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drlaurynlax · 5 years
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How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials
    So you have mold illness or CIRS…now what?!
  Sure, Dr. Google and Facebook groups can be helpful, but face it…when it comes to mold illness and mold illness recovery, the information can be completely overwhelming!
  Do you have to get rid of all your stuff?
What supplements should you take?
Do you need to move to a dry climate like Arizona or Colorado?
Should you just live in a bubble?!
  Although there is NO one-size-fits-all approach to healing and mold illness recovery, there are several commonalities in helpful therapies, lifestyle changes and treatments that can help you kick mold illness to the curb (for good), including:
  Top 12 Mold Illness Treatments
  Remove yourself from mold exposure
Breathe deeply
Marie Kondo your life
Build a capsule wardrobe
Fog & guard your new environment wisely
Sweat daily
Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods
Love your gut microbiome & liver
Use the right detox binder
Add in anti-fungals (oral and nasal) to treat mold that may have colonized in your body
Purify your air
Surround yourself with positive energy
  Check ‘em out.
    Remove yourself from mold exposure
First things first, you’ve got to get out of there. Healing cannot fully begin until you’re removed from the environment.
  Whether that means going to stay with family, a friend, moving to a mold-free environment, or working remotely, you will not feel the full effects of your treatment protocol until you are free from the space.
  Even if you are remediating your home, a short-term hiatus from the mold free environment is essential.
  Breathe deeply
  Breath has the power to both calm and stimulate the HPA Axis (stress response system).
  What happens to your breath when you run fast or get scared OR come into contact with mycotoxins? Your breathing rate increases (hello shortness of breath, panting and gasping for air or common). On the flip-side, what happens to your breath when you’re calm and at peace? It’s steady, deep and calm as well. Many of us are breathing the wrong way, which sets you up for problems with metabolism, blood pH, core function, and how much blood is getting to your brain and muscles, which allows cortisol to stay elevated.
    Common signs of dysfunctional breathing include:
  Inhaling with your chest. If you notice your chest is the first thing to move when you take a breath, this is a sign you have shallow breath or you’re breathing from the upper chest.
  Your rib cage doesn’t expand. Place your hands on the sides of your rib cage and take note. Your hands should move to the side about one to two inches as your rib cage widens.
  Breathing with your mouth. Unless you have congestion, ideally you should be breathing through your nose. Breathing through your nose releases nitric oxide that is carried to your lungs and helps maintain homeostasis in the rest of the body.
  Tight shoulders and upper neck/chest muscles. Tension in these areas may be a sign of shallow or stressed breathing.
  Frequent yawning. Sighing and yawning is a sign your body is not receiving enough oxygen.
  High resting breath rate. Count the number of times you breathe in one minute. A normal resting breath rate should be no greater than 10-12 breaths per minute—and sometimes as low as 6 to 8 breaths if you are deep breathing. A resting breath rate over 12 is a sign of quick or shallow breathing.
  You are activating your diaphragm when you breathe.
  If you experience any of these signs of dysfunctional breathing, it’s imperative to first train your body to simply breathe correctly.  Given that CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) is highly connected to cortisol (stress hormone) imbalances, the art of breathing is your innate “stress response” fire extinguisher.
  How to Breathe Deeply
  Balloon Breathing
Train yourself how to start breathing correctly. You can do this by blowing up balloons, pursing your lips, taking deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth while doing planking exercises, contracting your abs as you breathe, sitting upright when you work and decreasing shoulder movement during breathing.
  Tempo Breathing (a.k.a “4-7-8 breathing”). Place tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue behind the upper front teeth. Quietly inhale through your nose then audibly exhale through the mouth, inhale for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of 7, and then exhale through your mouth, making an ocean-wave-like sound for a count of 8. Repeat this cycle three times.
  Belly Breathe. Take a deep breath and focus on expanding your belly, rather than your chest. Watch your belly fill up as you breathe in and flatten as you breathe out.
  Breath Walk: Synchronize your breathing with walking steps and focused attention.
  Box Breathe: Close your mouth and slowly breathe in through your nose for four counts. Hold your breath for four seconds. Then slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of four. Hold the exhale for another four counts. Aim to repeat for four minutes.
  Yogi Breathing
This tactic is particularly useful as an “in the moment” tool when HPA Axis symptoms or stress arise.
How to Do It:
Lay on your back, completely flat
Inhale through your right nostril for 10 counts, while closing your left nostril with your finger
Exhale through your left nostril for 10 counts, while closing your right nostril with your finger
Keep your mouth closed, or lips pursed
Repeat for 5-6 cycles
    Marie Kondo your life
Get rid of (most) of it. Make Marie Kondo, author of the “Magic Art of Tidying Up” proud.
  If it doesn’t “spark joy”, toss it.
  And, chances are, if you are truly struggling with mold illness, many of your things will NOT “spark joy.”
  Sometimes the best bet for at least the current situation is to “leave it behind.” While it may seem or feel extreme (like a fire happened), to help calm your body and mind for the immediate healing period, a break from not only your environment but also the items that smell like that environment can be a healing part of your process.
  In my own experience, I found that the more I kept or tried to hold on to, the more I realized how much those things impacted my symptoms. Starting fresh (see point 4) was difficult to swallow at first, but the more I focused on rebuilding my life slowly, the less overwhelm and attachment I had to my stuff.
  Initially, I did a huge closet sweep—throwing most of my clothes into trash sacks and taking them to a local Goodwill and resale shop where individually, the items would not be as strong. I also left my furniture behind and bags—my suitcases, purses, backpack—things that had been living and breathing mycotoxins in my home.
  I tried to salvage the little things, however, of the things I did keep, it didn’t take long for me to decide the majority of it, I wanted to give away.
  From my leather Kate Spade purse with the tags still on it, to my yoga mat, my makeup and makeup bag, my occupational therapy grad school books, my hair dryer and my Benji (my stuffed dog I had had since I was 4 years old)—all of it smelled like mold and must. Once I was removed from my home, all I wanted was my health and breath back.
  Yes, I thought it sounded extreme too, but holding on to old stuff only weighed me down more. I found, as I gradually let even these things go, the more freedom I felt and ability to start new—from the inside out.
    Items to Toss or Store (for a long time)
Some of the “top” most-contaminated items include porous or “soft” items to not think too hard about:
  Books (especially opened books)
Clothing (primarily items that are dry clean only, and those items that have been hanging in your closet unworn or collecting dust for a long time)—other clothing may be redeemable, however, not optimal
Backpacks, purses, suitcases—things exposed to mycotoxins in the environment (they will most likely smell like the home as you leave)
Opened makeup and makeup bags
Vented items (your hairdryer, fans)
Upholstery (couches, curtains, rugs)
Chairs with cloth or padding
Linens, towels, pillows & blankets
Wood furniture
Papers (if needed: Store them loosely in plastic bins until a decision can be made at a later date)
Appliances (Refrigerators, washers, and dryers harbor dust in their coils and fans and are difficult to clean. Spores and spore fragments easily attach to washing machine parts)
Laptop computers (the fans in the computer can pick up mycotoxins; *if ridding of your this is not easy, look into selling back your machine or trading it in to the store, or using it outside of your new, clean environment to avoid cross-contamination)
  Given the fibers in these materials, they have a tendency to “soak up” the mycotoxins in the environment.
  Items to Possibly “Save”
Some items can be salvaged—particularly the hard-surfaced items that get a good fogging (point 5), including:
  Some clothing (see clothing exceptions below)
Sentimental stuffed animals (if laundered like your clothing)
Leather (furniture, bags, shoes) (Use quaternary cleaners on leather)
Lamps (not the shades)
Kitchenware (non bamboo)—plates, pans, pots, silverware, etc.
Non-porous surfaces (able to clean well)—such as that plastic waste bin or desk
Anything made of ceramic, glass or metal
Your car (yes some folks get rid of their’s; Hybridrasta Mama has a great post https://hybridrastamama.com/how-to-remove-mold-in-cars/ about mold remediation in your car).
    “But it sounds so extreme…”
  Just breathe. No one is holding a gun to your head to get rid of everything, and little official long term research has been conducted either way revealing whether or not mold contaminated items can make you ill again upon preexposure after healing.
  Ultimately, you may have to find out for yourself what you can and cannot tolerate, and perhaps, more than anything, time away from your contaminated items can help you strengthen your body from the inside out—and also realize…it’s all just stuff. Stuff is helpful for doing some things in life, but we come into this world bald, curled up and naked, and leave it bald, curled up and naked…and we take nothing with us. In other words: It can be replaced.
  If the idea of tossing everything out is devastating, recruit a cleaning company, family member or friend to box things up for you, or wear protective clothing (here) and a nose and mouth mask to put things into bins, large plastic bags or trash sacks to store away while you remove yourself to heal. This also may mean renting a storage facility for a period or storing your items in a family member’s garage. If you’re going to the trouble of moving away from a toxic environment, don’t apologize for being “extreme.” Do what you need to do to break free, allow for healing to occur and then decide what to keep or toss (chances are, you may realize you can live without it).
    Clothing Exceptions
You can clean some things—particularly the machine washable items that have been regular circulators in your clothing rotation (not the items that have been hanging in your closet for a year).
  Use EC3 Laundry Additive on these items, and wash through 2 to 3 cycles, dry and also place in the sun (natural ozone helps kill off mycotoxins). Homemade Hack: You can also use a combination of Borax and white vinegar as your “detergent”.
  What about other items I may keep…Do I literally have to clean everything in my house (i.e. plastic storage containers, books, toiletries, candles, knickknacks, canned food etc) or just the major things like clothing and furniture?
  Yes, everything. I love the whole EC3 line—their concentrate, spray, laundry additive and candles.
  Build a capsule wardrobe
Speaking of Marie Kondo, no time like the present to simplify your wardrobe! Out with the old, in with the new. A capsule wardrobe is a “minimalist’s dream”—filled with only the essentials needed to make dressing easy, classy and vogue.
  Most minimalist fashionistas advise you build your wardrobe on no more than 30 to 40 “staple” pieces (or less) for every 3 months of the year (seasons)— including clothes, jewelry, accessories and shoes. (This excludes underwear, loungewear, and workout wear).
  A capsule wardrobe may entail:
5-7 basic tops
Simple v-neck white tee
Simple black tee
Button up Chambray
5-7 trendy fun tops
5-7 bottoms
1-2 pairs of denim jeans
1 pair white pants
1 pair black pants
1-2 skirts
1-2 dresses
3 Jackets
Classy blazer
Bomber jacket
Hoodie
Shoes (seasonal)
Sneakers
Gold strappy sandals
Flats
Brown boots
Booties
Jewelry & Accessories
Pair stud earrings & hoops
Gold necklace
Bracelet
Sunglasses
Watch
Classic Tote
  How to Start Your Capsule Wardrobe
Pare down your closet to no more than 50 items (ideally: 35-40; excluding underwear, workout wear and lounge wear)
Wear only those 35-50 items for three months.
Don’t go shopping during the season until…
During the last two weeks of the season, plan and shop for your next capsule.
The amount you buy for the next capsule is up to you (you can recycle some from the previous capsule).
Remember: less is more.
  Fog & guard your new environment wisely
As you transition into your new environment, it’s uber important to prevent cross contamination from your old place.
  No, you cannot live in a bubble, but “proper” transition practices can keep your new place (and you) mycotoxin free. This was a huge mistake I made when moving out of my home initially. Although I left most of my things behind, I did trek in my daily use items that I did not think twice about including:
  My backpack
Purse
Tenni shoes I wore daily
My pillow
A sweatshirt
Makeup bag
Hairdryer
  The “little stuff” can add up if you are super sensitive and it’s best to quarantine most all items from the old place into a separate plastic bin or large trash sacks (closed tightly) and store them in a place like a garage in order to mindfully discard contaminated items.
  You can try salvaging some things with an at home fogging machine, as well as use your fogging machine with EC3 solution concentrate in it to spray and disinfect your new place.
  I recommend the Longray Basic ULV Fogger with Adjustable Flow & Flex-Hose and EC3 solution. All you have to do is pour the desired amount of EC3 solution + distilled water (see back of the bottle to measure) into the fogger, then turn the fogger on the medium pressure intensity and spray every nook, cranny, and item you have to make them (more) “mold free”.
  Sweat daily
Sweat helps detox and push impurities out of the body. Some options include:
  Infrared sauna (3-4 times per week for 15 minutes)
Heated yoga
Fresh air & sunshine
Energizing workouts (not chronic cardio; the “just right” challenge for 30-45 minutes, doing something you enjoy)
Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods
Let food be thy medicine. Optimize your detoxification pathways and energy levels by focusing on the foundations, while avoiding foods that leave you (and your gut health) down.
  Eat
Organic pastured proteins: chicken, beef, eggs, bison, wild-caught fish
Dark leafy greens
Fungal fighting foods, including:
Prebiotic Fibers: Carrots, Rutabaga, Onions, Garlic, Raidsh
Spices & herbs: Cayenne, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger Root, Clove, Goldenseal, Olive leaf, Tea trea
Lemon & Lime
Manuka raw honey
Coconut oil (caprylic acid)
Papya seeds
Teas: Green tea, dandelion tea, Pau d’Arco
Other colorful, low starch veggies: broccoli, spinach, summer squash, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, arugula, chard, cucumber, bell peppers, tomato (fresh only), leeks, asparagus, artichokes, seaweed
Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, coconut milk, ghee, avocado, organic butter, pumpkin seeds, flax
Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, coconut kefir/yogurt, fermented pickled veggies (Contrary to popular belief, eating fermented foods regularly can support the immune system and prevent the invasion and spread of yeasts or fungal infection. Consume 1-2 medicinal doses daily if tolerated).
Apple cider vinegar
Bone & meat broth. Bone broth is a rich source of collagen, which supports the integrity of the gut lining.
Pastured organ meats. Liver, heart, tongue, kidney; Or, quality grass-fed supplement (like this one by Ancestral Supplements).
