It took three years to diagnose her mysterious symptoms, and ten years to reduce her toxic load, but Rohini Peris used her experience to form the Environmental Health Association of Quebec. According to this recent article in the Montreal Gazette:
When inflammation, bruises and pain began appearing in her body in 1993, Rohini Peris had no idea what might have been the cause.
She saw several doctors and they too were stumped, Peris recalled.
Three years later, the Dollard des Ormeaux resident finally got a diagnosis: Tests at a U.S. laboratory revealed high levels of the chemical Lindane (a chlorinated pesticide used to exterminate spiders) and pesticides DDT and DDE in her blood.
Her husband, son and daughter exhibited similar symptoms, and what followed were 10 years of intense detoxification to eliminate these chemicals from their bodies.
They suffered from what is known as environmental/multiple chemical sensitivities, a chronic condition with multi-organ symptoms recognized in Ontario and Nova Scotia and by the World Health Organization – but not yet in Quebec.
According to the Environmental Health Association of Quebec, which seeks to promote awareness of this condition, it can develop in response to relatively low levels of exposure to multiple and unrelated chemicals.
Peris, who is the association president, says it took her 10 years of “intense detoxification” and elimination of many products from her household – from cleaning products to perfumes – to get her toxification down by 40 percent.
The Environmental Health Association website offers information on EMF sensitivities, an article by MCS researcher Dr. Martin Pall, and an excellent press release stating the specific needs of people suffering from environmental sensitivities.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Asthma and Allergies Linked to Mold
A study released this month says children who live in homes with visible mold are more likely to suffer from asthma and allergies. According to the following article posted on FoxNews.com:
Researchers found that across 61 international studies since the 1990s, children living in water-damaged, moldy homes were more likely to have asthma, wheezing problems or nasal allergies than their peers.
The findings do not prove that mold is the culprit, according to the study's lead researcher.
However, lab research has suggested that exposure to mold and airborne mold spores can create inflammation in the airways, added Dr. Christina Tischer, of the German Research Center for Environmental Health in Neuherberg.
These latest findings underscore the importance of not only getting rid of visible mold, but also preventing it in the first place, Tischer told Reuters Health in an email.
People often believe that mold is bad news for their lung health, and many studies have supported that idea. But some recent studies have linked certain proteins in mold "components" in the home to a lower risk of asthma and allergies in children. Those components are particular fungus cells that can mix in with house dust.
So for their review, Tischer and her colleagues separated studies that examined visible mold -- the most obvious sign of a mold problem -- from the smaller number in which researchers measured mold components in household dust samples.
They found that overall, children in homes with visible mold were 49 percent more likely to have asthma than kids not exposed to the problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 10 percent of all American kids have asthma.
Meanwhile, the children's risk of nasal allergies was 39 percent higher.
Exposure to mold components in house dust was linked to a lower risk of those respiratory ills, the researchers report in the European Respiratory Journal.
In theory, that finding could be due to differences between visible mold and the mold components that are part of the normal mix of bacteria, fungus and other microbes in indoor air.
"Visible mold patches at the walls, or a moldy odor, is indicating that the normal microbial composition is out of kilter, which is most often due to dampness, excessive moisture or building damages," Tischer explained.
According to one theory -- the "hygiene hypothesis" -- living with the normal mix of microbes helps young children's immune systems develop in a way that makes allergic reactions less likely.
Tischer said that getting rid of visible mold "might be a first important step in order to create a healthy environment at home."
But, she added, the reasons for the mold problem have to be addressed too. That means steps like repairing leaky plumbing or other sources of water damage, and lowering humidity in the home with better ventilation.
Researchers found that across 61 international studies since the 1990s, children living in water-damaged, moldy homes were more likely to have asthma, wheezing problems or nasal allergies than their peers.
The findings do not prove that mold is the culprit, according to the study's lead researcher.
However, lab research has suggested that exposure to mold and airborne mold spores can create inflammation in the airways, added Dr. Christina Tischer, of the German Research Center for Environmental Health in Neuherberg.
These latest findings underscore the importance of not only getting rid of visible mold, but also preventing it in the first place, Tischer told Reuters Health in an email.
People often believe that mold is bad news for their lung health, and many studies have supported that idea. But some recent studies have linked certain proteins in mold "components" in the home to a lower risk of asthma and allergies in children. Those components are particular fungus cells that can mix in with house dust.
So for their review, Tischer and her colleagues separated studies that examined visible mold -- the most obvious sign of a mold problem -- from the smaller number in which researchers measured mold components in household dust samples.
They found that overall, children in homes with visible mold were 49 percent more likely to have asthma than kids not exposed to the problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 10 percent of all American kids have asthma.
Meanwhile, the children's risk of nasal allergies was 39 percent higher.
Exposure to mold components in house dust was linked to a lower risk of those respiratory ills, the researchers report in the European Respiratory Journal.
In theory, that finding could be due to differences between visible mold and the mold components that are part of the normal mix of bacteria, fungus and other microbes in indoor air.
"Visible mold patches at the walls, or a moldy odor, is indicating that the normal microbial composition is out of kilter, which is most often due to dampness, excessive moisture or building damages," Tischer explained.
According to one theory -- the "hygiene hypothesis" -- living with the normal mix of microbes helps young children's immune systems develop in a way that makes allergic reactions less likely.
Tischer said that getting rid of visible mold "might be a first important step in order to create a healthy environment at home."
But, she added, the reasons for the mold problem have to be addressed too. That means steps like repairing leaky plumbing or other sources of water damage, and lowering humidity in the home with better ventilation.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
My Clean Pantry
I organized our kitchen pantry last week. A small feat for some. A major milestone for me.
Organization was one of my fortes in my previous life. I even did some public speaking on the subject.
As our toxic mold exposure grew over the years, my ability to organize diminished. I became easily overwhelmed. I would see piles of papers or heaps of laundry and become paralyzed. I couldn’t make decisions about the contents of the piles. Decisions, even the smallest of them, brought high levels of anxiety.
Moving out of the house didn’t help my decline in brain function. If anything, it worsened. I would find myself in a room unsure of why I was there. Simple tasks like doing the dishes became daunting. I forgot appointments and asked family members to put their needs in writing so I wouldn’t forget. Multi-tasking became impossible.
After our move to Arizona, I struggled to find my way around. (This was quite a switch from the old days when I used to easily conquer destinations with my impeccable sense of direction.) One Saturday morning I headed to a hair appointment in a different part of town. Somehow I got turned around. I found myself headed toward home and had no idea how to find my destination. The salon receptionist listened as I sobbed uncontrollably and graciously walked me through the streets and turns.
This 3-minute video shows what happens to bullet ants when their bodies are infiltrated by a parasitic fungus. According to the narrator, the ants become disoriented and confused.
It's been two years since that fateful drive to the hair salon. I continue to feel disoriented at times and still struggle with my memory. But I find myself with a renewed ability to organize and perform daily tasks. My desk is less cluttered. My clothes are stored in neat piles. And my pantry is finally organized.
Now that I've succeeded with the pantry, I'm ready to attack the bathroom drawers, the laundry room cabinets, and the spice cabinet. I’ve become an organizing maniac. Which shows I'm still struggling with my obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Something I'll have to work on... if I remember.
