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What causes low serotonin? Use tryptophan/5-HTP to help with the anxiety, overwhelm and worry right away and address all the root causes

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what causes low serotonin

Low serotonin has a number of root causes which can be different for each person. If you do have low serotonin levels you always want to figure and address why it’s low. This can take time to figure out and resolve so you want to be using either tryptophan or 5-HTP (and sometimes both) to boost your serotonin levels and get symptom relief quickly. This helps with the worry, overwhelm, anxiety, insomnia, carb cravings, TMJ, irritability, PMS, anger, OCD, low mood and ruminations right away. It also helps with the worry and overwhelm triggered by sometimes complex and challenging root causes.

Here is a list of some of the many factors that may cause low serotonin for you:

  • stress and adrenal dysfunction (high cortisol affects your sex hormone and neurotransmitter production, inlcuding serotonin)
  • eating junk food and sugar (a Western diet “of processed or fried foods, refined grains, sugary products, and beer was associated with a higher odds of mood disorders”
  • consuming caffeine (which reduces zinc and B vitamins, needed to make serotonin)
  • not consuming enough quality animal protein (amino acids are the building blocks of our neurotransmitters, and grass fed red meat provides zinc, iron and omega-3s – all needed to make serotonin)
  • low stomach acid (meaning you can’t digest the protein you’re consuming)
  • gluten issues (leading to low serotonin and other nutritional deficiencies such as low iron, low vitamin D etc.)
  • low vitamin D (“Brain serotonin is synthesized from tryptophan by tryptophan hydroxylase 2, which is activated by vitamin D hormone”)
  • low iron/ferritin levels (iron is a cofactor for making serotonin)
  • dysbiosis and microbiome imbalances (we make so much serotonin in the gut)
  • candida (in one study short exposure to serotonin resulted in antifungal activity)
  • liver issues (affecting how you process xenoestrogens)
  • low bile production (affecting how you digest the healthy fats you’re eating)
  • sex hormone imbalances (serotonin and estrogen are very closely linked and women make less serotonin than men. In one study, tryptophan improved the low serotonin PMS symptoms)
  • thyroid imbalance (“it is postulated that one mechanism, among others, through which exogenous thyroid hormones may exert their modulatory effects in affective illness is via an increase in serotonergic neurotransmission”)
  • histamine imbalances (in one study “Acute LPS-induced inflammation increases CNS histamine and decreases CNS serotonin)”
  • the birth control pill (which lowers zinc and vitamin B6, both of which are needed for serotonin production)
  • statins (leading to cholesterol that is too low)
  • mold exposure/mycotoxins/mold poisoning
  • heavy metal toxicity such as lead (and tryptophan and ascorbic acid can help ease the anxiety)
  • Lyme disease and other co-infections (serotonin was found to be low in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with post-Lyme disease syndrome i.e. chronic Lyme)
  • collagen consumption (in susceptible folks this can lower serotonin levels)
  • seasonal allergies (“Cytokines may lead to a mood disturbance via the expression of the IDO enzyme, which shifts the synthesis of tryptophan from serotonin to kynurenine. The resultant acute tryptophan depletion results in decreased brain serotonin”)
  • genetics (one example is the MTHFR polymorphism)
  • low zinc, low vitamin B6 (and other B vitamins), low selenium, low magnesium etc. – all needed to make serotonin
  • oxalates (which can bind to zinc and deplete it)
  • a high copper diet (nut flours on Paleo diets can be problematic), copper IUD, copper pipes etc. (which can cause low zinc)
  • lack of nature (forest bathing reduces cortisol which affects serotonin production)
  • lack of exercise
  • lack of sunshine (like in the winter when serotonin declines)

When I posted some of this list on Facebook earlier this week, there was a great deal of interest, hence this blog. I’ve included one relevant link for each one so you can read further on the topic.

When I posted it I also asked this: “Have you figured out your root cause/s that are contributing to your low serotonin levels? And has tryptophan or 5-HTP helped while you’re figuring it all out?”

Leanne has mold, dysbiosis, Lyme, low vitamin D, bile issues and more

Leanne responded and gave me the go ahead to share especially if this helps someone else (I appreciate that!) She shared she has identified these root causes:

Mold. Dysbiosis. Possible Lyme/co-infections. Low vitamin D. Bile and motility issues. Liver issues. Stress. Low HCL. Those are the ones I’m aware of. And taking each and every day to work on them.  It takes time to heal

I agree it takes time to heal and can be a longer journey for some folks, especially when there are a number of underlying factors. She is in a good frame of mind, saying pragmatically, it takes time to heal. This confirms her serotonin levels are robust i.e. she is not in a state of overwhelm and worry. Sure enough, when I asked if tryptophan or 5-HTP has been helping this was her response:

5-HTP and GABA calm initially helped me in my first round of going through this back in 2015. Then I discovered l-tryptophan about a year ago and that seemed to be a better help over 5-HTP.

