Mould and biotoxin illness
Mould Illness and Biotoxin Support
Mould illness treatment works best as a partnership between your medical team and considered naturopathic support, and addressing the environment you live and work in comes first. Mould sensitivity and illness from mould toxins (mycotoxins) are increasingly recognised, particularly in people already living with Lyme disease, stealth infections or a genetically susceptible, compromised immune system. Amina Eastham-Hillier N.D works alongside your doctors to look at the whole picture: your environment, your toxin load, your immune and gut health, and any other stealth infections present. The aim is to support your body sensibly while you continue conventional medical care, never to replace it.
- Mould illness support starts with the building: mould spores can grow within 2 days in water damaged buildings, and microscopic spores often go undetected without proper testing.
- Mould toxicity symptoms overlap heavily with Lyme and chronic stealth infections, which is why routine medical results can come back unremarkable even when you feel very unwell.
- CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, described by Dr Shoemaker) is common in people with chronic stealth infections, and a genetic susceptibility makes some people far more reactive to mould exposure.
- Amina has supported people with mould toxins and sensitivities for over 8 years, always as naturopathic support used alongside your medical care, with personalised programs because every person is unique.
- Consultations with Amina are available online and by phone, wherever you are in Australia or overseas.
What mould illness and biotoxin illness are
Mould sensitivities and illness from mycotoxins are becoming more apparent, especially in people already affected by Lyme disease or similar illnesses. A biotoxin is a toxin produced by a living organism, and in this context it refers to the mycotoxins certain moulds release. When the body cannot clear these toxins efficiently, inflammation can build and a wide range of symptoms can follow.
This pattern is often described as CIRS, Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, a term coined by Dr Shoemaker. It is common in people who have chronic stealth infections such as Lyme disease, because there are very similar genetic variations associated with Lyme disease, mould sensitivities and gluten or coeliac sensitivities. With a genetic susceptibility and a weaker, compromised immune system, a person can become far more sensitive to mould exposure.
In Amina's clinical experience, this is why so many people arrive feeling dismissed. Mould mycotoxins raise many inflammatory markers that are not part of routine testing, so standard medical results can look unremarkable and people are told there is nothing wrong, even while they are clearly unwell.
Mould toxicity symptoms Amina sees in practice
Mould exposure and mycotoxin load can produce a broad and confusing mix of symptoms, which is part of why it is so often missed. The pattern, rather than any single symptom, is usually what stands out.
- Fatigue, brain fog and concentration problems
- Low mood, anxiety and multiple chemical sensitivities
- Dizziness and increased sensitivity to light, sound and smells
- Cold temperature intolerance, allergies, asthma and coughs
- Muscle weakness, muscle pain, nerve pain, twitches and joint pain
- Static electric shocks
- Gut symptoms such as nausea, poor appetite, bloating and irritable bowel
Addressing the environment comes first
You cannot recover well while you are still being exposed, so the building matters as much as the body. Mould spores can grow within just 2 days in water damaged buildings after floods or leaks, and in old or poorly ventilated places such as hotels, offices and cars.
Mould is often hidden. Spores settle and grow on carpets, sofas, cushions, walls, books, clothes, behind shower plumbing, around plumbing leaks, behind cupboards and on leather goods, frequently out of sight. Most people have no idea how much mould may be present in their home.
Testing your environment with an ERMI (Environmental Relative Mouldiness Index) or HERTSMI-2 test can help identify the types and amounts of mould present. Common moulds picked up this way include Aspergillus penicillioides and Aspergillus versicolor, Chaetomium globosum, Stachybotrys chartarum (often called black mould, typically found in water damaged buildings) and Wallemia sebi.
Testing available through a consultation with Amina
When mould exposure is suspected, testing specific markers helps clarify the effect mycotoxins may be having on your body and guides a more appropriate, individualised plan. These tests are arranged through a consultation and interpreted alongside your medical care.
- Mycotoxins in your body, measured from a urine sample, which can indicate levels of moulds such as Ochratoxin A and the Aflatoxin and Trichothecene groups
- Inflammatory markers linked to mould and biotoxins, using functional medicine testing (for example C3a, C4a, TGF beta-1, MMP-9, VEGF, Leptin, MSH, VIP and ADH/Osmolality)
- Anti-Gliadin Antibodies (IgG and IgA)
- HLA DQ/DR genetic studies (HLA-DQB1 and HLA DR molecular analysis): around 24% of the population carry these mould-susceptible genes
How Amina supports you, alongside your medical team
Mould and mould sensitivities can be supported with herbal medicine and naturopathy used as a complement to conventional care, never as a replacement for it. There is no single protocol, because each person is genuinely unique.
Amina builds a personalised program around your genetic profile, toxin load, immune health, adrenal health, gut health and any other stealth infections present, such as Lyme disease, Bartonella, Babesia and viral co-infections. With over 8 years supporting people with mould toxins and sensitivities, and more than 30 years in the wider health industry, she works methodically and at a pace your body can manage.
Consultations are available online and by phone, so you can be supported from home wherever you live. Please continue working with your doctor throughout, and check with your own medical practitioner before making changes to any prescribed treatment.
Frequently asked questions
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