Organization was one of my fortes in my previous life. I even did some public speaking on the subject.
As our toxic mold exposure grew over the years, my ability to organize diminished. I became easily overwhelmed. I would see piles of papers or heaps of laundry and become paralyzed. I couldn’t make decisions about the contents of the piles. Decisions, even the smallest of them, brought high levels of anxiety.
Moving out of the house didn’t help my decline in brain function. If anything, it worsened. I would find myself in a room unsure of why I was there. Simple tasks like doing the dishes became daunting. I forgot appointments and asked family members to put their needs in writing so I wouldn’t forget. Multi-tasking became impossible.
After our move to Arizona, I struggled to find my way around. (This was quite a switch from the old days when I used to easily conquer destinations with my impeccable sense of direction.) One Saturday morning I headed to a hair appointment in a different part of town. Somehow I got turned around. I found myself headed toward home and had no idea how to find my destination. The salon receptionist listened as I sobbed uncontrollably and graciously walked me through the streets and turns.
This 3-minute video shows what happens to bullet ants when their bodies are infiltrated by a parasitic fungus. According to the narrator, the ants become disoriented and confused.
It's been two years since that fateful drive to the hair salon. I continue to feel disoriented at times and still struggle with my memory. But I find myself with a renewed ability to organize and perform daily tasks. My desk is less cluttered. My clothes are stored in neat piles. And my pantry is finally organized.
Now that I've succeeded with the pantry, I'm ready to attack the bathroom drawers, the laundry room cabinets, and the spice cabinet. I’ve become an organizing maniac. Which shows I'm still struggling with my obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Something I'll have to work on... if I remember.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Story of Tooth #8
Four years ago our then 7th-grade daughter tripped and fell during indoor track practice, cracking her front tooth.
Accidents like this were not uncommon in our family. Our struggles with coordination and balance would only become clear in hindsight.
An attempt was made to save her tooth, but it soon became apparent that the tooth was dying. The dentist advised a root canal. We didn't think twice.
Kristen had been our "seizure child," developing complex partial seizure disorder soon after our move to Colorado. A root canal seemed like a minor issue in comparison.
One year after her root canal we vacated our home. Her seizures abated, and for the first time in seven years she was off all seizure medications. She was struggling with knee pain, however, and wore a knee brace most of the time. She was fatigued and struggled with mood. The mold exposure had taken its toll on Kristen, just as it had on the rest of us.
As I searched intensively for dietary options to recover our health, I came across an article titled "The Effect of Root Canals on Health" by Paul Pitchford in his book Healing with Whole Foods. According to Pitchford:
. . . root canals may cause dangerous weakening of the internal organs; people with seriously imbalanced health who have had root canals performed or recommended should consider how to treat this dental problem as a priority in their healing process.
The idea that Kristen's tooth #8 was holding back her recovery was a new thought. New and overwhelming. I made an appointment with a holistic dentist. "It looks fine to me," he reassured me. "I think you're fine to leave it." It was exactly what I wanted to hear, but I still felt unsettled.
We began an aggressive "attack" on Kristen's knees through acupuncture. We also launched an all-out offensive with a strong anti-fungal diet, eliminating all grains, fruits, nuts, and sugars.
Kristen began to turn the corner. Her knees improved, her fatigue improved slightly, and she began to show signs of new life.
But there was something missing. Something holding her back. She showed very few signs of detox. No rashes like the rest of us. I thought again about her root canal and made an appointment with a different holistic dentist. He advised against extraction, suggesting a crown because of her age and the obvious cosmetic issue with front tooth #8.
I couldn't get past the nagging feeling that something was wrong with the root canal. And if I've learned anything in these last four years, it's to listen to that feeling.
I continued to research and came across the website Huggins Applied Healing. (Dr. Huggins is one of the world's most controversial dentists because of his stand on mercury fillings.) I read an article that shed some light on the issue of root canals, stating:
Extremely toxic anaerobic bacteria have been found and identified in and around root canals.
I called the Huggins office and requested a referral for a dentist in Arizona. I found one in Phoenix. Upon checking this dentist's website, I found a meridian tooth chart which shows the relationship between specific teeth and the rest of the body. According to the chart, tooth #8 has a direct relationship with the knee. In addition, tooth #8 is linked to conceptual connections and a whole host of emotional issues which have plagued Kristen for the last several years.
I felt sure the tooth needed to go. But what about Kristen? I presented her with the options.
1. Keep the root canal and get a crown, which will successfully deal with the tooth discoloration.
2. Extract the tooth and have a removable fake tooth.
She thought for a moment. "I think I would feel better without the tooth." She said it with strong conviction. I knew she was on board.
Kristen's tooth was extracted on May 31. It should have been a traumatic experience. Perhaps because a missing tooth pales in comparison to losing a home, health, and a community of friends, Kristen took the surgery in stride. In fact, later in the day she looked at me, smiled with a big toothless grin, and said, "I feel better."
A cloud had lifted from Kristen. The change was dramatic. Even one of the dental assistants commented the next day, "Kristen, you look better!"
Three days after the extraction Kristen began to show signs of die-off—the evidence of detox we had been waiting to see. She grew feverish and broke out in numerous rashes.
The symptoms slowly passed and Kristen continued to show signs of new strength and health. With tooth #8 now sitting in a Ziploc bag, Kristen has a new lease on life and an empowering story to tell.
Accidents like this were not uncommon in our family. Our struggles with coordination and balance would only become clear in hindsight.
An attempt was made to save her tooth, but it soon became apparent that the tooth was dying. The dentist advised a root canal. We didn't think twice.
Kristen had been our "seizure child," developing complex partial seizure disorder soon after our move to Colorado. A root canal seemed like a minor issue in comparison.
One year after her root canal we vacated our home. Her seizures abated, and for the first time in seven years she was off all seizure medications. She was struggling with knee pain, however, and wore a knee brace most of the time. She was fatigued and struggled with mood. The mold exposure had taken its toll on Kristen, just as it had on the rest of us.
As I searched intensively for dietary options to recover our health, I came across an article titled "The Effect of Root Canals on Health" by Paul Pitchford in his book Healing with Whole Foods. According to Pitchford:
. . . root canals may cause dangerous weakening of the internal organs; people with seriously imbalanced health who have had root canals performed or recommended should consider how to treat this dental problem as a priority in their healing process.
The idea that Kristen's tooth #8 was holding back her recovery was a new thought. New and overwhelming. I made an appointment with a holistic dentist. "It looks fine to me," he reassured me. "I think you're fine to leave it." It was exactly what I wanted to hear, but I still felt unsettled.
We began an aggressive "attack" on Kristen's knees through acupuncture. We also launched an all-out offensive with a strong anti-fungal diet, eliminating all grains, fruits, nuts, and sugars.
Kristen began to turn the corner. Her knees improved, her fatigue improved slightly, and she began to show signs of new life.
But there was something missing. Something holding her back. She showed very few signs of detox. No rashes like the rest of us. I thought again about her root canal and made an appointment with a different holistic dentist. He advised against extraction, suggesting a crown because of her age and the obvious cosmetic issue with front tooth #8.