Since I’ve just identified that histamine is an issue and started a low histamine diet this past week I noticed less of a need for l-tryptophan as I did before. My body is calming down significantly. And my digestion is working a little better.

But I still have to address mold, SIBO, candida, parasites and possibly Lyme and underlying hidden viruses.

So I know these amino acids will play a key part in supporting me as I dive deeper into addressing them all.

It’s wonderful the amino acids have helped her so much and they will most likely continue to help. A quick comment on her preference for tryptophan over 5-HTP – some folks do better on one vs the other.

Regarding the histamine issues/root cause, it’s good that she is now addressing this. Already she needs less tryptophan (for now). Things may fluctuate in the future again as she peels away the onion layers of root causes. She may find she needs tryptophan again or a higher dose or needs to get back on the GABA.

As you can see she has been working on her health for some time. This is not unusual. Slow and steady is just fine, especially when there is so much going on.

The amino acids are intended for short-term use while diet and underlying root causes are addressed. But when the list is long this is a common reason for the ongoing need for serotonin support. Keep in mind, your list may be a short one and may be quick to resolve. And not everyone has the same root causes.

Resources if you are new to using tryptophan or 5-HTP as supplements

If you are new to using tryptophan or 5-HTP as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the low serotonin symptoms).

If you suspect low levels of serotonin or any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, self-medicating with alcohol and more.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Have you figured out your root cause/s that are contributing to your low serotonin levels? And does this give you a better understanding of your own issues?

Do you have any other root causes I may have missed? (when I posted this list on Facebook, a few people pointed out I had missed a few. I’ll update the list and continue to add as we discover new connections).

Has tryptophan and/or 5-HTP helped you feel less overwhelmed and worried while you’re figuring it all out?

Have you adjusted doses of tryptophan and/or 5-HTP as things change and root causes are addressed/resolved?

If you’re a practitioner, do you have anything to add and do your clients/patients find this useful?

If you have questions please share them here too.

GABA, Heartmath and EFT ease Micki’s mold-induced anxiety and panic attacks

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gaba heartmath eft

The amino acids can provide relief when you have mold-induced anxiety – anxiety and panic attacks that are triggered by physiological changes due to mold toxicity such as inflammation and effects on your immune system and neurotransmitters. There is also the anxiety and worry you’re feeling because of the frightening situation you find yourself in and this trauma has a psychological and physiological effect. The anxiety, worry, fears, insomnia and imagining the worst is often compounded by low levels of GABA and serotonin. Benzodiazepines and/or SSRIs are commonly prescribed and only add to the toxic burden. The amino acids GABA, tryptophan and/or DPA/Endorphigen, used as supplements, are better options that address the root causes of low GABA, low serotonin and/or low endorphins. And for some folks, Heartmath and EFT offer additional emotional and calming support (as you’ll read below).

Micki Contini, MS CNC, a board-certified holistic health and nutrition consultant, is a friend and colleague whose life was hugely impacted by mold toxicity. She has kindly given me permission to share her story in the hope it’s helpful for you if you’re in a similar situation. She shares her mold-induced anxiety symptoms and the other ways mold toxicity impacted her health:

My heart was pounding, my face was red, I was sweating, my thoughts were racing and I felt like I was going to die. I wondered if I was having a heart attack? My husband brought me to the emergency room several times with panic attacks and heart palpitations with me thinking this was the end only to find out that I was “fine.” But I knew that I was far from ok. I knew that something was wrong, I just didn’t know what.

I had found mold in my water damaged office. Shortly thereafter I realized it was also in my home. I had cross-contaminated my house, but it was a year before I knew my house had mold.  I had been getting better but not 100%.  It was a step I missed because I didn’t want to face the truth of what the consequences would bring – throwing out more stuff. I had already thrown out most of the stuff from my contaminated office BUT not all of the stuff.  And I paid dearly for not throwing out ALL the things from my office.

I was in denial and I had toxic mold poisoning. Toxic mold was causing my anxiety and panic attacks and other debilitating symptoms such brain fog, tinnitus, trouble focusing, numbness and tingling in my fingers and toes, crazy fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea/constipation, excessive thirst, vertigo, night sweats and bloody nose.

Micki already knew about my work and had been using my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution, with anxious clients in her functional nutrition practice, so she immediately considered the amino acids for her mold-induced anxiety and panic attacks.

GABA for her physical anxiety and panic attacks

When Micki reached out to me, I encouraged her to explore GABA for her physical anxiety and panic attacks, tryptophan for her racing thoughts and DPA/Endorphigen for the crying and emotional symptoms she was experiencing.

The good news is that her anxiety and tension started to fade as soon as she added sublingual GABA Calm to her protocol. She shares this about how GABA helped her

As they started tearing my house apart for remediation, I started eating GABA Calm like candy. At the beginning I had to have a lot more than I do now. GABA Calm takes me down a notch and I feel my shoulder coming away from my ears and I get closer to relaxing.

