Jessica’s SIgA levels have fairly consistently gone down ever since I (mom) stopped nursing her. These are the levels since late 2017.

November 2017 SIgA 167 range 51-204
September 2018 SIgA 153 range 51-204
December 2018 SIgA 140 range 51-204
July 2019 SIgA 186 range 51-204

*****Stopped nursing December 2019

February 2020 SIgA 29.9 range 30-275
July 2020 SIgA 25.8 range 30-275
December 2020 SIgA 77.2 range 30-275
April 2021 SIgA 56.5 range 30-275
September 2021 SIgA 14.5 range 30-275
April 2022 SIgA 20.7 range 30-275
February 2023 SIgA 25.4 range 30-275

Secretory IgA’s Complex Roles in Immunity and Mucosal Homeostasis in the Gut

Secretory IgA (SIgA) serves as the first line of defense in protecting the intestinal epithelium from enteric toxins and pathogenic microorganisms. Through a process known as immune exclusion, SIgA promotes the clearance of antigens and pathogenic microorganisms from the intestinal lumen by blocking their access to epithelial receptors, entrapping them in mucus, and facilitating their removal by peristaltic and mucociliary activities. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3774538/.

Role of Retinoic Acid in the Imprinting of Gut-Homing IgA-Secreting Cells

IgA is the most abundant immunoglobulin isotype produced in the body (around 3 g/day) and it is estimated that around 80% of all IgA-ASCs reside in the gut mucosa 1,2. Mice either lacking IgA or impaired in its secretion are more susceptible to intestinal toxins and pathogens 3,4. In addition, migration of B cells and ASCs to the gut is critical for conferring protection against intestinal pathogens 5-9. Therefore, both IgA secretion and homing of ASCs to the gut are important in conferring protection at this anatomical site.

It has been reported previously that either IL-5 or IL-6 can influence IgA secretion 100-110. In fact, RA-induced IgA secretion requires either exogenous IL-5 or the presence of T cells producing this cytokine 84,96. Also, RA induces autocrine production of IL-6 by B cells, which may further contribute to IgA secretion 111. Moreover, both RA and IL-6 are required for optimal IgA induction by GALT-DCs in vitro 60,61. Furthermore, RA plus either IL-5, IL-6 or LPS synergize and are sufficient to induce IgA secretion by activated B cells in the presence of non-intestinal DCs 61,62. However, IL-5, IL-6 or LPS are probably not directly involved in specific IgA class-switching but are rather permissive for immunoglobulin class-switching by inducing activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID, an essential enzyme for immunoglobulin class-switching and somatic hypermutation) 79,112 or by promoting proliferation/differentiation of already switched IgA plasmablasts 10,113.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2663412/.

TPN decreases IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression in lipopolysaccharide stimulated intestinal lamina propria cells but glutamine supplementation preserves the expression
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) decreases intestinal IgA and levels of Th2 cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-10 within the supernatants of intestinal homogenates. These cytokines are known to stimulate IgA production in vitro by cells of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Glutamine (GLN) supplementation of TPN normalizes GALT mass and cytokine levels. Because intestinal homogenates contain mucosa which itself is a source of cytokines, it was unclear whether cytokines change within the GALT itself. This study investigates dietary effects on IL-4 and IL-10 cytokine mRNA expression within isolated GALT lamina propria cells after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11303733/.

Immunoglobulins play a critical role in immune function: they act as antibodies that prevent you from becoming ill. Your B cells produce immunoglobulin, and sometimes your body can slow the manufacturing process. Your physician may recommend traditional therapies to boost immunoglobulin production, although you can also include certain nutrients in your diet to assist with this action.

Vitamin A

Eating foods high in vitamin A may offer benefits for your immunoglobulin levels. The Harvard Medical School suggests that vitamin A influences B cells, a type of immunoglobulin. A study featured in the March 1994 issue of “Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology” suggests that vitamin A increased the level of immunoglobulin in children as well. Include foods such as eggs, cream, liver and kidneys to get more vitamin A into your diet.

Zinc

Raise your immunoglobulin levels by consuming zinc. Research featured in the February 2010 “Journal of the Indian Medical Association” indicates that zinc boosts immunoglobulin levels in patients with tuberculosis. Oysters are particularly high in this nutrient, although you may also supplement your zinc intake by eating red meat, seafood, pork and poultry, baked beans, cashews, beans and cheese.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is known to positively influence immunoglobulin quantities in blood. Evidence from the February 2008 issue of “Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia” notes a correlation between vitamin E intake and immunoglobulin; although this study was carried out on chickens, human research is needed to confirm this finding. Eat foods such as liver, eggs, nuts, dark green leafy greens, sweet potatoes and avocado to get more vitamin E in your meal plan.