I couldn't get past the nagging feeling that something was wrong with the root canal. And if I've learned anything in these last four years, it's to listen to that feeling.
I continued to research and came across the website Huggins Applied Healing. (Dr. Huggins is one of the world's most controversial dentists because of his stand on mercury fillings.) I read an article that shed some light on the issue of root canals, stating:
Extremely toxic anaerobic bacteria have been found and identified in and around root canals.
I called the Huggins office and requested a referral for a dentist in Arizona. I found one in Phoenix. Upon checking this dentist's website, I found a meridian tooth chart which shows the relationship between specific teeth and the rest of the body. According to the chart, tooth #8 has a direct relationship with the knee. In addition, tooth #8 is linked to conceptual connections and a whole host of emotional issues which have plagued Kristen for the last several years.
I felt sure the tooth needed to go. But what about Kristen? I presented her with the options.
1. Keep the root canal and get a crown, which will successfully deal with the tooth discoloration.
2. Extract the tooth and have a removable fake tooth.
She thought for a moment. "I think I would feel better without the tooth." She said it with strong conviction. I knew she was on board.
Kristen's tooth was extracted on May 31. It should have been a traumatic experience. Perhaps because a missing tooth pales in comparison to losing a home, health, and a community of friends, Kristen took the surgery in stride. In fact, later in the day she looked at me, smiled with a big toothless grin, and said, "I feel better."
A cloud had lifted from Kristen. The change was dramatic. Even one of the dental assistants commented the next day, "Kristen, you look better!"
Three days after the extraction Kristen began to show signs of die-off—the evidence of detox we had been waiting to see. She grew feverish and broke out in numerous rashes.
The symptoms slowly passed and Kristen continued to show signs of new strength and health. With tooth #8 now sitting in a Ziploc bag, Kristen has a new lease on life and an empowering story to tell.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Formaldehyde and Styrene
I used to avoid reading about dangerous substances. I didn't like hearing about things that might do me harm.
Now I gravitate to these articles. I love reading about toxicity. Our mold exposure turned me around. Truth is not easy to hear. But it's freeing.
Avoiding chemicals is impossible. Making wise choices is not. Last week the government added formaldehyde to their growing list of cancer-causing substances. According to the following Reuters article:
The government on Friday added formaldehyde, a substance found in plastics and other commonly used products, to a list of known carcinogens and warned that the chemical styrene might cause cancer.
In a report prepared for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), scientists warned that people with higher exposure to formaldehyde were more at risk for nasopharyngeal cancer, myeloid leukemia and other cancers.
"There is now sufficient evidence from studies in humans to show that individuals with higher measures of exposure to formaldehyde are at increased risk for certain types of rare cancers ...," the Report on Carcinogens said.
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical widely used to make resins for household items, such as composite wood products, paper product coatings, plastics, synthetic fibers, and textile finishes.
It is also commonly used as a preservative in medical laboratories, mortuaries, and some consumer products, including hair straightening products.
The report, produced by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), also added styrene to the list of substances that were reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.
Styrene is a synthetic chemical used in the manufacture of products such as rubber, plastic, insulation, fiberglass, pipes, automobile parts, food containers, and carpet backing.
The greatest exposure to styrene in the general population is through cigarette smoking, the report said.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC), an industry group, lashed out at the report, saying it was concerned that politics may have hijacked the scientific process.
"Today's report by HHS made unfounded classifications of both formaldehyde and styrene and will unnecessarily alarm consumers," Cal Dooley, president and CEO of the ACC, said in a statement.
Jennifer Sass of the National Resources Defense Council, a U.S. environmental group, praised the government for publishing the report in the face of what she described as pressure by chemical companies to prevent its release.
"The chemical industry fought the truth, the science, and the public -- but, in the end our government experts came through for us, giving the public accurate information about the health risks from chemicals that are commonly found in our homes, schools, and workplaces," Sass wrote in a blog.
The report also listed aristolochic acids, found in some plants, as a known carcinogen and added the fungicide captafol, some inhalable glass wool fibers, cobalt-tungsten carbide, riddelliine and o-Nitrotoluene to the list of substances reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens.
It, however, said listing the substances did not in itself mean they would cause cancer. Amount and duration of exposure, and susceptibility to a substance were among the many factors that affected whether a person developed cancer, it said.
The government report may be viewed here.
What can we do to offset our exposure to these chemicals? Here are a couple of options:
1. Invest in an air purifier for your home, office, or school. Austin Air Systems offers high quality. The HealthMate+ is specifically designed to deal with chemical vapors. Click here to find out more.
2. An immediate and more affordable option is zeolite. Zeolite actually attracts odors and gases and traps them in its crystalline structure. Click here to view one provider of zeolite granules.
Now I gravitate to these articles. I love reading about toxicity. Our mold exposure turned me around. Truth is not easy to hear. But it's freeing.
Avoiding chemicals is impossible. Making wise choices is not. Last week the government added formaldehyde to their growing list of cancer-causing substances. According to the following Reuters article:
The government on Friday added formaldehyde, a substance found in plastics and other commonly used products, to a list of known carcinogens and warned that the chemical styrene might cause cancer.
In a report prepared for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), scientists warned that people with higher exposure to formaldehyde were more at risk for nasopharyngeal cancer, myeloid leukemia and other cancers.
"There is now sufficient evidence from studies in humans to show that individuals with higher measures of exposure to formaldehyde are at increased risk for certain types of rare cancers ...," the Report on Carcinogens said.
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical widely used to make resins for household items, such as composite wood products, paper product coatings, plastics, synthetic fibers, and textile finishes.
It is also commonly used as a preservative in medical laboratories, mortuaries, and some consumer products, including hair straightening products.
The report, produced by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), also added styrene to the list of substances that were reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.
Styrene is a synthetic chemical used in the manufacture of products such as rubber, plastic, insulation, fiberglass, pipes, automobile parts, food containers, and carpet backing.
The greatest exposure to styrene in the general population is through cigarette smoking, the report said.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC), an industry group, lashed out at the report, saying it was concerned that politics may have hijacked the scientific process.
"Today's report by HHS made unfounded classifications of both formaldehyde and styrene and will unnecessarily alarm consumers," Cal Dooley, president and CEO of the ACC, said in a statement.
Jennifer Sass of the National Resources Defense Council, a U.S. environmental group, praised the government for publishing the report in the face of what she described as pressure by chemical companies to prevent its release.
"The chemical industry fought the truth, the science, and the public -- but, in the end our government experts came through for us, giving the public accurate information about the health risks from chemicals that are commonly found in our homes, schools, and workplaces," Sass wrote in a blog.
The report also listed aristolochic acids, found in some plants, as a known carcinogen and added the fungicide captafol, some inhalable glass wool fibers, cobalt-tungsten carbide, riddelliine and o-Nitrotoluene to the list of substances reasonably anticipated to be carcinogens.
It, however, said listing the substances did not in itself mean they would cause cancer. Amount and duration of exposure, and susceptibility to a substance were among the many factors that affected whether a person developed cancer, it said.
The government report may be viewed here.