GABA is well known for relieving the physical tension experienced when you have anxiety. We have GABA receptors in our muscles and many of my clients feel this obvious release of neck tension as the anxiety eases. This release of muscle tension also helps with the kind of insomnia where you lie in bed feeling stiff and tense and can’t switch off your busy mind going 100 miles an hour.

GABA for immune support and toxin protection

What is really interesting when it comes to mold toxicity and GABA is that research shows that GABA can support immunity. GABA also protects the thyroid against fluoride-induced toxicity and counters the toxic effects of phthalates, so I suspect research will eventually show that GABA also offers protection against other environmental toxins such as mold.

Biofeedback and tapping for additional emotional support

Micki also used Heartmath (a type of biofeedback) and EFT (emotional freedom technique or tapping) for additional support while she was in the midst of all this:

I added Heartmath Inner Balance app and Emwave because I had used them prior to this challenge and it helps because you go through a thought pattern where you’re concentrating on gratitude and what’s right vs what’s wrong. That was powerful for me. Still is.

I used EFT to break the pattern of doom and gloom. When I was really sick I felt like another bad terrible thing was going to happen at any moment like I was on guard or on watch. So anything I could do to break that mind set I did.

Micki found what worked for her and that’s key when you’re in this situation. I’ve had many clients not succeed with Heartmath or EFT so don’t feel bad if these approaches don’t work for you.

Tryptophan and/or DPA/Endorphigen for the gloom and doom

I’ve had many many clients successfully use tryptophan for the spinning and overwhelming feeling that many folks with mold toxicity experience. Tryptophan and/or DPA can also help the pattern of doom and gloom Micki described.

Recent research also shows that GABA helps you switch off unwanted thoughts too so it’s possible Micki didn’t need tryptophan for this reason.

She doesn’t remember all the supplements that she used when she was really REALLY sick. This is very typical when you’re in the midst of dealing with mold toxicity (and a good reason to try and keep a log) but she seems to recall that DPA/Endorphigen may have helped with the emotional trauma of it all.

The wonderful news is that today Micki is doing so much better! The amino acid GABA, together with Heartmath and EFT provided much-needed anxiety relief and emotional support while Micki was remediating her home, detoxing her body with daily infrared sauna sessions and following mold toxicity nutritional protocols.

Micki’s gift is that she has become a mold expert

When you’re in the midst of all this you can’t imagine that there can be a gift in what you’re going through but there always is. For Micki, her gift is that she has become a mold expert and now helps others navigate their mold healing journey via SimpleGoodHealth. She shares this:

As you may know, the road to recovery from mold illness is a long hard one, but I can make it easier for you. I have become an expert out of necessity.

We appreciate Micki for sharing her anxiety-induced mold story.

Resources if you are new to the amino acids

If you are new to the amino acids, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution and additional information on Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid supplements: a summary

This lists The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs – you will find the GABA Calm and other GABA products, tryptophan and DPA/Endorphigen here.

If you suspect low GABA symptoms and are new to using the amino acids and do not have my book I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in to taking the amino acids as supplements: The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings.

Let us know if you’ve used GABA or tryptophan with success for mold-induced anxiety and panic attacks, and DPA/Endorphigen for helping with weepiness.

And let us know what other approaches you’ve used for helping with the anxiety and other emotional impacts of mold toxicity.

Feel free to post your questions here too.

 

Christmas tree phenols as a trigger for anger, meltdowns, anxiety, hyperactivity, insomnia, aggression, self-injury and autistic symptoms?

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christmastree phenols and anxiety

Are you aware that the aromatic oils that give pine trees their wonderful smell are phenols and that these phenols may be a trigger for anger and meltdowns, anxiety, hyperactivity, irritability insomnia, self-injurious behavior, digestive issues and autistic symptoms (such as stimming, swinging and hand-flapping)? All this can be caused by an indoor Christmas tree in susceptible individuals.

My colleague Julie Matthews writes about this here: Avoiding Holiday Havoc: Healthy solutions to avoid meltdowns and keep the holidays happy

“When phenols are not able to be broken-down and detoxified by a process called sulfation, which is low in many children with autism and ADHD”, they can cause these symptoms and also red cheeks and ears. She shares that “phenolic compounds come in many forms including artificial petroleum-based food additives, and salicylates (a type of phenol) found in plants and foods like strawberries and spices, as well as pine trees.”

In the above blog, Julie shares this story about a client with a 10-year old son with autism. He severely regressed during the holidays and it was because of the Christmas tree. This is what the mom shared:

During the Holidays our son regressed severely.  He became anxious, aggressive, and self-abusive. He cried and had tantrums regularly throughout the day. He couldn’t sleep anymore and was up for hours at a time, night after night. He was hand-flapping like crazy.  We have a swing in the house for him and he now wanted to swing all day long, constantly, and do nothing else. He lost eye contact and he stopped responding to his name.