Lycopene

Lycopene, the compound that gives red and pink color to fruits and vegetables, may raise your immunoglobulin levels. A study in the November 2007 “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” showed this improved the level of these cells in patients with diabetes. Tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, as are watermelons, apricots and pink grapefruits. Lycopene is most well known for preventing heart disease. https://www.livestrong.com/article/420556-the-best-foods-to-eat-for-promoting-healthy-cells/.

From John’s Hopkins Medicine website

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is an antibody that’s part of your immune system. IgA is found in mucous membranes, especially in the respiratory and digetive tracts. It is also found in saliva, tears, and breastmilk.

IgA deficiency is a genetic health problem that can be passed down through families.
Most people with an IgA deficiency don’t have any symptoms.
There is no cure for IgA deficiency. Immunotherapy does not work to treat it.
Complications for IgA deficiency include asthma, diarrhea, ear and eye infections, autoimmune diseases, and pneumonia.
You can limit the spread of germs and illnesses by washing your hands often and staying away from large crowds.
Some people with an IgA deficiency are more likely to get frequent infections. These can include sinus, lung, and digestive infections. Some people with IgA deficiency also are more likely to have allergies, and digestive and autoimmune problems such as celiac disease or lupus. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/immunoglobulin-a-deficiency.

1) Probiotics

In a study (DB-RCT) with 47 people, a three-week daily intake of the probiotic L. reuteri increased IgA levels [1].
In 30 athletes, IgA substantially decreased after training in the placebo group, but not in athletes who took L. helveticus (DB-RCT) [2].
Chewing gum containing L. reuteri significantly increased IgA in the saliva (DB-RCT) [3].
Probiotics increased IgA levels and improved recovery in 40 children with burn injuries [4].
In a study (DB-RCT) of 66 pregnant women, high-dose multi-strain probiotics resulted in infants with higher IgA levels and improved gut function [5].
Daily ingestion of L. casei increased IgA levels in 14 subjects [6].
In a study of 98 newborns, B. bifidum increased IgA levels in low birth weight infants [7].
In a study of 413 infants, those who took formula enriched with B. lactis had higher IgA levels that were similar to the levels seen in breastfed infants [8].
The probiotic VSL#3 increased IgA production in monkeys [9].
Gut bacteria may be important for IgA production. Germ-free mice have greatly reduced IgA production in the gut. Even a single strain of bacteria can effectively promote the production of gut IgA in germ-free mice [10, 11].
Probiotics increased IgA production in mice and rats, improved gut function, and protected against inflammation and infection [12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17].
Probiotics like L. reuteri, L. helveticus, and L. casei may increase IgA levels, though more research about the effects of different probiotic strains is needed.

2) Prebiotics

Prebiotics are food for good bacteria. They improve our gut microbiome.

A prebiotic mixture increased IgA levels and improved metabolic parameters (CRP, insulin, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) in 45 overweight adults (DB-RCT) [18].
In a study (DB-RCT) with 187 infants, those who were exclusively fed formula and given prebiotics had higher IgA levels than infants who received a placebo [19].
Yacon flour, which is 50 – 70% prebiotic fiber, taken for 18 weeks increased IgA in 59 preschool children [20].
Prebiotics increase IgA in rats and mice [21, 22, 23].

A prebiotic taken during pregnancy increased IgA levels in maternal milk in mice [24].
Prebiotics feed “good” gut bacteria. Small studies suggest they may also help increase IgA levels in children.

3) Glutamine

A meta-analysis of 13 studies and 1,034 patients concluded that glutamine increased IgA and decreased infectious complications in gut cancer patients [25].
Glutamine increased nasal but not salivary IgA during high-intensity interval training in 13 runners [26].
Glutamine supplementation increased IgA production in the gut of mice and rats [27, 28].

4) Chlorella

Four weeks of chlorella supplementation increased IgA in 15 men [29].
Chlorella also increased resting IgA in 26 subjects in intensive training [30].
Finally, chlorella increased IgA concentrations in breast milk of 18 pregnant women [31].
According to some researchers, glutamine and chlorella supplements may increase IgA.

5) Ginseng

Ginseng enhanced gut IgA production in mice [32, 33, 34].
However, at its higher dosage, it also blocked IgA release [34].
Dietary Factors that May Improve Immune Health (as Measured by IgA)

6) Fasting

In 15 obese subjects, a 14-day fast increased blood IgA levels [35].
Intermittently fasted mice have higher IgA levels and are more resistant to infections [36].

7) Vitamin A

Vitamin A is needed for the transport and release of secretory IgA across the mucosa [37].
Vitamin A-deficient rats and mice have decreased levels of total IgA in the gut, but their blood IgA levels are normal [38].

Breast milk of women supplemented with vitamin A had higher levels of IgA [39].