What can we do to offset our exposure to these chemicals? Here are a couple of options:
1. Invest in an air purifier for your home, office, or school. Austin Air Systems offers high quality. The HealthMate+ is specifically designed to deal with chemical vapors. Click here to find out more.
2. An immediate and more affordable option is zeolite. Zeolite actually attracts odors and gases and traps them in its crystalline structure. Click here to view one provider of zeolite granules.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Fungal Illness Often Missed
Fungal infections such as Valley Fever are readily identifiable by physicians. However, systemic fungal infections caused by toxic mold, overuse of antibiotics, or other factors are often missed. In his article Is Hidden Fungus Making You Ill?, functional medicine pioneer Dr. Mark Hyman addresses this issue.
Yeast overgrowth is quite common, but many people don't know they have it and conventional doctors tend to ignore it. In medical school, we are taught that you either have a disease or you don't. It's black and white. However, our bodies weren't designed with an "on" or "off" switch for disease. All diseases occur in shades of gray along a continuum of imbalance along spectrum of disease.
Medical students learn about fungal and yeast problems, but only in a limited way. They know that AIDS patients have severe yeast and fungal infections and need long-term antifungal treatment. People with diabetes tend to grow yeast because yeast likes sugar. Babies get thrush and need antifungal treatment. Women get vaginal Candida yeast infections. All of these are well-accepted and treatable problems. Unfortunately more subtle problems related to yeast are usually ignored and not linked to patients' complaints. If a subject is not taught in medical school, it is assumed not to be real. Medical history proves this is a dangerous assumption.
. . .
We know that yeast overgrowth can be triggered by a number of things. These include a high-sugar, high-fat, low-fiber diet, impaired immunity, use of drugs like antibiotics, birth control pills, estrogen, steroids like prednisone, and psychological stress.
Although symptoms of yeast overgrowth are similar to those of many other conditions, you may have a yeast problem if you have these problems:
General Symptoms
• Chronic fatigue
• Loss of energy
• General malaise
• Decreased libido
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
• Thrush
• Bloating and gas
• Intestinal cramps
• Rectal itching
• Altered bowel function such as diarrhea or constipation
Genitourinary Symptoms
• Yeast infections
• Frequent bladder infections
• Interstitial cystitis (irritable bladder)
Hormonal Complaints
• Menstrual irregularities like pain, bleeding, etc.
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Thyroid dysfunction
Nervous System Complaints
• Depression
• Irritability
• Inability to concentrate
Immune System Complaints
• Allergies
• Chemical sensitivities
• Low immune function
Past History
• Chronic yeast infections
• Chronic antibiotic use for infections or acne
• Oral birth control pill usage
• Oral steroid hormone usage
Associated Conditions
• Sensitivity to foods, chemicals, or other allergens
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Craving for foods rich in carbohydrates or yeast
• Toenail fungus
Many tests we use for diagnosis of yeast problems are not definitive or foolproof. It is often a diagnosis that must be made from a patient's story, symptoms, and physical findings on examination. Blood antibody levels for yeasts, stool tests, and organic acid urine tests for yeast metabolites can be helpful if they come out positive but don't rule yeast out if they're negative.
The best method for diagnosis is a good history for risk factors like antibiotic use and symptoms of chronic yeast problems. The symptoms of yeast overgrowth vary from person to person and the response to treatments will vary. Some people may need aggressive treatment, while others need only simple changes to make a significant difference in their health.
I recommend a systematic approach to yeast overgrowth. Taking the following steps can help overcome this common but under-diagnosed ailment.
Overcoming Yeast Overgrowth
1. Address predisposing factors. Don't take antibiotics, steroids, or hormones unless absolutely medically necessary.
2. Eat a diet that doesn't feed yeast in the gut (low sugar and refined carbohydrates, and low mold and yeast in food—see below).
3. Use probiotics to repopulate the gut with healthy bacteria.
4. Take antifungal herbs and medications when indicated.
5. Identify potential environmental toxic fungi and molds in your home or workplace.
6. Reduce stress.
In his article, Dr. Hyman also lists the following natural antifungals:
• Oregano -- Oil of oregano has many antibacterial and antifungal properties.
• Garlic -- Fresh, crushed garlic is a potent antimicrobial and immune booster.
• Citrus seed extract -- The phytochemicals in citrus seeds have been found to have potent antimicrobial properties.
• Berberine -- This potent yellow plant extract comes from goldenseal and barberry.
• Tannins -- These are the astringent compounds found in tea and the bark of trees.
• Undecylenate -- This chemical compound is a potent antifungal.
• Isatis tinctoria -- This Chinese herb can be a useful adjunct to treating intestinal imbalances.
• Caprylic acid -- This is another useful compound for treating yeast.
Yeast overgrowth is quite common, but many people don't know they have it and conventional doctors tend to ignore it. In medical school, we are taught that you either have a disease or you don't. It's black and white. However, our bodies weren't designed with an "on" or "off" switch for disease. All diseases occur in shades of gray along a continuum of imbalance along spectrum of disease.
Medical students learn about fungal and yeast problems, but only in a limited way. They know that AIDS patients have severe yeast and fungal infections and need long-term antifungal treatment. People with diabetes tend to grow yeast because yeast likes sugar. Babies get thrush and need antifungal treatment. Women get vaginal Candida yeast infections. All of these are well-accepted and treatable problems. Unfortunately more subtle problems related to yeast are usually ignored and not linked to patients' complaints. If a subject is not taught in medical school, it is assumed not to be real. Medical history proves this is a dangerous assumption.
. . .
We know that yeast overgrowth can be triggered by a number of things. These include a high-sugar, high-fat, low-fiber diet, impaired immunity, use of drugs like antibiotics, birth control pills, estrogen, steroids like prednisone, and psychological stress.
Although symptoms of yeast overgrowth are similar to those of many other conditions, you may have a yeast problem if you have these problems:
General Symptoms
• Chronic fatigue
• Loss of energy
• General malaise
• Decreased libido
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
• Thrush
• Bloating and gas
• Intestinal cramps
• Rectal itching
• Altered bowel function such as diarrhea or constipation
Genitourinary Symptoms
• Yeast infections
• Frequent bladder infections
• Interstitial cystitis (irritable bladder)
Hormonal Complaints
• Menstrual irregularities like pain, bleeding, etc.
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Thyroid dysfunction
Nervous System Complaints
• Depression
• Irritability
• Inability to concentrate
Immune System Complaints
• Allergies
• Chemical sensitivities
• Low immune function
Past History
• Chronic yeast infections
• Chronic antibiotic use for infections or acne
• Oral birth control pill usage
• Oral steroid hormone usage
Associated Conditions
• Sensitivity to foods, chemicals, or other allergens
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Craving for foods rich in carbohydrates or yeast
• Toenail fungus
Many tests we use for diagnosis of yeast problems are not definitive or foolproof. It is often a diagnosis that must be made from a patient's story, symptoms, and physical findings on examination. Blood antibody levels for yeasts, stool tests, and organic acid urine tests for yeast metabolites can be helpful if they come out positive but don't rule yeast out if they're negative.