Once the Christmas tree was removed the improvements were dramatic:

The next day, he was much calmer. He seemed to have “exhaled.” Within 48 hours, our son was completely back to normal.

I shared Julie’s blog on my Facebook page and a father in my community shared a similar experience about his autistic son’s severe reactions to phenols:

Yes! My autistic son who is sensitive to phenols, would completely meltdown during the holidays. We thought it was just the change in routine and his environment, but quite by accident we discovered fragrances seemed to make him worse. We got rid of the fragrances and holiday tree/decor and the improvement in our son was dramatic! We now realize it was the phenols.

My son’s reaction to phenols/fragrances are bright red cheeks/ears, dark under eye circles, headaches, inappropriate manic laughter, aggression/self injurious behavior, marathon meltdowns/screaming, incontinence, insomnia/less than 3 hrs sleep a night, bumpy rashes, GI issues/diarrhea, excessive sensory stimming (hand flapping, lip licking, running around and body slamming into things.) During the holidays, the intensity of these reactions shot through the roof.

They found out by chance that it was the Christmas tree that was causing his son’s issues each year. It started when he was a toddler and they figured it was the stress and changes of the holidays that was the issue. One year they didn’t put up a tree and they could not believe the difference. It was then they made the connection and learned more about phenols and made the necessary changes.

By reducing phenols in his diet and environment, and giving him Epsom Salt baths and enzymes (No-Fenol), most of the above symptoms were significantly reduced.

I suspect there are many families who are seeing similar meltdowns and have no idea it could be the Christmas tree. Keep in mind that the reactions may not be as severe as these two cases I’ve shared here. If you are seeing any increase in anxiety, irritability, sleep problems, digestive issues or other unusual behavior changes in your child, keep an open mind that it may be more than just the holiday changes.

Julie’s advice is this:

  • Since so many children with autism and ADHD react to salicylates/phenols – in her nutrition practice she finds an overwhelming majority react negatively – she suggests a cautious approach to holiday decorating for all families of a child with autism or ADHD. Simply avoid the pine Christmas tree.
  • If you are unsure about their sensitivity to salicylates/phenols you might ask yourself if your child is often hyper, irritable, or has red cheeks, and other common salicylate symptoms, or whether they crave salicylate-rich foods such as berries, grapes, apples, and ketchup. If so, explore salicylates further.

I encourage you to read Julie’s blog to gain a better understanding of salicylates and phenols. If you are a practitioner and want to learn more about low salicylates/phenols and other special diets her practitioner training is excellent.

I appreciate this mom and dad for sharing their experiences with their sons so we can all learn and help other families. I also so appreciate Julie’s expertise in this area and really look forward to digging further into the research and picking her brain so I can share more.

Could your holiday anxiety and/or insomnia be phenol issues too?

Julie works with children with autism and ADHD but as someone who works primarily with adults with anxiety, I’m going to be exploring sensitivity to salicylates/phenols further. Julie recently shared this with me: “if you start looking you’ll probably see a lot of your clients with anxiety have phenol issues.”

If you also notice any increase in anxiety, anger, irritability, sleep problems, digestive issues or other unusual behavior changes, keep an open mind that it may be more than just the holiday stress or winter blues/winter anxiety. It may well be phenol issues too.

Serotonin connection to phenol issues

I’ll be blogging more about this and the fascinating serotonin connection to phenol issues. You may have noticed that many of the symptoms these 2 boys experienced sound a lot like either low serotonin or high serotonin (both of which can occur in autism).  Serotonin is an endogenous phenol compound and this phenol issue is likely causing high serotonin.

When I asked Julie about this she shared this with me: “Yes, serotonin and dopamine are phenolic. And sulfation is important for the inactivation of dopamine and serotonin. So poor sulfation can lead to neurotransmitter imbalances.”

Using collagen to lower high serotonin?

I’ve blogged about how collagen can lower serotonin in susceptible folks and increase anxiety. It is also used by some folks to lower their high serotonin and make them calm. Misty reports using collagen ‘therapeutically’:

I use it to reduce tryptophan because I have a tendency toward high serotonin. I have suffered my entire life with ADD, tics as a child, grinding teeth, general anxiety, lack of motivation and later, IBS. In my 53 years I’ve never been as calm as I am now.

I don’t know if Misty has a phenol issue but I’m going to be exploring if collagen or gelatin could possibly be used to help lower the high serotonin and ease some of these severe phenol reactions quickly, in conjunction with other approaches like avoiding the foods and environmental exposures, enzymes and other nutrients, and Epsom salt baths.

