Nature's Mold Prescription

Black Mold and Thieves Family of Essential Oils
Edward R Close, PhD, PE

Black Mold: These two words, simple though they are, often create a large amount of anxiety for people these days. The increased flooding, from heavy rains and hurricanes that have ripped through areas of the United States during the past few years, has caused an ever increasing concern about the potential threats of Black Mold Exposure. And with good reason. Pictures and stories of people losing all their possessions, of shrinking property values, of thousands (and in some areas millions) of dollars in cleanup costs, and of the horror of illnesses that cannot be cured or explained and are eventually linked to “Black Mold Exposure” are common. So, just what is black mold? Is it really that serious? And is there anything that can be done about black mold, anything that we can use successfully that does not present its own threat of harm to human health or to the health of our pets?

The expressions “black mold” and “toxic mold” have become almost synonymous in common usage, and they are most commonly used to describe the mold species Stachybotrys chartarum. However, this usage is inexact and, unfortunately, a lot of confusion has resulted from this broad use of these terms. To clear up the confusion, let’s look at a few of the basics.

First of all, the expressions black mold and toxic mold are not synonymous. There are actually several species of mold that may appear black to the naked eye, but not all of them are toxic, and there are many mold species that are not black that are toxic.

Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as Stachybotrys atra, is the infamous "Black Mold" that has prompted health authorities to quarantine homes and offices as biohazards, and caused property owners to destroy houses and buildings to get rid of it. Studies have linked this species of mold to various illnesses, including asthma, bronchitis, flu-like symptoms, rhinitis, emphysema, bleeding lungs, and even a number of deaths. An infestation of the mold species Stachybotrys may appear as a slimy, greenish-black substance or it may also appear powdery, like carbon black or soot.

At least three toxins are produced by Stachybotrys chartarum. They are: Roridin E, Verrucarin J, and Satratoxin H. These toxins are found on the Stachybotrys spores, and if the “sticky” Stachybotrys spores get airborne, they may be inhaled into the lungs. Bacteria and viruses may also hitchhike on mold spores, especially stachybotrys spores, since they are “sticky” and much larger than bacteria or viruses. Thus, there is little or no question that exposure to this particular black mold can result in serious health problems for anyone, and especially for infants, the elderly, and immune-impaired individuals.

Other mold species that may appear black to the naked eye include: Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Fusarium. These mold species may produce toxins that are seriously harmful to humans and pets, including: aflatoxins, Ochratoxins, and Tricothecenes. However, more than 180 species of Aspergillus have been identified, and only sixteen of them have been documented as causing and/or aggravating human diseases. Aspergillosis, a disease resulting from exposure to certain species of Aspergillus, is now one of the most common fungal infections found in hospitals.

Cladosporium growths are dark green to black, with a velvety to powdery texture. There are over 30 species in the Cladosporium genus. Several of them are known to cause skin lesions, keratitis, nail fungus, sinusitis, asthma, and pulmonary infections. Prolonged exposure to Cladosporium can cause edema, bronchiospasms, and emphysema.

Certain Penicillium species have been found in patients with keratitis, ear infections, pneumonia, endocarditis, peritonitis, and urinary tract infections. Serious Penicillium infections occur mostly in immunosuppressed individuals. For example, Penicillium marneffei is often found in AIDS patients in Southeast Asia. The spores of Penicillium marneffei are inhaled, causing a pulmonary infection, which then spreads to the lymphatic system, liver, spleen, and bones of the patient, and is often fatal.

Fusarium species are often found in humidifiers and water-damaged carpets. Exposure may occur by ingestion or through the inhalation of spores. Fusarium species are frequently involved with eye, skin, and nail infections. Heavy or chronic exposure to Fusarium can produce alimentary toxic aleukia, which is characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dermatitis, and extensive internal bleeding.

Clearly, exposure to any of these toxic black molds can cause serious health problems, and if you have any kind of mold growing in your home or work place that looks black, extra care should be taken to avoid inhalation of and dermal contact with spores when dealing with the problem. Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), including disposable Tyvek suits, gloves, respirators, eye goggles or safety glasses, and using cotton balls to plug and protect the ear canal are reasonable measures to take when cleaning or removing mold. The best way to know what level of protection you should take, is to have appropriate sampling conducted by a professional.

Beware of black mold “experts” who advise you to skip sampling and clean mold infested areas with bleach, and those who tell you that you can buy a test kit from them, do your own sampling and save lots of money. Laboratories we have spoken with, which meet or exceed EPA standards, tell us that test kits found for purchase on the internet are outrageously overpriced, that the results are generally worthless, and that there is no one with sufficient training to help the individual understand the significance of the laboratory results once they are received. So, the consumer gets little or nothing of value for their money. This will be covered in more detail in future articles.

Beware of outdated advice found in some books and on websites that have not been updated to the current level of knowledge about toxic mold. An example is the following statement found in August, 2006, on a black mold website: “Many of the infested areas will be relatively small and may be a result of small leaks or plumbing problems. After discovering the root of the problem and rectifying it, you can disinfect the area with bleach.” This is bad advice. I have even heard of one state agency that still advises this approach. Using bleach is not only bad advice, it is also dangerous advice that can potentially make the problem much worse.

Bleach is ineffective , and chlorine bleach is toxic in and of itself. Chlorine gas can be deadly. If you have any doubts, just check out the EPA website where, in “A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home” you’ll find the following:

“The use of a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold remediation”. In Summary, black mold has a good chance of being toxic, but not all black mold is toxic, and not all toxic mold is black. Since exposure to almost any mold species can produce adverse health effects, it is important to realize that the discovery of mold growing in your home or workplace requires immediate action to stop it, regardless of the species. Excessive mold growth, whether toxic or not, can lead to increased allergies, toxicity, and potentially serious disease for people and pets who may be exposed to it, as well as cosmetic and structural problems that will reduce property values for the buildings where it grows.

The Good News is that there is scientific evidence that proves that a safe, non-toxic proprietary blend of therapeutic grade essential oils that includes Lemon, Cinnamon, and Clove, destroys toxic mold and keeps it from coming back. This blend of essential oils is known to be both beneficial and supportive of health and well-being.

We want the best for our loved ones, human and animal alike. Avoid the toxic chemicals that damage our bodies and those we love, providing ideal conditions for disease to flourish. Instead use a material designed by God to keep mold away.

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure any disease, ailment or injury to the body. The decision to use or not to use any of this information is the sole responsibility of the reader. Any products, techniques, and/or personal usage tips referred to are not suggested as a replacement for proper treatment from a licensed health care professional. Statements made herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
If you suspect you have a mold problem or mold-related illness, read this book. --Connie Bennett, Homeowner 10 Steps to Eliminate Toxic Mold from Your Life
Download HERE

Diffuse oils regularly and use Thieves household cleaner

IF YOU HAVE VISIBLE MOLD

Sample
Diffuse Thieves oil
Repair leaks and block moisture
Clean thoroughly with Thieves Cleaner
Remediate toxic mold if it can't be cleaned
Resample
Repeat if necessary
Remodel

Thieves Household Cleaner is an all-natural ingredient formulation to distribute the power of therapeutic-grade essential oils in your home while killing germs and bacteria. It is a superior natural alternative to chemicals and cleans fantastic. The anti-microbial power of Thieves combined with a non-toxic coconut oil based cleaning solution that is safe for your whole family.