Beth’s story literally gave me goosebumps over and over. Can you imagine being in your late 20s and so sick that not a single health practitioner, natural or allopathic, can figure out what’s wrong with you??
Putting the pieces of the puzzle together took everything she had, and reversing her many chronic illnesses took even more, BUT she did it. Now she has helped 100s of others with complex mystery illnesses get well.
Whether you know someone with mystery illnesses that they can’t get help for or you’re just curious about our bodies and how they hurt and heal, this interview is for you.
Mold toxicity is a new(er) player on the block, and if you’re a human who breathes air, you MUST be educated about what it looks like.
We cover a huge span in this interview, from mold toxicity to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome to Lyme and histamine intolerance, including:
- Why mold toxicity is a new(er) and massive issue for more than half of Americans
- How to know if you have possibly been exposed to toxic mold
- Why some people react to mold while others, even in the same household, might not have any symptoms
- What to do if your home has mold
- What common “seasonal” diagnosis is ACTUALLY mold toxicity 85% of the time! (Eeek!)
- Why sensitivities to food or fragrances may be a red flag for something else
- What an aversion to colorful fruits and veggies might REALLY be
Whether your child struggles with ADHD or autism, anyone in your family has symptoms no one can figure out (even brain fog!), or even if you have a picky eater, you might learn some new root causes today!
If I had to pull one “best” quote from this interview, I literally couldn’t do it. It’s knowledge bomb after knowledge bomb—I learned so much!!
Can’t see the video? Watch Toxic Mold and MCAS here on YouTube!
No time for the video? Here are the notes!
What Does Mold Toxicity Look Like?
- 0:18: Today we’re talking about Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and mold toxicity. This is a somewhat new topic for me and I think it will turn on lots of lightbulbs for some of you reading!
- 2:10: Beth’s story is so powerful and so painful in many ways. She tells us how she got sick and how she was able to heal.
- 4:57: Some of Beth’s symptoms in college were joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, and panic attacks. She had to leave medical school and became a chronically ill patient.
- 8:00: At age 28, when the leading functional medicine doctor in her area told Beth they were out of ideas to help her she realized she had to make a decision: she could give up and live a shell of a life, or she could choose to look for her own answers until she got better.
Mold is a big issue in schools and it hits kids harder than adults. -Beth O’Hara, F.N.
Do you forget everything immediately? (My hand is raised …)
That’s why we created the one-page summaries of each podcast episode, in a simple Google Doc so there’s nothing to download.
Print them off and make yourself an actual handbook or just view online and search for what you want!
Why Is Mold Toxicity Such a Problem?
- 13:10: Why is mold such a huge issue? Is it becoming a bigger problem recently? Our overall toxic load today is much higher than in previous generations. This makes us more sensitive.
- 14:45: Buildings are built very “tightly” to conserve energy and retain cold and heat. This means they hold more moisture and humidity in the walls. You can buy humidity sensors to check your humidity levels. It should be below 50% and if it isn’t, you need to use a dehumidifier.
- 16:36: Many mold inspectors are noticing that as wifi and “smart” devices are being brought into homes, mold is producing increased amounts of spores. Learn more about wifi risks.
- 18:16: The average person is very likely to encounter toxic mold either at work, school, or home.
Wish you didn’t have to feel nervous when your kids ask to use knives?
- 19:17: There is mold pretty much everywhere, but some molds are toxic molds. Some include aspergillus, alternaria, strachybotrys, and C. globosum. These release mycotoxins which are immune dysregulators. Some are linked to cancers.
- 20:48: What happens if you have a water leak? Beth’s three steps are: stop the water source, remove water-damaged materials with a 2-foot margin, and use an enzyme or citrus-based product to neutralize mold spores.
- 23:48: Basements are a hot spot as well as crawl spaces. Typically they stay more humid than the house. You could never even suspect it and have mold growing all under your house.
Symptoms of Mold Toxicity
- 26:15: We go over some symptoms that could be red flags for mold toxicity. Unfortunately, it can show up differently for different people. It’s also frequent to have only one person who is sick in a whole family that was all exposed to the same mold. Mold affects the nervous system and can cause digestive and respiratory problems as well.
85% of all sinus infections are fungal infections. -Beth O’Hara, F.N.
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Mold Toxicity
- 28:40: Another aspect of mold toxicity is mast cell activation. Mast cells are in every tissue in our bodies and they are our front-line immune defense cells. Beth explains what normal mast cell activity looks like and how they can overreact.