8) Mushrooms

In 24 volunteers, IgA production increased in those who ate white button mushrooms [40].
White button mushrooms increased IgA in mice [41].
Compounds found in Reishi mushrooms increased IgA in mice [42].
Small-scale studies suggest that fasting, vitamin A, and white button mushrooms may increase IgA levels. More research is needed.
Lifestyle Changes that May Improve Immune Health (as Measured by IgA)

9) Reducing Chronic Stress

Acute stress (lasting a few minutes to a few hours) tends to stimulate the immune response [43].
Examination stress increased IgA levels in 15 nursing students. IgA decreased again two hours after the examination [44].
Contrarily, chronic stress, over a period of several days, weeks or months, decreases the immune response [43].
Chronic stress was associated with lower IgA in middle-aged and elderly subjects [45].
Perceived stress was associated with lower IgA in dental students [46].

In mothers, breast milk IgA was lower in those who experienced more anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion [47].
In toddlers attending center or family childcare at home, children with a lower quality of childcare had lower IgA levels [48].
Studies on rodents under stress have also reported a decrease in intestinal IgA [49, 50].

Low IgA is thought to be an important underlying mechanism linking chronic stress with increased upper respiratory tract infections [51].
Managing stress can help reverse the decrease in IgA. A study in 32 women showed that viewing unpleasant pictures decreased IgA levels. However, a reinterpretation of the situation (cognitive reappraisal) reversed the decrease of IgA [52].

10) Relaxation

Directly tied to reducing chronic stress, relaxation techniques can improve immune function and increase IgA levels.
In 24 volunteers, 20 minutes of relaxation significantly increased IgA production. Additionally, those who had practiced relaxation once a day for three weeks had larger increases in IgA levels than those practicing for the first time [53].

Ten minutes of relaxation increased IgA in 79 Japanese female medical workers [54].
In 14 breast cancer patients, IgA was higher after surgery in those who participated in a relaxation method called autogenic training [55].
Thirty minutes of Reiki, an alternative medicine healing technique, caused relaxation and increased IgA levels in 23 subjects [56].
Reducing chronic stress and practicing relaxation techniques is not only good for your overall health, but studies suggest it may also increase IgA levels.

11) Humor

People who use humor as a coping skill have higher baseline IgA levels [57].
Watching a comedy increased IgA in 15 university students and 39 women [58, 59].
Similarly, a funny presentation increased IgA levels in 21 fifth-graders compared to 18 of their classmates who watched an educational presentation [60].
Stressful events decrease IgA levels. Among 40 subjects, those with a sense of humor were less likely to have IgA reduced by stress [61].

12) Music

Listening to music enhanced baseline IgA levels in 87 undergraduate students [62].
Similarly, in a group of 66 college students, those exposed to background music for 30 minutes had increased IgA levels [63].
Another study also showed that college students listening to music had increased IgA [64].
Participating in music may have an even greater effect.

Out of 33 subjects, those who actively sang or played percussions had greater increases in IgA levels than people who only listened to music [65].
Another study showed that singing in the choir increases IgA [66].
Some researchers suggest that having a good sense of humor and enjoying music may increase IgA levels.

13) Short/Moderate Exercise

IgA levels increase in response to short-term or moderate exercise. This can help reduce the risk of respiratory infections [67].
Regular, moderate exercise increased IgA at rest in 9 subjects compared to 10 sedentary controls [68].
Several studies showed that moderate exercise increases IgA in elderly individuals [69, 70, 71].
In 45 elderly individuals, 60-minute resistance and 60-minute moderate endurance training once a week significantly increased IgA after 12 months [72].

14) Avoiding Strenuous Exercise

IgA levels change depending on the intensity and duration of exercise, as well as the type of physical activity. Prolonged exercise decreases, while short-term and moderate exercise increases, IgA levels [73, 74, 75, 76, 68].
Professional athletes have lower IgA levels and are more prone to upper respiratory tract infections [67].
In 155 ultra-marathoners IgA levels decreased after racing [77].
Another study found that IgA also decreased in 64 ultra-marathon racers and 43 participants of an open water swimming race [78].
In soccer players, IgA decreased following training but returned to pre-training levels after 18 hours of rest. Overnight rest was sufficient for IgA recovery following training, but not following two successive matches [79].

In 13 international soccer players, IgA levels progressively declined during a four-day training period [80].
In 26 elite swimmers with a seven-month training season, pretraining salivary IgA levels were 4.1% lower with each additional month of training. Post-training IgA levels were 8.5% lower for each additional 1 km swum in a training session and 7.0% lower for each additional month of training [81].
Adolescent volleyball players had lower IgA levels compared with sedentary volunteers [82].
According to studies, moderate exercise increases IgA and helps maintain good immune function while strenuous exercise (as in professional athletes) tends to lower IgA levels and weaken immune defense.

