Top Integrative Doctor Explains “Cortisol Addiction” | Jaban Moore Ep 233
In a Nutshell
Dr. Jabin Moore explains chronic illnesses like Lyme, mold toxicity, and "the longs" (e.g., long COVID) as stemming from toxin loops, heavy metals (e.g., uranium), infections, and trauma-induced **cortisol addiction**, where stress hormones accumulate toxically, perpetuating immune dysregulation and energy depletion even after removing triggers. Key solutions include detective-style lab testing (OAT, HTMA, CMP), microdosing supplements/peptides (e.g., magnesium, KPV) with binders to avoid mast cell degranulation, water distillation for radioactive toxins, and strict energy budgeting—limiting interventions to 5-7 targeted ones while offloading stressors to rebuild mitochondrial capacity and adaptability. High achievers must break overdrive habits to prevent crashes, prioritizing safety (environmental/mental) over bubble-living for sustainable recovery.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Unsafe feeling response generates more cortisol, leading to toxicity and immune response, creating a self-perpetuating problem even after moving out of mold. That's the toxin loop.
Dr. Jabin Moore, welcome to my podcast.
Thank you for having me on here. I run labs. I ask questions. And so I figure out how we can get results. I work with the people that can't find answers. Get to be the detective that we all were trying to be when we were kids.
We're still not strong enough to survive alone. We still need help. If you're still living in a bubble, there's something missing. Bubble life is great, but that can't be ideal. I'm not even convinced that the feeling worse part of healing is a good sign. Had a six-pack, weighed 200 lb at 5'10". Fit as could be looking, but felt awful. You can't run yourself ragged because it's not a better option for long-term success anyway cuz you're going to end up crashing.
Found Dr. Jabin Moore on Instagram about a year and a half or two years ago; everything he puts out seems spot-on. Had serious mold issues and other problems.
Dr. Jabin Moore has a clinic in Kansas City, Missouri, works virtually with people around the world. Runs labs, asks questions, figures out how to get results, confirms with labs. Works with complex chronic illness, Lyme disease, mold, radioactive element toxicities, leading to MCAS. Calls long-term infections "the longs" (e.g., long COVID, long Lyme, long Epstein-Barr). Works with mystery people who can't find answers, acts as healthcare detective.
Long COVID vs. Lyme: similarities in underlying inflammatory problems, but no two people have the same path forward. Identify burdens preventing the body from feeling well: childhood trauma, toxins like uranium in water, mold in walls, food poisoning leading to SIBO and H. pylori. Dr. Moore had Lyme disease, not afraid to go outside now due to healthy body terrain.
Complex chronic illnesses stem from what made you vulnerable: genetics, mindset. Energy diverts to stress instead of defense (e.g., day bit by tick). Remove burdens to get well.
Mold was initial major burden for host and family, including house in Toronto and all dad's houses.
Wanted to go to Harvard, become doctor, play in NFL. Aimed for orthopedic surgery to help athletes return to field, but ACL/Achilles injuries seemed career-ending in 2004. Got Lyme in school: brain fog, joint pain, fatigue at age 25, fittest ever (six-pack, 200 lb at 5'10"). Looked fit, felt awful. Peak in 2012ish: erectile dysfunction.
No Instagram experts then; at functional medicine conferences, someone suggested Lyme, but no referrals. Researched, found doctor in Wisconsin, drove from Kansas City through blizzard to his home on blueberry farm. Diagnosed Lyme, Bartonella, Babesia, mold toxicity, gave path forward. Referred complex patients to Dr. Moore from first day in practice (2013, pre-virtual). Focused solely on getting them well.
Host started dietary intervention in 2015 randomly; Mark's Daily Apple, Rob Wolf around, but no doctors or terms like paleo/keto.
Orders physiology tests first: organic acid test (OAT), hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA), blood tests (if client doesn't have recent CMP). Takes history and assessments concurrently to avoid frustration.
History: what caused this, past trauma, childhood symptoms (eczema, psoriasis) indicating genetic SNPs or moldy house. Anxious, Type A, people-pleasing, perfectionistic kids suggest genetics wiring draining energy.