Filtered water
Other beverages: Herbal teas, mineral water, fresh veggie juice, coconut milk
  The bottom line: Eat fresh foods as much as possible. (Hint: Buy the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and foods and buy in smaller quantities vs. having items in your refrigerator for weeks)
  Avoid
Molds thrive on sugar and anything that is not fresh or aged. Mold-loving foods including:
Cheese
High mold nuts: peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, brazil nuts
High amounts of high starch vegetables and legumes: sweet corn, potatoes, beans and peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, turnips, parsnips (stick to 1-2 servings per day)
Dried fruits
Alcohol
Instant coffee & non-organic, conventional coffees (i.e. Starbucks, Folgers)
Sugar & artificial sweeteners
Corn
Wheat
Seed oils: cottonseed, grapeseed, canola
Processed and smoked meats: sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, pastrami, smoked fish, ham, bacon.
Packaged & processed foods
Canned beans, soups & ready-made sauces
5+ day old produce
Edible fungi: including all types of mushrooms and truffles (cordyceps & reishi supplements ok)
Leftovers beyond 2-3 days. While some molds you can see (like the fuzzy green mold on breads), others are not so noticeable. A good rule of thumb for leftovers is a two-day rule (one is better).
    Love your gut microbiome & liver
Your gut is the gateway to health, and your liver is your body’s “master” detoxifier. If one or both of these two systems are down, then you (and your immune system) are more susceptible to molds and the effects of mycotoxins on your health.
  Although many mold sufferers will tell you that 25% of the population has a specific gene (the HLA-DR gene) that makes them more susceptible to mold illness, this is only part of the story.
  Genes load the gun, but environment, lifestyle and your gut microbiome pull the trigger. Disease genes cannot be turned on unless these other factors are at play.
  Given the fact that mycotoxin exposure can wreak havoc on your total health—particularly your gut health— by eliminating beneficial bacteria, by focusing on optimizing your gut health you will give those mycotoxins a run for their money. Research shows the gut microbiota is capable of eliminating mycotoxin from the host naturally, provided that the host is healthy with a balance gut microbiota (1).
  A few essentials for optimizing gut and liver health include:
  Perform at-home gut testing (Figure out what’s going on in your gut with a comprehensive gut test)
  Take a quality probiotic (like this one) and prebiotic fiber (1 tsp.) (like this one)
  Boost stomach acid & digestive enzymes (add 1 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar to 2-4 oz. of water and 1-2 capsules digestive enzymes with meals)
  Eat 1-2 fermented foods daily and 1-2 servings of prebiotic fiber in your diet
Working with a practitioner to safely and effectively cleanse your gut with anti-microbial, anti-fungal herbs if you find a gut “issue” present
  Use the right anti-fungal and binder for your mold illness
  Using anti-fungal herbs and medicines are a common approach for treating a person with mold illness or mold-related issues (like candida) to directly kill molds, candida and yeast in your body. Conventional doctors may prescribe pharmaceuticals like Nystatin or Diflucan, and holistic practitioners may integrate herbs via supplements and foods.
  However there are a few of catches:
  #1. Anti-fungal treatment must be customized
You must know which molds you have so you can be on the right anti-fungals to treat them—this may entail either prescription medications by a medical doctor or herbal anti-fungals via supplements and foods. It’s important to work with a skilled practitioner who understands mycotoxin illness, CIRS and detoxification in order to implement the right approach for your body.
  Natural anti-fungals may include one or a blend of the following:
Lauricidin (monolaurin)
Pau D’Arco Extract (bark)
Cat’s Claw
Caprylic Acid
Uva Ursi
Grapefruit seed extract
Garlic (Allicin)
Tea tree
Oregano
Dill
Cloves
Black walnut
Oregon grape
  #2. Anti-fungals are BEST used orally and nasally (sinus spray)
To effectively treat mold illness, you also must treat every single place that mold can be settled in and growing. Since molds grow in moist, warm cavities (think mouth, nose/sinus and gut), using both oral and nasal antifungals yields the best results.
  One of my favorite anti-fungals is the CitriDrops by Microbalance. You can also make your own nasal anti-fungal wash at home using garlic cloves and probiotics.
  Homemade Nasal Anti-fungal Wash for Mold Illness Recovery
  [RHEA: CAN YOU MAKE THIS A TEXT BOX/GRAPHIC IN THE MIDDLE?)
Ingredients & supplies
A neti pot.
Non-iodized sea salt.
Filtered water (not tap water).
A clove of fresh garlic.
A strainer.
2 probiotic capsules
  Directions
Get used to the Netipot. Use the neti pot as usual for a few days. (Instructions should come with the pot). Dissolve the correct amount of salt into lukewarm filtered water (not tap water), and then pour the solution through one nostril while tilting your head.  When done correctly, the water will flow up into the sinuses, and then down and out the other nostril.
Add in garlic + probiotics. Chop the clove of garlic & place the garlic in a strainer. Make sure that NONE of the garlic pieces can fit through the holes in the strainer (you don’t want bits of garlic in your sinuses).  Pour filtered boiling water over the garlic (through the strainer) and into a cup. Let the mix cool until it is lukewarm. Add your 2 probiotic capsules and stir into the water, then pour the lukewarm infusion into your neti pot. Add salt as usual (make sure to use the correct amount), and follow the standard method for using a neti pot. The only difference is that the water has been infused with garlic and probiotics.
  #3. Anti-fungals are useless without a binder or bio-film disruptor
When mold starts to die during the treatment, your body needs to eliminate the dead molds, yeast and released toxins. If the amount of toxins released by the dying candida is more than what your body can safely handle, you may experience a healing crisis (also known as a “herx”, “healing” or “die off” reaction). Common symptoms may include GI or other ill-feeling symptoms, such as nausea, fever, joint and muscle aches, skin breakouts and headaches. A “herx” reaction typically means your body’s usual rhythms are being recalibrated, and last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
  For this reason, a quality detoxification binder and biofilm disruptor (along with emphasis on optimizing gut health and liver function in point 8) is recommended to assist in elimination pathways.
  Binder 101
A binder is a compound that helps grab the mold and pull it out of your body. Commonly used binders include:
  Coconut Charcoal
Benedite Clay
Chlorella
Modified Citrus Pectin
Pyrophyllite clay
Cholestyramine (CSM, a prescription)
  Not all binders are created equal, and it’s most beneficial to know the type of mold you have in your body (using a test like the Great Plains Mycotoxin Test) to choose the best binder for you, since certain species are more susceptible to some more than others. Results from the test will also show which binders are most appropriate for you.
  If you are not sure of your particular mold species, I find that a broad spectrum binder like GI Detox by Biocidin or Chlorella tablets are gentle but effective (without too much constipation).
  Note: If you tend towards constipation, binders—particularly charcoal—can make you feel more constipated. Constipation busting “hacks” include: digestive bitters (like Iberogast), Liposomal Vitamin C and Magnesium Citrate like Natural Calm.
  Biofilm Disruptor 101
Biofilm disruptors help ensure both your anti-fungals and binders can work in the first place. Molds often create a glue-like matrix around themselves to protect themselves. Sure, you can take anti-fungals and binders to treat them, but if you can’t “break” into the molds, than you won’t get them out.  Biofilm disruptors  hack through the goo and allow the anti-fungals to reach the fungi and kill the mold.
Recommendation:
Interfase Plus (2-3, in between meals, 2 times per day) –OR–
Biocidin Drops (2-3, 2 times per day)
  Stress (your brain) less
With soooo many steps, therapies and treatments, mold illness recovery can be overwhelming. Not only was living in mold stressful on your health (mentally and physically), but so is recovery!
  That said, the name of the game of winning victory over mold illness is actively and intentionally seeking to stress less—physically and mentally. Since inflammatory cytokines are the key drivers of mold illness symptoms, then stress management is essential for recovery including:
  Quality sleep (7-9 hours)
Natural fresh air (daily)
Daily movement
Eating a nutrient-dense whole foods diet
Drinking clean filtered water
Minimizing screen and light exposure at night
Rewiring your brain and limbic system
  Limbic System 101
There’s a theory in the CIRS and mold illness world that the limbic system—your body’s “stress” system intertwined with memories—is hyper functioning.
  After mold illness, your body stores deep rooted memories of smells, environments, circumstances and can easily sound the “alarm” for the body to react in a myriad of ways when any similar or familiar memory is aroused—such as the smell of must in a different environment.
  In my own recovery, I personally struggled with sleeping in a bed again—I had “PTSD” like symptoms after my experience of waking up at 2 a.m. feeling like I was having a heart attack due to the chronic mold exposure and the asthma-like symptoms it gave me. I spent the next 3 months without a home, couch surfing from friend’s home to friend’s home, and not feeling comfortable back in a bed—where my previous two years of living in that environment came to a head.
  I literally had to tell my body, “It’s ok,” and my body had to tell me back, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
  Limbic system “retraining” involves actively retraining neural pathways to think, act and believe differently. It is inspired by a woman named Annie Hopper who recovered herself from her own chronic mystery illness, similar to CIRS and mold illness.
  Purify your air
Air quality matters—especially in your new environment. Air purifiers with HEPA and charcoal filters can help keep mycotoxins at bay and keep you breathing clean air as you “start over.” Like most things in the health and wellness world, not all air purifiers are created equal.
Don’t waste your money at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond. Most models on their sales floors are not the quality grade you (and your home) need—similar to how that $10 probiotic at Target is not the same as a quality probiotic that actually delivers the ingredients on the label to your gut.
  My top recommendations for a quality air filter include:
  Austin Air: The Bedroom Machine
Austin Air: Healthmate Junior Plus
Air Doctor
  I keep a big guy (like the Bedroom Machine) in the home to filter the whole house, and smaller units—like the Healthmate Junior or Air Doctor—in my bedroom.
  In addition, if you want to take things to the next level, an Air Ozone Generator can aid in ozonating your space for cleaner, fresher and disinfected air.
  You don’t have to go overboard, but investing in a couple units can help you breathe easier indoors—since we spend the majority of our time (about 22-23 hours daily) inside!
  Surround yourself with positive energy
Last, but definitely not least…mold recovery can not only be stressful, but also draining and sometimes, negative.
  If you’ve ever found yourself on an endless Facebook group for CIRS or mold illness recovery survivors, you know what I mean.
  One thing can lead to another, and before you realize it, you believe you have cancer or you’ll never recover.
  No matter what beliefs you have right now about your personal illness and recovery, know this:
  When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.
  Repeat: When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.
  You will recover. Speak truth into your body. Lean in. Seek to nourish your mind, body and soul. And believe freedom and healing is possible.
  There was a time you were not ill, and there will be a time again.
  I believe it, do you? If not, let me help you.
  Liew WP, Mohd-Redzwan S. Mycotoxin: Its Impact on Gut Health and Microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Feb 26;8:60. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00060. PubMed PMID: 29535978; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5834427.
The post How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials appeared first on Meet Dr. Lauryn.
Source/Repost=> https://drlauryn.com/wellness-knowledge/how-to-treat-get-rid-of-cirs/ ** Dr. Lauryn Lax __Nutrition. Therapy. Functional Medicine ** https://drlauryn.com/
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adrianners · 6 years
Text
hi I’m crying and I need more to drink
Here we go again. I’m having an Abita Andygator to start because post-Mardi Gras sale at the grocery store. Commence crying under the cut.
Deniss always makes me so nervous. He can be clean, so-so, or splat, and it’s hard to tell what’s going to happen until he’s out there. It was... splat-ish, but upper 70s TES is nothing to sneeze at. I just hope he cleans up overall in the next couple of years. Some of those Lambiel moves need a little more intention behind them. (We totally can’t tell I’ve got twelve years of dance training to like three of skating, yeah?) Aw, Stephane is happy! More dressed up today too! 155 isn’t bad, all things considered.
Matteo just does not inhabit this program at all. He skates like his music could be anything, and you can’t do that if you’re going to use something this iconic. The wonderful snappiness he brought to the step sequence is what we needed all the way through. That said, it’s always good to see a clean program in these early groups.
Oh, Paul. I have not seen this program before. That is too damn on the nose. No chainmail on Olympic ice, please. He has such lovely musicality, though, he can alllllllmost sell it. Almost.
Sigh. You know on Han’s first fall that there’s going to be more, you know it, but it still hurts to watch. It’s good to see him smiling, and I hope everybody threw him lots of money.
Keiji! C’mon, kiddo! He had some rough moments, but he recovered so much better than at the team event. I definitely think it works out to a net good for skaters, especially those more in the middle of the pack who need to shake off their nerves before the individual events.
I’m not quite sitting in disapproving silence this time, Morisi, but I’m still not happy with being exposed to Imagine Dragons. Oh jeez, he is out of steam at the halfway point. Four falls, christ. Hm, I know he’s pale in general, but he doesn’t look well in the k&c. Maybe illness is what’s going on there.
Group 2! Still nursing the Andygator. I really hope those roars for Nathan give him the energy to get through this cleanly. He can easily get back into the top 10 if he stays calm, but this whole ordeal seems to have shaken him badly.
Alexei continues to be so damn solid. I don’t follow him closely enough to know if he’s said anything concrete about retirement at this point, but if he’s done after this season what a fucking way to go out. I mean, I gotta stan for guys about my age who are still in the game. It’s law.
That’s gotta feel good for Daniel after SA and not making the free at Euros. New SB and a solid placement just behind Bychenko!
Okay, kiddo, breathe. You got this. (Also, this new costume? I like it. I get what it’s doing, and it works.) THERE HE IS! THERE! HE! IS! A short program like that and he ALMOST BROKE THREE HUNDRED ANYWAY! I couldn’t have handled it if he had to leave these games without a clean program, and then HE! DID! THAT!
Sure, the Meditation is a warhorse, but it is also the best thing ever and Misha can do whatever he wants and I’m still crying.
Costume trend that needs to stop: Vaguely skin-toned gloves that aren’t integrated into the costume. They are a good safety idea! Now let’s make ‘em pretty! And Junhwan, honey, how do you see with your hair like that? Wonderful for him to have a solid showing across the board for the home audience. “Young and charming skater” indeed! Thumbs up to whoever threw that.
I know I’m a weirdo who loves Division Bell, but I’d really like to see skaters going for more interesting Pink Floyd options now that vocals are allowed. Brendan is such a good sport. Eighth so far is not bad at all! Very nice PCS there.
[Resurfacing break. Have been neglecting the beer. Yes, two hours later and I’m still on the same one. Gonna finish it and make a screwdriver.]
Jorik. Aranjuez? Srsly? Always good to see a solid program, but argh.
