Over the years, I’ve become widely recognized for my expertise in treating mold illness. This journey didn’t begin with medical training or professional seminars but with a deeply personal health experience.

Living in a home contaminated with Chaetomium, one of the most toxic molds, led to devastating symptoms—extreme muscle weakness, unrelenting fatigue, and deep, body-wide pain. One moment stands out vividly: while holding a simple glass of water my grip failed. The glass of water slipped from my hands and onto the floor – not because I wasn’t paying attention but because of weakness and possibly because my body couldn’t follow through on such a basic task. At the time, I didn’t know it, but this was a sign of the neurological effects of mold toxicity. 

It was actually a patient who first suggested mold might be the cause of my symptoms. Testing confirmed toxic mold exposure, and that diagnosis marked the start of my recovery journey and a professional commitment to helping others avoid or overcome this challenging health condition. Fortunately, I learned how to recover from mold toxin illness and am stronger than ever through implementing what I learned 14 years ago.

While mold toxicity often goes unrecognized in traditional medicine, it is a hidden health crisis with far-reaching effects. Among the most concerning impacts are those on the brain and nervous system. 

This blog explores the critical connection between mold exposure and brain health, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment to address this multifaceted issue.

Continue reading to uncover the mechanisms behind mold-related brain disorders and learn practical strategies for recovery.

Continue reading to explore:

  • What is Mold Illness? 
  • How Mold Makes People Sick
  • Mold and Neurological Conditions
  • Testing for Mold Toxicity 
  • Strategies for Healing from Mold Toxicity
  • Move or Remediate? 

Mold Illness: A Hidden Epidemic

Mold illness often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed because its symptoms are varied and can affect multiple body systems. Patients may experience sinus and respiratory issues, digestive problems, immune dysfunction, neurological decline, or mental health symptoms like anxiety, OCD, or depression. 

This variety of symptoms leads many to consult multiple specialists without finding relief or answers. Unfortunately, traditional lab work misses mold toxicity, making it a hidden epidemic.

In addition to the broad range of symptoms, mold exposure can weaken the immune system causing low-grade infections or chronic inflammation – elevating the risk of serious health issues over time. 

How Mold Makes People Sick

Mold releases tiny particles called spores and toxic compounds known as mycotoxins and MVOCs (microbial volatile organic compounds). MVOCs are carbon-based compounds that easily evaporate into the air at room temperature. Some of these mycotoxin compounds are so toxic they have been used in biological warfare.

MVOCs are often the source of the musty odors associated with damp indoor spaces, but they can also be present without any detectable smell—some are perceptible at concentrations as low as 0.00003 ppm.

These small molecules enter the body through inhalation, skin contact, or the gastrointestinal tract. Once inside, they can damage cell membranes, disrupt the immune system, and even harm DNA, leading to a range of health issues.

The Widespread Impact of Mold Exposure on Health

Mold exposure affects multiple systems in the body. Chronic exposure can lead to systemic illness. The respiratory system is often the first to show symptoms, such as:

  • Asthma
  • Irritation of the respiratory tract and eyes
  • Allergic respiratory disease
  • Runny nose
  • Respiratory infections like bronchitis
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chronic cough
  • Sinus congestion

These symptoms can easily be mistaken for those caused by other environmental pollutants, making mold exposure an often overlooked factor in respiratory health.

However, the effects of mold exposure extend far beyond the respiratory system. Mold can disrupt the immune system, leading to increased hypersensitivity to environmental triggers and reducing the body’s ability to fight infections.

This altered immune function, combined with heightened systemic inflammation, often causes symptoms to spread to multiple systems.

Mold toxicity is a multi-system, multi-symptom condition, impacting not only the respiratory and immune systems but also the brain, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs. 

Systemic symptoms may include:

  • Neurological issues: Brain fog, headaches, migraines, light sensitivity, vertigo, neuropathy, fasciculations 
  • Cognitive challenges: Memory problems, decreased concentration
  • Mental health effects: Depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive tendencies
  • Physical symptoms: Fatigue, muscle cramps, joint pain, and stiffness
  • Digestive issues: Diarrhea, nausea, abdominal discomfort, malabsorption
  • Sleep disturbances: Poor quality sleep or insomnia
  • Immune dysfunction: Reduced resilience, frequent infections, autoimmune activation
  • Stress intolerance: Lowered ability to handle physical or emotional stress

The systemic nature of mold toxicity highlights its ability to affect nearly every part of the body, with some of the most severe impacts targeting the brain and nervous system.

Key Effects of Mold and Mycotoxins on the Brain

Exposure to mycotoxins like trichothecenes poses a significant threat to brain health. These nanoparticles, smaller than mold spores, can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and disrupt the central nervous system.  

Once inside, mycotoxins induce neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular damage, which are key contributors to neurological dysfunction. These effects have been linked to demyelination, a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 

A few of the common cognitive and neurological symptoms include brain fog, anxiety, memory loss, migraines, and vertigo.