15) Enough REM Sleep

In a study of 32 volunteers, IgA levels decreased during four nights of REM sleep deprivation, but not after total sleep deprivation. The IgA levels did not return to baseline even after three nights of sleep recovery [83].
Some drugs can block REM sleep and may decrease IgA levels. These include antidepressants and sympathomimetics (drugs that mimic the action of adrenalin and dopamine and activate the sympathetic nervous system) [84, 85].

Salivary IgA increases during sleep. In mice with disrupted circadian rhythms, salivary IgA failed to increase during sleep. It was shown that the increase in IgA was dependent on the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) activation, which is associated with REM sleep [86, 87].
Studies revealed that REM sleep deprivation lowers IgA levels. Look to get enough restful sleep.

16) Smoking Cessation

A couple of studies indicated that smoking tobacco and cigarettes can decrease IgA levels.
Tobacco chewers and tobacco smokers had decreased IgA levels compared to nonsmokers. Further, smokers had significantly lower IgA levels than chewers [88].
In mice, three months of cigarette smoke exposure before influenza virus infection resulted in reduced IgA levels and increased lung inflammation [89].
However, some studies showed no differences in IgA levels in smokers [90].
Smoking not only harms your general health, but it may also lower IgA levels. Stop smoking and avoid second-hand exposure.

17) Bright Light

In a study of 7 women, exposure to bright light during the day increased IgA levels compared to when they were exposed to dim light [91].

18) Sexual Activity in Moderation

Among 112 college students, those who had frequent sex had the highest IgA levels. The relationship between sexual activity and IgA levels had a reverse ‘U’ shape, with both those having very frequent and infrequent sex having lower IgA levels [92].
These results are conflicting with others that show decreased IgA with sexual activity in women [93, 94].
Further studies will hopefully clarify this point.
In small studies, bright light increased IgA levels in women while sexual activity increased IgA levels in men. Larger studies are needed.

19) Breastfeeding (in Babies)

Infants receive IgA via breast milk. Then IgA production in the gut is gradually stimulated by developing gut microbiota [95].
Several studies show that breastfed infants have higher IgA levels [96, 95, 97].

20) Thermal Water Inhalation

Thermal water comes from hot springs. It rises from deep underground and absorbs beneficial minerals on the way to the surface.
In 100 children with respiratory infections, those who inhaled sulfurous thermal water had higher blood IgA and better infection outcomes [98].
In another study, 25 patients treated with thermal water had increased nasal IgA compared to 25 patients treated with distilled water [99].

21) Acupuncture

Acupuncture prevented the decrease in the salivary IgA due to intensive exercise in 12 men [100]. https://labs.selfdecode.com/blog/increase-iga-levels/.

From Dr. Hagmeyer

Low / reduced sIgA levels are by and large commonly seen in individuals with low immune system function and adrenal fatigue or exhaustion. Individuals with allergies, atopic diseases like eczema, psoriasis, asthma, chronic gut infections, Candida, food sensitivities, prolonged exposure to toxins, and autism typically have low SIgA.
I look at low SIgA levels as a sign of chronic stress in the body that has drained the immune system. A person with Low Levels of SIgA may have trouble overcoming gut problems or skin conditions, allergies and sensitivities until SIgA levels are corrected. Certain medications can cause lwo levels – including anti-inflammatories and antidepressants. It is interesting to point out that studies have shown and association between low SIgA and people suffering with depression.
It is important to understand that SIgA test doesn’t tell us the cause of the problem, it only provides clues that further investigation is needed. This is why you will need to work with a functional medicine doctor who can begin to investigate the causes behind the low SIgA. https://drhagmeyer.com/heal-your-gut-by-balancing-your-siga-levels/.

Immunoglobulins
Beta-glucans
Probiotics
Dr. Jockers.com talks about SIgA issues
If SIgA levels are low, this indicates the gut immune system is suppressed.
What can cause low SIgA
Gluten
Poor diet
Gut infections

Glyphosate–Glyphosate is the most heavily applied herbicide in the world and often contaminates the water supply, precipitation, and air.
Monsanto genetically modified crops beginning in 1996 that are resistant to Roundup (“Roundup Ready”). Genetically modified foods (GMOs) along with grains, additives, vegetable oils, and many other foods contain glyphosate.

Glyphosate is extremely harmful to our health and has been linked to a number of health conditions, including cancer. Glyphosate damages the gut mucosa and kills beneficial gut bacteria, allowing for the overgrowth of pathogens. For more information on glyphosate and how to detox from this potent chemical, read this article.

Food sensitivities
Chronic inflammation

Key supplements to heal the gut and raise SIgA
1. Megamucosa
2. Gut healing protein
3. Organic bone broth
4. Probiotics
5. L-glutamine https://drjockers.com/gut-mucosa/.

