I’ve heard the refrain from many patients. “I’ve been to several excellent doctors and none can figure out why my symptoms aren’t going away.” Chronic mold-related illness may be at the core of the issue. Identifying mold as the culprit is extremely important for recovery. Many times, treating the body without identifying mold as the issue could make the problem worse. Mold illness recovery may be an important aspect of your health journey. But how do you know if you might have a mold problem? And what do you do about it if you have a mold-related illness? Read on to learn more.

Signs of Mold Illness

The symptoms of mold illness vary between people. The infographic below shows the different areas that symptoms can arise. Cognitive issues, mood problems, pain, sensitivity to light, sounds, chemicals, visual changes, respiratory problems, digestive issues, and other areas.

Mold illness arises less from the mold itself but from the body’s reaction to the mold. Mold produces biotoxins and biofilm that interfere with the body’s ability to clear toxins. Biofilms are created by certain organisms, including mold, yeast, and bacteria. This enables the individual organisms to act together, preventing the body from effectively attacking the invader. Many patients will react to treatment protocols as a result. For example, pyroluria may be a result of mold or other biofilm producers. The body can ’t absorb vitamin B6, a key component of pyrrole treatment causing stomach upset.

The second thing that makes mold different is that mold produces toxins. For many people the problem isn’t fighting the mold. Rather, the biotoxins overwhelm the body. This is significant because it changes the treatment protocol. Instead of trying to breakdown the biofilm and kill the organism, we have to clear the biotoxins. Biotoxins can’t be killed because they aren’t alive! But our immune system overacts in response, creating high levels of inflammatory cytokines. This creates the symptoms in most people.

Mold Illness Recovery

Clearing the biofilm and/or the biotoxins is key to treatment. But so is limiting exposure. I’ve lived in Portland, Oregon and the North Shore of Oahu. Both places get a lot of rain, leading to moldy environments. But dry climates can attract mold too. Tucson, Arizona has a lot of mold in the houses, according to several of my colleagues there. It has to do with building codes not prepping for the rain. I bring this up because living in a drier climate doesn’t make you safe from mold.

Many patients don’t realize that mold rests behind a wall in the bathroom or in a closet. It only takes one leak to cause an issue. These organisms can release an array of toxins into the air. For example, microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can give a room that familiar musty smell. But these agents can release a variety of molecules, including endotoxins, spores, and inflammagens. Any of these can be in the air, (detectable by scent or not), and potentially create problems in the body. To treat the problem, the mold or toxins may need to be removed from your environment. In extreme cases, patients have needed to move houses. Several of mine moved because of finding mold in their homes.

Problems can hit almost anywhere in the body. But it is important to remember though you may have symptoms in multiple areas, it doesn’t mean mold toxicity is the problem. Other causes lead to this constellation of symptoms. Seeking professional help can be useful in determining the problem. I offer comprehensive testing and evaluation to help determine what may be happening to you. Most of the time, the problem can be solved with natural remedies and supplements. Schedule today to learn if mold related illness affects you.

A few years ago, I went to the optometrist to have a regular check up. I needed new contacts because my old ones weren’t working too well. After my exam, the doctor asked “How long have you been wearing glasses?” I told him since my teens. His responsed with amazement. “You don’t need glasses at all, Dr. Winkelman. At your age, your eyes shouldn’t be improving they should be getting worse! What are you doing to get optimal health?” In fact, my follow-up recently showed not only had my eyes remained great but several cholesterol deposits that had been there were gone!

Optimal Health is something that almost everyone wishes to have. But what is it and how does one get there?  In this article, I want to give my definition of optimal health and what impedes it. In a future article, I’ll go through how trauma plays a role in interfering with optimal health.

Optimal health represents a total balance and homeostasis in the body. How do you know things are right, though? If you don’t get sick, does that mean you’re healthy? Not necessarily. I’ve seen many patients who never were sick get serious illnesses later in life. Colds and flus give our body an opportunity to tune up our immune system and remove toxins. (More on that later.) Can we use tests?  Blood tests only measure a moment in time. Most blood tests do not give us a long-term picture of what is happening in the body. Hair and urine tests can give us the long-term picture but can sometimes be misleading. For example, I’ve seen hair mineral analysis that shows the body has not mercury, but all the signs are there in other ways. Plus, you can’t run tests every week. It would be too expensive. So how can we self-evaluate to determine how we are doing?