In children, prolonged exposure can lead to developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and abnormal sensory responses, highlighting the vulnerability of younger populations to these toxins.

How? Mycotoxins exacerbate brain cell damage by disrupting mitochondrial function and increasing oxidative stress, which amplifies neuronal injury. These toxins also alter cellular processes by inhibiting protein synthesis, disrupting RNA and DNA production, and activating inflammatory pathways, such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). This cascade of cellular damage is how mold can ultimately lead to apoptosis and neurodegeneration.

The effects of mycotoxins are not limited to the brain. Peripheral nervous system damage can result in motor and sensory impairments, including weakness, tingling, and pain. Meanwhile, central nervous system damage can impair cognitive function and emotional regulation, with symptoms resembling traumatic brain injury.

These mechanisms highlight the critical role mold and mycotoxins play in neurological disorders and the importance of diagnosing and addressing these factors for effective treatment and recovery.

Let’s get into how I address mold toxicity

Having experienced mold toxicity myself, I know firsthand how overwhelming and debilitating it can be. The good news is that recovery is possible—I’ve achieved it personally and have helped hundreds, if not thousands, of others find their way to health.

Mold guide

Testing for Mold Toxicity: The First Step

If you suspect mold toxicity, the first step is to confirm exposure with targeted testing. Here’s how I typically approach it:

Testing Your Body

Mycotoxin testing is essential to pinpoint mold exposure accurately. I recommend urine tests, which directly measure the body’s levels of mycotoxins—harmful byproducts of certain molds that are metabolized and excreted through the urine. Two of my go-to testing options are:

  • RealTime Labs Total Mycotoxin Panel: This urine test identifies 16 harmful mycotoxins, including those linked to Stachybotrys (Black Mold). For enhanced accuracy, I often pair it with a glutathione challenge, which mobilizes stored mycotoxins from tissues for more precise detection.
  • MycoTOX Profile from Mosaic Diagnostics: Formerly Great Plains Labs, this profile is highly effective for identifying a wide range of mycotoxins.

My preference is to run both since the tests look for different things using different technology. But if you can just run one, do the Real Time Lab test with and without a liposomal glutathione preload.

Some functional medicine practitioners trained in these tests can interpret results and guide you through treatment or you can follow the process below or have additional support from my ebook on Amazon. Follow-up testing is crucial to monitor treatment effectiveness and track mycotoxin levels over time.

Testing Your Environment

Most mold exposures occur at home, work, or school due to issues like leaky roofs, plumbing problems, or hidden mold behind walls. I recommend hiring a reputable mold inspector who can conduct a thorough analysis. There are also DIY kits designed to detect mycotoxins that can settle in the dust in your home. My current favorite is Envirobiomics. Keep in mind that previous homes, workplaces, or even your car could contribute to mold exposure.

Additional Labs to Support Treatment Protocols

Treatment protocols can be customized according to the type of mold exposure and results from further specialized testing. Alongside mycotoxin urine tests, it’s essential to evaluate the health of the gut microbiome, nutritional status, methylation efficiency and glutathione levels, among others. These assessments help create a comprehensive picture of your health, allowing for a more targeted and effective treatment plan.

Addressing Mold Toxicity

Recovering from mold toxicity requires a tailored approach, as individual responses to mold exposure can differ greatly. That said, some general strategies and treatments can provide broad support during the recovery process.

1. Follow a Low-Inflammatory, Low-Mold Diet

Adopting a diet that reduces inflammation and supports detoxification is essential for brain health. A gluten-free, dairy-free, and processed food-free diet can minimize inflammatory triggers while avoiding high-mold and sugary foods helps reduce fungal infections, which often accompany mold toxicity. By reducing systemic inflammation, this diet creates a healthier environment for the body and the brain to recover.

2. Detoxification

Effective detoxification targets both the body and the brain. Key supplements include:

  • Phosphatidylcholine: Enhances brain cell membrane integrity and aids detoxification, critical for repairing neurological damage.
  • Probiotics: Restore gut health, which influences the gut-brain axis and helps regulate inflammation.
  • Binders: Activated Charcoal and Pectasol: Bind to mycotoxins, facilitating their removal and reducing their neurotoxic effects.
  • Magnesium: Essential for detoxification and brain health, activating enzymes that eliminate toxins and supporting mitochondrial function to reduce oxidative stress. It helps regulate neurotransmitters, alleviating neurological symptoms like brain fog, headaches, and muscle cramps, while promoting restful sleep. Forms such as magnesium glycinate and magnesium L-threonate are ideal; glycinate aids relaxation and sleep, while L-threonate crosses the blood-brain barrier, enhancing cognitive function and memory. Including magnesium in a detox protocol supports both physical and neurological recovery.