Type A personalities (e.g., real estate investor with 17 businesses) drive hard until crashing, often after moving into wrong apartment (e.g., patient in Switzerland took 2 years to break). They do crazy diets, therapies, supplements; need rest, to slow down.
High achievers (entrepreneurs, stay-at-home moms) crash from mitochondrial dysfunction, energy depletion. Need to stop and rest.
Driven by data: assess personality from conversation/paperwork, then labs.
Blood labs (CMP):
- Albumin >4.6: dehydration signs (not from water intake, but mineral burnout: sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium).
- ALT/AST low (single digits): liver not keeping up.
- Creatinine low: muscle/heart/kidneys not producing enough; poor detox.
- GFR <90 in 35-40 year olds: sub-optimal kidneys.
Organic acids test (OAT): mitochondrial stress markers (mold, bacteria, yeast as causes). Check Krebs cycle (KB cycle, citric acid cycle) for carb breakdown, beta oxidation for fat. Stuck cycles indicate poor energy production; need magnesium, NAD.
Hair test: mineral deficiencies below reference range (sodium, potassium) cause fatigue, POTS, dysautonomia, low motivation.
Basics before fancy tests (C4a, MMP9, VIP). Replenish minerals, do less (sweating, infrared sauna, detox protocols deplete more; detox requires energy). Can't ask energy-bankrupt body to do more without removing burdens.
Patients can't tolerate magnesium, B vitamins (e.g., host's family: dad reacts worse; B vitamins, zinc, magnesium issues). Not allergies (body has them to function; not proteins).
Give energy/nutrients displace toxins (iodine displaces uranium/mercury). Psych drug accumulation in interstitial space, fat cells, receptors; magnesium/B12/iodine mobilize detox, causing insomnia/agitation (not allergy, influx feels good then bad).
Solution: binders with tiny doses, build slowly. Remove other toxicities first to reduce stress/histamine/mast cell degranulation (immune response, not Herxheimer/septic detox). Low-histamine meat diet reduces response (no aged meat, oxalates). Then introduce thiamine, thymus alpha, KPV.
BPC-157, KPV (favorite peptide) helps modulate immune response. In extreme cases, natural options like Christian, single, rosemary, bromelain, DAO supplements aren't enough; stack them with medical team to suppress reactions and move faster. Some prefer natural approach, go slower. After removing irritants, introduce magnesium gradually to cleave off mercury, uranium, or other toxicities.
Patient had uranium on thyroid from radioactive tap water and radon in basement, causing Hashimoto's autoimmunity, depression, anxiety. Tapping into it caused weight gain from inflammation, depressive swings, cycle disruption. Slowly bound it after reducing immune reactions; over months, removed majority. Now tolerates iodine (biggest trigger) and B12 within reason.
Heavy metals like uranium, radium common. Blood work for heavy metals useless unless current, massive poisoning (not last year). Body adapts amazingly (e.g., lean to side after back injury, roll ankle and shift weight) but poor at returning to optimal, wearing out other joints.
Psych meds created shift/adaptation. Patient improved diet/environment but hasn't rehabilitated responses to magnesium, B12 due to intracellular toxins in fluids, fat cells left behind. Body reaches "normalish" but doesn't clean further.
Toxins (mold, metals, drugs) common; Lyme separate infection. Mold can colonize. Patients tried EDTA, DMSA, carnivore/vegan diets, drugs, protocols but missed radioactive water (only distillation removes; no filter does long-term).
RO (reverse osmosis) best filter: tiny holes, energy-forced, 90% metals when new, degrades rapidly (weeks) in high-toxin areas.
Distillation: evaporate water to new tank (metals stay behind due to higher melting point), then filter for VOCs, phthalates (volatilize with water).
Rich family of seven chronically ill from mold, still drinking radioactive water despite top doctors. Identified water issue; three improved in first month. Other four needed Lyme, parasites, SIBO treatment as radioactive elements allowed survival despite protocols (antibiotics, antifungals, IVs).
Always detective: if not improving in 4-5 months, rerun labs, find miss. Client 90% better after two years, then gut flared; moved to moldy apartment.