It’s got to be intimidating to go out there and do a Chaplin program the day after Javi did That. Keegan is such a showman. I find the mime a little overly theatrical, but that’s subjective. Nice redemption in the second half for that first popped Axel! Wasn’t perfect, but he should be happy with that performance. New SB!
Vincent, even you can’t make me not hate Moulin Rouge. I hate Moulin Rouge (and all jukebox musicals) so fucking much. But you, kiddo, are incredible, and this is just the beginning. I’m anticipating that initial TES to take a nosedive after review, but goddamn, child. More experience, more conditioning, the landings will flow better, and that PCS is gonna skyrocket.
I hope the energy in the arena gives Mikhail what he needs to make this clean. It just didn’t happen for him, but he hung in there and got himself into 3rd so far. The same program won’t let him skim by so well next year with the -5 GOE, and quad jumpers need to be thinking about that now.
Zach is super into Rag’n’Bone Man, so Michal’s program is a treat. Again, this is the kind of boldness in music choice I want to see more! Michal should be pretty happy with that performance.
Here! He! Is! I liked the glowy bird costume from the team event, dammit. He is serenity personified. Oh, sweetie, that look at the judges before the end, you absolute diva, how I adore you. Like the Shibs, he makes me willing to endure Coldplay. Yet again, I want that PCS higher just for avant-garde points. If not over 90, muuuuuch closer to it. But he’ll be in the top ten no matter what, and that’s a hell of a thing for no quads and only one 3A and one 3Lz.
Gonna use the 6-minute to make one last drink. This time vodka and Ikea elderflower drink concentrate, because that’s where I am this evening. It needs all that sweet tempered with tonic water, but I’m out. And also I’m out of, like, everything boozy because I dumped it all in my tea Monday and Tuesday.
Dark horse Dmitri time! He held it together despite that rough start. Looks like he’s favoring his hip on the way off the ice. That was one hell of a splat right onto it. It must be so much pressure, coming in at fifth when nobody expected you to.
TIME FOR STAR WARS! Oh man, what a great program. I need Boyang to skate forever. He’s so happy with that! I’m just not gonna say anything about anybody’s podium chances or what would have to happen for X, Y, and Z to be possible, but it was an incredibly strong performance other than the fall, and he came back from that beautifully. Look at you, guaranteed top five at the Olympics!
You know what? Patrick is allowed Hallelujah. Pretty much nobody else in the history of skating was (certainly nobody who dared use the Pentatonix version), but Patrick? Do it, man. I am gonna miss you. This is going to be a really beautiful top 10.
FUCK FSLIVE JUST GOT YANKED. I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did, tbh. Bless you, SYWTWFS, for keeping that masterlist of links at the top of your Twitter tonight. I was hooked back up to Match Arena before Patrick got his scores. The backup stream doesn’t have the same quality by a long shot, but at least it’s there and I don’t have to endure NBC.
SEIMEI! HERE WE GO! YES! It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t have to be! Looks like Boyang has him beat in TES, but that PCS had better be astronomical. Lol, he needs 180 to lead. Oh man, I didn’t even think about Brian not being in the K&C.
Like Patrick, Javi is one of the only skaters allowed this otherwise warhorse that I never want to hear again on the ice or in vocal recitals. Needs 210 to lead. Not out of his reach if this goes well! ...and with that pop, it may not happen. Still, he’s so goddamn beautiful right now. JAVI, BABY, YOU’VE GOT YOUR MEDAL!
Blurandot is back! Go, baby! Cantilever of triumph! Again, that fall and those weak landings mean coaches and skaters need to be thinking about next season and whether these quads are worth the potential cost if they can fall below clean triples (as it should be, tbh). AND THAT’S THE SILVER! Oh god, Mihoko looks over the moon and our baby just looks sleepy.
TWO-TIME CONSECUTIVE OLYMPIC CHAMPION! FIRST FIGURE SKATING MEDAL IN HISTORY FOR SPAIN! Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson are having a wonderful night.
All in all, that’s about the top 10 I imagined, but not at all how I thought they’d get there. I never dared make predictions for the podium beyond a desperate hope that Yuzu would see his way back to gold, and! He! Did! Through the magic of Seimei!
Match Arena, you bastards, you give me all the skating and the moment you choose to cut away is the goddamn Soohorang ceremony????? We couldn’t have just a few more minutes before... idk, what that was, luge or skeleton?
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brian-cdates · 5 years
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How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials
So you have mold illness or CIRS…now what?!
Sure, Dr. Google and Facebook groups can be helpful, but face it…when it comes to mold illness and mold illness recovery, the information can be completely overwhelming!
Do you have to get rid of all your stuff?
What supplements should you take?
Do you need to move to a dry climate like Arizona or Colorado?
Should you just live in a bubble?!
Although there is NO one-size-fits-all approach to healing and mold illness recovery, there are several commonalities in helpful therapies, lifestyle changes and treatments that can help you kick mold illness to the curb (for good), including:
Top 12 Mold Illness Treatments
Remove yourself from mold exposure
Breathe deeply
Marie Kondo your life
Build a capsule wardrobe
Fog & guard your new environment wisely
Sweat daily
Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods
Love your gut microbiome & liver
Use the right detox binder
Add in anti-fungals (oral and nasal) to treat mold that may have colonized in your body
Purify your air
Surround yourself with positive energy
  Check ‘em out.
  Remove yourself from mold exposure
First things first, you’ve got to get out of there. Healing cannot fully begin until you’re removed from the environment.
Whether that means going to stay with family, a friend, moving to a mold-free environment, or working remotely, you will not feel the full effects of your treatment protocol until you are free from the space.
Even if you are remediating your home, a short-term hiatus from the mold free environment is essential.
Breathe deeply
  Breath has the power to both calm and stimulate the HPA Axis (stress response system).
What happens to your breath when you run fast or get scared OR come into contact with mycotoxins? Your breathing rate increases (hello shortness of breath, panting and gasping for air or common). On the flip-side, what happens to your breath when you’re calm and at peace? It’s steady, deep and calm as well. Many of us are breathing the wrong way, which sets you up for problems with metabolism, blood pH, core function, and how much blood is getting to your brain and muscles, which allows cortisol to stay elevated.
  Common signs of dysfunctional breathing include:
Inhaling with your chest. If you notice your chest is the first thing to move when you take a breath, this is a sign you have shallow breath or you’re breathing from the upper chest.
  Your rib cage doesn’t expand. Place your hands on the sides of your rib cage and take note. Your hands should move to the side about one to two inches as your rib cage widens.
Breathing with your mouth. Unless you have congestion, ideally you should be breathing through your nose. Breathing through your nose releases nitric oxide that is carried to your lungs and helps maintain homeostasis in the rest of the body.
  Tight shoulders and upper neck/chest muscles. Tension in these areas may be a sign of shallow or stressed breathing.
Frequent yawning. Sighing and yawning is a sign your body is not receiving enough oxygen.
  High resting breath rate. Count the number of times you breathe in one minute. A normal resting breath rate should be no greater than 10-12 breaths per minute—and sometimes as low as 6 to 8 breaths if you are deep breathing. A resting breath rate over 12 is a sign of quick or shallow breathing.
You are activating your diaphragm when you breathe.
  If you experience any of these signs of dysfunctional breathing, it’s imperative to first train your body to simply breathe correctly.  Given that CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) is highly connected to cortisol (stress hormone) imbalances, the art of breathing is your innate “stress response” fire extinguisher.
How to Breathe Deeply
Balloon Breathing
Train yourself how to start breathing correctly. You can do this by blowing up balloons, pursing your lips, taking deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth while doing planking exercises, contracting your abs as you breathe, sitting upright when you work and decreasing shoulder movement during breathing.
Tempo Breathing (a.k.a “4-7-8 breathing”). Place tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue behind the upper front teeth. Quietly inhale through your nose then audibly exhale through the mouth, inhale for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of 7, and then exhale through your mouth, making an ocean-wave-like sound for a count of 8. Repeat this cycle three times.
Belly Breathe. Take a deep breath and focus on expanding your belly, rather than your chest. Watch your belly fill up as you breathe in and flatten as you breathe out.
Breath Walk: Synchronize your breathing with walking steps and focused attention.
Box Breathe: Close your mouth and slowly breathe in through your nose for four counts. Hold your breath for four seconds. Then slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of four. Hold the exhale for another four counts. Aim to repeat for four minutes.
Yogi Breathing
This tactic is particularly useful as an “in the moment” tool when HPA Axis symptoms or stress arise.
How to Do It:
Lay on your back, completely flat
Inhale through your right nostril for 10 counts, while closing your left nostril with your finger
Exhale through your left nostril for 10 counts, while closing your right nostril with your finger
Keep your mouth closed, or lips pursed
Repeat for 5-6 cycles
  Marie Kondo your life
Get rid of (most) of it. Make Marie Kondo, author of the “Magic Art of Tidying Up” proud.
If it doesn’t “spark joy”, toss it.
And, chances are, if you are truly struggling with mold illness, many of your things will NOT “spark joy.”
Sometimes the best bet for at least the current situation is to “leave it behind.” While it may seem or feel extreme (like a fire happened), to help calm your body and mind for the immediate healing period, a break from not only your environment but also the items that smell like that environment can be a healing part of your process.
In my own experience, I found that the more I kept or tried to hold on to, the more I realized how much those things impacted my symptoms. Starting fresh (see point 4) was difficult to swallow at first, but the more I focused on rebuilding my life slowly, the less overwhelm and attachment I had to my stuff.
Initially, I did a huge closet sweep—throwing most of my clothes into trash sacks and taking them to a local Goodwill and resale shop where individually, the items would not be as strong. I also left my furniture behind and bags—my suitcases, purses, backpack—things that had been living and breathing mycotoxins in my home.
I tried to salvage the little things, however, of the things I did keep, it didn’t take long for me to decide the majority of it, I wanted to give away.
From my leather Kate Spade purse with the tags still on it, to my yoga mat, my makeup and makeup bag, my occupational therapy grad school books, my hair dryer and my Benji (my stuffed dog I had had since I was 4 years old)—all of it smelled like mold and must. Once I was removed from my home, all I wanted was my health and breath back.
Yes, I thought it sounded extreme too, but holding on to old stuff only weighed me down more. I found, as I gradually let even these things go, the more freedom I felt and ability to start new—from the inside out.
  Items to Toss or Store (for a long time)
Some of the “top” most-contaminated items include porous or “soft” items to not think too hard about:
Books (especially opened books)
Clothing (primarily items that are dry clean only, and those items that have been hanging in your closet unworn or collecting dust for a long time)—other clothing may be redeemable, however, not optimal
Backpacks, purses, suitcases—things exposed to mycotoxins in the environment (they will most likely smell like the home as you leave)
Opened makeup and makeup bags
Vented items (your hairdryer, fans)
Upholstery (couches, curtains, rugs)
Chairs with cloth or padding
Linens, towels, pillows & blankets
Wood furniture
Papers (if needed: Store them loosely in plastic bins until a decision can be made at a later date)
Appliances (Refrigerators, washers, and dryers harbor dust in their coils and fans and are difficult to clean. Spores and spore fragments easily attach to washing machine parts)
Laptop computers (the fans in the computer can pick up mycotoxins; *if ridding of your this is not easy, look into selling back your machine or trading it in to the store, or using it outside of your new, clean environment to avoid cross-contamination)
  Given the fibers in these materials, they have a tendency to “soak up” the mycotoxins in the environment.
Items to Possibly “Save”
Some items can be salvaged—particularly the hard-surfaced items that get a good fogging (point 5), including:
Some clothing (see clothing exceptions below)
Sentimental stuffed animals (if laundered like your clothing)
Leather (furniture, bags, shoes) (Use quaternary cleaners on leather)
Lamps (not the shades)
Kitchenware (non bamboo)—plates, pans, pots, silverware, etc.
Non-porous surfaces (able to clean well)—such as that plastic waste bin or desk
Anything made of ceramic, glass or metal
Your car (yes some folks get rid of their’s; Hybridrasta Mama has a great post https://hybridrastamama.com/how-to-remove-mold-in-cars/ about mold remediation in your car).
  “But it sounds so extreme…”
Just breathe. No one is holding a gun to your head to get rid of everything, and little official long term research has been conducted either way revealing whether or not mold contaminated items can make you ill again upon preexposure after healing.
Ultimately, you may have to find out for yourself what you can and cannot tolerate, and perhaps, more than anything, time away from your contaminated items can help you strengthen your body from the inside out—and also realize…it’s all just stuff. Stuff is helpful for doing some things in life, but we come into this world bald, curled up and naked, and leave it bald, curled up and naked…and we take nothing with us. In other words: It can be replaced.
If the idea of tossing everything out is devastating, recruit a cleaning company, family member or friend to box things up for you, or wear protective clothing (here) and a nose and mouth mask to put things into bins, large plastic bags or trash sacks to store away while you remove yourself to heal. This also may mean renting a storage facility for a period or storing your items in a family member’s garage. If you’re going to the trouble of moving away from a toxic environment, don’t apologize for being “extreme.” Do what you need to do to break free, allow for healing to occur and then decide what to keep or toss (chances are, you may realize you can live without it).
  Clothing Exceptions
You can clean some things—particularly the machine washable items that have been regular circulators in your clothing rotation (not the items that have been hanging in your closet for a year).
Use EC3 Laundry Additive on these items, and wash through 2 to 3 cycles, dry and also place in the sun (natural ozone helps kill off mycotoxins). Homemade Hack: You can also use a combination of Borax and white vinegar as your “detergent”.
What about other items I may keep…Do I literally have to clean everything in my house (i.e. plastic storage containers, books, toiletries, candles, knickknacks, canned food etc) or just the major things like clothing and furniture?
Yes, everything. I love the whole EC3 line—their concentrate, spray, laundry additive and candles.
Build a capsule wardrobe
Speaking of Marie Kondo, no time like the present to simplify your wardrobe! Out with the old, in with the new. A capsule wardrobe is a “minimalist’s dream”—filled with only the essentials needed to make dressing easy, classy and vogue.
Most minimalist fashionistas advise you build your wardrobe on no more than 30 to 40 “staple” pieces (or less) for every 3 months of the year (seasons)— including clothes, jewelry, accessories and shoes. (This excludes underwear, loungewear, and workout wear).