Christmas tree syndrome, mold issues and toxic plastic trees

I hate to spoil the Christmas fun but here are a few other things to consider:

  • Christmas tree syndrome is also a real issue for many individuals
  • My friend and Enviornmental Toxins expert Lara Adler shares how mold from a real tree made her and her cat really sick “Within a few days of getting the tree, I broke out in a full-body rash that required a 10-day run of prednisone. I didn’t think it was the tree at first (it could have been something else), but then my cat, who was already dealing with GI inflammation and a gut issue developed asthma! Out of nowhere! She also ended up on prednisone. I got rid of the tree and both our symptoms never came back.”
  • She also shares some issues with plastic trees: they are often made from toxic PVC (polyvinyl chloride) with “softeners like lead and/or phthalates”, and often treated with endocrine-disrupting flame retardant chemicals. More about this on Lara’s blog here.

Have you observed a salicylate/phenol reaction with your child or client/patient? What about a less severe reaction with your child or with you personally?

Have the following helped you: avoiding the foods and environmental exposures like a Christmas tree, using enzymes like No-Fenol and other nutrients, and Epsom salt baths? In the midst of a very severe reaction has collagen or gelatin helped reduce symptoms quickly?

What about mold issues or allergies with a Christmas tree?

Feel free to post your questions here on the blog too.

IMMH highlights: mold, oxalates, anxiety, panic attacks and depersonalization

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IMMH highlights

Today I’m sharing some highlights from three different presentations at the recent IMMH/Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Conference – on mold and the connection to oxalate issues, as well as a major trigger of anxiety, panic attacks, depression and depersonalization.

Matthew Pratt-Hyatt, PhD: “The Hidden Threats of Mycotoxins.”

Matthew Pratt-Hyatt, PhD presented on “The Hidden Threats of Mycotoxins.” He shared medically significant mycotoxins and that ochratoxin affects the kidneys and my first thought was: “I wonder if this plays a role in oxalate issues?”

I asked Dr. Pratt-Hyatt after his presentation and he said yes, the mycotoxins produce oxalates and then dietary oxalates can be the tipping point. He wasn’t aware of any research on the mycotoxin-oxalate connection but sees the connection on the Great Plains MycoTOX lab test and Organic Acids test

Matthew Pratt-Hyatt

Matthew Pratt-Hyatt

Matthew Pratt-Hyatt

Matthew Pratt-Hyatt

Dr. Neil Nathan: “Mold Toxicity as an Unrecognized Cause of Mental Health issues.”

One of my favorite presentations was the one delivered by Dr. Neil Nathan on “Mold Toxicity.” He defines mold toxicity and how it can directly trigger anxiety, panic attacks, depression, depersonalization and hallucinations, as well as some of the common complications which can exacerbate mental health symptoms. These include mast cell activation, multiple chemical sensitivities, secondary porphyrias, methylation dysfunction and pyroluria.

I do appreciate the fact that he addressed that there can be PTSD caused by physicians when someone knows they are sick – especially with mold toxicity – and yet they do not feel heard or validated. This can even lead to their families being less supportive.

Dr. Nathan is a brilliant and compassionate practitioner, and the author of the excellent book – Toxic: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness (my Amazon link)

Neil Nathan

Neil Nathan

Neil Nathan

Neil Nathan

Neil Nathan

Dr. Kurt Woeller: “Metabolic Products in Mental Health – How Fungal, Bacterial, Mitochondrial and Other Compounds Influence the Brain.”

Dr. Kurt Woeller shared more about oxalates and mold in his presentation: “Metabolic Products in Mental Health.” I really like the Oxalate Metabolism diagram that shows the role of low vitamin B6, dietary oxalates including ascorbic acid, collagen and gelatin, mold, yeast and genetics in someone with high oxalates.

On a side note, low serotonin is often a factor with collagen and gelatin but it can be a source of oxalates.

He mentions various health problems associated with high oxalates – pain issues are common and so is fatigue and behavioral issues. Dr. Woeller works primarily with children but I have seen anxiety and depression in adults with oxalate issues too.   If mold is one of the triggers then the mental health issues can be further impacted.

 

In case you missed the previous two IMMH blogs:

What wasn’t discussed were some of the other mechanisms that may be causing the increased anxiety – such as the impacts of toxic mold on neurotransmitters and low levels of zinc.

Have you been exposed to toxic mold and was this a trigger for your anxiety, panic attacks and other mood issues?

Did GABA, tryptophan and zinc (and other nutritional support approaches) help ease some of the anxiety symptoms while you were remediating your home and detoxing from the mold toxicity?

Do you have oxalate issues and have you ruled out the fact that toxic mold may be a trigger? I personally have oxalate issues (I share more about this here) and plan to do the MycoTOX test to learn more. I’ll keep you posted on what I find.

As a practitioner, do you want to learn more about how to incorporate GABA and the other targeted individual amino acids, tryptophan/5-HTP, DPA, glutamine and tyrosine, into your work to help your clients/patients with anxiety triggered by toxic mold? I invite you to check out my new online practitioner training here: Balancing Neurotransmitters – The Fundamentals. I’m extending the $100 discount offered at IMMH for a few weeks (use coupon code immh2019).