The best method for diagnosis is a good history for risk factors like antibiotic use and symptoms of chronic yeast problems. The symptoms of yeast overgrowth vary from person to person and the response to treatments will vary. Some people may need aggressive treatment, while others need only simple changes to make a significant difference in their health.
I recommend a systematic approach to yeast overgrowth. Taking the following steps can help overcome this common but under-diagnosed ailment.
Overcoming Yeast Overgrowth
1. Address predisposing factors. Don't take antibiotics, steroids, or hormones unless absolutely medically necessary.
2. Eat a diet that doesn't feed yeast in the gut (low sugar and refined carbohydrates, and low mold and yeast in food—see below).
3. Use probiotics to repopulate the gut with healthy bacteria.
4. Take antifungal herbs and medications when indicated.
5. Identify potential environmental toxic fungi and molds in your home or workplace.
6. Reduce stress.
In his article, Dr. Hyman also lists the following natural antifungals:
• Oregano -- Oil of oregano has many antibacterial and antifungal properties.
• Garlic -- Fresh, crushed garlic is a potent antimicrobial and immune booster.
• Citrus seed extract -- The phytochemicals in citrus seeds have been found to have potent antimicrobial properties.
• Berberine -- This potent yellow plant extract comes from goldenseal and barberry.
• Tannins -- These are the astringent compounds found in tea and the bark of trees.
• Undecylenate -- This chemical compound is a potent antifungal.
• Isatis tinctoria -- This Chinese herb can be a useful adjunct to treating intestinal imbalances.
• Caprylic acid -- This is another useful compound for treating yeast.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Joplin Fungal Infections
Valley Fever is a fungal infection caused by coccidioides, organisms that reside in the soil here in the Southwest. It's one of the reasons I stay away from construction sites and swirling dust now that we live in Arizona. According to Wikipedia, "Coccidioides immitis is dormant during long dry spells, then develops as a mold with long filaments that break off into airborne spores when the rains come. The spores, known as arthroconidia, are swept into the air by disruption of the soil, such as during construction, farming, or an earthquake."
Residents of Joplin, Missouri were exposed to a similar fungal organism, and the resulting systemic infection proved fatal to at least three of the tornado victims. Dr. Uwe Schmidt, an infectious disease specialist at Freeman Health System, said his hospital treated five Joplin tornado victims for the infection, known as zygomycosis (zy'-goh-my-KOH'-sihs). According to this June 10 Associated Press article:
Zygomycosis, also known as mucormycosis, is a sometimes-fatal infection that spreads rapidly and can be caused by soil or vegetative material getting under the skin. It's more prevalent in people with weakened immune systems or untreated diabetes but can affect healthy people who get badly hurt.
. . .
The Springfield News-Leader reported that the department sent a memo Monday to area health providers warning them to be on the lookout for the infections.
In the aftermath of the tornado, Freeman Health System treated more than 1,700 patients. Doctors from St. John's Hospital, which was badly damaged by the twister, treated patients at makeshift facilities.
"These were very extensive wounds," Schmidt said. "They were treated in the emergency room as quickly as possible."
A week after the tornado, patients began arriving with fungal infections.
"We could visibly see mold in the wounds," Schmidt said. "It rapidly spread. The tissue dies off and becomes black. It doesn't have any circulation. It has to be removed."
Schmidt said the infection is sometimes seen in survivors of mass trauma such as the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia.
"This fungus invades the underlying tissue and actually invades the underlying blood vessels and cuts off the circulation to the skin," he said. "It's very invasive."
Residents of Joplin, Missouri were exposed to a similar fungal organism, and the resulting systemic infection proved fatal to at least three of the tornado victims. Dr. Uwe Schmidt, an infectious disease specialist at Freeman Health System, said his hospital treated five Joplin tornado victims for the infection, known as zygomycosis (zy'-goh-my-KOH'-sihs). According to this June 10 Associated Press article:
Zygomycosis, also known as mucormycosis, is a sometimes-fatal infection that spreads rapidly and can be caused by soil or vegetative material getting under the skin. It's more prevalent in people with weakened immune systems or untreated diabetes but can affect healthy people who get badly hurt.
. . .
The Springfield News-Leader reported that the department sent a memo Monday to area health providers warning them to be on the lookout for the infections.
In the aftermath of the tornado, Freeman Health System treated more than 1,700 patients. Doctors from St. John's Hospital, which was badly damaged by the twister, treated patients at makeshift facilities.
"These were very extensive wounds," Schmidt said. "They were treated in the emergency room as quickly as possible."
A week after the tornado, patients began arriving with fungal infections.
"We could visibly see mold in the wounds," Schmidt said. "It rapidly spread. The tissue dies off and becomes black. It doesn't have any circulation. It has to be removed."
Schmidt said the infection is sometimes seen in survivors of mass trauma such as the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia.
"This fungus invades the underlying tissue and actually invades the underlying blood vessels and cuts off the circulation to the skin," he said. "It's very invasive."
Friday, June 10, 2011
How to Make Dairy Kefir
Dairy kefir is simple to make provided you have healthy grains. Kefir grains (described in this earlier post) may be obtained through friends or fellow co-op members, or through the Internet. Here are several options:
Kefir Lady
Yemoos Nourishing Cultures
Cultures For Health (these are dehydrated—a little tricky, but a viable option)
Steps for making kefir:
1. Place 1-2 tablespoons of kefir grains in clean glass jar. I use a 1/2-gallon mason jar.
2. Add 2 cups fresh milk. Any type of milk will work, including cow, goat, and coconut. Raw milk is ideal, particularly goat milk. Pasteurized milk will work. Try to avoid ultra-pasteurized, as the UHT (ultra-high temperature) is so high that the grains may not thrive. For sources of raw milk, click here.
The milk may be room-temperature or chilled. I always allow an extra hour for fermentation if I use cold milk.
(Kefir is often fine for those who are lactose-intolerant, because the yeasts and bacteria eat up most if not all of the lactose in the milk. My daughter can't tolerate store-bought yogurt due to the shortened fermenting time, but does great with homemade kefir.)
3. Gently stir contents and move the jar (covered with a cloth or a lid which is left ajar) to a location away from direct sunlight. This might be a cupboard, pantry, or darker side of the kitchen.
4. Allow the mixture to ferment for a minimum of 24 hours. It is not advisable to go beyond 48 hours.
5. Pour contents of the jar into a strainer. Some websites suggest avoiding metal strainers and utensils. Others say it doesn't matter. I use wooden utensils and a plastic strainer.
6. Take the strained grains, place them in a clean glass jar, and begin the process again. (You can "rest" the grains in the refrigerator covered in milk or yogurt, which must be changed every 7 days.)
7. You can take your liquid kefir and refrigerate it for a day or more to "ripen" it and increase the nutritional value. You can also leave it at room temperature for 24 hours to ripen the kefir. Either way, the kefir is fine to drink after 24 hours.
In the picture above I am fermenting raw goat milk, pasteurized whipping cream, and also "ripening" freshly-made coconut kefir.
Drinking plain kefir is often an acquired taste. I have grown to love the flavor of plain goat kefir. I love the texture of the cream kefir and flavor it with a little bit of vanilla.