A capsule wardrobe may entail:
5-7 basic tops
Simple v-neck white tee
Simple black tee
Button up Chambray
5-7 trendy fun tops
5-7 bottoms
1-2 pairs of denim jeans
1 pair white pants
1 pair black pants
1-2 skirts
1-2 dresses
3 Jackets
Classy blazer
Bomber jacket
Hoodie
Shoes (seasonal)
Sneakers
Gold strappy sandals
Flats
Brown boots
Booties
Jewelry & Accessories
Pair stud earrings & hoops
Gold necklace
Bracelet
Sunglasses
Watch
Classic Tote
How to Start Your Capsule Wardrobe
Pare down your closet to no more than 50 items (ideally: 35-40; excluding underwear, workout wear and lounge wear)
Wear only those 35-50 items for three months.
Don’t go shopping during the season until…
During the last two weeks of the season, plan and shop for your next capsule.
The amount you buy for the next capsule is up to you (you can recycle some from the previous capsule).
Remember: less is more.
Fog & guard your new environment wisely
As you transition into your new environment, it’s uber important to prevent cross contamination from your old place.
No, you cannot live in a bubble, but “proper” transition practices can keep your new place (and you) mycotoxin free. This was a huge mistake I made when moving out of my home initially. Although I left most of my things behind, I did trek in my daily use items that I did not think twice about including:
My backpack
Purse
Tenni shoes I wore daily
My pillow
A sweatshirt
Makeup bag
Hairdryer
  The “little stuff” can add up if you are super sensitive and it’s best to quarantine most all items from the old place into a separate plastic bin or large trash sacks (closed tightly) and store them in a place like a garage in order to mindfully discard contaminated items.
You can try salvaging some things with an at home fogging machine, as well as use your fogging machine with EC3 solution concentrate in it to spray and disinfect your new place.
I recommend the Longray Basic ULV Fogger with Adjustable Flow & Flex-Hose and EC3 solution. All you have to do is pour the desired amount of EC3 solution + distilled water (see back of the bottle to measure) into the fogger, then turn the fogger on the medium pressure intensity and spray every nook, cranny, and item you have to make them (more) “mold free”.
Sweat daily
Sweat helps detox and push impurities out of the body. Some options include:
Infrared sauna (3-4 times per week for 15 minutes)
Heated yoga
Fresh air & sunshine
Energizing workouts (not chronic cardio; the “just right” challenge for 30-45 minutes, doing something you enjoy)
Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods
Let food be thy medicine. Optimize your detoxification pathways and energy levels by focusing on the foundations, while avoiding foods that leave you (and your gut health) down.
Eat
Organic pastured proteins: chicken, beef, eggs, bison, wild-caught fish
Dark leafy greens
Fungal fighting foods, including:
Prebiotic Fibers: Carrots, Rutabaga, Onions, Garlic, Raidsh
Spices & herbs: Cayenne, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger Root, Clove, Goldenseal, Olive leaf, Tea trea
Lemon & Lime
Manuka raw honey
Coconut oil (caprylic acid)
Papya seeds
Teas: Green tea, dandelion tea, Pau d’Arco
Other colorful, low starch veggies: broccoli, spinach, summer squash, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, arugula, chard, cucumber, bell peppers, tomato (fresh only), leeks, asparagus, artichokes, seaweed
Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, coconut milk, ghee, avocado, organic butter, pumpkin seeds, flax
Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, coconut kefir/yogurt, fermented pickled veggies (Contrary to popular belief, eating fermented foods regularly can support the immune system and prevent the invasion and spread of yeasts or fungal infection. Consume 1-2 medicinal doses daily if tolerated).
Apple cider vinegar
Bone & meat broth. Bone broth is a rich source of collagen, which supports the integrity of the gut lining.
Pastured organ meats. Liver, heart, tongue, kidney; Or, quality grass-fed supplement (like this one by Ancestral Supplements).
Filtered water
Other beverages: Herbal teas, mineral water, fresh veggie juice, coconut milk
The bottom line: Eat fresh foods as much as possible. (Hint: Buy the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and foods and buy in smaller quantities vs. having items in your refrigerator for weeks)
Avoid
Molds thrive on sugar and anything that is not fresh or aged. Mold-loving foods including:
Cheese
High mold nuts: peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, brazil nuts
High amounts of high starch vegetables and legumes: sweet corn, potatoes, beans and peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, turnips, parsnips (stick to 1-2 servings per day)
Dried fruits
Alcohol
Instant coffee & non-organic, conventional coffees (i.e. Starbucks, Folgers)
Sugar & artificial sweeteners
Corn
Wheat
Seed oils: cottonseed, grapeseed, canola
Processed and smoked meats: sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, pastrami, smoked fish, ham, bacon.
Packaged & processed foods
Canned beans, soups & ready-made sauces
5+ day old produce
Edible fungi: including all types of mushrooms and truffles (cordyceps & reishi supplements ok)
Leftovers beyond 2-3 days. While some molds you can see (like the fuzzy green mold on breads), others are not so noticeable. A good rule of thumb for leftovers is a two-day rule (one is better).
Love your gut microbiome & liver
Your gut is the gateway to health, and your liver is your body’s “master” detoxifier. If one or both of these two systems are down, then you (and your immune system) are more susceptible to molds and the effects of mycotoxins on your health.
Although many mold sufferers will tell you that 25% of the population has a specific gene (the HLA-DR gene) that makes them more susceptible to mold illness, this is only part of the story.
Genes load the gun, but environment, lifestyle and your gut microbiome pull the trigger. Disease genes cannot be turned on unless these other factors are at play.
Given the fact that mycotoxin exposure can wreak havoc on your total health—particularly your gut health— by eliminating beneficial bacteria, by focusing on optimizing your gut health you will give those mycotoxins a run for their money. Research shows the gut microbiota is capable of eliminating mycotoxin from the host naturally, provided that the host is healthy with a balance gut microbiota (1).
A few essentials for optimizing gut and liver health include:
Perform at-home gut testing (Figure out what’s going on in your gut with a comprehensive gut test)
  Take a quality probiotic (like this one) and prebiotic fiber (1 tsp.) (like this one)
Boost stomach acid & digestive enzymes (add 1 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar to 2-4 oz. of water and 1-2 capsules digestive enzymes with meals)
  Eat 1-2 fermented foods daily and 1-2 servings of prebiotic fiber in your diet
Working with a practitioner to safely and effectively cleanse your gut with anti-microbial, anti-fungal herbs if you find a gut “issue” present
Use the right anti-fungal and binder for your mold illness
Using anti-fungal herbs and medicines are a common approach for treating a person with mold illness or mold-related issues (like candida) to directly kill molds, candida and yeast in your body. Conventional doctors may prescribe pharmaceuticals like Nystatin or Diflucan, and holistic practitioners may integrate herbs via supplements and foods.
However there are a few of catches:
#1. Anti-fungal treatment must be customized
You must know which molds you have so you can be on the right anti-fungals to treat them—this may entail either prescription medications by a medical doctor or herbal anti-fungals via supplements and foods. It’s important to work with a skilled practitioner who understands mycotoxin illness, CIRS and detoxification in order to implement the right approach for your body.
Natural anti-fungals may include one or a blend of the following:
Lauricidin (monolaurin)
Pau D’Arco Extract (bark)
Cat’s Claw
Caprylic Acid
Uva Ursi
Grapefruit seed extract
Garlic (Allicin)
Tea tree
Oregano
Dill
Cloves
Black walnut
Oregon grape
#2. Anti-fungals are BEST used orally and nasally (sinus spray)
To effectively treat mold illness, you also must treat every single place that mold can be settled in and growing. Since molds grow in moist, warm cavities (think mouth, nose/sinus and gut), using both oral and nasal antifungals yields the best results.
One of my favorite anti-fungals is the CitriDrops by Microbalance. You can also make your own nasal anti-fungal wash at home using garlic cloves and probiotics.
Homemade Nasal Anti-fungal Wash for Mold Illness Recovery
[RHEA: CAN YOU MAKE THIS A TEXT BOX/GRAPHIC IN THE MIDDLE?)
Ingredients & supplies
A neti pot.
Non-iodized sea salt.
Filtered water (not tap water).
A clove of fresh garlic.
A strainer.
2 probiotic capsules
Directions
Get used to the Netipot. Use the neti pot as usual for a few days. (Instructions should come with the pot). Dissolve the correct amount of salt into lukewarm filtered water (not tap water), and then pour the solution through one nostril while tilting your head.  When done correctly, the water will flow up into the sinuses, and then down and out the other nostril.
Add in garlic + probiotics. Chop the clove of garlic & place the garlic in a strainer. Make sure that NONE of the garlic pieces can fit through the holes in the strainer (you don’t want bits of garlic in your sinuses).  Pour filtered boiling water over the garlic (through the strainer) and into a cup. Let the mix cool until it is lukewarm. Add your 2 probiotic capsules and stir into the water, then pour the lukewarm infusion into your neti pot. Add salt as usual (make sure to use the correct amount), and follow the standard method for using a neti pot. The only difference is that the water has been infused with garlic and probiotics.
#3. Anti-fungals are useless without a binder or bio-film disruptor
When mold starts to die during the treatment, your body needs to eliminate the dead molds, yeast and released toxins. If the amount of toxins released by the dying candida is more than what your body can safely handle, you may experience a healing crisis (also known as a “herx”, “healing” or “die off” reaction). Common symptoms may include GI or other ill-feeling symptoms, such as nausea, fever, joint and muscle aches, skin breakouts and headaches. A “herx” reaction typically means your body’s usual rhythms are being recalibrated, and last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
For this reason, a quality detoxification binder and biofilm disruptor (along with emphasis on optimizing gut health and liver function in point 8) is recommended to assist in elimination pathways.
Binder 101
A binder is a compound that helps grab the mold and pull it out of your body. Commonly used binders include:
Coconut Charcoal
Benedite Clay
Chlorella
Modified Citrus Pectin
Pyrophyllite clay
Cholestyramine (CSM, a prescription)
  Not all binders are created equal, and it’s most beneficial to know the type of mold you have in your body (using a test like the Great Plains Mycotoxin Test) to choose the best binder for you, since certain species are more susceptible to some more than others. Results from the test will also show which binders are most appropriate for you.
If you are not sure of your particular mold species, I find that a broad spectrum binder like GI Detox by Biocidin or Chlorella tablets are gentle but effective (without too much constipation).
Note: If you tend towards constipation, binders—particularly charcoal—can make you feel more constipated. Constipation busting “hacks” include: digestive bitters (like Iberogast), Liposomal Vitamin C and Magnesium Citrate like Natural Calm.
Biofilm Disruptor 101
Biofilm disruptors help ensure both your anti-fungals and binders can work in the first place. Molds often create a glue-like matrix around themselves to protect themselves. Sure, you can take anti-fungals and binders to treat them, but if you can’t “break” into the molds, than you won’t get them out.  Biofilm disruptors  hack through the goo and allow the anti-fungals to reach the fungi and kill the mold.
Recommendation:
Interfase Plus (2-3, in between meals, 2 times per day) –OR–
Biocidin Drops (2-3, 2 times per day)
Stress (your brain) less
With soooo many steps, therapies and treatments, mold illness recovery can be overwhelming. Not only was living in mold stressful on your health (mentally and physically), but so is recovery!
That said, the name of the game of winning victory over mold illness is actively and intentionally seeking to stress less—physically and mentally. Since inflammatory cytokines are the key drivers of mold illness symptoms, then stress management is essential for recovery including:
Quality sleep (7-9 hours)
Natural fresh air (daily)
Daily movement
Eating a nutrient-dense whole foods diet
Drinking clean filtered water
Minimizing screen and light exposure at night
Rewiring your brain and limbic system
  Limbic System 101
There’s a theory in the CIRS and mold illness world that the limbic system—your body’s “stress” system intertwined with memories—is hyper functioning.
After mold illness, your body stores deep rooted memories of smells, environments, circumstances and can easily sound the “alarm” for the body to react in a myriad of ways when any similar or familiar memory is aroused—such as the smell of must in a different environment.
In my own recovery, I personally struggled with sleeping in a bed again—I had “PTSD” like symptoms after my experience of waking up at 2 a.m. feeling like I was having a heart attack due to the chronic mold exposure and the asthma-like symptoms it gave me. I spent the next 3 months without a home, couch surfing from friend’s home to friend’s home, and not feeling comfortable back in a bed—where my previous two years of living in that environment came to a head.
I literally had to tell my body, “It’s ok,” and my body had to tell me back, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Limbic system “retraining” involves actively retraining neural pathways to think, act and believe differently. It is inspired by a woman named Annie Hopper who recovered herself from her own chronic mystery illness, similar to CIRS and mold illness.
Purify your air
Air quality matters—especially in your new environment. Air purifiers with HEPA and charcoal filters can help keep mycotoxins at bay and keep you breathing clean air as you “start over.” Like most things in the health and wellness world, not all air purifiers are created equal.
Don’t waste your money at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond. Most models on their sales floors are not the quality grade you (and your home) need—similar to how that $10 probiotic at Target is not the same as a quality probiotic that actually delivers the ingredients on the label to your gut.
My top recommendations for a quality air filter include:
Austin Air: The Bedroom Machine
Austin Air: Healthmate Junior Plus
Air Doctor
  I keep a big guy (like the Bedroom Machine) in the home to filter the whole house, and smaller units—like the Healthmate Junior or Air Doctor—in my bedroom.
In addition, if you want to take things to the next level, an Air Ozone Generator can aid in ozonating your space for cleaner, fresher and disinfected air.
You don’t have to go overboard, but investing in a couple units can help you breathe easier indoors—since we spend the majority of our time (about 22-23 hours daily) inside!
Surround yourself with positive energy
Last, but definitely not least…mold recovery can not only be stressful, but also draining and sometimes, negative.
If you’ve ever found yourself on an endless Facebook group for CIRS or mold illness recovery survivors, you know what I mean.
One thing can lead to another, and before you realize it, you believe you have cancer or you’ll never recover.
No matter what beliefs you have right now about your personal illness and recovery, know this:
When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.
Repeat: When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.
You will recover. Speak truth into your body. Lean in. Seek to nourish your mind, body and soul. And believe freedom and healing is possible.
There was a time you were not ill, and there will be a time again.
I believe it, do you? If not, let me help you.
Liew WP, Mohd-Redzwan S. Mycotoxin: Its Impact on Gut Health and Microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Feb 26;8:60. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00060. PubMed PMID: 29535978; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5834427.
