In 2020, I completely stopped taking all pharmaceutical drugs, including my medication for chronic migraines. When I gave up all pharmaceuticals, I anticipated I would suffer from migraines. After all, my DNA predisposes me to migraines, and I’ve dealt with their debilitating effects since I was a teenager (my dad, too). Of course, genetics only load the gun; it’s environmental factors that pull the trigger.

Before my natural health journey, I regularly got Botox injections and was on several other migraine preventatives. Although conventional medicine was working decently, as I leaped into my natural health journey, I prepared with an abundance of herbs to manage headaches and migraines. All the preparation in the world wouldn’t have prepared me for what came shortly after. 

At first, my natural remedies worked great, but eventually, I started getting the worst migraines, often lasting for days. I would go to sleep with them and wake up with them. I would try all my regimens, even my go-to homemade ginger capsules (recipe coming soon), with no success most days. I looked up other natural remedies and started using homeopathic Belladonna 30 and several different pillows recommended by my chiropractor. 

Nothing kept the headaches away long-term because I was masking symptoms instead of addressing the root cause, which took me a while to identify. 

I didn’t realize that black mold was growing on my bathroom ceiling. I showered but never really looked up in the area above the showerhead (I typically showered facing the opposite direction). One day, I got soap in my eye and went to rinse it out while facing the showerhead, looking up; that’s when I noticed the black fuzz. 

We had the moldy ceiling replaced the next day, but based on my symptoms, for at least a year, I walked around my home (my safe place), being exposed to a severe toxin. In my many years of dealing with 15+ migraine days per month, no doctor ever asked me about mold exposure. I had no idea mold could cause my symptoms, so I never thought to check my home for signs. 

Causes of Mold & How to Prevent it

We are exposed to mold daily (in small amounts), which is considered harmless. Mold thrives on moisture and travels through the air, meaning it can enter your home through doors, windows, heating/air conditioning vents, clothing, shoes, toys, and pets (1). When mold lands on a moist spot in your home and starts to grow, the spores it releases, which we inevitably breathe in, can easily make anyone sick (2). 

Once inside your home, mold will not grow unless the conditions are right. Mold cannot latch on if the area isn’t moist with a little light. Ideal living grounds for mold are (3):

• In sinks, bathtubs, and showers
• Near leaky pipes
• Around windows
• In basements, crawl spaces, and attics

There are numerous varieties of mold; the 11 most common kinds of mold that present the most severe health risks include (4):

• Alternaria is found indoors and outdoors and usually appears in damp areas, like the sink, shower, or dark and dimly lit areas outside the home (4). Its black and brown spots can generally identify it. Health problems associated with this mold include asthma attacks and allergic reactions (5).
• Aspergillus is the most common household mold found indoors and outdoors. This type of mold grows fastest in carbon-rich environments such as compost piles, rotting leaves, and decomposing vegetables. It can also be found in relatively low-nutrient areas like damp walls, carpets, doors, windows, and pillows (4). Its green, black, brown, and yellow colors usually identify it. Health problems associated with this mold include respiratory infections, allergic reactions, and inflamed lungs (6).
• Aureobasidium is often found indoors on wooden furniture, surfaces, painted walls, wallpaper, windows, and caulk (4). Its pink and black color usually identifies it. Health problems associated with this mold include allergic reactions (7).
• Chaetomium is found indoors, most commonly in the drywall that has experienced some degree of water damage (4). It’s usually identified by a musty or mold odor in the home, and it’s a cotton-like texture that changes colors from white to grey to brown and eventually leads to black if not controlled. Health problems associated with this mold include allergic reactions, hay fever, asthma, allergic sinusitis, skin and nail infections, pulmonary mycosis, brain accesses, fatal cerebral infections, permanent neurological damage of the myelin sheath, and autoimmune diseases (8).
• Cladosporium is found in cold and warm areas, such as carpets, wood floorboards, wooden cabinets, and other fabrics, both indoors and outdoors (4). The brown, green, and black spots can help identify this mold species. Health problems associated with this mold include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory problems (9).
• Fusarium is usually found in colder, wetter areas, such as an overwatered houseplant (4). You can generally identify it on a plant after the leaves turn pale green to a golden yellow color and then wilts, withers, dies, or completely falls off. Health problems associated with this mold include allergic reactions and respiratory issues (10).
• Penicillium is usually found indoors, inside insulation, furnishings, water-damaged furniture, and carpeting (4). It usually spreads quickly and can be identified by its vivid blue-green or yellow color. Health problems associated with this mold include sinus infections, lung inflammation, and allergic reactions (11).
• Stachybotrys Chartarum, also known as black mold, is incredibly toxic (4). You can identify this type of mold by its black color and musty smell in damp areas, such as air conditioning pipes/ducts, showers, sinks, and more. Health problems associated with this mold include breathing issues, sinus infections, fatigue, asthma, headaches, and more (12).
• Serpula lacrymans are often found outdoors but can grow indoors, too, usually on wooden surfaces (4). This mold feeds solely on wooden surfaces and is often identified after it has caused dry rot within the wood as it fed on. This mold is usually yellow in appearance. Health problems associated with this mold include hypersensitivity, pneumonia, sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory problems (13).
• Trichoderma is another damp-area type of mold usually found in wet/damp carpeting, wallpaper, and similar surfaces (4). It can be identified by its white or cream color that becomes green. Health problems associated with this mold include sinus infections, allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory problems (14).
• Ulocladium is found indoors and outdoors, most commonly in areas heavily damaged by water, such as once-flooded home areas (4). This type of mold is usually identified by its brown, grey, or black color and suede-like texture. Health problems associated with this mold include allergic reactions and infections (15).