My kids enjoy making strawberry smoothies with the cream kefir. We even made "cookie dough" ice cream last week with cream kefir, cacao nibs, and cookie dough made of coconut flour, cacao nibs, stevia, and eggs.
Water kefir uses different grains and is something I have not tried.
Coconut water kefir is simple to make using the packaged starter culture offered by Body Ecology. Click here for more information.
Kefir is a probiotic food and therefore has strong healing properties which can cause severe die-off reactions. It's best to start small (a teaspoon) and build from there.
Kefir can also be used topically for rashes and for general skin care. Mix cream kefir with essential oil and use it as a moisturizer. (I can't believe the difference in my skin!) Run a cupful of kefir through your dishwasher cycle. I'm even experimenting with a kefir toothpaste recipe!
I love making kefir. Perhaps it's that I can watch the good guys overtake the bad guys and know that this is what happens when I drink it. Or perhaps it's the resilience of the grains themselves. I have seen sluggish grains come back to life when I thought they were doomed. No doubt, kefir has made a great addition to our family's diet.
Kefir Lady
Yemoos Nourishing Cultures
Cultures For Health (these are dehydrated—a little tricky, but a viable option)
Steps for making kefir:
1. Place 1-2 tablespoons of kefir grains in clean glass jar. I use a 1/2-gallon mason jar.
2. Add 2 cups fresh milk. Any type of milk will work, including cow, goat, and coconut. Raw milk is ideal, particularly goat milk. Pasteurized milk will work. Try to avoid ultra-pasteurized, as the UHT (ultra-high temperature) is so high that the grains may not thrive. For sources of raw milk, click here.
The milk may be room-temperature or chilled. I always allow an extra hour for fermentation if I use cold milk.
(Kefir is often fine for those who are lactose-intolerant, because the yeasts and bacteria eat up most if not all of the lactose in the milk. My daughter can't tolerate store-bought yogurt due to the shortened fermenting time, but does great with homemade kefir.)
3. Gently stir contents and move the jar (covered with a cloth or a lid which is left ajar) to a location away from direct sunlight. This might be a cupboard, pantry, or darker side of the kitchen.
4. Allow the mixture to ferment for a minimum of 24 hours. It is not advisable to go beyond 48 hours.
5. Pour contents of the jar into a strainer. Some websites suggest avoiding metal strainers and utensils. Others say it doesn't matter. I use wooden utensils and a plastic strainer.
6. Take the strained grains, place them in a clean glass jar, and begin the process again. (You can "rest" the grains in the refrigerator covered in milk or yogurt, which must be changed every 7 days.)
7. You can take your liquid kefir and refrigerate it for a day or more to "ripen" it and increase the nutritional value. You can also leave it at room temperature for 24 hours to ripen the kefir. Either way, the kefir is fine to drink after 24 hours.
In the picture above I am fermenting raw goat milk, pasteurized whipping cream, and also "ripening" freshly-made coconut kefir.
Drinking plain kefir is often an acquired taste. I have grown to love the flavor of plain goat kefir. I love the texture of the cream kefir and flavor it with a little bit of vanilla.
My kids enjoy making strawberry smoothies with the cream kefir. We even made "cookie dough" ice cream last week with cream kefir, cacao nibs, and cookie dough made of coconut flour, cacao nibs, stevia, and eggs.
Water kefir uses different grains and is something I have not tried.
Coconut water kefir is simple to make using the packaged starter culture offered by Body Ecology. Click here for more information.
Kefir is a probiotic food and therefore has strong healing properties which can cause severe die-off reactions. It's best to start small (a teaspoon) and build from there.
Kefir can also be used topically for rashes and for general skin care. Mix cream kefir with essential oil and use it as a moisturizer. (I can't believe the difference in my skin!) Run a cupful of kefir through your dishwasher cycle. I'm even experimenting with a kefir toothpaste recipe!
I love making kefir. Perhaps it's that I can watch the good guys overtake the bad guys and know that this is what happens when I drink it. Or perhaps it's the resilience of the grains themselves. I have seen sluggish grains come back to life when I thought they were doomed. No doubt, kefir has made a great addition to our family's diet.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Health Benefits of Kefir
Hippocrates said that our food is our medicine and our medicine is our food. Nothing illustrates this more than the probiotic food kefir. I feel like I'm running a compounding pharmacy every time I make it. Kefir is made using "grains" to ferment any kind of milk (goat, cow, coconut, etc.), incorporating their beneficial organisms to create the cultured product. The grains look like clumps of cauliflower but are actually clusters of healthy yeasts and bacteria.
Kefir is pronounced Ke-Feer', according to the dictionary. It is more commonly pronounced Kee' fir. At our house we call it Keff ' ir. When it comes to pronunciation, anything goes.
Kefir means "feel good" in Turkish. It is a complete protein and is high in minerals and vitamins, especially the B vitamins. Homemade kefir contains up to 35 strains of good bacteria and yeast (as opposed to yogurt, which contains a handful). Bottled kefir purchased at the store may contain up to 10 strains but often includes unwanted additives. Kefir, therefore, is best when it's homemade.
According to Gabriel Cousens in his book Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine,
Because of kefir's ability to establish healthy bowel flora, it is beneficial in preventing many gastrointestinal disorders. Some researchers have found that kefir also exudes bacterial inhibitory factors, which prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. In this sense, it actually acts as a natural antibiotic. Some studies show that kefir whey neutralizes most pathogenic bacteria within 24 hours.
A peer-reviewed study conducted in Japan found that kefir has the ability to protect against harmful levels of radiation. According to the abstract's conclusion,
This study indicated that kefir protects colonic crypt cells against radiation-induced apoptosis, which was most pronounced in the stem cell region of the crypt The antiapoptotic effect of fermented milk kefir was due to the inhibition of caspase-3 activation.
Dairy kefir also contains tryptophan, one of the essential amino acids known for its calming effect on the nervous system. The tryptophan in kefir, in combination with its calcium and magnesium, makes for a soothing and relaxing drink.
What about fungal infections like candida? Dr. Orla-Jenson, a noted Danish bacteriologist specializing in dairy research, states that "Kefir digests yeast cells and has a beneficial effect on the intestinal flora."
Dominic Anfiteatro, an Australian native, has been studying kefir and its health benefits for years. He considers kefir to be a "probiotic gem" cultured with a "probiotic jewel" (kefir grains). His kefir expertise is unparalleled. His website can be viewed here.
Once the grains have been procured, kefir is easy to make. We'll look at the process step by step in the next post.
Kefir is pronounced Ke-Feer', according to the dictionary. It is more commonly pronounced Kee' fir. At our house we call it Keff ' ir. When it comes to pronunciation, anything goes.
Kefir means "feel good" in Turkish. It is a complete protein and is high in minerals and vitamins, especially the B vitamins. Homemade kefir contains up to 35 strains of good bacteria and yeast (as opposed to yogurt, which contains a handful). Bottled kefir purchased at the store may contain up to 10 strains but often includes unwanted additives. Kefir, therefore, is best when it's homemade.