Previous article with information I wrote
Ways to increase SIgA for proper immune support
Recommendations for improving sIgA levels when low

Saccharomyces Boulardii: may cause an increase in secretory IgA levels in the intestine
Culturelle: A specific probiotic that has been shown to support Il-10 production (a cytokine), which supports secretory IgA production.
Resolving Stress: chronic stress has been shown to reduce levels including chronic negative thoughts.
Colostrum: An immunoglobulin secreted in the early stages of breast-feeding. Again this has been shown to stimulate SIgA levels. Colostrum in particular is useful with those that take part in a high level of physical activity.

Mushrooms rich in Beta Glucans: These include mushrooms such as reishi, shiitake and maitake. You can get mushroom blend formulas that work very will in terms of immune modulation.

Bone Broth & Gelatine: Bone broth and specifically the gelatine it provides is said to be supportive of SIgA levels in the gut.

Choline, essential fatty acids, glutathione, glycine, glutamine, phosphatidylcholine, Vitamin C and Zinc are all required in some way or another for efficient production of SIgA so it makes sense at least to optimise those.
https://www.conqueringfatigue.com/siga/

Dental Amalgam
Mercury (e.g. from dental amalgam) reduces the number of T-cells and reduces activity in the immune system. Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury reduce the activity and speed the macrophages, thus increasing susceptibility to infection. Saturated fat makes the cancer T-killer cells unable to recognize “self” cells gone badly.
See the Article:
http://www.angelfire.com/bc3/sunflower_heng/immunesystem.html

Read More http://www.cancertutor.com/faq_immunity/

Vitamin D

Daily juicing of carrot juice 1 quart a day
Heavy metal chelation – use glutathione
Astragulus has been shown in studies to improve levels of IgA pg. 62 of Mother’s Milk

IMMUNE SYSTEM MARKERS

The types of antibodies are:

Immunoglobulin A (IgA): It’s found in the linings of the respiratory tract and digestive system, as well as in saliva (spit), tears, and breast milk.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG): This is the most common antibody. It’s in blood and other body fluids, and protects against bacterial and viral infections. IgG can take time to form after an infection or immunization.

Immunoglobulin M (IgM): Found mainly in blood and lymph fluid, this is the first antibody the body makes when it fights a new infection.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE): Normally found in small amounts in the blood. There may be higher amounts when the body overreacts to allergens or is fighting an infection from a parasite.

Immunoglobulin D (IgD): This is the least understood antibody, with only small amounts in the blood. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/test-immunoglobulins.prt-en.html.

Image by Leonhard Niederwimmer from Pixabay

Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker who is considered the father of mold illness or toxicity has worked with people who have gotten sick from “sick” or water damaged buildings for decades. He’s collected information and data from thousands of patients he’s worked with these past decades. His information and observations have not been well received by the medical and/or political community. He has a lot of extremely helpful information on his website www.survivingmold.com.

Dr. Shoemaker gives a good definition of CIRS which means Chronic inflammatory response syndrome which is also called “mold illness.” Here is the definition, “The term “mold illness” is a subcategory of biotoxin illness called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). The definition of CIRS is:

“An acute and chronic, systemic inflammatory response syndrome acquired following exposure to the interior environment of a water-damaged building with resident toxigenic organisms, including, but not limited to fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes and mycobacteria as well as inflammagens such as endotoxins, beta glucans, hemolysins, proteinases, mannans and possibly spirocyclic drimanes; as well as volatile organic compounds.” https://www.survivingmold.com/resources-for-patients/diagnosis

Essentially with CIRS a genetically sensitive person will not mount a proper immune response to biotoxins and thoroughly remove them from the body.

Dr. Keith Berndtson describes it this way, “Patients prone to developing CIRS fail to mount an effective immune response to biotoxins. When this happens, the innate immune system show signs of continuous but ineffective activation.” There are a few different lists of symptoms which you have to have so many of, but Jessica doesn’t have enough of them to fit the description from what I can tell but she is also a child who may not have as many of these symptoms as an adult would, but I am not quite sure about that. Jessica does complain of leg pain in her knees and legs often. She also has abdominal pain often. She has skin issues with a type of white acne on her face that I have tried to wash with a special wash. Up until now Jessica has not had all of the symptoms to qualify for a CIRS diagnosis.

Since I had been looking into mold toxicity or illness I thought it would be good to at least look into what CIRS was and see if that is actually what Jess or me or my son had or have.

I have more symptoms than Jessica in that I have:

• Abdominal pain
• Muscle cramps
• Muscle numbness
• Focus/concentration issues
• Blurred vision
• Word recollection issues

I have at least six of the symptoms. I am thinking about getting all the lab tests recommended by Dr. Ritchie. I am not sure if they are covered by insurance so that is what has prevented me from looking into it before.

