If you’re anything like me, you believe in the basic hygienic science of clean air, clean water, and clean, nutritious food as a great starting point for optimal health. This trifecta of environmental health factors has always been the foundation of human health.

We all want clean air, food, and water, and to some degree we have it thanks to advances in wastewater treatment, low-emissions technologies, and healthy farming practices. Of course, in other ways, modern society has made our environment even more toxic with plastics, pesticides, food additives, and potentially harmful chemicals in everything from the homes we live in and the clothes we wear to the cleaning solutions, personal hygiene products, and cosmetics we use.

Most of us never notice the impact these potentially harmful substances have on our health and well-being. That’s because our bodies have built-in detoxification mechanisms designed to filter out and excrete these chemicals. Assuming these mechanisms are functioning properly, the toxic load does not exceed its capacity and we notice little, if any impact.

Why Toxic Mold Often Goes Undiagnosed and Misunderstood

One common environmental toxin that often overwhelms the body’s detox mechanisms is toxic mold. Such exposure is frequently dismissed as a potential cause of chronic illness.  However, many of the patients we treat here at PROVOKE Health first come to us reporting symptoms that are characteristic of mold toxicity.

These patients often tell us they have already consulted with numerous doctors and specialists, adding they have never received a clear diagnosis or effective treatment. At best, patients are diagnosed as having chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, or some other vague illness and are then prescribed medication that alleviates some of their symptoms to some degree. Usually, though, these patients struggle with chronic symptoms that disrupt their lives and are left without any insight as to what’s making them feel so poorly.

If you are concerned about toxic mold or are experiencing symptoms you suspect may be related to mold exposure, you have come to the right place. In this post, I present practical steps to have your home tested (and treated, if necessary) for toxic mold. and to recover from mold exposure that you suspect is making you or one of your family members ill.

First Steps: Mold Testing and Remediation

Let me start by saying that it’s unlikely your home is free of mold and mycotoxins (the harmful substances molds produce and release into the air).

A home is, in essence, a living organism. We are constantly bringing microorganisms such as mold into the home from the outdoors, and this is normal. The molds we are more concerned about are Continue reading…