Mycotoxin illness is real! Is mold the root cause of your mystery symptoms and unresolved anxiety?

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Do you suffer from mystery symptoms and unresolved anxiety? Toxic mold is one possible unrecognized root cause – it can create hormonal imbalances, brain disrepair and neurotransmitter imbalances, chronic gastrointestinal issues and multiple autoimmune conditions.

Almost 20 years ago, your host, Dr. Margaret Christensen, was a successful OB-Gyn with a booming practice. She began having debilitating fatigue, was unable to think clearly and she ached all over, to such an extent that she had to close her practice.

Her family also showed symptoms: learning difficulties, insomnia, severe mood swings, migraines, ADD, asthma and bronchitis, tremors, sinusitis. After 8 years of sickness, they finally found toxic mold in their water-damaged house.

You should suspect and look into mold toxicity if you are:

  • Enduring terrible mood swings, anxiety and/or depression
  • Suffering from sinus infections, bronchitis and migraines
  • Weakened by gut issues, brain fog, fatigue, neurologic symptoms
  • Constantly challenged with sleep issues
  • Reacting to chemicals, smells, foods, medications

You may have told mold toxicity isn’t a real issue or that it is a pseudo condition. I was digging through the recent research and it’s not surprising that many doctors say it’s not real especially with studies like this one: Toxic mold: phantom risk vs science:

Indoor mold growth is variable, and its discovery in a building does not necessarily mean occupants have been exposed. Human response to fungal antigens may induce IgE or IgG antibodies that connote prior exposure but not necessarily a symptomatic state.

When mold-related symptoms occur, they are likely the result of transient irritation, allergy, or infection. Building-related illness due to mycotoxicosis has never been proved in the medical literature. Prompt remediation of water-damaged material and infrastructure repair should be the primary response to fungal contamination in buildings. 

There are a rather large number of studies that reach the same conclusion (it’s not real) but the good news is that there is a 2013 paper – A review of the mechanism of injury and treatment approaches for illness resulting from exposure to water-damaged buildings, mold, and mycotoxins acknowledging that mycotoxins are an issue for many individuals:

Illness results from a combination of factors present in water-damaged indoor environments including, mold spores and hyphal fragments, mycotoxins, bacteria, bacterial endotoxins, and cell wall components as well as other factors. Mechanisms of illness include inflammation, oxidative stress, toxicity, infection, allergy, and irritant effects of exposure.

And ask anyone who has lived through mold toxicity and then healed and thrived, just how real and debilitating it is trying to figure out if it is in fact toxic mold that is the root cause and then what to do about it.

This same paper reviews commonly used treatments

such as glutathione, antioxidants, antifungals, and sequestering agents such as cholestyramine, charcoal, clay and chlorella, antioxidants, probiotics, and induced sweating.

All of the above will be covered in the summit (and much more).

Here are a few highlights and insights from me.

The interview with Dr. Ann Shippy – “Overview of the Journey to Recovery” – is just that, a very useful summary of all the mold connections and it highlights many of the other speakers and topics. She also shares this about Lyme disease, toxic mold and your total toxic load

Patients can have Lyme disease and not be sick but when they are sick it’s often because mold is suppressing the immune system and causing symptoms. It may not even be Lyme but mold instead.

Yuli Horesh covers: “Diffusing Probiotics to Defend Your Environment.” It is a fascinating interview I look forward to seeing some long-term research on the safety aspects. Other than this it makes so much sense and is a very exciting approach together with everything else. I also want to say that we don’t want to be thinking of this as a short-cut/quick-fix and not doing anything else.

Dr. Mary Ackerly’s interview is fabulous and is not to be missed– “Brain on Fire: The Role of Toxic Mold in Triggering Psychiatric Symptoms”. It’s very exciting to hear a psychiatrist who is so knowledgeable and passionate about this topic. I loved that she talked specific testing and about group 1, 2,3 and 3B in terms of how sick folks are and how quickly they respond to treatment and what needs to be done in terms of remediation.

I was also thrilled to learn about the International Society for Environmentally Acquired Illness (ISEAI) and encourage you to check them out as a resource for both your own recovery and if you’re a practitioner, for learning. They are hosting their first conference in May: “Healing Complex patients in a Toxic World”.

I was hoping to learn more about the NeuroQuant Triage Brain Atrophy Report (from Cortech) from her and other speakers. I wanted to know if a contrast agent is needed during the MRI as many folks have issues with gadolinium toxicity when having MRIs and I’d be very concerned about adding to the toxic load. It seems the contrast isn’t needed.

In Dr. Jill Carnahan’s interview – “Metabolic Endotoxemia and the Gut-Brain Connection”, she recommends a provoked or challenged urinary myctoxin test with some glutathione or sauna because you can get false negatives if you don’t do this before testing. She also shares all her favorite binders: charcoal, clay, zeolite, glucommanan and citrus pectin.

