Mold *is* an issue for many of us who can't detox and have multiple chronic infections. Given vulnerable genetics--mold toxins can add on to mercury toxins, gut bug toxins, lyme toxins etc. My mold symptoms in my place improve markedly with ventilation(window fans) in warmer months. Therefore I regard them as basically spore-driven, allergy *and* toxin mediated, and reduced to a nonreactive level by ventilation.
I looked into a heat recovery ventilator--a window unit--that would pull in and warm fresh air in winter but it was exorbitant ($850) and 23 inches long--requiring bracing on the outside that would deface my building. I can just see my landlord allowing that? NOT.
I am looking at the NQ filter which is also exorbitant, but is used in hospital settings and gets rid of mold and bacterial vocs and spores. I already use Austin which is a great basic workhorse and have used them for 20 years or so. They get pretty dirty in NYC pretty quickly. I may add the NQ filter in my bedroom only, but want to talk to them first.
My friend Jo Davidson, who has ME/CFS/lyme and is also a composer/singer/photographer/radio host and accomplished at all of it, interviewed this scientist who solves spore problems with a very high end essential oil diffuser and Thieves' blend:
http://www.moldrx4u.com/ScientificData.asp
I found his atomizer for cheaper elsewhere on the web--the one that he really feels disperses essential oils at a strong enough flow rate to reduce and kill mold spores. I don't like Young Living as a company so am going to ask Nature's Gift to make me a special blend. I'll call Madge (the owner) next week.
Then I will be able to report back if I solve or help my winter mold issues (when I have to close my windows and end up with asthma).
I also have one room that I think is a problem and have closed off--it had built in shelving near the radiator and leaking windows (old windows replaced 10 years ago)--that were about 50 years old. They had dry rot. When I removed them I really got reactive in that room. I was planning an experiment of denny foiling/taping the room after a thorough cleaning and seeing if I could wall off spores. But now I'm going to try the essential oil thing instead and just keep it running in that room, and have another diffuser for the rest of my apartment. However I DO think barrier methods work and AFM foil and tape or reflectix or even mylar blankets which are 10 for $10 can work. Ventilation and barrier methods are very effective. I saw a post on a yahoo group of air quality professionals by a guy who got very sick from mold--and his father's home was moldy. He usually was laid flat by visiting. He put a tent on the porch and a honeywell filter in the tent to create so much air circulation that no mold spores could attack him. He slept well and was energetic the next day.
By the way, Lisa/Slayadragon started a thread on Mike's social group that I hope Cort will move over (with Lisa's agreement?) to new treatments section. Mike's doc is not specially focussed on mold, but Lisa is. Mike does say he got out of a toxic mold place early in his serious illness. But he continued to decline anyway. Anyway, it's better to have mold treatments over in this section I think.
I looked into a heat recovery ventilator--a window unit--that would pull in and warm fresh air in winter but it was exorbitant ($850) and 23 inches long--requiring bracing on the outside that would deface my building. I can just see my landlord allowing that? NOT.
I am looking at the NQ filter which is also exorbitant, but is used in hospital settings and gets rid of mold and bacterial vocs and spores. I already use Austin which is a great basic workhorse and have used them for 20 years or so. They get pretty dirty in NYC pretty quickly. I may add the NQ filter in my bedroom only, but want to talk to them first.
My friend Jo Davidson, who has ME/CFS/lyme and is also a composer/singer/photographer/radio host and accomplished at all of it, interviewed this scientist who solves spore problems with a very high end essential oil diffuser and Thieves' blend:
http://www.moldrx4u.com/ScientificData.asp
I found his atomizer for cheaper elsewhere on the web--the one that he really feels disperses essential oils at a strong enough flow rate to reduce and kill mold spores. I don't like Young Living as a company so am going to ask Nature's Gift to make me a special blend. I'll call Madge (the owner) next week.
Then I will be able to report back if I solve or help my winter mold issues (when I have to close my windows and end up with asthma).
I also have one room that I think is a problem and have closed off--it had built in shelving near the radiator and leaking windows (old windows replaced 10 years ago)--that were about 50 years old. They had dry rot. When I removed them I really got reactive in that room. I was planning an experiment of denny foiling/taping the room after a thorough cleaning and seeing if I could wall off spores. But now I'm going to try the essential oil thing instead and just keep it running in that room, and have another diffuser for the rest of my apartment. However I DO think barrier methods work and AFM foil and tape or reflectix or even mylar blankets which are 10 for $10 can work. Ventilation and barrier methods are very effective. I saw a post on a yahoo group of air quality professionals by a guy who got very sick from mold--and his father's home was moldy. He usually was laid flat by visiting. He put a tent on the porch and a honeywell filter in the tent to create so much air circulation that no mold spores could attack him. He slept well and was energetic the next day.
By the way, Lisa/Slayadragon started a thread on Mike's social group that I hope Cort will move over (with Lisa's agreement?) to new treatments section. Mike's doc is not specially focussed on mold, but Lisa is. Mike does say he got out of a toxic mold place early in his serious illness. But he continued to decline anyway. Anyway, it's better to have mold treatments over in this section I think.