Contrary to common belief, not all toxic molds are black—some are green, like certain Aspergillus species, which produce harmful mycotoxins such as aflatoxins and ochratoxins.

Even molds like Penicillium, which may appear blue or green, can release toxins that are equally concerning. If an inspector or airconditioning specialist tells you that something is not toxic mold or is “mildew” by just looking at it, get an inspector who will test it using PCR technology.

For instance, trichothecenes, produced by molds such as Stachybotrys chartarum (commonly known as black mold), are among the most toxic and can severely impact neurological and immune function.

Addressing exposure to such potent mycotoxins often requires more intensive interventions. This can include stronger binders, higher doses of antioxidants like liposomal glutathione, and additional therapies such as IV treatments to support detoxification, reduce oxidative stress, and repair cellular damage. 

A tailored approach may be helpful for those who are very ill, to factor in each individual’s detoxification capacity that depends on factors such as genetics, nutrient levels, and microbiome status.

Ensure that the provider is an expert who has extensive experience in evaluating these variables and customizes a protocol to ensure it is both safe and effective for your unique needs.

3. Infrared Sauna Therapy

Sweating through infrared sauna sessions can be a supportive way to remove toxins, including mycotoxins, from the body. This process reduces the toxic load on the body and brain, allowing them to heal. Regular sessions can also improve circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to damaged brain cells while aiding in their recovery.

4. Lymphatic Support

The lymphatic system plays a critical role in clearing toxins, including those that impact the brain. Stimulating lymphatic flow through gentle exercise, dry brushing, or lymphatic massage enhances toxin clearance, reducing the overall inflammatory burden on the nervous system and supporting improved brain function.

5. Consider IV Therapy

For more direct and immediate support, IV therapy can deliver essential nutrients to help the brain recover.

  • Glutathione combats oxidative stress, protecting neurons from further damage.

IV therapy

6. Incorporate Meditation Practices

Meditation is a powerful tool for healing the neurological impacts of mold toxicity. Stress exacerbates neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, which can worsen brain fog, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction. Regular meditation practice reduces stress by calming the nervous system and promoting a parasympathetic state, which is essential for repair and recovery.

Meditation has also been shown to enhance neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and heal, making it particularly beneficial for recovering from neurological damage caused by mycotoxins. Techniques such as mindfulness meditation, breathwork, or guided visualization can help lower cortisol levels, reduce inflammation, and improve focus and emotional regulation, further supporting neurological resilience and recovery. 

Each of these interventions not only targets the physical burden of mold toxicity but also specifically supports neurological health and brain function. By combining these strategies, patients can effectively address both the systemic and cognitive impacts of mold exposure, paving the way for meaningful recovery.

7. Other Considerations 

Hyperbaric treatments, addressing mast cell activation and histamine intolerance, vagus nerve stimulation, neurofeedback, stem cell treatments, PEMf, ozone therapy, and treating low-grade infections.

Managing Belongings: To Remediate or Replace?

Healing fully from mold exposure is impossible if you are still being exposed to it. Addressing the source of contamination is a critical first step. Mold spores and mycotoxins can infiltrate your home, settling in air ducts, on surfaces, and within porous materials like clothing, furniture, and personal items.

In cases involving highly toxic molds, replacing contaminated belongings is a safer option than attempting to clean them, especially if you are transitioning to a new, mold-free environment.

Professional mold remediation is essential—DIY efforts can often disturb the mold, releasing even more mycotoxins into the air and exacerbating the problem.

Consulting with a knowledgeable functional medicine physician and a reputable mold remediation expert is crucial. These professionals can help determine which items are salvageable and guide you through creating a safe, mold-free living environment to support your recovery.

Moving Toward Recovery

Fully recovering from mold illness is achievable with the right support and guidance. A functional medicine provider experienced in mold toxicity can help you navigate this complex process, offering personalized strategies for testing, dietary changes, detoxification protocols, and environmental modifications.

For additional guidance, my Mold Toxicity Workbook and Mold Hub page provide in-depth resources, including testing recommendations, diet tips, supplement suggestions, and lifestyle strategies to aid your recovery.

If you suspect mold problems in your home or workplace and have questions about their impact on your health, start with my fact sheet, It Could Be Mold, or visit the Mold Hub page for comprehensive information and resources.

Although it can be overwhelming, please know that recovery, resilience, and renewed vitality are well within reach, one step at a time.

  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21269928/ 
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32078193/ 
  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26010737/ 
  4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21078183/ 
  5. https://www.ifm.org/news-insights/mold-toxicity-pathways-diseases-interventions/ 
  6. https://www.townsendletter.com/article/the-link-between-mold-toxicity-and-occult-infections-functional-medicine-leads-the-way/ 
  7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21954354/ 
  8. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/holistic-psychiatry/201708/mold-toxicity-common-cause-psychiatric-symptoms 
  9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27417439/ 
  10. https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/22/6/10.31083/j.jin2206137/htm