They also talk about SIBO (small intestinal bacterial infection) and say that a lot of SIBO is really SIFO (small intestinal fungal infection), how toxic mold can impact gut motility and and how antifungals rather than anti-bacterials are the way to go in this instance.

Jeff Bookout’s interview on “Non-Toxic Remediation for Chemically Sensitive” is wonderful. They cover dry-fogging, using non-toxic citrus based oils, practical tips for travel and hotel rooms, keeping dorm rooms safe from toxic mold and how best to clean the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) system so you’re not dispersing toxic mold throughout the house. This is a very practical and common-sense interview.

If you didn’t register yet, I’m hoping this inspires you to register and tune in. It’s one of the most popular summits I’ve promoted and I feel it’s a topic we all need to learn about and ideally before it’s a problem because when you’re in the midst of it, it makes it that much more challenging to deal with. You just never know when you may need this information. Take for example all the people affected recently by the dreadful floods in Townsville in Australia, and elsewhere.

If you are in the midst of dealing with your own mold toxicity I know you’re getting great resources for remediation and recovery. Be sure to have a friend or loved one who has not been affected, listen in and read the transcripts so you’re not alone in figuring things out.

Even if you don’t currently have symptoms of mold toxicity, it’s an excellent resource so you can be prepared the next time you have water damage in your home, office or school. It will also allow you to make sure you don’t have a growing mold problem which may affect your health down the road.

The Toxic Mold Summit health experts, air quality experts and mold remediation specialists will help you identify if you have mold exposure and share the latest tools and techniques for dealing with toxic mold.

When you register be sure to check out the ebook, “Got Mold? Now What? Hope for Health and Home: Overview of Toxic Mold and Biotoxin Illness!” It covers why you get the following symptoms and the mechanisms, total toxic load, recommended testing for you and your moldy home (or work place or school etc.), resources to make you more resilient, basic treatment steps and dietary approaches to consider.

Here are symptoms and illnesses caused by toxic mold exposure. Dr. Christensen explains that mold/biotoxin illness may present in many ways, even within the same family who have been exposed to mold, and often with some kind of pain or inflammation, and in almost any area of the body:

  • Chronic recurrent upper respiratory and sinus infections
  • Chronic headaches/migraines
  • Severe chronic fatigue or ongoing flu-like symptoms
  • Fibromyalgia (tender, sore muscles)
  • Neurological issues (tremors, neuropathy, brain fog, ADD, learning issues, etc.)
  • Neuro-degenerative diseases (Parkinson’s, MS, ALS, Alzheimer’s and other dementias)
  • Severe gut symptoms (IBS, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, SIBO/SIFO)
  • Autoimmune disorders (thyroid, Hashimoto’s, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, hives)
  • Multiple chemical sensitivities and histamine intolerance (rashes and hives)
  • Night sweats (common in men of all ages, as well as women)
  • Psychiatric symptoms (anxiety, depression, panic attacks, bipolar symptoms, psychosis)
  • Severe sleep disturbances
  • Recurrent interstitial cystitis, bladder infections and frequent urination
  • Hormonal imbalances (adrenal and thyroid hormones)
  • Infertility, heavy periods and cramps, endometriosis, PMS, PCOS
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Lyme and co-infections, including viral infections like EBV, HHV6
  • Cancer (especially hormonal, leukemias/lymphomas and bladder/kidney)
  • Children: chronic ear, throat and upper respiratory infections, asthma, allergies, ADD/ADHD, sleep, irritability, bedwetting

In the testing section she does state that “HLA genetics tests are not necessary but can be interesting” and I was intrigued to hear this because I considered this a gold standard test to have done.

Here are some of the excellent topics and speakers:

  • Chemical Sensitivity and Detoxing Your Home with Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP
  • Heavy Metals, Fatigue and Detox with Wendy Myers, FDN-P, NC, CHHC
  • Essentials Oils to Treat and Prevent Mold Toxicity with Jen Broyles, CHC
  • Mold Inspection and Detection with JW Biava
  • Mold, Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention with Jill Sheppard Davenport, MS, CNS, LN
  • Mold, Histamine and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity with Gail Clayton, RPh, MS, CNS
  • Brain on Fire: Mental Illness and Mold with Mary Beth Ackerley, MD, MD(H), ABIHM
  • Advanced Therapies for Mold Recovery with Mark Hyman, MD
  • Finding a Quality Mold Inspector and Remediator with Jason Earle, IEP

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UPDATE: March 28, 2021
This summit is being re-released for a third time on April 26 – May 2, 2021 due to the high demand and excellent content.

I was thrilled to be invited to speak on this summit AND my interview, Immediate Relief for Anxiety, also happens to be one of the registration gifts so you get access right away!