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elizabethbgrimes · 5 years
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How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials
  So you have mold illness or CIRS…now what?!
 Sure, Dr. Google and Facebook groups can be helpful, but face it…when it comes to mold illness and mold illness recovery, the information can be completely overwhelming!
 Do you have to get rid of all your stuff?
What supplements should you take?
Do you need to move to a dry climate like Arizona or Colorado?
Should you just live in a bubble?!
 Although there is NO one-size-fits-all approach to healing and mold illness recovery, there are several commonalities in helpful therapies, lifestyle changes and treatments that can help you kick mold illness to the curb (for good), including:
 Top 12 Mold Illness Treatments
 Remove yourself from mold exposure
Breathe deeply
Marie Kondo your life
Build a capsule wardrobe
Fog & guard your new environment wisely
Sweat daily
Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods
Love your gut microbiome & liver
Use the right detox binder
Add in anti-fungals (oral and nasal) to treat mold that may have colonized in your body
Purify your air
Surround yourself with positive energy
 Check ‘em out.
  Remove yourself from mold exposure
First things first, you’ve got to get out of there. Healing cannot fully begin until you’re removed from the environment.
 Whether that means going to stay with family, a friend, moving to a mold-free environment, or working remotely, you will not feel the full effects of your treatment protocol until you are free from the space.
 Even if you are remediating your home, a short-term hiatus from the mold free environment is essential.
 Breathe deeply
 Breath has the power to both calm and stimulate the HPA Axis (stress response system).
 What happens to your breath when you run fast or get scared OR come into contact with mycotoxins? Your breathing rate increases (hello shortness of breath, panting and gasping for air or common). On the flip-side, what happens to your breath when you’re calm and at peace? It’s steady, deep and calm as well. Many of us are breathing the wrong way, which sets you up for problems with metabolism, blood pH, core function, and how much blood is getting to your brain and muscles, which allows cortisol to stay elevated.
  Common signs of dysfunctional breathing include:
 Inhaling with your chest. If you notice your chest is the first thing to move when you take a breath, this is a sign you have shallow breath or you’re breathing from the upper chest.
 Your rib cage doesn’t expand. Place your hands on the sides of your rib cage and take note. Your hands should move to the side about one to two inches as your rib cage widens.
 Breathing with your mouth. Unless you have congestion, ideally you should be breathing through your nose. Breathing through your nose releases nitric oxide that is carried to your lungs and helps maintain homeostasis in the rest of the body.
 Tight shoulders and upper neck/chest muscles. Tension in these areas may be a sign of shallow or stressed breathing.
 Frequent yawning. Sighing and yawning is a sign your body is not receiving enough oxygen.
 High resting breath rate. Count the number of times you breathe in one minute. A normal resting breath rate should be no greater than 10-12 breaths per minute—and sometimes as low as 6 to 8 breaths if you are deep breathing. A resting breath rate over 12 is a sign of quick or shallow breathing.
 You are activating your diaphragm when you breathe.
 If you experience any of these signs of dysfunctional breathing, it’s imperative to first train your body to simply breathe correctly.  Given that CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) is highly connected to cortisol (stress hormone) imbalances, the art of breathing is your innate “stress response” fire extinguisher.
 How to Breathe Deeply
 Balloon Breathing
Train yourself how to start breathing correctly. You can do this by blowing up balloons, pursing your lips, taking deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth while doing planking exercises, contracting your abs as you breathe, sitting upright when you work and decreasing shoulder movement during breathing.
 Tempo Breathing (a.k.a “4-7-8 breathing”). Place tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue behind the upper front teeth. Quietly inhale through your nose then audibly exhale through the mouth, inhale for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of 7, and then exhale through your mouth, making an ocean-wave-like sound for a count of 8. Repeat this cycle three times.
 Belly Breathe. Take a deep breath and focus on expanding your belly, rather than your chest. Watch your belly fill up as you breathe in and flatten as you breathe out.
 Breath Walk: Synchronize your breathing with walking steps and focused attention.
 Box Breathe: Close your mouth and slowly breathe in through your nose for four counts. Hold your breath for four seconds. Then slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of four. Hold the exhale for another four counts. Aim to repeat for four minutes.
 Yogi Breathing
This tactic is particularly useful as an “in the moment” tool when HPA Axis symptoms or stress arise.
How to Do It:
Lay on your back, completely flat
Inhale through your right nostril for 10 counts, while closing your left nostril with your finger
Exhale through your left nostril for 10 counts, while closing your right nostril with your finger
Keep your mouth closed, or lips pursed
Repeat for 5-6 cycles
  Marie Kondo your life
Get rid of (most) of it. Make Marie Kondo, author of the “Magic Art of Tidying Up” proud.
 If it doesn’t “spark joy”, toss it.
 And, chances are, if you are truly struggling with mold illness, many of your things will NOT “spark joy.”
 Sometimes the best bet for at least the current situation is to “leave it behind.” While it may seem or feel extreme (like a fire happened), to help calm your body and mind for the immediate healing period, a break from not only your environment but also the items that smell like that environment can be a healing part of your process.
 In my own experience, I found that the more I kept or tried to hold on to, the more I realized how much those things impacted my symptoms. Starting fresh (see point 4) was difficult to swallow at first, but the more I focused on rebuilding my life slowly, the less overwhelm and attachment I had to my stuff.
 Initially, I did a huge closet sweep—throwing most of my clothes into trash sacks and taking them to a local Goodwill and resale shop where individually, the items would not be as strong. I also left my furniture behind and bags—my suitcases, purses, backpack—things that had been living and breathing mycotoxins in my home.
 I tried to salvage the little things, however, of the things I did keep, it didn’t take long for me to decide the majority of it, I wanted to give away.
 From my leather Kate Spade purse with the tags still on it, to my yoga mat, my makeup and makeup bag, my occupational therapy grad school books, my hair dryer and my Benji (my stuffed dog I had had since I was 4 years old)—all of it smelled like mold and must. Once I was removed from my home, all I wanted was my health and breath back.
 Yes, I thought it sounded extreme too, but holding on to old stuff only weighed me down more. I found, as I gradually let even these things go, the more freedom I felt and ability to start new—from the inside out.
  Items to Toss or Store (for a long time)
Some of the “top” most-contaminated items include porous or “soft” items to not think too hard about:
 Books (especially opened books)
Clothing (primarily items that are dry clean only, and those items that have been hanging in your closet unworn or collecting dust for a long time)—other clothing may be redeemable, however, not optimal
Backpacks, purses, suitcases—things exposed to mycotoxins in the environment (they will most likely smell like the home as you leave)
Opened makeup and makeup bags
Vented items (your hairdryer, fans)
Upholstery (couches, curtains, rugs)
Chairs with cloth or padding
Linens, towels, pillows & blankets
Wood furniture
Papers (if needed: Store them loosely in plastic bins until a decision can be made at a later date)
Appliances (Refrigerators, washers, and dryers harbor dust in their coils and fans and are difficult to clean. Spores and spore fragments easily attach to washing machine parts)
Laptop computers (the fans in the computer can pick up mycotoxins; *if ridding of your this is not easy, look into selling back your machine or trading it in to the store, or using it outside of your new, clean environment to avoid cross-contamination)
 Given the fibers in these materials, they have a tendency to “soak up” the mycotoxins in the environment.
 Items to Possibly “Save”
Some items can be salvaged—particularly the hard-surfaced items that get a good fogging (point 5), including:
 Some clothing (see clothing exceptions below)
Sentimental stuffed animals (if laundered like your clothing)
Leather (furniture, bags, shoes) (Use quaternary cleaners on leather)
Lamps (not the shades)
Kitchenware (non bamboo)—plates, pans, pots, silverware, etc.
Non-porous surfaces (able to clean well)—such as that plastic waste bin or desk
Anything made of ceramic, glass or metal
Your car (yes some folks get rid of their’s; Hybridrasta Mama has a great post https://hybridrastamama.com/how-to-remove-mold-in-cars/ about mold remediation in your car).
  “But it sounds so extreme…”
 Just breathe. No one is holding a gun to your head to get rid of everything, and little official long term research has been conducted either way revealing whether or not mold contaminated items can make you ill again upon preexposure after healing.
 Ultimately, you may have to find out for yourself what you can and cannot tolerate, and perhaps, more than anything, time away from your contaminated items can help you strengthen your body from the inside out—and also realize…it’s all just stuff. Stuff is helpful for doing some things in life, but we come into this world bald, curled up and naked, and leave it bald, curled up and naked…and we take nothing with us. In other words: It can be replaced.
 If the idea of tossing everything out is devastating, recruit a cleaning company, family member or friend to box things up for you, or wear protective clothing (here) and a nose and mouth mask to put things into bins, large plastic bags or trash sacks to store away while you remove yourself to heal. This also may mean renting a storage facility for a period or storing your items in a family member’s garage. If you’re going to the trouble of moving away from a toxic environment, don’t apologize for being “extreme.” Do what you need to do to break free, allow for healing to occur and then decide what to keep or toss (chances are, you may realize you can live without it).
  Clothing Exceptions
You can clean some things—particularly the machine washable items that have been regular circulators in your clothing rotation (not the items that have been hanging in your closet for a year).
 Use EC3 Laundry Additive on these items, and wash through 2 to 3 cycles, dry and also place in the sun (natural ozone helps kill off mycotoxins). Homemade Hack: You can also use a combination of Borax and white vinegar as your “detergent”.
 What about other items I may keep…Do I literally have to clean everything in my house (i.e. plastic storage containers, books, toiletries, candles, knickknacks, canned food etc) or just the major things like clothing and furniture?
 Yes, everything. I love the whole EC3 line—their concentrate, spray, laundry additive and candles.
 Build a capsule wardrobe
Speaking of Marie Kondo, no time like the present to simplify your wardrobe! Out with the old, in with the new. A capsule wardrobe is a “minimalist’s dream”—filled with only the essentials needed to make dressing easy, classy and vogue.
 Most minimalist fashionistas advise you build your wardrobe on no more than 30 to 40 “staple” pieces (or less) for every 3 months of the year (seasons)— including clothes, jewelry, accessories and shoes. (This excludes underwear, loungewear, and workout wear).
 A capsule wardrobe may entail:
5-7 basic tops
Simple v-neck white tee
Simple black tee
Button up Chambray
5-7 trendy fun tops
5-7 bottoms
1-2 pairs of denim jeans
1 pair white pants
1 pair black pants
1-2 skirts
1-2 dresses
3 Jackets
Classy blazer
Bomber jacket
Hoodie
Shoes (seasonal)
Sneakers
Gold strappy sandals
Flats
Brown boots
Booties
Jewelry & Accessories
Pair stud earrings & hoops
Gold necklace
Bracelet
Sunglasses
Watch
Classic Tote
 How to Start Your Capsule Wardrobe
Pare down your closet to no more than 50 items (ideally: 35-40; excluding underwear, workout wear and lounge wear)
Wear only those 35-50 items for three months.
Don’t go shopping during the season until…
During the last two weeks of the season, plan and shop for your next capsule.
The amount you buy for the next capsule is up to you (you can recycle some from the previous capsule).
Remember: less is more.
 Fog & guard your new environment wisely
As you transition into your new environment, it’s uber important to prevent cross contamination from your old place.
 No, you cannot live in a bubble, but “proper” transition practices can keep your new place (and you) mycotoxin free. This was a huge mistake I made when moving out of my home initially. Although I left most of my things behind, I did trek in my daily use items that I did not think twice about including:
 My backpack
Purse
Tenni shoes I wore daily
My pillow
A sweatshirt
Makeup bag
Hairdryer
 The “little stuff” can add up if you are super sensitive and it’s best to quarantine most all items from the old place into a separate plastic bin or large trash sacks (closed tightly) and store them in a place like a garage in order to mindfully discard contaminated items.
 You can try salvaging some things with an at home fogging machine, as well as use your fogging machine with EC3 solution concentrate in it to spray and disinfect your new place.
 I recommend the Longray Basic ULV Fogger with Adjustable Flow & Flex-Hose and EC3 solution. All you have to do is pour the desired amount of EC3 solution + distilled water (see back of the bottle to measure) into the fogger, then turn the fogger on the medium pressure intensity and spray every nook, cranny, and item you have to make them (more) “mold free”.
 Sweat daily
Sweat helps detox and push impurities out of the body. Some options include:
 Infrared sauna (3-4 times per week for 15 minutes)
Heated yoga
Fresh air & sunshine
Energizing workouts (not chronic cardio; the “just right” challenge for 30-45 minutes, doing something you enjoy)
Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods
Let food be thy medicine. Optimize your detoxification pathways and energy levels by focusing on the foundations, while avoiding foods that leave you (and your gut health) down.
 Eat
Organic pastured proteins: chicken, beef, eggs, bison, wild-caught fish
Dark leafy greens
Fungal fighting foods, including:
Prebiotic Fibers: Carrots, Rutabaga, Onions, Garlic, Raidsh
Spices & herbs: Cayenne, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger Root, Clove, Goldenseal, Olive leaf, Tea trea
Lemon & Lime
Manuka raw honey
Coconut oil (caprylic acid)
Papya seeds
Teas: Green tea, dandelion tea, Pau d’Arco
Other colorful, low starch veggies: broccoli, spinach, summer squash, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, arugula, chard, cucumber, bell peppers, tomato (fresh only), leeks, asparagus, artichokes, seaweed
Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, coconut milk, ghee, avocado, organic butter, pumpkin seeds, flax
Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, coconut kefir/yogurt, fermented pickled veggies (Contrary to popular belief, eating fermented foods regularly can support the immune system and prevent the invasion and spread of yeasts or fungal infection. Consume 1-2 medicinal doses daily if tolerated).
Apple cider vinegar
Bone & meat broth. Bone broth is a rich source of collagen, which supports the integrity of the gut lining.
Pastured organ meats. Liver, heart, tongue, kidney; Or, quality grass-fed supplement (like this one by Ancestral Supplements).