According to Gabriel Cousens in his book Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine,
Because of kefir's ability to establish healthy bowel flora, it is beneficial in preventing many gastrointestinal disorders. Some researchers have found that kefir also exudes bacterial inhibitory factors, which prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. In this sense, it actually acts as a natural antibiotic. Some studies show that kefir whey neutralizes most pathogenic bacteria within 24 hours.
A peer-reviewed study conducted in Japan found that kefir has the ability to protect against harmful levels of radiation. According to the abstract's conclusion,
This study indicated that kefir protects colonic crypt cells against radiation-induced apoptosis, which was most pronounced in the stem cell region of the crypt The antiapoptotic effect of fermented milk kefir was due to the inhibition of caspase-3 activation.
Dairy kefir also contains tryptophan, one of the essential amino acids known for its calming effect on the nervous system. The tryptophan in kefir, in combination with its calcium and magnesium, makes for a soothing and relaxing drink.
What about fungal infections like candida? Dr. Orla-Jenson, a noted Danish bacteriologist specializing in dairy research, states that "Kefir digests yeast cells and has a beneficial effect on the intestinal flora."
Dominic Anfiteatro, an Australian native, has been studying kefir and its health benefits for years. He considers kefir to be a "probiotic gem" cultured with a "probiotic jewel" (kefir grains). His kefir expertise is unparalleled. His website can be viewed here.
Once the grains have been procured, kefir is easy to make. We'll look at the process step by step in the next post.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Insect Repellent
What's the safest way to protect our skin from mosquitoes and other insects? According to this article published by the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia, DEET is not a safe choice.
DEET is a registered pesticide. DEET is short for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide). It is a member of the toluene chemical family. Toluene is an organic solvent used in rubber and plastic cements and paint removers. DEET is absorbed through the skin and passes into the blood. The Medical Sciences Bulletin, published by Pharmaceutical Information Associates Ltd. reports, "Up to 56% of DEET applied topically penetrates intact human skin and 17% is absorbed into the bloodstream." Blood concentrations of about 3 mg per litre have been reported several hours after DEET repellent was applied to skin in the prescribed fashion. DEET is also absorbed by the gut.
Natural alternatives must be applied more frequently but offer no harmful effects.
You can make your own by mixing 10-25 drops of essential oil with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. Carrier oils include jojoba, almond, and coconut. Castor oil has repellent capabilities and can be used as well.
Suggested essential oils include:
• Lemon Eucalyptus
• Citronella
• Lemongrass
• Tea Tree
• Cinnamon
The Centers for Disease Control recommends DEET and Picaridin (which is determined to be among the least toxic chemicals, as documented by the organization Beyond Pesticides), but also validates the effectiveness of natural options. According to the CDC's website:
Oil of lemon eucalyptus [active ingredient: p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant-based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.
The best way to treat an insect bite? Two options include:
• Baking soda
• Bentonite clay
Make a paste with filtered water and allow to dry.
DEET is a registered pesticide. DEET is short for N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide). It is a member of the toluene chemical family. Toluene is an organic solvent used in rubber and plastic cements and paint removers. DEET is absorbed through the skin and passes into the blood. The Medical Sciences Bulletin, published by Pharmaceutical Information Associates Ltd. reports, "Up to 56% of DEET applied topically penetrates intact human skin and 17% is absorbed into the bloodstream." Blood concentrations of about 3 mg per litre have been reported several hours after DEET repellent was applied to skin in the prescribed fashion. DEET is also absorbed by the gut.
Natural alternatives must be applied more frequently but offer no harmful effects.
You can make your own by mixing 10-25 drops of essential oil with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil. Carrier oils include jojoba, almond, and coconut. Castor oil has repellent capabilities and can be used as well.
Suggested essential oils include:
• Lemon Eucalyptus
• Citronella
• Lemongrass
• Tea Tree
• Cinnamon
The Centers for Disease Control recommends DEET and Picaridin (which is determined to be among the least toxic chemicals, as documented by the organization Beyond Pesticides), but also validates the effectiveness of natural options. According to the CDC's website:
Oil of lemon eucalyptus [active ingredient: p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant-based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.
The best way to treat an insect bite? Two options include:
• Baking soda
• Bentonite clay
Make a paste with filtered water and allow to dry.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
One Family's Devastation
The following is yet another heartbreaking story of a young family's encounter with toxic mold. The story is told from the mother's perspective.
We moved into our brand new home in 2005. It was new construction. Our move-in was delayed almost four months due to a worker on the jobsite urinating on our new carpet before we moved in. We found the urine the day we began bringing in boxes. It took a few months before the builder could have all of our brand new carpet replaced and we could begin moving again.
Once we did move, we noticed that our son's window leaked. We had the builder come out. They cleared the weep holes and said in high winds and heavy rains the tracks would overflow. So every time it rained we would put towels in the window. We never saw much more than a little water on the towels. Within six months our son, who didn't have so much as a sniffle in his first year of life, was hospitalized after a two-month mystery fever. He had a rare abscess in his throat. After surgery and tons of antibiotics, he was okay. None of the doctors could tell us why it had happened or what we could do to prevent it from happening in the future.
Over the next two years our son developed a terrible mystery cough, which was worse at night, and he had horrible allergies. He was tested for everything from Valley Fever to Cystic Fibrosis. Nothing came back positive. His swollen glands, dry hacking cough, stomach aches and headaches remained a mystery. Countless medical tests most of his life... no answers.
In Fall 2008, I was pregnant with twins. Our son was hospitalized again with yet another mystery illness. This time he was there for close to a week. His right eye swelled shut within half a day. His lacrimal gland was swollen. He had a biopsy, endless tests and CT scans—nothing. No answers.
Once the twins were born, it was only weeks before we noticed visibly swollen neck glands on one of our newborns. They looked just like the ones we had been looking at on our son's neck for the past few years. Upon closer inspection, we found the same on our other twin. The pediatrician had no answers.
A few months later, we noticed one of the twin's feet turning purple/black. It happened several times; sometimes it was both feet. A few months more and we noticed she had a terrible problem snoring and ceasing to breath while she was sleeping. She also continuously battled what we thought was eczema on her face and torso. Still no answers. Eventually, gigantic, almost sore-like patches of circular, scaly red skin appeared on her forehead, stomach, back, arms, and legs.
The other twin had the swollen glands and a few whole-body rashes, but they seemed to clear within a few days.
In Spring 2010, I ended up spending the night in my son's room while he was away at camp, and I had a terrible reaction. My eyes and ears were itchy and burning, and my throat hurt. I wondered if this was the way my son had felt for the past five years. That's when it hit me... maybe there was mold in his room from the leaky window. I called to have the room tested the following morning. They found, among other things, Aspergillus/Penicillium.
After that, we decided to rip out all of the carpet. We figured there was a good chance that the mold from my son's room had been tracked to other parts of the house. Perhaps getting rid of the carpet would be a good first step in minimizing his allergy symptoms. In doing so, we uncovered the rest of the story.
ALL of the windows on our upper floor were leaking. We just didn't know it because the carpet was soaking it up. In many cases, the water was seeping out directly from under the baseboards. There would have been no visible presence of water—it just seeped out under the baseboards and was absorbed by the carpet and padding. We tested the rest of the upstairs and found mold everywhere... including Stachybotrys ("Black Mold") in our master bedroom.