Paleo-like diet (meat, vegetables, few fruits, no eggs/dairy) changed life, stopped psych meds after 12 years over 2 weeks. 2.5 years horrifying neurological symptoms misattributed to food (soy, dairy); realized antidepressant withdrawal. Mold in Miami, H. pylori on GI-MAP (ignored by doctors as levels not high, no reflux/GERD). Quad therapy (replaced metronidazole) fixed digestion on meat diet.
Carnivore saved life (disabled to running businesses, kids). Mold caused fertility issues on carnivore, resolved post-mold fix. Multifaceted; some tolerate mold/Lyme fine. Questioning foundational immune issue (vaccines?).
Labs affected by interventions (e.g., diabetic on meds looks good but still diabetic). Strict diet manages H. pylori, so labs borderline; mark as question in roadmap.
Bubble life (perfect environment/diet) works now but won't last; will break (want burger, vacation). Threshold shrinks, less adaptable.
Woman with chronic Lyme, thyroglobulin antibodies 7,000 (Hashimoto's), breast cancer markers, near-blind from floaters. After 3-4 months natural Lyme treatments, antibodies dropped from 7,000 to 2,000. Goal: adaptability to enjoy BBQ, beer without major repercussion.
Reached antibodies <200, clear vision, back to work. On 20th anniversary in Chicago, drank beer (first in years), no price paid, emotional breakthrough.
If bubble-bound, something missing.
Patient has extensive testing (Google Drive folder). Everything slightly off, improving post-parasites/gut. Hard to start without supplement tolerance.
Early client: 2-3 inch thick labs from Mayo/etc. Immunoglobulins bottomed out (false negative antibodies). Misdiagnosed B6 toxicity (barely over range, no intake → genetic/mold). Many little issues; rotated one month each: parasites, bacteria, Lyme, mold. Weak immune in triage/CDR (cell danger response): attacks everything indiscriminately.
Goal: reduce pathogens to non-pathogenic, strengthen immune to finish. Psych drug damage dysregulates; needs magnesium/B12 for mitochondria to exit CDR/fight-or-flight.
Hyperfunctional on diet/mold avoidance (3 years); less intolerant (hotel 3 days → palpitations day 3). MCAS/inflammatory state; tried ketotifen, mast cell stabilizers but stop if feel worse.
Microdose stabilizers; some bad reactions then tolerate. Mast cells degranulate to minimal triggers (temp, light, sound, touch → dermographism/hives).
Good/bad indistinguishable; any change triggers. Herx-like: <20% symptom increase okay (hermetic stress); >30% damages. LDN: low-dose 0.25mg buildup (normal 4.5mg).
Inflammatory responses at maximum threshold manifest as psychological worst symptoms. Reducing inflammation around the brain causes detoxification and changes synaptic activity immediately due to degranulating inflammatory responses and encephalitis. Examples include PANS/PANDAS in kids. To avoid triggering degranulation, use microdose levels from multiple perspectives. Single interventions like shutting down histamines with cromolyn sodium or ketotifen make the body feel threatened and degranulate. Instead, use teeny tiny amounts for histamine, inflammation, and immune modulation so the body doesn't feel threatened. Slowly build over months until the body chills without degranulating, as threat response diminishes.
Think about PTSD. If you're a guy from the military, fireworks or a slammed door triggers dropping and covering, even when safe at home. Your body does the same: even though magnesium is good, too much feels threatening and shuts down.
Stress and trauma like PTSD severely impact the immune system, causing inflammatory reactions. The neurotoxic loop involves mold toxicity generating liver, neurotoxic, nephrotoxic effects, prompting immune response and cortisol/adrenal hormone release for energy to protect. Long-term leads to cortisol toxicity or adrenal hormone toxicity, similar to estrogen dominance or toxic estrogen. Hormones accumulate and saturate the brain, becoming toxic.
Toxins (mold or cortisol) signal unsafety, triggering fight-or-flight, mitochondrial stress, more immune response, more cortisol, and a self-perpetuating cycle—even after leaving moldy environment—creating internal immunotriggered PTSD (not just mental/emotional trauma).
Neurological side: Feeling unsafe (abusive parent, spouse, war zone) releases cortisol. Prolonged cortisol becomes toxic, triggers immune/stress response, perpetuating the cycle until feeling safe. Poor rehabilitation keeps cortisol elevated, leading to mast cell activation. Neurological or toxin triggers often lead to the other: mold-debilitated people tolerate bad relationships/landlords/work; trauma reduces mold tolerance.