What is Optimal Health?

I like to use a simple system called SEAMMS to measure how patients are doing. It’s not a complete examination or touches on every system in the body. But it’s a simple system for self-evaluation without the need of a physical examination, tests, or imaging. The first S stands for sleep. Sleep is a key component of optimal health. Good sleep requires 7-12 hours (depending upon one’s age), of deep sleep at night, preferably uninterrupted. If you struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep, you likely have an imbalance somewhere that requires some intervention. One of the best treatments for sleep is Cognitive-behavioral therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I.) There are definitely supplements and medications one can take to help sleep, but not all of them work for everyone. Melatonin, for example, is great to help one fall asleep but not stay asleep. (And most people take too high of a dosage.)  Furthermore, some people don’t do well with hops, valerian, or other herbs that help with sleep. Knowing what to take is a topic that I need to save for another article.

Good sleep leads to the next factor, which is energy. One should be able to function throughout the day without brain fog, lethargy, or crashes. The occasional nap is fine. I should clarify that if one works out extremely hard, the day is hot, or something out of the ordinary. Many activities can sap energy, but baring any of those, you get through the day easily. If your energy is off though, there is likely something out of balance in the body.

Appetite, which includes digestion, is the next important aspect of optimal health. Studies from the Blue Zones  show that people who live the longest tend to not overeat. They eat until they are around 80% full and stop. People in the blue zones eat all the colors of the rainbow, limit dairy and meat, and are mostly plant-based. Furthermore, good digestion means you are absorbing the nutrients you’ve taken in. (Chewing is an important factor.) Gas and bloating are not an issue. And you have well-formed and regular bowel movements. Constipation and diarrhea are rare.

Menses are regular in terms of length of cycle and the number of days bleeding. Cramping, headaches, premenstrual tension, and other symptoms are minimal though occur from time to time.

The musculoskeletal system is the next area that is important to look at. Do you wake with aches and pains? Or do you jump out of bed? Does doing the slightest bit of exercise hurt? If you’re in good shape, you can do things without consequences. Though I do recommend stretching before and after exercise. When I was younger, I had aches and pains every morning. But as I worked with my doctor on optimal health, that went away. Now when I get out of bed, it is rare that my body hurts at all.

The last S is a sense of wellbeing. This is harder to definite as it varies for everyone. But there’s a sense of minimal stress, feeling fulfilled, having purpose, and being part of a community. What intrigues me about the Blue Zone research is how social networks and spirituality are so important for longevity. It may be why the one-two drinks a day helps some people live longer. It’s not the alcohol, but rather the socialization that increases life span. As you’ll see in other articles, this may be the key link to chronic health problems.

What Impedes Health?

Now, having a sense of what optimal health is, how does one get there? In some ways, it is the easiest thing to do and in other ways, it is extremely challenging. Why? Optimal health is something the body naturally works towards. We have mechanisms in place that, when properly functioning, allow us to remove toxins from our system. Our bowels, liver, kidneys, lungs, and lymphatic systems all remove toxins from the body. What are some of those toxins? Some factors that can harm our health include nutrient depleted foods, air pollution, and toxic emotions. But sometimes the body gets overwhelmed and struggles to remove these things. Poor diet, lack of exercise, microbiome imbalance, and a lack of elimination can cause problems. That’s why these are some things naturopathic doctors emphasize in their practices. It is important to have the basics of proper health to encourage the body to heal, recharge, and eliminate toxins. Sleep, for example, is the time that our body removes many toxic components and melatonin may activate the enzymes that does this.

Much of the research is in cellular senescence, the phenomenon of the cessation of cell division. When stressed or damaged, cells stop dividing to allow for healing. For example, when we are cut, the cells around the wound stop dividing to staunch the injury. In a healthy organism, other cells come after the wound heals and removes them from the body. But when the stress or insult is chronic, the body doesn’t remove these cells. Senescent cells are called zombie cells in some of the literature. They produce hormones that attempt to turn other cells into zombies.  What causes this chronicity? Inflammation!