We have our mycotoxin tests which have showed enough mycotoxins and Dr. Nathan says that, “If either of these tests is clearly positive, we have immediate verification of the diagnosis of mold toxicity and a clear starting point for which binders to use to begin the treatment process.” Pg. 65 he also says that two major areas of mold colonization is the sinuses and gut. He had his own experience with mold and said, “I have learned that ignoring this toxicity would likely lead to a regrowth of mold and candida inside me and eventually make me sick again.” pg. 70

The solution is the same whether we have this diagnosis or lab tests or not. We still need to lower our exposure to mold and its toxins which we’ve already done. Then we need to bind and excrete the mold toxins which we are still working on now. Then address other issues with our health or immune system.

We’ve been doing so much work to detox the mold mycotoxins with bentonite clay, D.E. which is diatomaceous earth and charcoal and boosting Jessica’s immune system with the following:

• Lactoferrin
• Colostrum
• Vitamin C
• Immunoglobulins (Megamucosa from Microbiome labs)
• Zinc

As well as several other supplements that boost the immune system like edible mushrooms like cordyceps, reishi, sulforaphane from broccoli. She still continues to have issues with foods that lower her immune system and open the door for other illness.

For more information about CIRS see the following websites

https://www.survivingmold.com/

https://hoffmancentre.com/chronic-inflammatory-response-syndrome-cirs-evaluation-and-treatment/

https://drjockers.com/cirs/
https://www.drelenaklimenko.com/chronic-inflammatory-response-syndrome/

https://toxicmould.org/cirs-explained/#

9900001_Sample_MycoTX4_ENG

I never imagined I would need to learn so much about mold. The last several years have been challenging to say the least. Most of the members of my family have been affected by toxic mold that has been difficult to completely eradicate in our home which made its first appearance in early 2017. But a closer look shows that this house had a problem with mold before my husband even purchased our home in 2008. Part of his purchase agreement was to have the garage mold remediated before the closing and certainly before he moved in. He joked for years that he got some money off the purchase price because of the mold, “mold is gold” he would say, and that statement may be true in real estate investing if you plan to do a lot of work to fixer homes.

A few years before we got pregnant with my daughter we looked under our mattress for some reason, I can’t recall, and saw a little mold under there and cleaned it with bleach. I have seen and cleaned a little mold off walls in the past and it always seemed to go away never really to be a problem to me again. The house my father lived in, in Manhattan Beach was sold before any real big problem could start. That is where I had cleaned small amounts of mold from the walls as well as in one apartment I had, there was mold in the corner of the shower stall. There was never any big problem from those things. I have also been told since we live in southern California near the beach there is more moisture in the air than other drier places and two friends recently told me about these little plastic cups you put in the closet to collect moisture and they have collected quite a bit of water.

The County of L.A. public health gives a little history of mold, “Over the last century, the subject of mold has received its fair share of media attention. It made headlines back in 1929, when scientist Alexander Fleming observed that certain types of molds were capable of killing bacteria. His observation, which led to the discovery of the antibiotic penicillin, revolutionized the practice of medicine. More recently, mold has garnered media attention again. However, the headlines are of a very different kind. Beware: Toxic Mold warns Time magazine; Toxic Mold: A Hidden Health Hazard reports Newsweek.” http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/safety/mold.htm

In the first bout of mold in our home, my daughter who was between 9 and 12 months old, had nasal congestion, rashes, low grade fevers that went up to 100.2. she also got one virus after another in succession. At one point my husband was concerned about her lack of weight gain.

During our second bout of mold my son had an ongoing sinus infection and still has sinus pressure to this day after a year of getting out of the mold, treating for mold toxicity, and changing his diet. He had what looked like “allergies” with bouts of sneezing” as well as he was susceptible to COVID and then he got the beginning of long COVID.

During the first bout of mold, I had headaches, nausea, and then I started getting symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis which had been diagnosed ten years earlier but I had no symptoms during that time that I was aware of. The 2nd time we had mold, I got a very strange symptom of vibrating or pulsing or like a hot flash that ran up and down my spine. I saw that symptom of mold toxicity listed in the book by Dr. Neil Nathan Toxic; Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and chronic environmental illness.

Then at the public health website it lists many different mold toxicity symptoms and say that not everyone develops symptoms from toxic mold exposure and that there is little evidence to support these claims, “Although molds have been accused of causing a wide array of medical problems everything from headaches and asthma to moodiness and rashes there is evidence to substantiate only a few of these allegations.

Allergic responses are believed to be the most common reaction to mold exposure. Most reactions are relatively mild and are limited to hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, cough, burning and itching eyes, and skin rash. In people with asthma, however, an allergic response to mold can cause shortness of breath or even trigger an asthma attack. A rare but serious allergic condition called hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be caused by exposure to very high concentrations of molds. Not everyone develops allergic symptoms in response to molds. In fact, while some people react to relatively small quantities of them, others can be exposed to large amounts without a problem.” http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/safety/mold.htm

The last sentence from above is what is so baffling about mold and toxic mold exposure. While my son, daughter, and I have had bad reactions all in different ways, my husband has seemed to escape any nasty symptoms except that he does have toenail fungus that has gotten worse and his podiatrist has suggested that he start taking an internal antifungal because he was not getting the results he had hoped with the topical antifungal and shaving the toenail down every so many months.

Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker author of multiple mold books one being Mold Warriors; Fighting America’s hidden health threat. He talks about many discoveries he made in clinical practice where patients had been exposed to mold had multiple different health symptoms including, “…fatigue, obesity, memory problems, chronic joint pains, chronic abdominal pains and many more…” pg. xxv.

Dr. Shoemaker says many, what could be considered inflammatory statements including that most of the mold wars are about money, some doctors are suppressing the truth about mold, and one statement that you can find on the CDC or other public health website, “…there is no local Federal health policy, based on sound science that establishes a mechanism for detection and treatment of mold illness.” pg. xxix.

Because of Dr. Shoemakers years of clinical work with patients he found labs that can show if you’ve been re-exposed to mold within hours. You would look at those labs after getting a baseline. One of the main reasons I bring up Dr. Shoemaker is because he has found that genetics play a role in people who get very sick from moldy buildings or toxic mold anywhere. He says, “Genetics decides who will develop a chronic illness following exposure and who won’t. People are exposed to biotoxins all the time, and mold toxins are the most common. Most people won’t get sick from mold because their immune system’s response genes make antibodies to the toxins, but there are those—the genetically susceptible—who lack this antibody-making capability, and that’s where the trouble begins.” Pg. 62

Because of multiple infections last year our pediatrician ordered labs to test for allergy to mold. She also had mold allergy testing in 2017 when she was first exposed to mold and all of them were negative for IgE antibodies.

Dr. Shoemaker suggests multiple lab tests like MMP9 which if high shows high toxin load. Cytokines cause white blood cells to release MMP9 so we know that high MMP9 means high cytokines. Pg. 76. There is a list of the labs and their explanations at his website here https://www.survivingmold.com/resources-for-patients/diagnosis/lab-tests. Dr. Shoemaker published his Mold Warrior book in 2005 and had been doing work many years before that, so some of those labs and ways of figuring out if your toxic for mold could be expensive and some of those labs are time consuming.

I would like to get the HLA DR genetic test done for myself and daughter and son if he wants to just to see if we all fit the profile, it would just be interesting at this point and possibly necessary. But even if it showed we all this genetic profile it may not matter in the face of medical pride, arrogance, and truth suppression. We have had other genetic tests showing issues with methylation which is affected by toxic mold and we also have labs showing certain deficiencies that could have something to do with the exposure to this toxic mold.

This is what Dr. Shoemaker says about the genetics test, “Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLAs), are found on the surface of nearly every cell in the human body. They help the immune system tell the difference between body tissue and foreign substances. The immune response genes are found on chromosome six. Patients could have two alleles, copies of genes (for each gene, one allele is inherited from a person’s father, and the other is inherited from a person’s mother), out of approximately 10 possible, as part of their genotype. Based on Dr. Shoemaker’s data, in normal populations compared to international registries of gene frequencies of HLA DR, we know the frequency of mold illness-susceptible patients approximates 24% of the normally distributed population. Almost a quarter of the normal population is genetically susceptible to chronic mold illness. Three quarters isn’t.” https://www.survivingmold.com/resources-for-patients/diagnosis/lab-tests

This is what Dr. Nathan says about the 25% population and their detox systems and genetic makeup, “…if a person has the right genetic makeup (which exists in 75% of the human population), he or she can make antibodies to these toxins that will help bind the toxins so that the body can get rid of them. But for the 25 percent of the population that is not genetically engineered to make these antibodies, the only means to deal with these toxic molecules is to bring them to the liver, our major organ of detoxification, or perhaps to utilize other systems of elimination, including the skin, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, lymphatic system, and lungs, which have the important job of finding a way to move the toxins out.” Pg. 26

Dr. Nathan points out a few things about urine mycotoxin testing which have shown to be a quicker, easier and more accurate way to determine if one has mold illness. He says that combination of RealTime labs and Great Plains lab which show different things is the best way to make diagnosis. He says, “Elevated levels of any mycotoxin indicate a clear diagnosis and allow us to proceed with treatment immediately.” Pg. 62

There are multiple products and ways to detox which we are still working on and I will have to talk about later. It should go without saying in my mind that children would be the most vulnerable to mold toxicity and in Dr. Shoemakers book Mold Warriors, “…scientific evidence has revealed that young children’s lives are most at risk when exposed to toxic mold.” Pg. xvi There are three reasons the authors of Children and Environmental Toxins; What everyone needs to know, (one of the authors is a pediatrician and epidemiologist and the other is a public health educator) say about a few reasons why children are more vulnerable:

• Children experience greater exposure than adults based on their body size – pound for pound children inhale twice as much air as an adult, they also eat more food and
drink more water per pound of body weight than adults also.
• Children’s metabolic pathways are immature – they do not detoxify like adults; the toxins can stay in their bodies longer than adults.
• Children are undergoing rapid growth and development, and their delicate developmental processes are easily disrupted – the processes are orchestrated with clockwork
precision during the nine months of pregnancy. they continue after birth, through early childhood, and even into adolescence and adult life. pg. 27-29

Another quote from the above authors says, “This great complexity of early human development creates windows of vulnerability, periods of heightened sensitivity to toxic chemicals that exist only in early life and have no counterpart in adulthood…most vulnerability occur during pregnancy, and others occur during early childhood. Exposures to even minute quantities of toxic chemicals during these sensitive periods—levels that would have no adverse effect on an adult—can lead to permanent injury to the brain, reproductive organs, immune system, and other organ systems.” Pg. 31

So, with our mycotoxin tests according to Dr. Neil Nathan and common sense in my opinion its important to begin detox. While our family has exited and remediated the mold in our home, and my son utilizes sauna to detox himself, myself and my daughter remain somewhat vulnerable because we are not using sauna. I just had a CAT Scan today ordered by my doctor because of severe abdominal pain which is completely normal. In spite of that I still have bouts of severe abdominal and severe bloating. I also had a recent RealTime urine mycotoxin test which showed much lower levels from four years ago with the first exposure but still not normal. According to the doctors and labs, a healthy person should not have any mycotoxins in their urine. Jessica continues to get fevers from extremely small amounts of sugar and/or dairy, evidenced by her 101.7 fever yesterday and 101.2 temperature today because of eating one tiny Hershey’s kiss candy.

Jessica has been on binders and antifungals and I am awaiting another Great Plains test result to see how much we have already eliminated. This process seems like it could take a while since Jessica is so young and I cannot utilize everything necessarily and it costs a lot of money to keep running lab tests and purchasing many helpful things like air purifiers, home sauna, supplements etc.

We are doing the very best we can with what have to work with and I pray for God’s help regularly as this situation feels overwhelming most of the time and I can only do very little things at a time.

The following website although entitled for seniors had a lot of really helpful information about mold illness/toxicity https://www.seniorcare2share.com/how-do-you-prove-mold-illness/.

Megan Graham and 10 things she did to heal from Mold is also very helpful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjSaECgTfHc.

Mold toxicity and mycotoxins can be extremely damaging to that small population of people who are overly sensitive to toxins. I want to leave a list from the Great Plains labs of damage that these toxins can do, this is just Aflatoxin, and there are many other toxins that have an even more damaging effect when they are all together, “AFLATOXIN M1 (AFM1)
Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the main metabolite of aflatoxin B1, which is a mycotoxin produced by different species of the genus Aspergillus. Aflatoxins are some of the most carcinogenic substances in the environment. Aflatoxin susceptibility is dependent on multiple different factors such as age, sex, and diet. Aflatoxin can be found in beans, corn, rice, tree nuts, wheat, milk, eggs, and meat. In cases of lung aspergilloma, aflatoxin has been found in human tissue specimens. Aflatoxin can cause liver damage, cancer, mental impairment, abdominal pain, hemorrhaging, coma, and death. Aflatoxin has been shown to inhibit leucocyte proliferation. Clinical signs of aflatoxicosis are non-pruritic macular rash, headache, gastrointestinal dysfunction (often extreme), lower extremity edema, anemia, and jaundice. The toxicity of aflatoxin is increased in the presence of ochratoxin and zearalenone.” https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/gplmycotox

These are some of the effects of Gliotoxin, “Gliotoxin (GTX) is produced by the mold genus Aspergillus and perhaps Candida species. Aspergillus spreads in the environment by releasing conidia which are capable of infiltrating the small alveolar airways of individuals. To evade the body’s defenses Aspergillus releases gliotoxin to inhibit the immune system. One of the targets of gliotoxin is PtdIns (3,4,5) P3. This results in the downregulation of phagocytic immune defense, which can lead to the exacerbation of polymicrobial infections. Gliotoxin impairs the activation of T-cells and induces apoptosis in monocytes and in monocyte-derived dendritic cells. These impairments can lead to multiple neurological syndromes.” https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/gplmycotox

These toxins are no joke and could have dire consequences to a young child, and should not be ignored. It is folly to dismiss this information and negligent on the part of the medical community to ignore, dismiss or worse people who are struggling greatly with their health and need help. I hope and pray that doctors would at least have enough intellectual curiosity to do their own investigation so they can help and not hinder their patients.