Key question: Are you safe environmentally (air, food, water, hygiene, dental implants) and mentally (consciously/subconsciously) even in safe places?
Chronically ill face tricky cycles: autoimmunity, psych issues, medications, family stress/guilt perpetuate unsafety.
Healthy body/brain with good stress handling and work ethic allows critical thinking, reducing fight-or-flight triggers. Illness limits short-term memory, critical thinking, creativity; less adaptation room means easier overwhelm. Well people handle more stress consciously.
Patients overload with good interventions (red light, sauna, peptides, 40 supplements) that all cost energy (purchase, time, mental load, digestion, mineral loss from sauna). Even if 100% well like Dave Asprey taking handfuls of pills, unwell with SIBO, H. Pylori, parasites can't afford "expensive poop."
Advice: 5-7 targeted things, one therapy, eat well, stop internet/Facebook surfing. Cut decision-making/gut burden. Trust for one month often lifts nervous system distress.
High achievers run at 120-200% for years (e.g., celebrities with Lyme/long COVID), driven by willpower not optimal body function, leading to crash.
Energy bank account example ($100 total):
- $50 basal metabolic rate (just alive, breathing).
- Mold/psych med damage: $20 (total $70).
- Mom: $10-15.
- Wife/daughter: $10-15 (total ~$95).
- Businesses: $30 (over $125).
- Home management/hobby: $5.
- Pregnant: $20 (way over).
Over budget explains constant fight-or-flight. Business owners would bankrupt; retool by offloading tasks (staff, husband for cooking/cleaning). As health improves (remove mold/psych med damage), capacity increases like gym strength.
Cortisol addiction: Driven people fill new capacity with more (e.g., companies). Recognize, stop like any addiction (12-step). Not sustainable; crashes long-term goals (business at 50, grandkids).
Pregnancy/breastfeeding depletes magnesium/B12 to baby. Overachiever trap: optimize everything, can't take days off, hobbies become businesses (vibe coding apps).
Using Claude AI for interactive quiz pulling diverse opinions (not biased/controversial Instagram posts) to diagnose top issues, educate via rabbit hole. TikTok-style short moves for addiction. Automates health history for scaling.
Vibe coding: Describe ideas to AI, it builds (e.g., quiz, dating app for health-focused with Hexaco personality scale, diet/exercise preferences, compatibility score).
AI changes everything: produce 100x output, new standard like learning skid steers/Bobcats. Doctors use for better diagnoses. Landscape evolves rapidly.
When using AI for health advice, it pulls from bot-generated and paid-for studies that are often falsified to push narratives. Be careful with prompting and data sources. Evaluate studies critically: check if they make sense and weren't funded by pharmaceutical companies. In healthcare, curated information from researchers who read deeply is essential. Asking Claude to deep dive on cholesterol yields biased, paid-for narratives. Authenticity in podcasts and relationship marketing will grow in importance as AI enables companies to produce 60 or 600 targeted ads with fake influencers.
A person became the fastest-made billionaire by creating fake doctors on Meta endorsing a peptide site selling tzepide and semiglutide, with fake before-and-afters. He's likely facing prison as it's fraud, though laws target imitating real people, not fabricating new ones. Fake doctors imply unlicensed practice. Even without licenses, like a gym influencer testimonial for peptides during personal training, it raises questions: is it just a marketing lie if not a real person? Most marketing uses fabricated quotes, but ethical approaches avoid fake endorsements claiming "this changed my life" if untrue. Marketing companies often push fake quotes as real.
We're in a new frontier of deepfake AI with exploding AI brands on social media gaining millions of fake followers. Untied to real people, they say or do anything without repercussion or long-term damage—they just create new ones. Finding relatable, authentic, trustworthy sources doing real research will become increasingly valuable.
Dr. Jabin Moore is on Instagram, YouTube, and his website, posting information constantly. His goal, stemming from his own illness and lack of help, is to educate people, provide honest information, and empower informed health decisions. Look up Dr. Jabin Moore.
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