In my next article, I’ll go into more detail about how inflammation reduction is critical for optimal health. But this give us a way to self-evaluate on a regular basis how we are doing towards that optimal health. Remember that optimal health is not something achieved and forgotten. It requires ongoing effort and vigiliance. If you want to work towards that goal, make an appointment with me to discuss.

In over 15 years of working as a Naturopathic Physician, I have seen many patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or OCD traits. I can tell you that holistic treatment for OCD works extremely well. What is OCD? And what types of natural remedies for OCD are effective? The Walsh Protocol is highly effective. But before I get into that, let us explore what OCD is.

What is OCD?

OCD is a pattern of unwanted thoughts and obsessions leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These compulsions and thoughts interfere with daily activities. In extreme cases, very dark thoughts accompany the behaviors. Regardless, the person suffers extreme distress and anxiety. (OCD is a subset of anxiety.)

One can try to stop the obsessions or compulsions but that often serves to increase the distress and anxiety. Performing the acts is an attempt to relieve the stress. The thoughts come back even when ignored, leading to more ritualistic behavior and the cycle of OCD.

Often, OCD revolved around a theme, such as a fear of germ contamination. To ease the fear, the compulsion starts. In this example, compulsive hand washing is even to the point of sore or chapped hands.

If you have OCD, holistic treatment for the condition exists. Before we explore treatments, I want to discuss the symptoms in more detail.

Symptoms of OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder usually includes both obsessions and compulsions. But it is also possible to have one without the other. Some people cannot see that their obsessions or compulsions are excessive. What is excessive? Anything that interferes with your daily routine, social, academic, or work functioning. It is important to distinguish OCD from perfectionism. Perfectionism is the desire for something to be flawless. Recently, I had my car detailed. My friend joked about the detailed that it’s a good way to channel his OCD. And while he worked really hard to make my car perfect while spending hours cleaning it, he didn’t obsess about the things who couldn’t get perfect. He just moved on. Thoughts about actual problems in your life, or liking things arranged particularly, are not necessarily OCD thoughts. It’s when these actions and thoughts interfere with your life that it is a problem. Let’s dive into the difference between obsessions and compulsions.

Obsession symptoms

OCD obsessions appear as recurring thoughts, urges, or images that cause distress. One may try to ignore them or use a ritual to remove them. Typically, these obsessions intrude when attempting to do something else.

Some examples of obsessive themes include:

• Fear of contamination or dirt
• Uncertainty intolerance
• Needing things orderly and symmetrical
• Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others
• Unwanted thoughts, including aggression, or sexual or religious subjects
• Needing to perform a task to prevent something bad from happening.

Examples of obsession signs and symptoms include:

• Doubting if they locked the door or turned off the stove
• Intense stress when objects aren’t orderly or facing a certain way
• Images of driving your car into a crowd of people
• Thoughts about shouting obscenities or acting inappropriately in public
• Unpleasant sexual images
• Avoidance of situations that can trigger obsessions, such as shaking hands

Compulsion symptoms

OCD compulsions are repetitive behaviors one feels driven to perform to reduce anxiety. Engaging in compulsions brings temporary relief but rarely pleasure. One invents the rituals or rules to control anxiety, but is rarely realistic or related to the problem.

Compulsions typically have themes such as:

• Washing and cleaning even until the skin becomes raw.
• Repeatedly checking locks and that the stove is turned off.
• Counting in specific patterns
• Orderliness
• Following a strict routine
• Demanding reassurance

Severity varies

OCD usually begins in the teen or young adult years, though signs of it appear in childhood. A gradual increase of symptoms occurs as people age, and sometimes the obsessions and compulsions change. Symptoms worsen with increased stress and can be disabling.

Holistic Treatment for OCD

Now that we have explored what OCD is, how is it treated? When I think holistically, I consider various approaches to treat the condition, not just medication. Many people find benefit from a mix of psychotherapy, the Walsh Protocol, neurofeedback, and/or Naturopathic care. Let’s explore each of these.

Psychotherapy for OCD

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for many people with OCD. One type is called exposure and response prevention (ERP). In ERP therapy, you gradually face fears and learn to resist rituals. ERP takes effort and practice, but improves one’s life quality if effective.