We initially cover some of the many connections between mold toxicity and anxiety and low mood. I share from this 2018 paper, Effects of Mycotoxins on Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Immune Processes:

  • the presence of mold and dampness was associated with the prevalence of depression and emotional distress
  • it’s unclear whether neuropsychological problems are due to the adverse effects of mycotoxins or the emotional and financial stress of keeping a house clean in the face of recurrent mold [it’s very likely both + the loss of treasured possessions for some folks too]
  • a low sense of control may lead to an elevated risk for anxiety and depression.

I also share how much I learned from Dr. Neil Nathan’s presentation at one of the IMMH conferences: “Mold Toxicity as an Unrecognized Cause of Mental Health issues.” He shares that “mold  toxicity may directly trigger anxiety, panic attacks, depression, depersonalization and hallucinations AND mast cell activation, multiple chemical sensitivities, secondary porphyrias, methylation dysfunction and pyroluria” … all of which plays a role in anxiety/depression.

I go on and cover the solutions for the anxiety and panic attacks (often directly triggered by mold toxicity) and the sense of loss while you are dealing with the mold toxicity and home remediation or move:

  • mold anxiety and how to use GABA and serotonin support to ease the anxiety, fears, insomnia, worry and panic attacks that are so common with mold toxicity (so there is not the added toxic burden of psychiatric meds)
  • how certain mycotoxins may actually lead to high serotonin and what to do in this instance
  • using DPA (an amino acid that boosts endorphins) to help comfort folks who may lose their homes and beloved contents/books/photos due to mycotoxins

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If you or a loved one suffers from mystery symptoms and/or unresolved anxiety I encourage you to tune in to learn more.

I’ll see you online at this educational summit when you register here.

Can you relate to any of this? Have you been ill as a result of toxic mold exposure? Or do you suspect mold is one of your root causes?

Have you remediated a moldy home and healed your self with a functional medicine approach?

Electromagnetic frequency pollution and wireless: a significant risk factor for disease

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…it’s my deepest belief that electromagnetic frequency pollution, especially coming from most of the wireless devices used today, is a significant risk factor for disease”
~ Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, during his interview on the Immune Defense Summit

Dr. Klinghardt is founder of the Klinghardt Academy, the American Academy of Neural Therapy, medical director of the Institute of Neural Biology, and lead clinician at the Sophia Health Institute shares this:

All the research points to the fact that it’s the cumulative effect of all the sources of Wi-Fi. We have the Wi-Fi router in the home; unfortunately, most of the cordless phones that are used in the US are also based on Wi-Fi technology. And they use 900 MHz, and they’re broadcasting 24/7 into the rooms in the home. Then we have the baby monitors, a huge source. And then the alarm systems in the house. And the new source, of course, the new kid on the block, is the smart meters…which create devastating amounts of radiation in the home, usually in a sheet that kind of goes horizontally through the house on the level where the smart meter is.

This is an in-depth interview and one of the best I’ve heard on the topic of EMFs and wireless technology and the dangers! He covers mercury containing compact fluorescent lights; Wi-Fi in schools; the responsible use of the cell phone; the impacts of this wireless technology on autism and insomnia, GABA and anxiety levels; how mold becomes more virulent in the presence of Wi-Fi; and how heavy metals in the brain can make you much more susceptible to microwave and wireless technology; how moisture contained in your mattress makes it a microwave receiver and more.    

He doesn’t expand on the insomnia mechanisms but because he mentions GABA I would assume using GABA as a supplement would help with both anxiety and sleep issues, in a similar way GABA helps with Lyme anxiety and GABA protects against fluoride-induced hypothyroidism.  This is an area I’m going to be researching further but clearly we want to be removing the source of exposure and not use GABA as a band-aid but rather as a tool to address the low GABA levels and anxiety/insomnia in the interim.

Dr. Klinghardt shares so much about how to protect yourself on the Immune Defense Summit. Here is some advice on how to protect your home from the incoming radio waves from the cell phone towers nearby, and from the neighbors:

We recommend the German system building biology. They have developed wall paints that can be applied to outside the home or inside the home with a graphite paint that’s electroconductive. It creates a faraday cage, basically, that needs to be grounded into the ground wire of your electric system, and shielding curtains that are made from silver coated cloth that deflect the incoming radio waves. That’s pretty much what we do with all of our clients.

He also offers the following tips for reducing exposure:

  • a sleep sanctuary that looks like a mosquito net that’s put over the bed that reduces the radiation to one-ten thousandths on the inside of it
  • only switch it on the Wi-Fi router if you need it – if you’re actually doing something with it
  • Stetzer filters

and much much more.

I was surprised that Dr. Klinghardt didn’t mention the Blushield devices which I learned about recently at the Sydney MINDD conference. I’m going to be following up with him to find out what results he has seen with these protective devices and will report back.

I do hope you can join us! Click here to register. The summit runs July 24-31

Be prepared – this interview is not for the faint of heart – Dr. Klinghardt is direct and to the point and doesn’t hold back.

Feel free to post questions and share your tips and experiences with EMFs and wireless in the comments.