How to Identify and Treat Mold Illness (CIRS) | Ariana Thacker EP 228
In a Nutshell
Mold illness (CIRS) triggers chronic inflammation via biotoxins in water-damaged buildings, affecting ~25 million Americans with symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, hormonal issues, weight gain, and multi-system failures; 50-70% of homes and 85% of commercial buildings have mold, often misdiagnosed as autoimmune or mental health conditions. Mold Co offers accessible virtual treatment using Shoemaker protocol—lab tests (MMP9, MSH, TGF-beta1, HLA genetics, ERMI home testing), colesevelam binders, EDTA nasal spray for MARCoNS, and VIP—achieving 70-90% recovery for most after remediation and relocation. Start with bloodwork, dust tests, air purifiers (e.g., IQAir), and professional inspection; overlaps with Lyme, Long COVID; kids recover faster, with emerging links to PANS/PANDAS and autism.
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There isn't an ICD code for mold related illness, but there is a code for being bit by a turtle. Over the last 200 years, people have been exposed to chemicals like lead without knowing they were sick; lead was used in face makeup and only banned in gasoline in the 1980s. People have been exposed to biotoxins repeatedly.
Ariana Thacker welcomes Michaela to the podcast to discuss mold and immune system issues. Mold awareness needs to grow as it's everywhere, making people sick and leading to misdiagnoses with autoimmune symptoms. Ariana founded and is CEO of Mold Co after her personal health journey; previously a chemical engineer and built Conscience VC, a firm focused on early-stage pre-seed and seed investments in bio health and deep tech.
Ariana moved to Miami into a unit with mold throughout the HVAC system. Despite no prior health issues, in six and a half months she developed CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), experiencing near-debilitating symptoms: handful of functional hours per day, largely bedridden, purchased hospital bed tray to work from bed, extreme fatigue requiring rereading emails multiple times. Symptoms present as symptom clusters online. Mold causes health issues beyond asthma, allergies, or fungal infections—it's distinct.
CIRS symptoms differ between people:
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