Neurofeedback for OCD

Neurofeedback shows great promise to treat OCD. Many patients report having less severe symptoms following neurofeedback sessions. During neurofeedback, we first map the brain by placing sensors on the scalp. The map directs treatment of OCD by showing which areas of the brain may be most affected. Depending upon the type of neurofeedback system and severity of symptoms, most practitioners treat 1-3 times per week. I like to start with weekly sessions to better monitor how the treatment takes.

Walsh Protocol for OCD

The Walsh Protocol is a highly effective holistic treatment for OCD. When I first started using the Walsh Protocol, we thought OCD was strictly a methylation issue. It turns out that OCD may also have an element related to NMDA receptors too. The beauty of the approach is that knowing the biosubtype allows us to determine the treatment plan for the NMDA receptor, too. Patients with OCD typically have issues with memory extinction. By affecting the NMDA receptor, supplements can help ease symptoms. Many patients report having fewer disturbing thoughts or compulsions.

Naturopathic Treatments for OCD

OCD and other mental illness may be related to high levels of inflammation in the body. Natural treatments like bio-therapeutic drainage, supplements, gut balancing, and hydrotherapy can reduce inflammation and lower oxidative stress in the body. While these treatments do not always immediately resolve the problem, they do improve overall health. One aspect of OCD that I am integrating into my practice is looking at trauma. Trauma affects many areas of the body but particularly the mitochondria. Changes in the mitochondria cause a myriad of downstream effects on glial cells (the helpers of neurons), methylation, oxidative stress, and so forth. In fact, mitochondria may be an important  aspect of all health problems. This approach can help can not only help OCD but likely prevent other conditions too.

How to Get Holistic Treatment for OCD

Curious to get treatment for OCD. Contact me today to schedule an appointment. I’m excited to share what I have learned and help you or your loved one struggling with OCD. Call my office today at 808-726-2772 or use the schedule now form.

In the two weeks since I sent my last newsletter about teletherapy we have all experienced many changes. Many of us are sheltered in place. We are stuck at home, balancing work and children. We are unaccustomed to the constancy of family being around, while some feel very isolated. What to do?

Before I give more information, I want to let you know that for people in Oregon and some in Hawaii, I can bill telemedicine visits to your insurance. That change is a huge step in the right direction. I do not know how long this will last. And obviously I cannot do neurofeedback. But I can help with many medical issues and provide counseling during this difficult time. One of the curious aspects of this virus is that people with underlying conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure may be at greater risk to this virus. Naturopathic medicine has much to offer regarding treating these conditions.

How to Cope with the Anxiety

What can you do to help yourself and your family? Here’s a list of the main items that I have compiled from looking at several studies about this, along with my experience of working from home for many years.

Create a routine and stick to it! This is important even not in quarantine. We are creatures of habit in a lot of ways. Our bodies like consistency. I’m not suggesting that you have to do or eat the same thing every day. But going to bed and waking at the same time daily is good for our systems. It reduces stress and helps the adrenal glands be balanced. Lower stress means higher immunity.
Another aspect of a regular sleep routine is it helps our bodies produce the proper amount of melatonin. It may be related to stress and cortisol levels, but higher melatonin levels also improves immunity. There are a few studies suggesting that melatonin levels that function properly help fight off coronavirus. (There have not been studies on supplements, only looking at melatonin in the body.)
Every hour of sleep before midnight is like two hours after midnight to the body. I recommend going to bed by 10 PM. It can also help your weight too.

Reframe your situation. Instead of thinking you are stuck inside the house, do projects you have not had time to complete. Always wanted to plant a garden? Get to it! Or maybe you wanted to explore an aspect of yourself. Whatever it is, you have time to do it now. Even if you are still working, most people will save commute time. (Not to mention getting ready for work time.) Use that extra few hours to do something you have wanted to do.

Avoid the news. I know some have a morbid fascination with what’s going on. Or maybe there’s this unconscious belief that knowing what is going on will protect us. What is happening extends way beyond this outbreak. (I’ll write more about this later.) It is unlike anything we have faced in our lifetimes. But constantly going online and reading about what is going on is not good for anyone’s mental health. (I’m talking to you too, Facebook users!) The constant barrage of information is stress provoking even in good times. It’s super intense. Step away from the computer. Unless you’re watching funny cat videos.

