Geopathic Stress – The Ultimate Guide
July 22, 2022
Mold in buildings is wide-spread. A wide range of opinions exists about how important it is to be aware of mold, from “it’s no big deal”, to “this is a life-threatening emergency”. For many it’s something they’d rather not think about all, much less deal with - understandable because this is a complex and sometimes poorly understood phenomenon.
Here is an overview about mold and mold-related issues: different types of mold, health concerns, effective and safe remediation, avoidance, and recovery for those affected by a mold-sourced illness. Included is a list of resources you can use to research mold yourself. The more discernment we have on this topic, the more effective the actions we can take to both eliminate mold exposure and prevent future possible exposure.*
I was recently made aware of the movie Moldy, a documentary by mold survivor Dave Asprey. Dave was chronically unwell all of his early life, and later found himself at the height of a successful Silicon Valley career ill and increasingly unable to think clearly, in danger of losing his livelihood. After a long inquiry, he realized that the mold exposure from his childhood as well as a currently moldy living space were robbing him of his health and ability to use his brain. I recommend watching this as a starting point for appreciating what the issues are and how serious mold exposure can be. You can watch the movie online for about $10. **
Moldy includes several interviews from MDs discussing the many health conditions which can be directly caused by mold exposure. Because there’s such ignorance about mold effects in both the medical profession and the public, the source of these conditions may not be identified correctly and those affected won’t receive appropriate treatment, their symptoms remaining debilitating and chronic. Here is a typical list of conditions which can be mold exposure-related:
1. Breathing issues
2. Brain fog
3. Cognitive impairment
4. Immune suppression
5. Fatigue
6. Depression
7. Arthritis
8. Digestive problems
9. Poor sleep
10. Inflammation
11. Joint pain
12. Weight gain
Key points stood out for me after watching Moldy:
- About 28% of us are genetically disposed to have severe reactions to mold if over-exposed (if you sit three or four people next to each other, that’s at least one of those people).
- According to Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, an expert on health effects of mold (and mold survivor himself), about 45 million people in the U.S. are exposed to significant levels of mold. This means that various effects from mold are not only weakening a very large percentage of the population, these effects, such as aches and pains, cognitive decline, weight gain, allergies, asthma, sinus issues, skin problems, and on and on, have become a kind of new normal. When something is relatively low-grade and widespread it tends to get dismissed as part of life rather than something that is not normal, and that we are capable of understanding and reversing.
- The incidence of mold in homes increased after 1970 when building materials for new construction changed to include more materials that are easier breeding grounds for mold.
- “Total Environmental Load” of toxins is a big factor in our health. If just one source of toxicity is studied, such as toxic chemicals, it creates an illusion of relative safety if we are told that we are within the safety limits of exposure to that type of toxin. What is very hard to study or quantify is the effect of our “total environmental toxic load”, or the cumulative interactive stress involved if a person is simultaneously exposed to a combination of airborne, waterborne and food-borne toxins (molds, fungi, viruses, chemicals, heavy metals), unhealthy Electromagnetic Field levels and Wifi exposure, and the combined effects over time in a population that includes much variation in degree of susceptibility. This is too complex and variable to study, although generalities are known about some of the interactions. Every person and situation has a unique combination of influences to be aware of and mitigate.
- Mold is neurotoxic for everyone, even those who will never exhibit severe symptoms. The memory problems most of us associate with aging as normal are, according to Dr. Daniel Amen in Moldy, not normal at all.
And, from Lloyd Burrell, electromagnetic field expert and educator from www.electricsense.com:
The presence of elevated EMF exposure levels and Wifi in a building both increases mold’s rate of growth, and encourages mutations of the mold into forms which may be more toxic.
Confusion about whether or not mold is a big concern comes in part from these factors:
- Different people are differently susceptible to mold toxicity: the mycotoxins produced by mold. Some people may be able to co-exist for years in moldy buildings and never exhibit severe symptoms, while others may become very compromised or ill with much less exposure.
- There are different types of mold, some not toxic and some highly toxic.
- The presence of mold in a building is often not visible to the eye, nor strong enough to smell, even if there is a dangerous level of mold growing behind wallboard, in HVAC ducting, absorbed into bedding or other common materials.
- Mold is present in food sources as well as environmental. It may be the presence of mold in grains, peanuts, apples, etc., that is the source of many allergies, not the food itself. When the toxicity is coming from both inside and outside the body, it can become difficult to isolate a cause for one’s symptoms.
- Some mental, emotional and behavioral symptoms, considered to be “neuropsychiatric”, such as difficulty concentrating or processing information, anxiety, depression, and episodes of what has been termed “mold rage”, are often viewed by physicians as being “all in your head”. Actually, they may be: mold toxicity crosses the blood brain barrier and can be present in the brain effecting emotional and cognitive states, as well as nerve health.
- Extenuating influences, such as high EMF fields or toxic chemicals, may or may not be present along with the other conditions that promote mold growth. Some scientists believe that the presence of microwaves from wireless technology weakens the blood brain barrier, allowing more access to the brain of environmental toxins.
If you want to see if you have been affected by mold exposure, you can take the Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) test. This is a medically diagnostic test that uses the eye’s ability to detect contrast, something that is reduced with mold exposure. The test is free and you can take it from your computer.
My conviction after investigating this topic is that it would be better to err on the side of caution than to risk serious health consequences from exposure to environmental mold. Even “mild” cognitive impairment, or chronic sinus infections, could indicate a meaningful long-term risk to health, given that effects from all health stressors are accumulative. What if a child’s behavioral issues are in large part because there is mold in his home or school and his/her particular brain is affected in ways that make it difficult for the child to be focused and calm? No amount of medication will resolve that.
Below is a list of various types of resources you can use to investigate different aspects of mold effects, remediation and recovery.
The more we really take in and consider the implications of wide-spread mold issues, the more choices we will have over environmental and personal health for ourselves and our loved ones.
I am not advocating any particular approach to this other than being informed; however, if you do choose to work with anyone in your environment or for your health, “buyer beware”, make sure they have a lot of experience and history of success. Those trained in Baubiologie understand how to safely correct properties affected by all sorts of environmental hazards, including mold. Mold removal from a property, like removing mercury fillings, has to be done with great care to be effective and to protect the residents from further exposure in the remediation process.
Links:
Documentary about mold in environment and health effects
Understanding what creates conditions for mold to grow, from a Baubiologist
Find a Baubiologie Expert in your area
How mold is worsened by EMF
Information about the role of mold in multi system illness
Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker
A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Avoidance
Compiled list of more environmental and health resources for mold exposure
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* I am not a mold specialist nor a medical practitioner. Information provided for educational purposes only. I include mold awareness information as part of the Feng Shui practice of creating safe and healthy environments.
** I have no business affiliation with Dave Asprey, the movie Moldy, or any other professional or service mentioned in this article. Recommendations are for education only, and everyone is encouraged to investigate widely.
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The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote awareness regarding certain environmental phenomena and knowledge of related research, physiologic consequences and potential solutions. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a symptom, medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Reliance on any information appearing on this website is solely at your own risk.
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