Dr. Jill Carnahan MD, Functional Medicine Practitioner, is interviewed by host of the Anxiety Summit, Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist, author of The Antianxiety Food Solution.
Is Toxic Mold the Hidden Cause of Your Anxiety?
- An overview of functional medicine
- How common is it for mold and mycotoxins to contribute to illness and anxiety
- Where are we exposed to mold
- Top symptoms associated with mycotoxin-associated illness
- How to treat mold/mycotoxin exposure in someone who has anxiety (or depression)
- The role of methylation and MTHFR polymorphisms in our detox abilities
We talked about the upcoming IFM conference: The Omics Revolution – Nature and Nurture, May 28-30, Austin TX
IFM’s 2015 Annual International Conference (AIC) will explore the wild and wonderful world of “omics,” including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other terms that describe the cascade of responses in human biology initiated by signals from the outside world washing over our genes.
It’s not nature or nurture but nature (genetic heritage) and nurture (lifestyle and environment).
I’m excited to be attending for the first time and can’t wait. I know this conference does fill up each year so if you’re interested don’t wait to sign up.
Dr. Jill talked about functional medicine so I pulled this functional medicine definition off the IFM site:
Functional medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease, using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. It is an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease-centered focus of medical practice to a more patient-centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners spend time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long-term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual.
The topics we cover on this summit and the approaches the Anxiety Summit speakers take all fall under the definition of functional medicine.
Dr. Jill shared her story and amazing healing journey with cancer. You can read about this here
Top Symptoms Associated with Mycotoxin-Associated Illness per the blog on Dr. Jill’s site: Is Toxic Mold Exposure the Cause of Your Symptoms?
- Fatigue and weakness
- Headache, light sensitivity
- Poor memory, difficult word finding
- Difficulty concentration
- Morning stiffness, joint pain
- Unusual skin sensations, tingling and numbness
- Shortness of breath, sinus congestion or chronic cough
- Appetite swings, body temperature regulation
- Increased urinary frequency or increased thirst
- Red eyes, blurred vision, sweats, mood swings, sharp pains
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating
- Tearing, disorientation, metallic taste in mouth
- Static shocks
- Vertigo, feeling lightheaded
(do check out the above link for more in depth information on Dr Jill’s site)
We didn’t discuss this paper but I’m including it anyway because anxiety isn’t in the above list of symptoms: Psychological, neuropsychological, and electrocortical effects of mixed mold exposure
The authors assessed the psychological, neuropsychological, and electrocortical effects of human exposure to mixed colonies of toxigenic molds
Patients reported high levels of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms.
Most of the patients were found to suffer from acute stress, adjustment disorder, or post-traumatic stress
These findings indicated a hypoactivation of the frontal cortex, possibly due to brainstem involvement and insufficient excitatory input from the reticular activating system. Neuropsychological testing revealed impairments similar to mild traumatic brain injury.
This is the book that Dr. Jill mentioned – Mold Warriors: Fighting America’s Hidden Health Threat by Ritchie C. Shoemaker
Dr Jill has these Paleolicious Snack Ideas for download
If you are not already registered for the Anxiety Summit you can get live access to the speakers of the day here: www.theAnxietySummit.com
Missed this interview or can’t listen live? Or want this and the other great interviews for your learning library? Purchase the MP3s or MP3s + transcripts and listen when it suits you.
You can find your purchasing options here: Anxiety Summit Season 1, Anxiety Summit Season 2, and Anxiety Summit Season 3.