fatty acids and anti-inflammatory herbs

Step 5: Calm the Nervous System
Many mold-affected individuals are stuck in fight-or-flight due to limbic and vagus nerve activation.
Tools for healing include:

• Breathwork, somatic therapy, limbic retraining

• Gentle movement and structured rest

• Light exposure and circadian rhythm balancing

Conclusion: You’re Not Crazy, and You’re Not Alone

Mold toxicity is real, measurable, and treatable—but it often goes unrecognized. If your symptoms are mysterious, cyclic, and multi-system, and you feel worse in certain environments, it’s worth exploring this as a root cause.

Functional medicine allows us to look deeper—at both your environment and your biology—to craft a personalized healing plan that supports every phase of recovery.