Keep things clean and decluttered at home. I have a confession to make. In the last three weeks, I have cleaned my house more times than I think I have in the last three years. Seriously! I have become a clean freak. And I have decluttered everything too. It is calming. I can think. I feel there is space to think.

Start a quarantine ritual. This is odd I know. And it can be anything to meditating to journaling. Writing about what is happening can be super helpful for people.

Use Video Chat and the phone to connect with friends. This is super important, particularly for teens. I think the most stressful thing for adolescents is the social isolation. Younger kids often miss their peers too. But they can talk on the phone or computer. (You can limit the time if that is appropriate. And limit social media.)

Kids and Relationship Issues

Signs of Stress in Kids. Along this line, if you have children there are definite signs of stress that may require help in this situation. Here’s a partial list:

• In younger children, excessive crying or irritation.
• Returning to outgrown behaviors  (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting).
• Excessive worry or sadness.
• Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits.
• Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens.
• Poor school performance or avoiding school (For those of you with closed schools, I’ve found that most kids want something to do to feel a little productive. So if they are avoiding everything, that could be a sign).
• Difficulty with attention and concentration.
• Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past.
• Unexplained headaches or body pain.
• Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

Take space. There was a tiktok video showing a cat upset that the humans were always at the house. My brother related to the cat. He works at home and found his family being shuttered with him to be stressful at first. And maybe others can relate. Take space for yourself and communicate to others around you. Explain calmly that you need time to yourself.  NOTE: I will do a relationship workshop in the near-term. More on this later.

Get outside if allowed by law. Being in nature is best, if you can and properly socially distance yourself. Having that time is necessary regardless. But this is a stressful time.

Teletherapy for anxiety or just to talk. Get help when you need it. It’s so important to use professional help. As I mentioned, I provide services and can bill insurance for Oregon and Hawaii. But if you are in another state, telemedicine is required coverage now. Check with your healthcare provider because there are stipulations by different companies. But overall, there is help available. You can always call 808-726-2772 to schedule or ask about coverage.

With WHO declaring the Covid-19 a pandemic, we all must take precautions. By now you have received many emails about what to do to protect yourself. Social isolation, as best as possible, is one of them. That does not mean you cannot see the doctor. The advantages of telemedicine are clear right now. For many years, I have offered telemedicine appointments. I use HIPAA compliant software to allow me to do video consults with patients. For many people, this suffices to get their medical needs met. First, a quick reminder about how to protect yourself:

The CDC and the WHO recommend several basic measures to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases such as Covid-19.

CDC and WHO Guidelines

• Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• AVOID touching your face.
• DON’T travel if you have a fever and cough.

NOTE: Several surveys suggest that only 66% of Americans wash their hands regularly. This is problematic. Get in the habit of washing your hands. It could save your or someone else’s life.

The Advantage of Telemedicine Appointments While in Isolation

Second, if you are showing symptoms, isolate yourself right away. There is testing available, but they must perform the test in an outpatient setting. The test is a nasal, lung, or throat swap. Hawaii is setting up test centers for symptomatic patients. Oregon is rolling out drive through testing stations. Many clinics do not want patients to come if they are showing symptoms. My local Adventist Health outpatient clinic is asking people to stay home and call the advice line if they are sick. Why? Most offices do not have resources to handle infections disease.

And this is one of the biggest advantages of telemedicine. Most people infected with the coronavirus (or another virus) can be treated at home. While it is likely highly contagious and will be deadlier than the seasonal flu, it is self-limiting in the majority of cases. I can prescribe treatments via video (or instruct you what to do if it’s more serious.) Telemedicine appointments can help with the coronavirus (or other illness). There are many natural treatments body fight infections before needing hospitalization. And if you have other health concerns, telemedicine appointments helps avoid exposure.

If you wish to discuss your symptoms, or have any other issues that require medical help, please call my office to schedule a telemedicine appointment.

You can email me at info@askdrgil.com or call 808-726-2772.