Filtered water
Other beverages: Herbal teas, mineral water, fresh veggie juice, coconut milk
 The bottom line: Eat fresh foods as much as possible. (Hint: Buy the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and foods and buy in smaller quantities vs. having items in your refrigerator for weeks)
 Avoid
Molds thrive on sugar and anything that is not fresh or aged. Mold-loving foods including:
Cheese
High mold nuts: peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, brazil nuts
High amounts of high starch vegetables and legumes: sweet corn, potatoes, beans and peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, turnips, parsnips (stick to 1-2 servings per day)
Dried fruits
Alcohol
Instant coffee & non-organic, conventional coffees (i.e. Starbucks, Folgers)
Sugar & artificial sweeteners
Corn
Wheat
Seed oils: cottonseed, grapeseed, canola
Processed and smoked meats: sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, pastrami, smoked fish, ham, bacon.
Packaged & processed foods
Canned beans, soups & ready-made sauces
5+ day old produce
Edible fungi: including all types of mushrooms and truffles (cordyceps & reishi supplements ok)
Leftovers beyond 2-3 days. While some molds you can see (like the fuzzy green mold on breads), others are not so noticeable. A good rule of thumb for leftovers is a two-day rule (one is better).
  Love your gut microbiome & liver
Your gut is the gateway to health, and your liver is your body’s “master” detoxifier. If one or both of these two systems are down, then you (and your immune system) are more susceptible to molds and the effects of mycotoxins on your health.
 Although many mold sufferers will tell you that 25% of the population has a specific gene (the HLA-DR gene) that makes them more susceptible to mold illness, this is only part of the story.
 Genes load the gun, but environment, lifestyle and your gut microbiome pull the trigger. Disease genes cannot be turned on unless these other factors are at play.
 Given the fact that mycotoxin exposure can wreak havoc on your total health—particularly your gut health— by eliminating beneficial bacteria, by focusing on optimizing your gut health you will give those mycotoxins a run for their money. Research shows the gut microbiota is capable of eliminating mycotoxin from the host naturally, provided that the host is healthy with a balance gut microbiota (1).
 A few essentials for optimizing gut and liver health include:
 Perform at-home gut testing (Figure out what’s going on in your gut with a comprehensive gut test)
 Take a quality probiotic (like this one) and prebiotic fiber (1 tsp.) (like this one)
 Boost stomach acid & digestive enzymes (add 1 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar to 2-4 oz. of water and 1-2 capsules digestive enzymes with meals)
 Eat 1-2 fermented foods daily and 1-2 servings of prebiotic fiber in your diet
Working with a practitioner to safely and effectively cleanse your gut with anti-microbial, anti-fungal herbs if you find a gut “issue” present
 Use the right anti-fungal and binder for your mold illness
 Using anti-fungal herbs and medicines are a common approach for treating a person with mold illness or mold-related issues (like candida) to directly kill molds, candida and yeast in your body. Conventional doctors may prescribe pharmaceuticals like Nystatin or Diflucan, and holistic practitioners may integrate herbs via supplements and foods.
 However there are a few of catches:
 #1. Anti-fungal treatment must be customized
You must know which molds you have so you can be on the right anti-fungals to treat them—this may entail either prescription medications by a medical doctor or herbal anti-fungals via supplements and foods. It’s important to work with a skilled practitioner who understands mycotoxin illness, CIRS and detoxification in order to implement the right approach for your body.
 Natural anti-fungals may include one or a blend of the following:
Lauricidin (monolaurin)
Pau D’Arco Extract (bark)
Cat’s Claw
Caprylic Acid
Uva Ursi
Grapefruit seed extract
Garlic (Allicin)
Tea tree
Oregano
Dill
Cloves
Black walnut
Oregon grape
 #2. Anti-fungals are BEST used orally and nasally (sinus spray)
To effectively treat mold illness, you also must treat every single place that mold can be settled in and growing. Since molds grow in moist, warm cavities (think mouth, nose/sinus and gut), using both oral and nasal antifungals yields the best results.
 One of my favorite anti-fungals is the CitriDrops by Microbalance. You can also make your own nasal anti-fungal wash at home using garlic cloves and probiotics.
 Homemade Nasal Anti-fungal Wash for Mold Illness Recovery
 [RHEA: CAN YOU MAKE THIS A TEXT BOX/GRAPHIC IN THE MIDDLE?)
Ingredients & supplies
A neti pot.
Non-iodized sea salt.
Filtered water (not tap water).
A clove of fresh garlic.
A strainer.
2 probiotic capsules
 Directions
Get used to the Netipot. Use the neti pot as usual for a few days. (Instructions should come with the pot). Dissolve the correct amount of salt into lukewarm filtered water (not tap water), and then pour the solution through one nostril while tilting your head.  When done correctly, the water will flow up into the sinuses, and then down and out the other nostril.
Add in garlic + probiotics. Chop the clove of garlic & place the garlic in a strainer. Make sure that NONE of the garlic pieces can fit through the holes in the strainer (you don’t want bits of garlic in your sinuses).  Pour filtered boiling water over the garlic (through the strainer) and into a cup. Let the mix cool until it is lukewarm. Add your 2 probiotic capsules and stir into the water, then pour the lukewarm infusion into your neti pot. Add salt as usual (make sure to use the correct amount), and follow the standard method for using a neti pot. The only difference is that the water has been infused with garlic and probiotics.
 #3. Anti-fungals are useless without a binder or bio-film disruptor
When mold starts to die during the treatment, your body needs to eliminate the dead molds, yeast and released toxins. If the amount of toxins released by the dying candida is more than what your body can safely handle, you may experience a healing crisis (also known as a “herx”, “healing” or “die off” reaction). Common symptoms may include GI or other ill-feeling symptoms, such as nausea, fever, joint and muscle aches, skin breakouts and headaches. A “herx” reaction typically means your body’s usual rhythms are being recalibrated, and last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
 For this reason, a quality detoxification binder and biofilm disruptor (along with emphasis on optimizing gut health and liver function in point 8) is recommended to assist in elimination pathways.
 Binder 101
A binder is a compound that helps grab the mold and pull it out of your body. Commonly used binders include:
 Coconut Charcoal
Benedite Clay
Chlorella
Modified Citrus Pectin
Pyrophyllite clay
Cholestyramine (CSM, a prescription)
 Not all binders are created equal, and it’s most beneficial to know the type of mold you have in your body (using a test like the Great Plains Mycotoxin Test) to choose the best binder for you, since certain species are more susceptible to some more than others. Results from the test will also show which binders are most appropriate for you.
 If you are not sure of your particular mold species, I find that a broad spectrum binder like GI Detox by Biocidin or Chlorella tablets are gentle but effective (without too much constipation).
 Note: If you tend towards constipation, binders—particularly charcoal—can make you feel more constipated. Constipation busting “hacks” include: digestive bitters (like Iberogast), Liposomal Vitamin C and Magnesium Citrate like Natural Calm.
 Biofilm Disruptor 101
Biofilm disruptors help ensure both your anti-fungals and binders can work in the first place. Molds often create a glue-like matrix around themselves to protect themselves. Sure, you can take anti-fungals and binders to treat them, but if you can’t “break” into the molds, than you won’t get them out.  Biofilm disruptors  hack through the goo and allow the anti-fungals to reach the fungi and kill the mold.
Recommendation:
Interfase Plus (2-3, in between meals, 2 times per day) –OR–
Biocidin Drops (2-3, 2 times per day)
 Stress (your brain) less
With soooo many steps, therapies and treatments, mold illness recovery can be overwhelming. Not only was living in mold stressful on your health (mentally and physically), but so is recovery!
 That said, the name of the game of winning victory over mold illness is actively and intentionally seeking to stress less—physically and mentally. Since inflammatory cytokines are the key drivers of mold illness symptoms, then stress management is essential for recovery including:
 Quality sleep (7-9 hours)
Natural fresh air (daily)
Daily movement
Eating a nutrient-dense whole foods diet
Drinking clean filtered water
Minimizing screen and light exposure at night
Rewiring your brain and limbic system
 Limbic System 101
There’s a theory in the CIRS and mold illness world that the limbic system—your body’s “stress” system intertwined with memories—is hyper functioning.
 After mold illness, your body stores deep rooted memories of smells, environments, circumstances and can easily sound the “alarm” for the body to react in a myriad of ways when any similar or familiar memory is aroused—such as the smell of must in a different environment.
 In my own recovery, I personally struggled with sleeping in a bed again—I had “PTSD” like symptoms after my experience of waking up at 2 a.m. feeling like I was having a heart attack due to the chronic mold exposure and the asthma-like symptoms it gave me. I spent the next 3 months without a home, couch surfing from friend’s home to friend’s home, and not feeling comfortable back in a bed—where my previous two years of living in that environment came to a head.
 I literally had to tell my body, “It’s ok,” and my body had to tell me back, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
 Limbic system “retraining” involves actively retraining neural pathways to think, act and believe differently. It is inspired by a woman named Annie Hopper who recovered herself from her own chronic mystery illness, similar to CIRS and mold illness.
 Purify your air
Air quality matters—especially in your new environment. Air purifiers with HEPA and charcoal filters can help keep mycotoxins at bay and keep you breathing clean air as you “start over.” Like most things in the health and wellness world, not all air purifiers are created equal.
Don’t waste your money at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond. Most models on their sales floors are not the quality grade you (and your home) need—similar to how that $10 probiotic at Target is not the same as a quality probiotic that actually delivers the ingredients on the label to your gut.
 My top recommendations for a quality air filter include:
 Austin Air: The Bedroom Machine
Austin Air: Healthmate Junior Plus
Air Doctor
 I keep a big guy (like the Bedroom Machine) in the home to filter the whole house, and smaller units—like the Healthmate Junior or Air Doctor—in my bedroom.
 In addition, if you want to take things to the next level, an Air Ozone Generator can aid in ozonating your space for cleaner, fresher and disinfected air.
 You don’t have to go overboard, but investing in a couple units can help you breathe easier indoors—since we spend the majority of our time (about 22-23 hours daily) inside!
 Surround yourself with positive energy
Last, but definitely not least…mold recovery can not only be stressful, but also draining and sometimes, negative.
 If you’ve ever found yourself on an endless Facebook group for CIRS or mold illness recovery survivors, you know what I mean.
 One thing can lead to another, and before you realize it, you believe you have cancer or you’ll never recover.
 No matter what beliefs you have right now about your personal illness and recovery, know this:
 When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.
 Repeat: When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.
 You will recover. Speak truth into your body. Lean in. Seek to nourish your mind, body and soul. And believe freedom and healing is possible.
 There was a time you were not ill, and there will be a time again.
 I believe it, do you? If not, let me help you.
 Liew WP, Mohd-Redzwan S. Mycotoxin: Its Impact on Gut Health and Microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Feb 26;8:60. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00060. PubMed PMID: 29535978; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5834427.
The post How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials appeared first on Meet Dr. Lauryn.
Source/Repost=> https://drlauryn.com/wellness-knowledge/how-to-treat-get-rid-of-cirs/ ** Dr. Lauryn Lax __Nutrition. Therapy. Functional Medicine ** https://drlauryn.com/ How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials via https://drlaurynlax.blogspot.com/
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clarencebfaber · 5 years
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How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS 12 Essentials
  So you have mold illness or CIRS…now what?!
 Sure, Dr. Google and Facebook groups can be helpful, but face it…when it comes to mold illness and mold illness recovery, the information can be completely overwhelming!
 Do you have to get rid of all your stuff?
What supplements should you take?
Do you need to move to a dry climate like Arizona or Colorado?
Should you just live in a bubble?!
 Although there is NO one-size-fits-all approach to healing and mold illness recovery, there are several commonalities in helpful therapies, lifestyle changes and treatments that can help you kick mold illness to the curb (for good), including:
 Top 12 Mold Illness Treatments
 Remove yourself from mold exposure
Breathe deeply
Marie Kondo your life
Build a capsule wardrobe
Fog & guard your new environment wisely
Sweat daily
Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods
Love your gut microbiome & liver
Use the right detox binder
Add in anti-fungals (oral and nasal) to treat mold that may have colonized in your body
Purify your air
Surround yourself with positive energy
 Check ‘em out.
  Remove yourself from mold exposure
First things first, you’ve got to get out of there. Healing cannot fully begin until you’re removed from the environment.
 Whether that means going to stay with family, a friend, moving to a mold-free environment, or working remotely, you will not feel the full effects of your treatment protocol until you are free from the space.
 Even if you are remediating your home, a short-term hiatus from the mold free environment is essential.
 Breathe deeply
 Breath has the power to both calm and stimulate the HPA Axis (stress response system).
 What happens to your breath when you run fast or get scared OR come into contact with mycotoxins? Your breathing rate increases (hello shortness of breath, panting and gasping for air or common). On the flip-side, what happens to your breath when you’re calm and at peace? It’s steady, deep and calm as well. Many of us are breathing the wrong way, which sets you up for problems with metabolism, blood pH, core function, and how much blood is getting to your brain and muscles, which allows cortisol to stay elevated.
  Common signs of dysfunctional breathing include:
 Inhaling with your chest. If you notice your chest is the first thing to move when you take a breath, this is a sign you have shallow breath or you’re breathing from the upper chest.
 Your rib cage doesn’t expand. Place your hands on the sides of your rib cage and take note. Your hands should move to the side about one to two inches as your rib cage widens.
 Breathing with your mouth. Unless you have congestion, ideally you should be breathing through your nose. Breathing through your nose releases nitric oxide that is carried to your lungs and helps maintain homeostasis in the rest of the body.
 Tight shoulders and upper neck/chest muscles. Tension in these areas may be a sign of shallow or stressed breathing.
 Frequent yawning. Sighing and yawning is a sign your body is not receiving enough oxygen.
 High resting breath rate. Count the number of times you breathe in one minute. A normal resting breath rate should be no greater than 10-12 breaths per minute—and sometimes as low as 6 to 8 breaths if you are deep breathing. A resting breath rate over 12 is a sign of quick or shallow breathing.
 You are activating your diaphragm when you breathe.
 If you experience any of these signs of dysfunctional breathing, it’s imperative to first train your body to simply breathe correctly.  Given that CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) is highly connected to cortisol (stress hormone) imbalances, the art of breathing is your innate “stress response” fire extinguisher.
 How to Breathe Deeply
 Balloon Breathing
Train yourself how to start breathing correctly. You can do this by blowing up balloons, pursing your lips, taking deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth while doing planking exercises, contracting your abs as you breathe, sitting upright when you work and decreasing shoulder movement during breathing.
