How to Live With an Allergy to Mold

Mold is not one substance, but a variety of different fungi which grow on organic matter. They are also present in foods, and if you are very sensitive to mold, you may need to avoid fermented foods.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Air Cleaners
• Dehumidifiers
• Hygrometers
• Upright Vacuum Cleaners
• White Vinegar
• White Vinegar
• Quercetin
• Vitamin C
• HEPA Vacuums
• Dehumidifiers
• Primers And Sealers
• Dust Masks
• Vitamin C

1. Maintain indoor humidity levels below 45 percent. Mold needs humidity to thrive. Air conditioners can reduce humidity, and you can measure levels in your home with a hygrometer. Use a dehumidifier to reduce humidity levels.

2. Filter your household air. There are a number of different filtering devices on the market.

3. Clean air conditioner and dehumidifier vents daily, and change filters frequently.

4. Vacuum rather than sweep floors. Sweeping can spread spores around. Change and dispose of vacuum bag immediately after vacuuming up a moldy area. If possible, change bag outside.

5. Clean up - avoid clutter, plants and aquariums in your bedroom. They are good sources for mold growth. Damp mop and damp dust your house thoroughly at least twice a week. Keep storage areas and closets neat and clean. Seal stored items, if possible, in sealed plastic bags.

6. Empty garbage daily and keep garbage can clean.

7. Treat walls with an anti-mold/mildew primer if you want to hang wallpaper. This will help prevent any fungus from growing under the wallpaper. Avoid fabric or heavily textured wallpaper.

8. Use oil-based paint rather than water-based paint when painting your house. Oil-based paints seem to attract less mildew and mold.

9. Reduce the number of plants inside your house. They increase humidity levels. Repot plants outside. This will reduce the number of mold spores that come into your house.

10. Fix leaky pipes, broken underground drainage systems, and other sources of water leakage.

11. Sleep mold-free. Use pillows made of synthetic fibers. They are more resistant to mold. Avoid down comforters. Use synthetic materials such as Dacron.

12. Wash and vacuum the inside of your car at regular intervals. Molds can grow inside a car as well. Opt for vinyl seat covers in your car. They do not attract mold.

13. Use a face mask when raking leaves or cutting grass. Avoid piles of leaves and mulch in your yard. They are ideal for growing mold.

14. Watch what you eat. Avoid eating mushrooms or aged cheese, and avoid hamburgers unless made from freshly ground meat. Eat only freshly opened canned foods and fresh foods. Refrigerate your perishable food immediately.

15. Add a supplement of vitamin C with bioflavonoids to your diet, 1,000 to 5,000 mg per day in divided doses. It helps your body cope with allergens and decreases inflammation. Use quercetin, 500mg twice per day. It helps decrease allergic reactions and supports the immune system.

Tips & Warnings

• Mold is difficult to avoid completely. If you are still having respiratory problems despite your best efforts, you may need to see an allergist.
• Avoid heavy carpeting and wallpaper. Both collect mold. Pull up carpets if possible, and replace with tiles or hardwood flooring or any other type of smooth surface.
• Assess whether you are sensitive to fermented products such as wine, sauerkraut and pickles.
• Avoid using commercial mold removers. Many are highly toxic, and the fumes can be more dangerous than the mold itself. Mix vinegar and water, borax and water or an other nontoxic simple cleaner. Alternatively, use a nontoxic mold/mildew remover, usually available at health food stores or through mail order.

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on 9/11/2006 Its not widely known, but the drug cholestyramine is becoming a first line treatment of choice for people living with mold illness. This action against mycotoxins was originally discovered by the military.

This is because mold toxins accumulate in the bile, which is called 'enterohepatic recirculation', and can remain in the body, building up to the point where they start causing permanent damage as well as the inflammation.

If cholestyramine isn't available, activated charcoal can also help, but its not as effective.