Indoor air

Did you know that on average, indoor air is 2-5 x more toxic than outdoor air? This is an actual estimate by the Environmental Protection Agency.

When it comes to mold issues, this is due to a combination of modern building practices and poor ventilation. We were also never taught how to look for mold issues, properly clean our homes and perform regular maintenance check ups.

For many people, when they discovery that their home has been making them sick, they are unable to leave or remediate their home.

But there is a lot you can do to protect your body while still living in mold and prevent further colonization. Keep in mind, this is not medical advice :)

Antioxidants

Our cells become very negatively impacted from consistent mold exposure. Specifically the outer part of the cell, which should be more fluid like, becomes hardened from toxin exposure. Normally, cells accept nutrients in and release toxins out; but over time with consistent exposure, that cell membrane loses that fluidity and traps the toxins inside, unable to accept nutrients too.

This affects many cellular processes, specifically our body’s ability to create energy since the mitochondria (powerhouse of cell) becomes affected.

Key nutrient supports that help here

• CoQ10

• Vitamin E

• L Carnitine

• Selenium

Another powerhouse is lycopene, which is the extract from tomato, that helps in being cellularly protective while living in mold.

All of these nutrients will help to drive down oxidative stress, therefore supporting the body.

Along that note, eating a diverse, plant rich diet full of colors and fiber. You can’t out supplement a diet that is lacking in these!

Nasal sprays

Mold often colonizes in the sinuses. This means as it makes a home there, it will start to produce it’s own mycotoxins in the body. This is why when many people leave their mold home, they still have symptoms.

Binders: what are we binding?

Binding & bile support

Mycotoxins are fat soluble, so when they enter our body, they will go through the liver, bile, and gallbladder to ultimately get excreted through the GI tract/stool.

This is a very common area to get “backed up” and many people have constipation as a result. Bile, which is made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder, gets secreted into the small intestine when we are eating, and this stimulates gut motility.

If it’s not getting secreted properly, we may deal with constipation, among other things.

Eating bitter foods, taking supports to help regulate bile flow, etc are key to helping the body continuously excrete the mycotoxins. Some of the best supports include Phosphatidylcholine, bitter formulations, artichoke, ginger, and dandelion.

If you do not have a gallbladder, this message still applies. Bile is released in less amounts, but new pathways have formed for the body to still secrete it. Studies show with gallbladder removal, a combination of taurine and milk thistle are very helpful!

You can see my favorite supplemental supports for gallbadder here on my Fullscript plan

So what’s next?

We need to bind the bile. Best supports for now will be to use 2-4 tablespoons of ground insoluble fiber like chia, flax or psyllium husk. One study showed 1 cup of steamed kale daily to be very effective too.

There are other great binders, too. Such as charcoal, bentonite clay, zeolite, aloe, humic/fulvic acid, etc. Many of these binders are great and have a time, place and recommended amount of time to take them!

Nervous system

Do not wait to start this!

When you're exposed to mold, your body perceives it as a biological threat — especially if you're sensitive or already stressed. This activates your Cell Danger Response and dysregulates your nervous system, trapping you in a loop of inflammation, fatigue, and survival mode.

While you're still in mold, your body is in a biochemical and neurological survival state. That’s not weakness — that’s wisdom.

Mold exposure chronically activates your sympathetic nervous system (fight/flight) and suppresses the parasympathetic system (rest/digest/heal).

I know it may sound backward, to try and send safety cues to your body while still living in that “perceived threat”, but the body can start to unwind and re regulate in small amounts by providing this support.

Learn more about nervous system regulation as a key piece to treatment with my interview below on the Holistic Hub Podcast.

Navigating sensitivities

Mast cells & environment

After the limbic system and vagal systems start to become affected, this is where we see mast cell activation and histamine intolerance occur.

This is why all THREE areas need to usually be worked on, together. Integrating in various mast cell stabilizers are going to be important for those individuals with increased sensitivities.

Depending on someone’s sensitivity will dictate how slow they need to onboard these, and which ones may be best for them

There are many mast cell supports, a few great ones include:

• PEA

• Luteolin

• Perilla seed extract

• Resveratrol

• Baicalin

• DAO: “HistaHarmony”, best one I’ve seen work

• Nettles

• Aloe 200x

• Quail egg powder

• Chamomile tea

On this note, it’s important to be taking care of the environment too and keeping it as clean as possible, while using proper air purifiers.

The best air purifier is AirDoctor, this link gives you almost half off their products.

In Case You Missed It

• Subscribe to my podcast, on Apple or Spotify to get the latest interviews with varying health experts in the space of chronic illness.

• See my other recent Instagram post on glucuronidation, a pathway that may need more support than we think when it comes to mold illness.

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Come to a retreat with me!

I will be hosting a retreat next year that will allow for full immersion into restoration and wholeness, bringing together the pieces necessary for you to come into that full alignment. This has been in the works now for 3 years, and I can’t wait to share more with you soon.

But for now, mark your calendars: November 15th-21st, 2026.

You can follow the Instagram account here: Vital Reset Retreat.

If you are looking to work 1:1 with me, you can add yourself to the waitlist or email us here at [email protected].

Until next time,

Happiness and health

Dr. Steph