Diagnosing and Treating Mold Illness: A Functional Medicine Approach
Mold – As spring settles in and we throw open the windows to let in the fresh air, it’s also a time when many of us notice a shift in our health, whether it’s allergies flaring, brain fog lingering, or a strange sense that something still feels “off.”
At Vytal Health, we stay curious on your behalf, continually diving into the latest research and training to help uncover the root causes of chronic symptoms. This month, we’re exploring a health topic that’s often overlooked but incredibly important: mold.
If you’ve been struggling with brain fog, fatigue, weird skin symptoms, sinus issues, or anxiety that doesn’t seem to respond to treatment, you’re not alone. And there may be a surprising culprit!
This month, we’re sitting down with Dr. Irene Carr, MD, who just completed an advanced training on diagnosing and treating mold illness through a functional lens. In this podcast, she shares what she learned from Dr. Jill Crista’s certification course, how she spots mold toxicity in patients, and the steps she takes to help them heal.
Even if you’ve never thought this could be affecting you, this is a must-listen. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of what mold illness looks like, how it hides in plain sight, and what you can do to get answers.
Listen now here, on Spotify.
(Also available on apple podcasts!)
What is Mold Illness and Why Is It So Often Missed?
Mold illness, also called mold toxicity or chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), is a condition triggered by exposure to mold and the mycotoxins molds produce. According to both Dr. Jill Crista and Dr. Neil Nathan, two of the leading experts in this space, it doesn’t always present in obvious ways. While you might expect respiratory issues or sinus congestion, many patients actually come in complaining of fatigue, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, digestive troubles, or neurological symptoms like brain fog and mood swings.
Conventional medicine often overlooks mold as a root cause, in part because there’s no single lab test or symptom that definitively points to it. Functional medicine, on the other hand, takes a big-picture view. Providers like Dr. Carr are trained to look for subtle patterns in a patient’s history, such as water-damaged homes, musty smells, or symptoms that flare in certain environments.
Curious whether mold could be affecting your health?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call with one of our care coordinators. We’ll listen to your story and help you find the right functional medicine provider for your needs.