After we found the mold, our builder's "restoration crew" came to fix the windows and remediate. We asked them to contain the rooms before cutting into the walls. They refused. We asked them to wait until we got the test results back, and they refused. They cut into the walls, "didn't see any mold," and decided we didn't have a problem. That night we got the test results showing we had black mold. We called them and told them we didn't want them in our house again until further notice. We knew we had a huge problem on our hands, and we needed time to figure out what to do.
July 13, 2010, we moved out of our home. We have since sent our test results to a notable toxicologist in the field. He explained that the presence of Stachybotrys in the air indicates a much greater problem in the home, which must be addressed or it will get worse. Stachybotrys is a heavy, sticky mold, and it does not go airborne easily.
We had an appointment with mold specialist Dr. Michael Gray in Benson, Arizona. He found polyps in our oldest son's nasal passage and expressed concern about a lump we found recently on his head. He looked at two of the kids under a UV lamp and both had areas of their bodies that GLOWED. Your children should not glow. We were ordered to throw out all our remaining clothing. There was a possibility that we had contaminated the home we were staying in by bringing in the very few belongings we brought with us.
So now we are homeless. We cannot bring our family back to our home. Dr. Gray told us, "Treat it like a fire. Don't take anything with you and don't go back." Most, if not all, of our old belongings—including pictures, mementoes, and family heirlooms—have been contaminated. On the bright side, our children are seeing one of the best possible doctors for this type of illness. We are in a safe environment where we can begin to heal. Our family, friends, and complete strangers have come out in droves to help us, and for that we are TRULY thankful.
We feel tremendously grateful that our twins made it into this world despite the toxic environment we were living in during the pregnancy. Never mind being brought home to nurseries infected with some of the most harmful molds known to man. Mold has been identified as the cause of several SIDS deaths. We are very lucky.
All we can ask now is if you or a loved one have had any mystery illnesses that a doctor cannot explain, HAVE YOUR HOUSE TESTED FOR MOLD. Knowing the cause of your illness and removing yourself and your loved ones from the environment could be the first step in saving your lives.
We moved into our brand new home in 2005. It was new construction. Our move-in was delayed almost four months due to a worker on the jobsite urinating on our new carpet before we moved in. We found the urine the day we began bringing in boxes. It took a few months before the builder could have all of our brand new carpet replaced and we could begin moving again.
Once we did move, we noticed that our son's window leaked. We had the builder come out. They cleared the weep holes and said in high winds and heavy rains the tracks would overflow. So every time it rained we would put towels in the window. We never saw much more than a little water on the towels. Within six months our son, who didn't have so much as a sniffle in his first year of life, was hospitalized after a two-month mystery fever. He had a rare abscess in his throat. After surgery and tons of antibiotics, he was okay. None of the doctors could tell us why it had happened or what we could do to prevent it from happening in the future.
Over the next two years our son developed a terrible mystery cough, which was worse at night, and he had horrible allergies. He was tested for everything from Valley Fever to Cystic Fibrosis. Nothing came back positive. His swollen glands, dry hacking cough, stomach aches and headaches remained a mystery. Countless medical tests most of his life... no answers.
In Fall 2008, I was pregnant with twins. Our son was hospitalized again with yet another mystery illness. This time he was there for close to a week. His right eye swelled shut within half a day. His lacrimal gland was swollen. He had a biopsy, endless tests and CT scans—nothing. No answers.
Once the twins were born, it was only weeks before we noticed visibly swollen neck glands on one of our newborns. They looked just like the ones we had been looking at on our son's neck for the past few years. Upon closer inspection, we found the same on our other twin. The pediatrician had no answers.
A few months later, we noticed one of the twin's feet turning purple/black. It happened several times; sometimes it was both feet. A few months more and we noticed she had a terrible problem snoring and ceasing to breath while she was sleeping. She also continuously battled what we thought was eczema on her face and torso. Still no answers. Eventually, gigantic, almost sore-like patches of circular, scaly red skin appeared on her forehead, stomach, back, arms, and legs.
The other twin had the swollen glands and a few whole-body rashes, but they seemed to clear within a few days.
In Spring 2010, I ended up spending the night in my son's room while he was away at camp, and I had a terrible reaction. My eyes and ears were itchy and burning, and my throat hurt. I wondered if this was the way my son had felt for the past five years. That's when it hit me... maybe there was mold in his room from the leaky window. I called to have the room tested the following morning. They found, among other things, Aspergillus/Penicillium.
After that, we decided to rip out all of the carpet. We figured there was a good chance that the mold from my son's room had been tracked to other parts of the house. Perhaps getting rid of the carpet would be a good first step in minimizing his allergy symptoms. In doing so, we uncovered the rest of the story.
ALL of the windows on our upper floor were leaking. We just didn't know it because the carpet was soaking it up. In many cases, the water was seeping out directly from under the baseboards. There would have been no visible presence of water—it just seeped out under the baseboards and was absorbed by the carpet and padding. We tested the rest of the upstairs and found mold everywhere... including Stachybotrys ("Black Mold") in our master bedroom.
After we found the mold, our builder's "restoration crew" came to fix the windows and remediate. We asked them to contain the rooms before cutting into the walls. They refused. We asked them to wait until we got the test results back, and they refused. They cut into the walls, "didn't see any mold," and decided we didn't have a problem. That night we got the test results showing we had black mold. We called them and told them we didn't want them in our house again until further notice. We knew we had a huge problem on our hands, and we needed time to figure out what to do.
July 13, 2010, we moved out of our home. We have since sent our test results to a notable toxicologist in the field. He explained that the presence of Stachybotrys in the air indicates a much greater problem in the home, which must be addressed or it will get worse. Stachybotrys is a heavy, sticky mold, and it does not go airborne easily.
We had an appointment with mold specialist Dr. Michael Gray in Benson, Arizona. He found polyps in our oldest son's nasal passage and expressed concern about a lump we found recently on his head. He looked at two of the kids under a UV lamp and both had areas of their bodies that GLOWED. Your children should not glow. We were ordered to throw out all our remaining clothing. There was a possibility that we had contaminated the home we were staying in by bringing in the very few belongings we brought with us.
So now we are homeless. We cannot bring our family back to our home. Dr. Gray told us, "Treat it like a fire. Don't take anything with you and don't go back." Most, if not all, of our old belongings—including pictures, mementoes, and family heirlooms—have been contaminated. On the bright side, our children are seeing one of the best possible doctors for this type of illness. We are in a safe environment where we can begin to heal. Our family, friends, and complete strangers have come out in droves to help us, and for that we are TRULY thankful.
We feel tremendously grateful that our twins made it into this world despite the toxic environment we were living in during the pregnancy. Never mind being brought home to nurseries infected with some of the most harmful molds known to man. Mold has been identified as the cause of several SIDS deaths. We are very lucky.
All we can ask now is if you or a loved one have had any mystery illnesses that a doctor cannot explain, HAVE YOUR HOUSE TESTED FOR MOLD. Knowing the cause of your illness and removing yourself and your loved ones from the environment could be the first step in saving your lives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)