Mold definition : a fungus that causes disintegration of organic matter. There are many types of fungi that are considered molds, one example is Penicillium that causes mold on bread or cheese. Other types of molds can grow on walls or ceilings in wet and warm areas. Many homes in New Orleans had toxic mold grown on their walls after the hurricane and floods.

Do Molds Cause Illness?
Illnesses resulting from mold-exposure are common and important, but a lot of what's currently being blamed on mold exposure is not supported by good medical evidence. A fungus can cause illness through three known mechanisms: by generating a harmful immune reaction in the host (allergies for example); by direct infection; and by releasing toxic or irritating byproducts. For each one of these categories, there is scientific evidence to establish mold as a genuine cause of illness, but hypothesized associations have also been made, especially concerning indoor molds. The role of indoor mold to upper airway allergies is still not fully understood. While ingesting large quantities of mold from contaminated or spoiled food can lead to serious illnesses, there is little scientific evidence proving that inhaling toxins from molds has harmful effects on health. Concerns have also been raised as to whether mold exposure could induce disorders of immune regulation. However the published literature in this regard is of particularly poor quality and should not be relied on as scientifically valid.... for now. In some cases, using blood tests to measure antibodies to mold allergens, or sampling air for mold spores can be useful. Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, February 2006.

Mold and Asthma
Mold and dampness in homes are significant risk factors for recurrent wheezing in infants at high risk of allergic disorders, whereas house dust mite exposure does not significantly increase the risk. "In most studies that investigate the association of mold or water damage and respiratory disorders in infants, the analysis is not adjusted for exposure to house dust mite, which is also a known cause of respiratory illnesses," Dr. Tiina Reponen, of the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, and colleagues write in the latest issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. As part of a study in infants of parents with allergies, the researchers performed on-site home visits when the infants were 8 months old to assess visible mold or water damage and levels of house dust mite allergen. The 640 infants in the study had a first clinic visit at an average age of 13 months. During this visit, the team took medical histories, including parent-reported wheezing episodes, and performed skin prick tests for exposure to food allergens, substances known to trigger allergic responses in susceptible individuals, and 15 common airborne allergens. The team found that 51 percent of homes had minor water damage or mold problems and 5 percent had major conditions. Only 16 percent of homes had house dust mite allergen levels high enough to cause an allergic response. The risk of recurrent wheezing was increased nearly two-fold in infants who lived in homes with major mold or water damage. The risk was five times greater in infants with reactions to food or airborne allergens and six times greater in infants with reactions to airborne allergens. Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, October 2006.

Reduce or prevent mold growing in your home
Mold is a common fungus that can invade a home and cause allergy symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing and cough. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the mold problem:
In bathrooms, install an exhaust fan or open a window when showering to prevent moisture build-up.
Repair a plumbing leak quickly
Carpets in bathrooms can retain moisture, therefore it is a good idea not to have carpets in the bathroom
Scrub bathtubs and sinks at least monthly, preferably with a bleach-based cleaner to kill mold.
Clean garbage cans regularly.
On humid days, use a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.

Essential oil of thyme and thymol could be used for disinfection of moldy walls in the dwellings in low concentration.

Alpha lipoic acid and mold infection
Alpha Lipoic acid as a potential first agent for protection from mycotoxins and treatment of mycotoxicosis.
Rogers SA. Northeast Center for Environmental Medicine, Sarasota, Florida.
Arch Environ Health. 2003 Aug;58(8):528-32.
Mycotoxins -- toxic substances produced by fungi or molds -- are ubiquitous in the environment and are capable of damaging multiple biochemical mechanisms, resulting in a variety of human symptoms referred to collectively as "mycotoxicosis." In fact, mycotoxins mimic multiple xenobiotics, not only with respect to their ultimate damage, but also in their routes of detoxification. This suggests potential therapeutic options for the challenging treatment of mycotoxicosis. In this brief review, the author examines the use of alpha lipoic acid as an example of an inexpensive and available nutrient that has been shown to protect against, or reverse, the adverse health effects of mycotoxins.

Mold allergy questions
Q. Hello. I was hoping you could direct my thoughts a bit. I have a son who is extremely healthy, but during the moldy periods in our weather his eyes burn and itch, which then causes him to blink *a lot*. I've had his eyes checked and his vision and eye health are fine. After watching his reactions to the weather I'm pretty certain this is a mold allergy. I've found a lot of herbs that would be useful for general allergic reactions to mold, but I was hoping I could find something specifically for the eyes.
   A. We are not familiar with an herb that would be effective for mold allergy.

Q. Would appreciate your thoughts on mold exposure. What are the best herbs to cleanse the body and for how long? Oregon grape extract? Olive leaf extract? Colloidal silver?

Q. Any particular supplements that would help detox a person subjected to chronic toxic black mold (basement). Symptoms are ms-like (numbness, gait, balance, etc.). I read about products such as brown seaweed and zeolite to assist in detoxification but don’t know if there is truth in what I’ve read. You and your staff seems to on top of most subjects and issues, so I thought I’d ask. Your website and supplement info is fantastic. Any thoughts on the black mold issue would be helpful.
   A. We have not seen extensive research on the topic of black mold and natural treatment for this exposure. Consider eating an optimal diet and improve lifestyle factors to the best of your ability. See diet for suggestions. Lipoic acid may be helpful.

Q.  I have developed a severe mold allergy over the last several years since I moved to Florida and now have asthma as well. Apparently mold loves the high humidity & hot weather. Are there areas in the US that are better to live for people with this issue? I have heard California is good? How about New England?
   A. I have not studied this topic in detail but any dry, desert-like area appears to be a good option.