 Tempo Breathing (a.k.a “4-7-8 breathing”). Place tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue behind the upper front teeth. Quietly inhale through your nose then audibly exhale through the mouth, inhale for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of 7, and then exhale through your mouth, making an ocean-wave-like sound for a count of 8. Repeat this cycle three times.
 Belly Breathe. Take a deep breath and focus on expanding your belly, rather than your chest. Watch your belly fill up as you breathe in and flatten as you breathe out.
 Breath Walk: Synchronize your breathing with walking steps and focused attention.
 Box Breathe: Close your mouth and slowly breathe in through your nose for four counts. Hold your breath for four seconds. Then slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of four. Hold the exhale for another four counts. Aim to repeat for four minutes.
 Yogi Breathing
This tactic is particularly useful as an “in the moment” tool when HPA Axis symptoms or stress arise.
How to Do It:
Lay on your back, completely flat
Inhale through your right nostril for 10 counts, while closing your left nostril with your finger
Exhale through your left nostril for 10 counts, while closing your right nostril with your finger
Keep your mouth closed, or lips pursed
Repeat for 5-6 cycles
  Marie Kondo your life
Get rid of (most) of it. Make Marie Kondo, author of the “Magic Art of Tidying Up” proud.
 If it doesn’t “spark joy”, toss it.
 And, chances are, if you are truly struggling with mold illness, many of your things will NOT “spark joy.”
 Sometimes the best bet for at least the current situation is to “leave it behind.” While it may seem or feel extreme (like a fire happened), to help calm your body and mind for the immediate healing period, a break from not only your environment but also the items that smell like that environment can be a healing part of your process.
 In my own experience, I found that the more I kept or tried to hold on to, the more I realized how much those things impacted my symptoms. Starting fresh (see point 4) was difficult to swallow at first, but the more I focused on rebuilding my life slowly, the less overwhelm and attachment I had to my stuff.
 Initially, I did a huge closet sweep—throwing most of my clothes into trash sacks and taking them to a local Goodwill and resale shop where individually, the items would not be as strong. I also left my furniture behind and bags—my suitcases, purses, backpack—things that had been living and breathing mycotoxins in my home.
 I tried to salvage the little things, however, of the things I did keep, it didn’t take long for me to decide the majority of it, I wanted to give away.
 From my leather Kate Spade purse with the tags still on it, to my yoga mat, my makeup and makeup bag, my occupational therapy grad school books, my hair dryer and my Benji (my stuffed dog I had had since I was 4 years old)—all of it smelled like mold and must. Once I was removed from my home, all I wanted was my health and breath back.
 Yes, I thought it sounded extreme too, but holding on to old stuff only weighed me down more. I found, as I gradually let even these things go, the more freedom I felt and ability to start new—from the inside out.
  Items to Toss or Store (for a long time)
Some of the “top” most-contaminated items include porous or “soft” items to not think too hard about:
 Books (especially opened books)
Clothing (primarily items that are dry clean only, and those items that have been hanging in your closet unworn or collecting dust for a long time)—other clothing may be redeemable, however, not optimal
Backpacks, purses, suitcases—things exposed to mycotoxins in the environment (they will most likely smell like the home as you leave)
Opened makeup and makeup bags
Vented items (your hairdryer, fans)
Upholstery (couches, curtains, rugs)
Chairs with cloth or padding
Linens, towels, pillows & blankets
Wood furniture
Papers (if needed: Store them loosely in plastic bins until a decision can be made at a later date)
Appliances (Refrigerators, washers, and dryers harbor dust in their coils and fans and are difficult to clean. Spores and spore fragments easily attach to washing machine parts)
Laptop computers (the fans in the computer can pick up mycotoxins; *if ridding of your this is not easy, look into selling back your machine or trading it in to the store, or using it outside of your new, clean environment to avoid cross-contamination)
 Given the fibers in these materials, they have a tendency to “soak up” the mycotoxins in the environment.
 Items to Possibly “Save”
Some items can be salvaged—particularly the hard-surfaced items that get a good fogging (point 5), including:
 Some clothing (see clothing exceptions below)
Sentimental stuffed animals (if laundered like your clothing)
Leather (furniture, bags, shoes) (Use quaternary cleaners on leather)
Lamps (not the shades)
Kitchenware (non bamboo)—plates, pans, pots, silverware, etc.
Non-porous surfaces (able to clean well)—such as that plastic waste bin or desk
Anything made of ceramic, glass or metal
Your car (yes some folks get rid of their’s; Hybridrasta Mama has a great post https://hybridrastamama.com/how-to-remove-mold-in-cars/ about mold remediation in your car).
  “But it sounds so extreme…”
 Just breathe. No one is holding a gun to your head to get rid of everything, and little official long term research has been conducted either way revealing whether or not mold contaminated items can make you ill again upon preexposure after healing.
 Ultimately, you may have to find out for yourself what you can and cannot tolerate, and perhaps, more than anything, time away from your contaminated items can help you strengthen your body from the inside out—and also realize…it’s all just stuff. Stuff is helpful for doing some things in life, but we come into this world bald, curled up and naked, and leave it bald, curled up and naked…and we take nothing with us. In other words: It can be replaced.
 If the idea of tossing everything out is devastating, recruit a cleaning company, family member or friend to box things up for you, or wear protective clothing (here) and a nose and mouth mask to put things into bins, large plastic bags or trash sacks to store away while you remove yourself to heal. This also may mean renting a storage facility for a period or storing your items in a family member’s garage. If you’re going to the trouble of moving away from a toxic environment, don’t apologize for being “extreme.” Do what you need to do to break free, allow for healing to occur and then decide what to keep or toss (chances are, you may realize you can live without it).
  Clothing Exceptions
You can clean some things—particularly the machine washable items that have been regular circulators in your clothing rotation (not the items that have been hanging in your closet for a year).
 Use EC3 Laundry Additive on these items, and wash through 2 to 3 cycles, dry and also place in the sun (natural ozone helps kill off mycotoxins). Homemade Hack: You can also use a combination of Borax and white vinegar as your “detergent”.
 What about other items I may keep…Do I literally have to clean everything in my house (i.e. plastic storage containers, books, toiletries, candles, knickknacks, canned food etc) or just the major things like clothing and furniture?
 Yes, everything. I love the whole EC3 line—their concentrate, spray, laundry additive and candles.
 Build a capsule wardrobe
Speaking of Marie Kondo, no time like the present to simplify your wardrobe! Out with the old, in with the new. A capsule wardrobe is a “minimalist’s dream”—filled with only the essentials needed to make dressing easy, classy and vogue.
 Most minimalist fashionistas advise you build your wardrobe on no more than 30 to 40 “staple” pieces (or less) for every 3 months of the year (seasons)— including clothes, jewelry, accessories and shoes. (This excludes underwear, loungewear, and workout wear).
 A capsule wardrobe may entail:
5-7 basic tops
Simple v-neck white tee
Simple black tee
Button up Chambray
5-7 trendy fun tops
5-7 bottoms
1-2 pairs of denim jeans
1 pair white pants
1 pair black pants
1-2 skirts
1-2 dresses
3 Jackets
Classy blazer
Bomber jacket
Hoodie
Shoes (seasonal)
Sneakers
Gold strappy sandals
Flats
Brown boots
Booties
Jewelry & Accessories
Pair stud earrings & hoops
Gold necklace
Bracelet
Sunglasses
Watch
Classic Tote
 How to Start Your Capsule Wardrobe
Pare down your closet to no more than 50 items (ideally: 35-40; excluding underwear, workout wear and lounge wear)
Wear only those 35-50 items for three months.
Don’t go shopping during the season until…
During the last two weeks of the season, plan and shop for your next capsule.
The amount you buy for the next capsule is up to you (you can recycle some from the previous capsule).
Remember: less is more.
 Fog & guard your new environment wisely
As you transition into your new environment, it’s uber important to prevent cross contamination from your old place.
 No, you cannot live in a bubble, but “proper” transition practices can keep your new place (and you) mycotoxin free. This was a huge mistake I made when moving out of my home initially. Although I left most of my things behind, I did trek in my daily use items that I did not think twice about including:
 My backpack
Purse
Tenni shoes I wore daily
My pillow
A sweatshirt
Makeup bag
Hairdryer
 The “little stuff” can add up if you are super sensitive and it’s best to quarantine most all items from the old place into a separate plastic bin or large trash sacks (closed tightly) and store them in a place like a garage in order to mindfully discard contaminated items.
 You can try salvaging some things with an at home fogging machine, as well as use your fogging machine with EC3 solution concentrate in it to spray and disinfect your new place.
 I recommend the Longray Basic ULV Fogger with Adjustable Flow & Flex-Hose and EC3 solution. All you have to do is pour the desired amount of EC3 solution + distilled water (see back of the bottle to measure) into the fogger, then turn the fogger on the medium pressure intensity and spray every nook, cranny, and item you have to make them (more) “mold free”.
 Sweat daily
Sweat helps detox and push impurities out of the body. Some options include:
 Infrared sauna (3-4 times per week for 15 minutes)
Heated yoga
Fresh air & sunshine
Energizing workouts (not chronic cardio; the “just right” challenge for 30-45 minutes, doing something you enjoy)
Eat fresh, organic nutrient-dense foods
Let food be thy medicine. Optimize your detoxification pathways and energy levels by focusing on the foundations, while avoiding foods that leave you (and your gut health) down.
 Eat
Organic pastured proteins: chicken, beef, eggs, bison, wild-caught fish
Dark leafy greens
Fungal fighting foods, including:
Prebiotic Fibers: Carrots, Rutabaga, Onions, Garlic, Raidsh
Spices & herbs: Cayenne, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger Root, Clove, Goldenseal, Olive leaf, Tea trea
Lemon & Lime
Manuka raw honey
Coconut oil (caprylic acid)
Papya seeds
Teas: Green tea, dandelion tea, Pau d’Arco
Other colorful, low starch veggies: broccoli, spinach, summer squash, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, arugula, chard, cucumber, bell peppers, tomato (fresh only), leeks, asparagus, artichokes, seaweed
Healthy Fats: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, coconut milk, ghee, avocado, organic butter, pumpkin seeds, flax
Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, coconut kefir/yogurt, fermented pickled veggies (Contrary to popular belief, eating fermented foods regularly can support the immune system and prevent the invasion and spread of yeasts or fungal infection. Consume 1-2 medicinal doses daily if tolerated).
Apple cider vinegar
Bone & meat broth. Bone broth is a rich source of collagen, which supports the integrity of the gut lining.
Pastured organ meats. Liver, heart, tongue, kidney; Or, quality grass-fed supplement (like this one by Ancestral Supplements).
Filtered water
Other beverages: Herbal teas, mineral water, fresh veggie juice, coconut milk
 The bottom line: Eat fresh foods as much as possible. (Hint: Buy the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats and foods and buy in smaller quantities vs. having items in your refrigerator for weeks)
 Avoid
Molds thrive on sugar and anything that is not fresh or aged. Mold-loving foods including:
Cheese
High mold nuts: peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, brazil nuts
High amounts of high starch vegetables and legumes: sweet corn, potatoes, beans and peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, winter squashes, turnips, parsnips (stick to 1-2 servings per day)
Dried fruits
Alcohol
Instant coffee & non-organic, conventional coffees (i.e. Starbucks, Folgers)
Sugar & artificial sweeteners
Corn
Wheat
Seed oils: cottonseed, grapeseed, canola
Processed and smoked meats: sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, pastrami, smoked fish, ham, bacon.
Packaged & processed foods
Canned beans, soups & ready-made sauces
5+ day old produce
Edible fungi: including all types of mushrooms and truffles (cordyceps & reishi supplements ok)
Leftovers beyond 2-3 days. While some molds you can see (like the fuzzy green mold on breads), others are not so noticeable. A good rule of thumb for leftovers is a two-day rule (one is better).
  Love your gut microbiome & liver
Your gut is the gateway to health, and your liver is your body’s “master” detoxifier. If one or both of these two systems are down, then you (and your immune system) are more susceptible to molds and the effects of mycotoxins on your health.
 Although many mold sufferers will tell you that 25% of the population has a specific gene (the HLA-DR gene) that makes them more susceptible to mold illness, this is only part of the story.
 Genes load the gun, but environment, lifestyle and your gut microbiome pull the trigger. Disease genes cannot be turned on unless these other factors are at play.
 Given the fact that mycotoxin exposure can wreak havoc on your total health—particularly your gut health— by eliminating beneficial bacteria, by focusing on optimizing your gut health you will give those mycotoxins a run for their money. Research shows the gut microbiota is capable of eliminating mycotoxin from the host naturally, provided that the host is healthy with a balance gut microbiota (1).
 A few essentials for optimizing gut and liver health include:
 Perform at-home gut testing (Figure out what’s going on in your gut with a comprehensive gut test)
 Take a quality probiotic (like this one) and prebiotic fiber (1 tsp.) (like this one)
 Boost stomach acid & digestive enzymes (add 1 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar to 2-4 oz. of water and 1-2 capsules digestive enzymes with meals)
 Eat 1-2 fermented foods daily and 1-2 servings of prebiotic fiber in your diet
Working with a practitioner to safely and effectively cleanse your gut with anti-microbial, anti-fungal herbs if you find a gut “issue” present
 Use the right anti-fungal and binder for your mold illness
 Using anti-fungal herbs and medicines are a common approach for treating a person with mold illness or mold-related issues (like candida) to directly kill molds, candida and yeast in your body. Conventional doctors may prescribe pharmaceuticals like Nystatin or Diflucan, and holistic practitioners may integrate herbs via supplements and foods.
 However there are a few of catches:
 #1. Anti-fungal treatment must be customized
You must know which molds you have so you can be on the right anti-fungals to treat them—this may entail either prescription medications by a medical doctor or herbal anti-fungals via supplements and foods. It’s important to work with a skilled practitioner who understands mycotoxin illness, CIRS and detoxification in order to implement the right approach for your body.
 Natural anti-fungals may include one or a blend of the following:
Lauricidin (monolaurin)
Pau D’Arco Extract (bark)
Cat’s Claw
Caprylic Acid
Uva Ursi
Grapefruit seed extract
Garlic (Allicin)
Tea tree
Oregano
Dill
Cloves
Black walnut
Oregon grape
 #2. Anti-fungals are BEST used orally and nasally (sinus spray)
To effectively treat mold illness, you also must treat every single place that mold can be settled in and growing. Since molds grow in moist, warm cavities (think mouth, nose/sinus and gut), using both oral and nasal antifungals yields the best results.