Mast cells are our major frontline immune cells of the body. They sense pathogens and toxins—and stress! -Beth O’Hara, F.N.
- 32:24: Mold toxins are one of the biggest triggers for MCAS. Some others are trauma, infection, and chronic stress. MCAS is one of the most under-recognized and common complex chronic conditions. It is estimated that 1 in 10 people are dealing with it and most don’t know it.
- 36:36: Here are some signs you should look into MCAS: feeling sensitive to chemicals and fragrances, food sensitivities and allergies (especially reactions within 30 minutes and/or anaphylaxis), histamine intolerance, and mystery conditions where you can’t connect the dots.
- 39:17: Histamine intolerance is a tough one to figure out. The foods that trigger a histamine intolerance seem unconnected to each other. Spinach, pineapple, strawberries, ferments, ground/processed meats, and alcohol are some high histamine triggers.
- 42:46: If you have a neurodivergent child mold is something to look into. Mold toxicity and MCAS are linked to autism and can cause suffering for these very sensitive kids. Beth talks about some ways to help your neurodivergent kids reduce inflammation and stabilize their mast cells. Applying functional medicine with autism.
Chemicals in Pajamas?
Kids spend about half their time in bed and pajamas. Most kids PJs are laced with toxic flame-retardant chemicals or made with fabrics that will melt when exposed to flames and we say “No thank you!” to those in our house!
It’s tricky to find non-toxic pajamas, but I’ve got you covered! Some of our favorite brands of non-toxic PJs:
- Hanna Andersson is still mostly safe
- Target carries enough tight-fitting pajamas that it’s worth your time to check there, but many of theirs are not safe
- Primary
- Bellabu Bear (current fave, so cute!)
- Pact (love the affordable organic options!)
- Burt’s Bees organic PJs ( Amazon)
Is There Treatment for MCAS?
- 45:23: Some supplements that help stabilize mast cells are DAO, perimine, baicalin, quercetin, vitamin C, and vitamin D.
A lot of people on the spectrum are suffering from mold toxicity. -Beth O’Hara, F.N.
RELATED: Reduce inflammation and toxic burden by switching to natrual cleaners.
- 46:35: Along with supplements, nervous system work helps to stabilize mast cells. Beth has some courses to help teach parents and kids how to calm their vegus nerves and limbic system. This essential oil blend is formulated to calm the vegus nerve. Sign up for my next stress mastery challenge for some practical strategies.
- 47:40: When working with patients who have MCAS detox needs to be done with precision. You can’t just use a generic detox program because different molds bind to different agents and have different detox pathways.
- 50:17: If at all possible, you really need to work with an expert to detox from toxic mold exposure. Otherwise, you’re just shooting in the dark, wasting time and money, and potentially making your symptoms worse. Check out Beth’s courses for a cheaper alternative to working one-on-one with a practitioner.
- 52:16: If you can’t eat fruit and vegetables or take herbal medicines but you can take medications and supplements that aren’t herbs (like vitamin C), that’s a sign of salicylate intolerance.
- 52:50: Sensory sensitivities can be caused by mold as well as “lightning bolt pains.” You may confuse these with growing pains, but kids don’t grow out of them.
- 54:30: There’s so much hope! Beth has seen so many amazing stories of recovery from mold toxicity! Once you know that the boulder that’s crushing you is mold toxicity, there is a path of healing moving forward.
Resources We Mention for Mold Toxicity
- You can buy humidity sensors to check your humidity levels.
- Learn more about wifi risks.
- Applying functional medicine with autism.
- Some supplements that help stabilize mast cells are DAO, perimine, baicalin, quercetin, vitamin C, and vitamin D.
- This essential oil blend is formulated to calm the vegus nerve.
- Sign up for my next stress mastery challenge for some practical strategies.
- Follow Beth on Facebook.
- Beth’s Courses:
Beth O’Hara is a Functional Naturopath and Functional Genetic Analyst with a Doctorate in Naturopathy specializing in Functional Naturopathic Approaches and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. She found her own root causes contributing to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and reversed that, and she now has over ten years of experience working with hundreds of clients to unlock the keys to their health mysteries and support their healing journeys. Because she experienced what it meant to find full and joyful life after being bedridden and in excruciating pain, she’s on a mission to empower people with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) to reclaim their full potential.
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