The best way to prepare is to be aware and prevent it from growing, which can successfully be done by following these steps (16,17):

• Keep humidity levels low (the CDC recommends no higher than 50%).
• Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier, especially in warmer climates.
• Keep the air in your home circulating by using exhaust fans in the bathroom and the kitchen for adequate ventilation.
• Throw away any mold-covered items in your home. It’s best to replace the item instead of cleaning it to ensure the mold is gone.
• Do not carpet bathrooms or the basement of your home.
• Do not overwater houseplants.
• If you have a leak in your home, repair it immediately.
• If you experience a flood in your home, thoroughly allow it to dry within 24-48 hours.

Symptoms of Mold Exposure

Now you know how mold enters your home and how to prevent its growth, let’s discuss the symptoms of mold exposure. Some signs of mold exposure include (18):

• Sneezing 
• Nasal congestion (I experienced)
• Runny nose
• Eye irritation (I experienced)
• Coughing (I experienced)
• Sore throat (I experienced)
• Skin rash
• Headaches (I experienced)
• Lung irritation (I experienced)
• Wheezing 

You may be at higher risk for complications following mold exposure if you have certain medical conditions such as (18):

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
• A compromised immune system
• Cystic fibrosis 

Managing Mold Exposure Symptoms

If you think you’ve been exposed to mold, I recommend testing your home (you could use the Mold Armor Do It Yourself Mold Test Kit). If it comes back positive, I suggest cleaning the surface, replacing the area, or whatever measures are appropriate depending on the location of the mold. 

If you happen to find mold in your house, there are natural ways to get rid of it instead of using toxic bleach, such as (19):

• Tea Tree Oil 
• Baking soda 
• Vinegar
• Grapefruit Seed Extract 
• Hydrogen peroxide 

Although mainstream sources claim detoxing after mold exposure is unnecessary, I disagree. Unless you’re regularly detoxing and eating perfectly (which none of us do), it’s best to support your body and eliminate the toxins to be safe. One study concluded that post-mold exposure: 

“The treatment approaches include the use of sequestering agents, antioxidant support, systemic, nebulized and intranasal glutathione, probiotics, nutritional support, and the correction of persistent fungal infections or symptomatic colonization. Also, the use of sauna and exercise can be invaluable in helping to restore the health of those injured from their exposure (20).”

Following mold exposure, I recommend supporting your entire body, especially the gut, liver, and immune system, while supplementing the following:

• Activated charcoal (I recommend MaryRuth’s Activated Charcoal Capsules) is beneficial for acute and delayed effects of toxins. In vitro studies demonstrate activated charcoal’s binding and removing capacity of various mycotoxins (21,22). 
• Chlorophyll (I recommend MaryRuth’s Chlorophyll Liquid Drops) protects DNA from damage caused by mycotoxins like aflatoxin (23). Chlorophyll also aids liver detoxification, speeds up wound healing, improves digestion, and fights inflammation (24).
• Vitamin C (I recommend Garden of Life Raw Vitamin C) supports the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of the body, which is important post-mold exposure (25). Studies have shown that 25 and 50 milligrams of vitamin C doses significantly reduced fungal growth and toxin production following mold exposure (26).
• Vitamin D (I recommend MaryRuth’s Vitamin D3 Spray) plays many essential roles, including mood balancing, maintaining healthy bones, and regulating immune function — roughly half of us are deficient (27). The best way to get vitamin D is through sun exposure since it may circulate for twice as long (28), but depending on where you are in the world, that may be difficult. 
• Zinc (I recommend MaryRuth’s Liquid Ionic Zinc or Garden of Life’s Raw Zinc Capsules) is an essential nutrient for health, but the human body cannot synthesize it (29). Zinc can be found in legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and vegetables (30), but you can also supplement it. Zinc supports the immune system (31,32) and has a protective anti-inflammatory effect (33), all very important when healing from mold exposure. 

Product Disclaimer

Product recommendations are affiliate links. I do not own or make these products. Recommendations are selected according to ingredients at the time article was written and can change at any time. I encourage you to double-check ingredients and research each company to ensure they’re suitable for your journey.

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