 One of my favorite anti-fungals is the CitriDrops by Microbalance. You can also make your own nasal anti-fungal wash at home using garlic cloves and probiotics.
 Homemade Nasal Anti-fungal Wash for Mold Illness Recovery
 [RHEA: CAN YOU MAKE THIS A TEXT BOX/GRAPHIC IN THE MIDDLE?)
Ingredients & supplies
A neti pot.
Non-iodized sea salt.
Filtered water (not tap water).
A clove of fresh garlic.
A strainer.
2 probiotic capsules
 Directions
Get used to the Netipot. Use the neti pot as usual for a few days. (Instructions should come with the pot). Dissolve the correct amount of salt into lukewarm filtered water (not tap water), and then pour the solution through one nostril while tilting your head.  When done correctly, the water will flow up into the sinuses, and then down and out the other nostril.
Add in garlic + probiotics. Chop the clove of garlic & place the garlic in a strainer. Make sure that NONE of the garlic pieces can fit through the holes in the strainer (you don’t want bits of garlic in your sinuses).  Pour filtered boiling water over the garlic (through the strainer) and into a cup. Let the mix cool until it is lukewarm. Add your 2 probiotic capsules and stir into the water, then pour the lukewarm infusion into your neti pot. Add salt as usual (make sure to use the correct amount), and follow the standard method for using a neti pot. The only difference is that the water has been infused with garlic and probiotics.
 #3. Anti-fungals are useless without a binder or bio-film disruptor
When mold starts to die during the treatment, your body needs to eliminate the dead molds, yeast and released toxins. If the amount of toxins released by the dying candida is more than what your body can safely handle, you may experience a healing crisis (also known as a “herx”, “healing” or “die off” reaction). Common symptoms may include GI or other ill-feeling symptoms, such as nausea, fever, joint and muscle aches, skin breakouts and headaches. A “herx” reaction typically means your body’s usual rhythms are being recalibrated, and last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
 For this reason, a quality detoxification binder and biofilm disruptor (along with emphasis on optimizing gut health and liver function in point 8) is recommended to assist in elimination pathways.
 Binder 101
A binder is a compound that helps grab the mold and pull it out of your body. Commonly used binders include:
 Coconut Charcoal
Benedite Clay
Chlorella
Modified Citrus Pectin
Pyrophyllite clay
Cholestyramine (CSM, a prescription)
 Not all binders are created equal, and it’s most beneficial to know the type of mold you have in your body (using a test like the Great Plains Mycotoxin Test) to choose the best binder for you, since certain species are more susceptible to some more than others. Results from the test will also show which binders are most appropriate for you.
 If you are not sure of your particular mold species, I find that a broad spectrum binder like GI Detox by Biocidin or Chlorella tablets are gentle but effective (without too much constipation).
 Note: If you tend towards constipation, binders—particularly charcoal—can make you feel more constipated. Constipation busting “hacks” include: digestive bitters (like Iberogast), Liposomal Vitamin C and Magnesium Citrate like Natural Calm.
 Biofilm Disruptor 101
Biofilm disruptors help ensure both your anti-fungals and binders can work in the first place. Molds often create a glue-like matrix around themselves to protect themselves. Sure, you can take anti-fungals and binders to treat them, but if you can’t “break” into the molds, than you won’t get them out.  Biofilm disruptors  hack through the goo and allow the anti-fungals to reach the fungi and kill the mold.
Recommendation:
Interfase Plus (2-3, in between meals, 2 times per day) –OR–
Biocidin Drops (2-3, 2 times per day)
 Stress (your brain) less
With soooo many steps, therapies and treatments, mold illness recovery can be overwhelming. Not only was living in mold stressful on your health (mentally and physically), but so is recovery!
 That said, the name of the game of winning victory over mold illness is actively and intentionally seeking to stress less—physically and mentally. Since inflammatory cytokines are the key drivers of mold illness symptoms, then stress management is essential for recovery including:
 Quality sleep (7-9 hours)
Natural fresh air (daily)
Daily movement
Eating a nutrient-dense whole foods diet
Drinking clean filtered water
Minimizing screen and light exposure at night
Rewiring your brain and limbic system
 Limbic System 101
There’s a theory in the CIRS and mold illness world that the limbic system—your body’s “stress” system intertwined with memories—is hyper functioning.
 After mold illness, your body stores deep rooted memories of smells, environments, circumstances and can easily sound the “alarm” for the body to react in a myriad of ways when any similar or familiar memory is aroused—such as the smell of must in a different environment.
 In my own recovery, I personally struggled with sleeping in a bed again—I had “PTSD” like symptoms after my experience of waking up at 2 a.m. feeling like I was having a heart attack due to the chronic mold exposure and the asthma-like symptoms it gave me. I spent the next 3 months without a home, couch surfing from friend’s home to friend’s home, and not feeling comfortable back in a bed—where my previous two years of living in that environment came to a head.
 I literally had to tell my body, “It’s ok,” and my body had to tell me back, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
 Limbic system “retraining” involves actively retraining neural pathways to think, act and believe differently. It is inspired by a woman named Annie Hopper who recovered herself from her own chronic mystery illness, similar to CIRS and mold illness.
 Purify your air
Air quality matters—especially in your new environment. Air purifiers with HEPA and charcoal filters can help keep mycotoxins at bay and keep you breathing clean air as you “start over.” Like most things in the health and wellness world, not all air purifiers are created equal.
Don’t waste your money at Target or Bed Bath & Beyond. Most models on their sales floors are not the quality grade you (and your home) need—similar to how that $10 probiotic at Target is not the same as a quality probiotic that actually delivers the ingredients on the label to your gut.
 My top recommendations for a quality air filter include:
 Austin Air: The Bedroom Machine
Austin Air: Healthmate Junior Plus
Air Doctor
 I keep a big guy (like the Bedroom Machine) in the home to filter the whole house, and smaller units—like the Healthmate Junior or Air Doctor—in my bedroom.
 In addition, if you want to take things to the next level, an Air Ozone Generator can aid in ozonating your space for cleaner, fresher and disinfected air.
 You don’t have to go overboard, but investing in a couple units can help you breathe easier indoors—since we spend the majority of our time (about 22-23 hours daily) inside!
 Surround yourself with positive energy
Last, but definitely not least…mold recovery can not only be stressful, but also draining and sometimes, negative.
 If you’ve ever found yourself on an endless Facebook group for CIRS or mold illness recovery survivors, you know what I mean.
 One thing can lead to another, and before you realize it, you believe you have cancer or you’ll never recover.
 No matter what beliefs you have right now about your personal illness and recovery, know this:
 When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.
 Repeat: When given the right tools, your body innately wants to heal itself.
 You will recover. Speak truth into your body. Lean in. Seek to nourish your mind, body and soul. And believe freedom and healing is possible.
 There was a time you were not ill, and there will be a time again.
 I believe it, do you? If not, let me help you.
 Liew WP, Mohd-Redzwan S. Mycotoxin: Its Impact on Gut Health and Microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2018 Feb 26;8:60. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00060. PubMed PMID: 29535978; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5834427.
The post How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS – 12 Essentials appeared first on Meet Dr. Lauryn.
Source/Repost=> https://drlauryn.com/wellness-knowledge/how-to-treat-get-rid-of-cirs/ ** Dr. Lauryn Lax __Nutrition. Therapy. Functional Medicine ** https://drlauryn.com/
How to Treat & Get Rid of CIRS 12 Essentials via https://drlaurynlax.weebly.com/
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Charles Bradley, Acclaimed Soul Singer, Dead at 68
New Post has been published on http://gossip.network/charles-bradley-acclaimed-soul-singer-dead-at-68/
Charles Bradley, Acclaimed Soul Singer, Dead at 68
Charles Bradley, the acclaimed soul singer and live dynamo who saw his career ascend late in life, has died following a long bout with cancer. He was 68.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Charles Bradley,” the singer’s rep said in a statement. “Always a fighter, Charles battled cancer with everything he had. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2016 and underwent treatment. Bradley headed out on the road earlier this year after receiving a clean bill of health but the cancer recently returned, spreading to his liver.”
Bradley’s reps added, “Thank you for your prayers during this difficult time. Mr. Bradley was truly grateful for all the love he’s received from his fans and we hope his message of love is remembered and carried on.”
“The world lost a ton of heart today,” Gabriel Roth, co-founder of Bradley’s label Daptone Records, said. “Charles was somehow one of the meekest and strongest people I’ve ever known. His pain was a cry for universal love and humanity. His soulful moans and screams will echo forever on records and in the ears and hearts of those who were fortunate enough to share time with him. 
“I find some solace knowing that he will continue to inspire love and music in this world for generations to come,” he added. “I told him as much a few days ago. He smiled and told me, ‘I tried.’ It was probably the simplest and most inspiring thing he ever told me. I think he wanted to hug each person on this planet individually. I mean that literally, and anyone that ever saw him knows that he honestly tried.”
“RIP to our dear brother Charles Bradley,” veteran Afrobeat group and Daptone Records labelmate Antibalas wrote on Twitter. “Your heart was too big for this planet. See you on the other side. We love you.”
Over the course of three albums – 2011’s No Time for Dreaming, 2013’s Victim of Love and 2016’s Changes – Bradley blended heartfelt ballads of love, longing and remorse with raucous tracks celebrating joy and the survival of a hardscrabble life. 
Charles Bradley was born November 5th, 1948 in Florida but his mother, who had left for New York, moved Bradley to Brooklyn. At 14, Bradley left home and became homeless, sleeping on New York subway trains for warmth. “I was afraid that she was going to hurt me, so I left,” Bradley said of his mother in the 2012 documentary Charles Bradley: Soul of America. “We couldn’t see eye to eye and I was getting blamed for everything, so I was very bitter.”  
A drifter as a teen who battled with illiteracy, poverty and chronic unemployment, the Brooklyn singer would later nearly die from a penicillin allergy and find his brother murdered by Bradley’s own nephew.
In 1962, at the age of 14, Bradley’s sister took him to James Brown’s landmark performance at the Apollo Theater. The show transformed Bradley, who would later find regional success in New York as a James Brown impersonator named Black Velvet.
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“It was breathtaking,” Bradley told Rolling Stone of the Apollo show in 2016. “I didn’t know who James Brown really was but I wanted to go see. When they called James Brown onstage, I’ll never forget they had this purple light and yellow light – my two favorite colors. And when they introduced him, he came flying on the stage on one leg and I said, ‘What in the hell is this?’ [Laughs] And I was mesmerized. I was just gone. I was just shocked. Shocked. I said, ‘Wow. I wanna be something like that.'”
The fledgling impersonator went home, attached string to a broom to emulate Brown’s bombastic mic swings, and began impersonating the singer in private.
Bradley became an itinerant, traveling across the country in 1977 after spending 10 years as a cook at a Maine hospital for the mentally ill before ending up in California. After getting laid off from his job after 17 years, Bradley reconnected with his estranged mother Inez, moving back to Brooklyn in 1994 to take care of her.
At the time, Bradley nearly died from an allergy. “I was sick as a dog,” he said in Soul of America. “I was close to death. I’m allergic to penicillin and they was feeding me penicillin and my body had shut down.” After recovering, his brother Joseph told him, “Now do something that you want to do. Follow your dreams. You love music. Do it.” As documented in Soul of America, the singer was a functional illiterate, able to read at a first-grade level and seeing a tutor regularly to improve his reading skills.
Bradley never forgot Brown’s Apollo show and began to eke out a living in New York clubs covering the singer, incorporating wigs and costumes he would hand-sew himself. (During the day, Bradley worked as a handyman to make ends meet.) Roth saw one of Bradley’s shows and introduced him to label producer-musician Tom Brenneck. Brenneck would go on to produce all three Bradley albums.
“I’ll carry that man in my heart for the rest of my life,” Brenneck said in a statement.
In 2011, Bradley released his debut album No Time for Dreaming with the Menahan Street Band after a string of singles. The album, which included the galvanizing “The World (Is Going Up in Flames),” was named by Rolling Stone as one of the 50 Best Albums of the Year. “Don’t tell me how to live my life /  When you never felt the pain,” Bradley sings.
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“I been struggling for over 42 years trying to make it in the industry,” he says in Soul of America. “And at the age of 62, I’m just beginning to find my way through. I never made enough money to support myself in music, but I’m hoping that this album will make a turning point for me … I ask myself why it took so long, but you can’t question God when he want to do things.”
Victim of Love, with its unlikely hit “Strictly Reserved for You,” would follow in 2013, earning near-universal critical acclaim and bolstering Bradley’s status as a bona fide soul star with unmatched authenticity. 
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Bradley’s final album, Changes, arrived in 2016, its title taken from a cover on the album of Black Sabbath’s 1972 ballad. Bradley hadn’t heard of the heavy metal pioneers, but connected with Geezer Butler’s personal lyrics about transformation as Bradley watched his mom’s health deteriorate.
“The verse that really stuck to me was, ‘It took so long to realize/That I can still hear her last goodbyes/Now all my days are filled with tears/Wish I could go back and change these years.’ Because it was like my mom saying she was sick and she was leaving me and something about that song … I just took the last lyrics and wow. So I got stuck on it. I didn’t really have to ‘learn’ it; it just stuck to my brain.”
The minimalist video, shot after Bradley’s mom’s death, consists solely of a close-up one-shot of the singer at his most vulnerable.
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Last year, doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his stomach, forcing Bradley to cancel his fall tour. “I will fight through this like I’ve fought through the many other obstacles in my life,” Bradley said at the time. “Music is how I share my love with the world, and the love that my fans have given back brings me so much joy.” Earlier this month, the cancer metastasized to his liver.
“I love all of you out there that made my dreams come true,” Bradley said earlier this month. “When I come back, I’ll come back strong, with God’s love. With God’s will, I’ll be back soon.”
“Right now, I don’t see a stopping point ’cause I don’t see no place where I can stop at and rest in peace,” he told Rolling Stone last year. “But I know that from doing shows for the public, the love when I go out into the audience and hug ’em and the things that they say to me personally … [pauses] Wow. It’s not only me onstage doing it. I open their hearts up and they feel the love of my heart and when I go out there and really respond to ’em and talk to ’em, they tell me some things.”
This story is developing…
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